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V
I
THE
TREASURY OF HISTORY;
BEiira A
HISTORY OF THE WORLD :
OOXFEISINO
A GENEEAL IIISTOKY, BOTH. AXCIENT AND MODEKN,
ALL THE PRINCIPAL NATIONS OF THE GLOBE,
THEIB RISE, PROGRKSH, I'RESENI CONDITION, ETC.
BY SAMUEL MAUNDER,
AUTHOR OF "the TREASDRY OF KNOWLKDOK," " BIOQRATHICAL TRBASDRY," ETC.
TO WRICn IS ADDED,
A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE
PRESENT TIME,
INCLUDINO
€^ rntc Wm luitl; ^Inm, Cnlifnniin, rtr.
EDITED BY JOHN INMAN, ESQ.
THK WHOLE EMBELLISHED WITH NtlMEKOlS ENOIiAVIXliS, (lioME OF WHICH ARE
BEAUTIFULLV Cnl.oltKI)) IIEI'IIESENTINO BATTLE SrENES, VIEWS OF CITIES
THE CnySTAI, PALACE, FI.A09 OF THE DIFFEIiENT NATIONB, '
CORONATIONS, PROCESSIONS, COSTUMES, ETC. ETC.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY HENRY BILL.
1852.
Entered according to Act of CongresB, in the year 1861,
Bt Henat Bni.,
In Uio Clerk's ^ce of the District Court for the Southern District of New Tork.
INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICM EDITION.
. r
ear 18B1.
District of New York.
The republication of this valuable work has been undertaken partly
on account of the high favour with which it has been received in Eng-
land, but chiefly in consideration of its intrinsic value, arising from the
felicitous adaptation of the plan to a want that has been long and gen-
erally felt, and from the judgment and fidelity manifested in its execution.
The idea of giving in a single work, of no very formidable dimensions,
and at a price which brings it within the reach of very moderate circum-
stances, a sufficient outline of the world's whole history, and similar out-
lines of the history of every nation, is so obviously judicious and appro-
priate as to require no eulogium. Every person who cares at all for the
acquisition of useful knowledge, must desire to possess such a general
knowledge of past events, not only in his own country but in all coun-
tries, as shall enable him to understand the perpetually recurring allu-
sions that are found in almost any course of general reading; because
for want of such understanding there is always a serious diminution both
of pleasure and profit, even in the perusal of such works as are designed
chiefly for amusement. For instance, most of Sir Walter Scott's novels
are founded upon history, and abound with references to historical events
and personages, a want of some acquaintance with which detracts se-
riously from the interest and delight they s'f ho wel? quc.'.ified to awaken
and so of most other works belonging tie better class of what is
called light literature. But the difficulty has -een to obtain this genera,
knowledge without going through many books, requiring a greater ex-
penditure of time and money than most persons are able or willing to
afford ; and to obviate such difficulty has been the purpose of Mr. Maun-
der.
His plan has the merit of completeness, and is undoubtedly the best
that could have been desired. He gives first a general sketch of ancient
and modern history — a rapid and comprehensive bird's-eye view, as it
were, of the rise and progress of nations, the most important incidents
of tlieir career, and their relations to each other; and after this he takes
up I lie nations separately, furnisliing a concise digest of all that it is im-
portiiiit or desirable to know concerning each, and thus affording a sort
of key to the changes and events that were more briefly indicated, rather
t>y their results than by their incidents, in the general sketch or outline.
A s^t^p
% /■
*,■
< .^.' / ■ v.
T»
INTRODUCTION.
'I'tius the salient points of history are broufl;ht within a manageable com-
pass, and an excellent foundation is laid for more thorough and extensive
reading in reference to any portion of the world or any epoch of which
a complete knowledge may be desired.
In the execution of this plan the author has been very successful. His
notices of historical events, though brief, are lucid and satisfactory ; and
he traces the connection of effect and cause with singular acuintii and
generally with most commendable freedom from partiality or bias ; thus
supplying a very good idea of the philosophy of history as well as of
the facts which history records.
Upon the portion devoted to American History particular attention has
been bestowed in this edition, in order to supply a deficiency which has
long been felt regarding the events which have transpired since the war
of the Revolution.
While most historians have deemed that the reader and student need
to be particularly well informed with respect to every engagement which
has occurred in our struggle for liberty, they have almost entirely over-
looked the equally important measures and events which have transpired
in cabinet and in council. To remedy this neglect has been aimed at in
this history, and consequently the editor has contented himself with a
recapitulation of the battles of the Revolution, which wHl be found suffi-
ciently minute for the general reader, and devoted himself more fully to
an account of the political history of the nation since the close of the
war, thus supplying a narrative, which, though long wanted, has never
yet been given in a connected an'I distinct form. In a word, the work
will be found invaluable to the general reader, and a very useful help to
the studep*
i
f
i
4'
>
.1
' i9^M^
CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
^9
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS,
Historical, Cbbonolooical, and Okoobaphical
Tbb OiTiaioNS or Histobt ....
General Histobt of Modern Eurofc
CimoNOLoaT .......
Geoqrafrical Sketch or the World ■ .
Divisions or the Earth ....
19
21
31
38
39
80
INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE SKETCH OP GENERAL
HISTORY.
CHAPTER I.— Of the Origin of the Worid, and the FrimitiTe Condition of
Mankind 83
CHAFTEB II.— From the Delage to the Settlement of the Jews in Canaan . 35
CHAPTER in. — The Fabulous and Heroic Ages, x^, the institation of the
Olympic Games 37
CHAPTER IV.— From the institution of the Olympic Games, to the death of
Cyrus 3S
CHAPTER V. — From the erection of the Persian Empire, to the divinon of
the Grecian Empire after the Death of Alexander . . . .40
CH .irr* ,R VI.— From the Wars of Rome and Carthage, to the Birth of Christ 41
CHAPTER VII. — From the beginning of the Christian era, to the appearance
of Mahomet 49
CHAPTER VIII. — From the rise of Mahomet, to the commencement of the
Crusades 45
CHAPTER IX.— From the first Crusade, to the Death of Saladin . . . 48
CHAPTER X.— From the Death of Saladin, to the end of the Crusades . . 82
CHAPTER XI.— From the time of Genghis Khan, to that of Tamerlane . 54
CHAPTER XII.— From the time of Tamerlane, to the Sixteenth Century . 65
CHAPTER XIII.— The Reformation, and progress of events during the Siz>
teecth Century 55
Vi CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIV. — From tno commencement of the S: venteenth Centniy, to
the Peace of Westphalia ... 59
CHAPTEB XV.— From the Civil War in England, to the Peace of Ryswick . 61
CHAPTEB XVI.— Commencement of the Eighteenth Century, to the Peace
of Utraoht .64
CHAPTEB XVIL— The Age of Charles XII. of Sweden, and Peter the Great
of BoMia 68
CHAPTEB XVIII.— The Affairs of Europe, from the establishment of the
Hanoverian Succession in England, to the year 1740 .... 7
CHAPTEB XIX.— From the accession of the Empress Theresa, of Austria, to
the Peace of Aiz-la-Chapelle 72
CHAPTEB XX. — Progress of events during the Seven Years' War in Europe,
America, and the East Indies 75
CHAPTEB XXL— From the conclusion of the Seven Years' War, to the final
partition of Poland 79
CHAPTEB XXII. — From the commencement of the American War, to the
recognition of the Independence of the United States . . .81
CHAPTER XXIII.— From the commencement of the French Berolntin!!, to
the death of Bobespierre 83
CHAPTEB XXLV.— From the establishment of the French Directorv to the
Peace of Amiens 85
CHAPTEB XXV.— From the recommencement of Hostilities, to the treaty of
Tilsit 88
i-
CHAPTEB XXVI. — The French Invasion of Spain, and subsequent Peninsu-
lar War 89
CHAPTEB XXVII.— From, the Invasion of Bussia by the French, to the res-
toration of the Bourbon^ 90
CHAPTEB XXVIII.— From the return of Bonaparte from Elba, to the Gen-
eral Peace , 93
EUBOPE— ASIA— AFBICA— AMEBICA ... 95
A SERIES OF SEPARATE HISTORIES.
THE HISTOEY OF ENGLAND.
BRITISH AND ROMAX PERIOD.
CHAPTEB 1. — The British and Boman Period, to the Subjugation of the Is-
land by the Saxons ...
THB HEPTARCRT.
CHAPTEB n.— The Heptarchy, or the seven Kingdoms of the Saxons in
97
Britain .
itr
»
.q^
64
72
79
. 82
a
. 85
)f
. 88
a-
. 89
. 00
m-
. 92
9f
U7
CONTBNT&
CHAPTER III.— The Heptarchy (continued)
CHAPTER IV.— The Heptarchy (concluded)
m
1.N0LQ-S AXOil iciiia*.
CHAPTER v.— The Anglo-Saxons after the Diaiolution of the Heptarchy.—
Reigns of Egbert, Ethel wolf, and Ethelbald
CHAPTER VI.— The reigns of Ethelbert and Etheked ....
CHAPTER VII.— The reign of Alfred the Great ......
CHAPTER VIII.— History of the Anglo-Saxons, from the Death of Alfred
the Great to the reign of Edward the Martyr
CHAPTER IX.— From the accession of Edward the Martyr to the death of
Canute •••••.»
CHAPTER X — The reigns of Harold and Hardicanute ....
CHAPTER XI.— The reign of Edward the Confessor . . . .
CHAPTER XII.— The reign of Harold the Second
NORMAN LINK.
CHAPTER XIII.— The reign of William I., usually styled "Willlun the Con-
queror" k
CHAPTER XIV.— The reign of William I. (continued) ....
CHAPTER XT.- The reign of WiJliam II
CHAPTER XVI.— The reign of Henry I
CHAPTER XVII.— The reign of Stephen
ons in
iir
FLANTAOSNSTS.
CHAPTER XVITI.— The reign nf Henry II. ; preceded by Observations on
the right a\ the English to territory in Franca
CHAPTER XIX.— The reign of Henry II. (continued)
CHAPTER XX.— The reign of Henry U. (concluded)
CHAPTER XXL— The reign of Richard I. . .
CHAPTER XXII.— The reign of John .
CHAPTER XXIII.— The reign of Henry IIL
CHAPTER XXIV.— The reign of Edward I.
CHAPTER XXV.— Tlie reign of Edward II.
CHAPTER XXVI.— The reign of Edward IIL .
CHAPTER XXVn.— The reign of Richard IL .
HOUSE 07 LANOASTIE.
CHAPTER XXVIIL— The reign of Henry IV. .
CHAPTER XXIX.— The reign of Henry V.
CHAPTER XXX.— The reign of Henry VL
iss
129
134
14«
195
197
163
167
175
185
192
202
209
219
229
234
241
265
278
896
307
326
342
349
359
f^ CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXI.— The reign of Henry VI. (continued)
CHAPTEB XXXU.— The reign of Henry VI. (concluded)
BOVSI or TORK.
CHAPTER XXXra.— The reign of Edward IV. .
CHAPTER XXXIV.— The reign of Edward V. .
CHAPTER XXXV.— The reign of Richaid HI. .
H0V8K or TUDOB.
CHAPTER XXXVI.— The reign of Henry VII. .
CHAPTER XXXVII.— The reign of Henry VII. (continued)
CHAPTER XXXVm.— The reign of Henry VII. (concluded)
CHAPTER XXXIX.— The reign of Henry VIII. .
CHAPTER XL.— The reign of Henry VIII. (continued)
CHAPTER XLI.— The reign of Henry VIII. (concluded)
CHAPTER XLII.— The reign of Edward VI.
CHAPTER XLIII.— The reign of Edward VI. (concluded)
CHAPTER XLIV.— The reign of Mary
CHAPTER XL v.— The reign of Mary (concluded)
CHAPTER XLVL-Tho reign of Elizabeth ,
CHAPTER XLVII.— The reign of Elizabeth (concluded)
H0D8I or STDART.
CHAPTEB XLVni.— The reign of James I.
CHAPTER XLIX.— The reign of James I. (concluded)
CHAPTER L.— The reign of Charles I.
CHAPTER LI.— The reign of Charles I. (continned)
CHAPTER LII.— The reign of Charles I. (concluded)
TRK COMMOHWIALTH.
CHAPTER LIIL— The Commonwoalth
HOOSB or ITVART.
CHAPTER LIV.— The rnign of Charles IL
CHAPTER LV.— The reign of Jamos II.
CHAPTER LVI.— The reign of Willinm IIL
CHAPTER LVII.— The reign of Anne
HOUSE or aRDNIWIOIt
CHAPTER . 'III.— The Reign of George \.
CHAPTER LI X. -The reign of Oeorgw H.
870
S81
39*
405
419
. 4M
. 434
, 431
. 431
. 443
. 453
. 470
. 479
. 485
. 498
. 609
. 538
847
558
567
573
586
. 598
605
616
633
638
684
640
m
S81
an
405
, 419
. 4W
. 424
, 43S
. 431
. 443
. 453
. 470
. 4T9
. 485
. 498
. 509
. 538
. 547
. 558
. 567
. 572
. 586
, . 598
. 605
. . 616
, . 623
. 698
coNTEirrs. u
CHAPTER LX.— The reign of George III C52
CHAPTER LXI.— The Reign of George HI. (continued) .... 669
CHAPTER LXII.— The reign of George HI. (continued) . . . .086
CHAPTER LXni.— The reign of George m. (the Regency) . . 702
CHAPTER LXIV.— The reign of George IV. U
CHAPTER LXV.— The reign of William IV. 738
CHAPTER LXVI— The reign of Victoria 7i»
2
4
634
640
)
))
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
V O L U M K I.
To faca pag«
Landing of Julius C^sar 100
iioADICEA IIAKANGUI.VG THK BlUTISII TrIBES 105
York, from the Ancient Ramparts 174
Death of Prince William and his Sister 201
Hubert and Prince Arthur 251
Earl Varenne defending} the Title to his Estates.. . 280
Queen Phii.ipi'a inierceuino for the Burgesses of Calais 320
Death of Wat Tyler 329
Murder of the Princes in the Tower 411
Trial op Quee.n Catherine 452
Trial of Lambert before Henry VIH., in Westminster
Hall 466
Queen Elizabeth 509
Surrender of Mary Queen of Scots at Carherry Hill., 524
Loch Levin Castle '. 525
Charles L and Armor Bearer 567
Trial of Charles I 586
Cromwell dissolvino the Lono Parliament 59S
Defeat of the Dutch Fleet by Blake ... 600
Dea I'll OF Ueneiial Wolfe . 651
I
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
HrSTORICAL, CHRONOLOGICAL, AND GEOGRAPHICAL.
To faca page
100
105
174
201
251
».. . 280
Calais 320
329
.. 411
.. 452
INSTCR
. . . 4f)6
... 509
iiLL.. 524
... 525
... 667
. . 686
. . 59S
... 600
. 651
"It is not without reason," says llollin, "that History has always
been considered as the light of ages, the depository of events, the raitlifui
evidence of trnth, the source of prudence and good counsel, and the rule
or conduct and manners. Confined witiiout it to the boinids of the age
and country wherein we live, and shut up witiiin the narrow circle of
such brantfhes of knowledge as are peculiar to us, and the limits of our
own private reflections, we continue in a kind of infancy, which leaves us
strangers to the rest of the world, and profoundly ignunint of all that has
preceded, or even now surrounds us. What is the small number of years
that make up the lonjfest lile, or what the extent of country which we are
able to progress or travel over, but an imperceptible point in comparison
to the vast regions of the universe, and the long series of ages which have
succeeded one another since the creation of the world 1 And yet all we
are capable of knowing must be limited to this imperceptible point, unless
we call in the study of History to our assistance, which opens to us every
age and every country, keeps up a correspondence between us and the
great men of antiquity, sets all their actions, all their achievements, vir-
tues and faults before our eyes ; and, by t'le prudent reflections it either
presents, or gives us an opportunity of making, soon teaches us to be
wise before our time, and is in a maimer far superior to all the lessons of
the gre!itest masters. • • • It is History which Axes the seal of im
mortality upon actions truly great, and sets a mark of infamy on vices
which no after age can ever obliterate. It is by History that mistaken
merit and oppressed virtue, appeal to the incorruptible tribunal of pos-
terity, whit-li renders them the justice their own age has sometimes refused
them, and without respect of persons, and the fear of a power which sub-
sists no more, condemns the unjust abuse of authority with inexorable
rigour. • • • • Thus History, when it is well taught, becomes a
ttchool of morality for all mankind. It condemns vice, throws off the
mask from fulse virtues, lays open popular • rrors and prejudices, dispels
the delusive clinrms of riches, and all the vain pomp which dazzles the
imagination, and shews, by a thousand examples, that are more availing
than all reiisiinint;s whatsoever, that nothing is great and commendable
but honour and probity." The foregoing exordium is as just as it is elo-
quent — as apposite as it is roniplcie.
It has been very truly remarked, that the love of fame, and a desire
to communicate inforniation, have influenced men in almost every iige and
every nation, to leave behiinl them simic memorials u( their existence,
actions and di8cov<'ries. In the earliest ages of the world, the mode oi
conveying to i ■<tcrity an account of important facts was very vague and
iiniertain: the most obvicnm and easy was first resorted to. ^riius, wheti
JoHliua led llie twelve tribes of Isriiel ovei the river .Ionian, in a niirac
uliiiis manner, he set up twelve stones for a memorial ; but it was necea-
BMiy for iradiliun to explain the uiruuiustanvet which gave rise lu it ; and
so
PRELIMIMARY OBSERVATIONS,
he said accordingly, "When your children shall ask their fathers, in
time to come, what mean these stones 1 Then ye shall let vour child-
ren know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land ' (Joshua,
c. iv., V. SI.) Poets who sung to the harp the praises ot deceased
warriors at the tables of kings, are mentioned by Homer : the Scandi-
navians, Gauls, and Germans, had their bards; and the savages of Amer-
ica preserved similar memorials in the wild strains of their country. To
supply the defects of such oral tradition as this, founders of states and
leaders of colonies gave their own names to cities and kingdoms ; and
national festivals and games were exhibited to commemorate extraordi-
nary events.
From such imperfect attempts to rescue the past from the ravages of
time and oblivion, the progress to inscriptions of various kinds was
made soon after the invention of letters. The Babylonians recorded their
first astronomical observations upon ori.k - ; and the mosi ancient monu-
ments of Cliinese literature were inscribed upon tables of stone. In
Greece and Rome very similar methods were sometimes idopted ; two
very curious monuments of which are till extant — the Arindelian mar-
bles, upon which arc inscribed, in J reek capital letters, soine records of
the early history of Greece ; and tlie names of the consuls registered
upon the Capitohne marbles at Rome. Such was the rude commencement
of annals and historical records. But when, in succeeding times, nations
became more civilized, and the various branches of literature were cul-
tivated, persons employed themselves in recording the actions of their
contemporaries, or their ancestors; and history by degrees assumed its
proper form and character. At length " the great masters of the art arose,
and after repeated essays, produced the harmonious light and shade, the
glowing colours and animated groups of a perfect picture."
" All history," says Dryden, " is only the precepts of moral philoso-
phy, reduced into examples." He also observes, "the laws of history in
general are truth of matter, method, and clearness of expression. The
first property is necessary, to keep our understanding from the imposi-
tions of falsehood, for history is an argument framed from many partic-
ular examples or inductions: if these examples arc not true, then those
measures of life which we take from them, will be false, and deceive ua
in their consequences. The seccmd is grounded on the former; for if the
method be confused, if the words or expressions of thought be obscure,
then the ideas which we receive must be imperfect, and if such, we are
not tauffht by them what to elect, or what to shun. Truth, therefore, ia
required as the foundation of history, to inform us; disposition and per-
spicuity, as the manner to inform us plainly."
The maimer in whi(rh History ought to be studied is the next impor-
tant consideration. To draw the line of proper distinction, says a judi-
cious writer on this subject, is the first object of the discerning reader.
Let him not burden his memory with events that ougtit perhaps to pass
for fables; let him not fatigue his attention with the progress of empires,
or the succession of kings, which are thrown back into the most remote
ages. He will find that little dependence is to be placed upon the rela-
tions of those aflfairs in the Pagan world, which preceded the invention
of letters, and were built upon mere oral traililion. Let him leave the
dynasties of the Kgyptian kinss, the expeditions of Sesoatris, B.icchus,
and Jason, and the exploits "f Hercules and Theseus, for poets to em-
bellish, or chronologists to arrange. The fabulous Hccuiiiits of these
heroes of antiquity may icinind him of the sandy deserts, lofty mount-
ains, and frozen oceans, which are laid down in the maps of the ancieiil
flpographers, to conceal their ignorance of remote countries. Let him
hasten to firm ground, where he may safely stand, and behold the strik-
ing events and memoiable actions which the light of authentic record
HISTORICAL. CHRONOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL.
21
displays to his view. They alone are amply sufficient to enrich his mem-
ory, and to point oui to him well-attested examples of all that is magnan-
imous, -IS well as all that is vile ; — of all that has debased, and all that
has ennobled mankind.
THE DIVISIONS OF HISTORY.
Considered with respect to the nature of its subjects, History may be
divided into General and Particttlar; and with respect to time, into Ancient
and Modern.
Ancient FIistory commences with the creation, and ends in the year
of Ciirist 476, with the destruction of the Roman empire in the West
Modern History commences from the fall of that empire, and extends to
the present time. Ancient History is divided into two parts, or ages ;
the fabulous and the historic. The Fabulous Age begins with the first
empires, about 2000 years before the birth of Christ, and closes with the
foundation of Rome : a period which comprehends 1240 years.
The Historic Age had its beginning at the foundation of Rome, 753
years before Christ, and terminated with ancient history. The foundation
of Rome is chosen for the commencement of this important division, be-
cause at that time the clouds which were spread over the historic page
began to dissipate daily ; and because this period, in the end, has served
as an era for all the West, and also a part of the East. This age pre
sents us with the grandest revolutions in Europe and Asia. In the latter,
the entire destruction of the Assyrian empire, and the foundation of three
celebrated monarchies upon its ruins. In Europe, the establishment of
the principal republics of Greece, the astonishing progress of legislation,
and the successful cultivation of the fine arts. This division embraces
1230 years.
GENERAL HISTORY OF MODERN EUROPE.
The history of Modern Europe commences with the fall of the Ro-
man empire in the West, and continues to the present time: it embraces
nine remarkable periods, the epochs of which are ; — a.d. a.d.
1. The fall of the Western Empire 476 to 800
2. The re-establishment of that empire by Charlemagne . 800" 963
3. Tiie translation of the Empire to Germany, by Otho
the Great 962 " 1074
4. The accession of Henry IV. to the imperial crown, and
the Crusades 1074 '• 1273
5. The elevation of Rodolph of Hapsburg to the imperial
throne . 1273 " 1453
6. The fall of the Empire of the East 1453 " 1648
7. The peace of Westphalia 1648" 1713
8. The peace of Utrecht 1713 " 1789
9. The French Revolution to the present time .... 1780 " —
FIRST period. — (476 — 800.)
In the fifth century many of the modern monarchiei; of Europe had
(heir coinmciiceinciit : the empire of llie East having been, about that
piM'iod, brought to the very vergt; of ruin by the innumerable hosts of bar-
barians from the north, wliich poured in upon it, and, at length, subdued
il ill the year 476. The V.inihils, the Suevi, and the Alans, were the first
adventurers. These were soon followed by the Visigoth?, the Hurpfun-
diana, the Germans, the Franks, the Lombards, the Angles, the Saxonk, '
23
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS,
f
'•f
and the Huns. These depredators taking different routes, armed with
fire and nword, soon subjected to their yoke the terrified victims of theii
ferocity, and erected their conquests into kingdoms.
The Visijfoths, after having driven out the Vandals, destroyed thr
Alans, subdued the Suevi, and founded a new kingdom in iSpain.
Tlie Angels and the Saxons made a conquest of Britain from the Ro-
mans and natives, and formed the Heptarchy, or seven kingdoms.
The Huiis established themselves in Pannonia, and the Germans or
the banks of the Danube. The Heruli, after having destroyed the West-
ern empire, founded a state in Italy, which continued but a short time,
being driven out by the Ostrogotlis. Justinian retook Italy from the Ostro-
goths. The greater part of Italy soon after fell under the power of the
Lombards, who formed it into a kingdom. The exarchate of llaveinia,
raised, by them, to the empire of the Kast, enjoyed it but a short time.
The exarchate being conquered by Charlemagne, was settled, by him, on
the Pope, which may be properly styled the epoch of the temporal gran-
deur of the Roman pontiffs, and of the real commencement of the com-
bination of church and state.
Numerous bodies of people, from various countries, having taken posses-
sion of Gaul, founded therein several kingdoms, which were, at length,
united by the Franks, under the name of France. Pharamond was its
first monarch ; and under Clovis it arrived at considerable eminence.
Pepin le Href (the Short) expelled, in the person of Childeric III., the
race of Pharamond (called the Merovingian) from the tlirone, and as-
sumed the government. His son, Charlemagne, the greatest prince of
his time, retrieved the honour of France, destroyed the Lonibardian mon-
arcjhy, and renewed the empire of the West, being himself crowned em-
peror at Rome.
About the middle of this period, Mohammed, styling himself a prophet,
by successful imposture and the force of arms, hiid the foundation of a
consideiable empire, the East, out of the ruins of which are formed the
greater part of the present existing monarchies iu western Asia.
SECOND PKKIOD — (ROO — 963.)
Under Charlemagne, France was the most powerful kingdom of Eu-
rope ; and the title of Roman emperor was renewed by one of the descend-
ants of the destroyers of ihdt empire; the other monarchies, hardly
formed, were eclipsed by the lustre of this new kingdom.
Spain WHS subciued by the Saracens, who formed a new kingdom In
the mouutaius of Astnrias. The Moors and Christians arming aganisl
each other, laid waste this beautiful country.
The seven Saxon kingdoms, wliicli formed the Heptarchy, were united
by Kghert, who became tlii^ first kiug of Kiigliuid: but the incursions
of the Danes (irevented that power from making iuiy consi(ier;ibl(! figure
among the slates of Kurope. The North was yet plunged in barbarism,
without laws, knowing even but very little of the arts of tiic first neces-
sity.
The Frcni'h monarchy, which had risen to such a high pitch of gran
deur tnider Charlemagne, became weak under his successors. The em-
pire was Iriinsfcrred to the kings of Italy; which event was followed
by civil and foreign wars in France, in (iermany, in Italy; whili- the
Hungarians, from Tarlary, augmented the troubles. Olho the Great
subiliicil Italy, which he iinilcd lo (Jermimy with the dignity of emperor,
and shewed to a barbarous ;ige, the talents of a hero and the wisdom of a
great legislator.
TUinn rEBion.— (9fi2 — 1071.)
^ The Gertnan empire during this period reached the summit of its cmu-
deur miller Othu tho Great. Conrad H. joined the kingdom of liur
•I
i
f
HISTORICAL, CHRONOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL
23
gundy to his possessions ; and his son, Henry III., added a part of Hun
gary. This empire arrived at a high degree of power; but was soon aftei
brought into a state of decay by the influence of its nobles, and by the
feudal government.
Spain, allhoiigli desolated by the continual wars between the Visigoths
and the Saracens, was again divided by the differences of worship of
those two rival nations. In France the Carlovingian kings were de-
posed by ihe usurpation of Hugh Capet, chief of the tiiird or Capetian race
of kings.
The Danes ravaged England, and now became masters of it under Ca-
nute the Great, who conciliated the love of his new subjects. Edward
the Confessor succeeded the Danish princes. He was succeeded by
Harold II., a virtuous prince slain in battle by William duke of Nor-
mandy, who made a conquest of England. At the same lime the Normans
established themselves in Sicily, and laid the foundation of a new king-
dom.
Italy, oppressed by little tyrants, or devoted to anarchy, offered nothing
of interest, if we except Venice, which was every day extending its com-
merce. The other slates of Europe did not furnish any important event,
being at this period plunged in obscurity and barbarity.
FOURTH PERIOD. — (1074—1273.)
The quarrels between the emperors and the popes diminished the gran-
deur and power of the empire : the discords which betjan under the
emperor, Henry IV., agitated Germany and Italy during several centuries;
the factions of the Guelphs and liie Ghibelines (the one partisans of the
popes, and the other of the emperors) were alternately destroying each
otlier. Frederic I. and Frederic II. endeavored to upliold the majesty
of the empire; but the house of Hohenstanffen at length yielded: they
were despoiled of their possessions, and driven from the throne. The
empire was much weakened by the incapacity of its chiefs, the disunion
of it.s members, and the authority of the popes, ever aiming at their fur-
ther aggrandizement. The Crusades commenced: a part of Asia Minor,
Syria and Palestine, were presently wrested from the infidels; and the
banner of tlie cross was planted on Mount Sion. In the meantime the
crusaders established a kingdom in Jerusalem, which was of short dura-
tion. It was (luring the time of tlie crusades, that the Greek empire, sap-
ped to it.s fmniilaiion, passed to the Latins. Michael Paleologus, emperor
of Nice, retook Constantinople. The Crusades finsihed in 1231. It is
said, that to them was owing the origin of armorial bearings, military
orders, and tournaments.
Spain contmued to be the theatre of wars between the Christian kings
and the Moors. The kings of Castile, Arragon, and Navarre signalized
tlu-niselves by their conquests over the Saracens.
In France, the number of great vassals was somewhat diminished; but
• the continental wars with the English exhausted it both of men and nmney.
The power of England increased considerably ; the navy became puis-
sant; and, in consequence of the civil wars helween the king and the
people, tiie royal autlmrity became more weakened, and a preponderance
was given to democratical institutions.
The provinces of Naples anil Sicily .vere erected into a kingdom.
Roger, prince of Normandy, was the fust king; and his family possessed
the crown till llt)4. It them passed into tln^ house of Holienstauffen,
which house was dispossessed by that of ,\njon.
Denmark iiii-reast'd in power luuler Walnlemar II., but the iniluonco
of Sweilt'ii seemed to \w of tittle weight in the European system.
Iiu"sia gro.iiieil under the yoke of the Tartars, who also made incur-
•lonii in'o Poland. Dohecnia, and the island of Sardinia, were erected
U4
PHELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS,
Into Vlngdoifli. Genoa and Venice were increasing in power : by the
•trcnglli of their nHvies, they siipporied an extensive cominerce. Ven-
i(!P bncnmo pusBessed or Dahnatia, and a part of the Islands in the Ar-
ohipehigo.
FIFTH PERIOD.— (1273— 1453.)
Tlio Itates of Europe enjoyed an equality or equilibrium during this
poriod. Home alone seemed to possess superior power at first, but this
power very goon diminished considerably : it laboured without effect to
drive the (ihibelines out of Italy, and to reunite the Greeks to the church.
The empire of Germany, confined to its own limits, underwent some
ohnngei. Its chaotic government was rendered somewhat more clear;
and emnernrg of difTerent houses successively occupied the throne. At
the doiith of Siifismund, Albert II., of the house of Hapsburg, or Austria,
was elected ; (rum which time to the present day, this family, with little
exception) have possessed the imperial crown.
Friinco whs considerably agitated by intestine feuds, but became more
powerful by the expulsion of the English. Legislation and police wero
iM'^innin; to bo understood, which served to soften the manners of the
people, nnd promote the tranquillity of the nation.
Kdwnrd ill. rendered England the terror of its neighbours: he held at
the mime time three kings prisoners; and France was reduced, by his
prowcHK, to tho condition of an humble supplicant. The factions of the
ri-d nnd whitt rnse$, (the first as vhe supporters of the title of the house
of I.Hiicnsler, nnd the latter that of York,) were deluging their uative
Innd with the blood of each other at the close of this period.
Npnin continued to enrich itself with the spoils of the Saracens; who,
nolwilhstiinding the efforts of the Spaniards, were yet masters of all the
BOMtlinrn purls, In Portugal, the iRgitimate descendants of Henry became
extinct, iind an illegitimate prince of the same house ascended the
throne. Sicily was taken by Peter of Arragon, of the house of Anjou,
who nUo held the kingdom of Naples. Margaret, queen of Denmark,
the Nemirnmis of the north, united in her person the three crowns of
Dennmrk, Sweden nnd Norway. This union, made at Calmar, continued
lilt H short time. The Swedes broke the treaty, and choose for them-
Hdlvei n kintr.
RiiMiii, (hitherto under the yoke of the Tartars) was delivered from
dlitvery nnd obscurity. In Poland, the royal dignity began to have per-
mniiency. In Hungary, the house of Anjou mounted the throne ; the
crown of which, as well as that of Bohemia, soon after passed to the
luume of Austria.
Olhinnn, sultan of the Turks, erected a monarchy, which arrived to
griMil power under Mohammed II. This prince took Constantinople, and
put nil end to tho empire of the East. The consequence resulting from
the cnpliirn of this fine city, was a reflux of letters from the East to tho
West, which contributed to the establishment of the arts. Printing, en
irriiviMK of prints, pnpermaking, paintinflf in oil, gunpowder, and the mar
iiiitr'a compass, wore the principal, among many other useful inventions.
SIXTH PERIOD.— (1453— 1648.)
The history of Europe during this period becomes very interesting.
Tim discovery of the East Indies and America, and the great changes
hrniiitht nboiil in religions opinions by the succf ssOd endeavours of Luther,
<!alviii, nnd othrrei, gave a new appearance to many states in this quarter
of the world.
The Innn^i' of Austria increased in territorial possessions. Europe
npptmred like u vast republic, the balance of power therein being at thit
tiiiiu un a bolter footing than it was in Ancient Greece.
I
i
HISTORICAL, CHttONOLOGICAL AND QEOGRAPHICAL.
8A
1
■
Almost every stale in Europe underwent important revolutions. Ger-
many was considerably improved in its legislation under Maximilian I.(
the Imperiiil Chamber and Aulio Council were established. The reli-
gious disputes brought on a succession of cruel and destructive wars ;
they were, however, terminated by the treaty of Passau, the peace of
1555, and that of Westphalia.
In France, the feudal government was at length destroyed by Charles
VII. and Louis II. The wars against England succeeded those of Italy;
and those were followed by intestine wars against the Huguenots, or Pro-
lestants, which were terminated by the reduction of Kochelle, and the
expulsion of the Protestants. In Spain, the three Christian kingdoms
were united. This monarchy, founded by Ferdinand V., surnamed the
Catholic, arrived at its zenith of power under his grandson, Charles V. It
lost a part of its splendour under Philip III. and Philip IV., princes without
genius, valour or resources.
Portugal became formidable under Emanuel ; but grew weak after the
death of Sebastian. The kingdom submitted to the Spanish yoke : which
it shook oflf in 1640, when the house of Braganza, by aa unexpected
revolution, ascended the throne.
England gaii>ed strength under Henry VII., and became, from time to
time, mor(3 powerful under his successors, the Tudors, by its policy and
its commerce, and particularly so during the reign of queen Elizabeth.
After the death of Elizabeth, James VI., king of Scotland, ascended the
English throne, and took the title of James I., king of Great Britain; but
neither himself, nor his successors, possessed the genius or the activity
of that celebrated princess.
Italy was divided into many small states. Tuscany, Parma and Pla-
centia, heretofore cities of the kingdom of Italy, were raised to the dig-
nity of dukedoms. The princes of Florence encouraged tiie progress of
the arts and sciences by honours and rewards. Venice was less consid-
erable for its commerce than formerly ; the discovery of the compass en-
abling other nations to partake with the Venetians in the profits arising
from navigation. G( noa also experienced a considerable diminution of
commerce from the same cause.
The seven United Provinces, viz. Holland, &c. threw off the Spanish
yoke, and became free ; while the Swiss, in the centre of their rocky
fastnesses, formed governments for the protection of their liberty.
Denmark, under the kings of the house of Oldenburg, now began to
make a figure among the powers of Europe. The Swedes threw off
the Danish yoke, and elected Guslavus Vasa for their king, who redeem-
ed the lustre of the nation. Gustavus Adolpiius added considerably to
its power by his valour and his victories. Russia also ns-sumed a new
face. I wan Basilowitz delivered his country from tiie Tartarian yoke.
Iwan Basilowitz II. extended the empire. The house of Romanof as-
cended the throne, and commenced those grand sciiemes which the
genius and perseverance of Peter the Great afterwards executed.
Poland flourished under the Jagellon race of princes ; but these becom-
mg extinct, foreigners were introduced to tiie throne. Hungary and Bo-
hemia, after having had kings of different nations fell to the house of
Austria.
The Ottoman empire augmented its grandeur and power under Soly-
man 11. After his death, tlie goverinnunt falling into the hands of indo-
lent and cfTeininate princes, became considerably v.'eakened, and the un-
bridled power of the Janissaries now arrived at its highest pitch.
SEVENTH PERIOD. — (1618 — 17] 4,)
The political system of Europe experienced a change at the com-
uicncement of this period. France extended its territory, and becain*.
w
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS,
»ery powerrti under Louis XIV. ; but tlie wars carried on by this pnnce
agHiiist Spain, Holland, and the empire, exhausted the resources of tlie
kingdom.
Germany presented some interesting clianges. Leopold established a
nintii electorate in favour of the house of Hanover. Augustus, elector of
Saxony, was elected king of Poland; an-! George, elector of Hanover,
ascended the throne of Great Britain. Prussia was erected into a king-
dom under Frederic, the third elector of Brandenburg, who took the title of
Frederic \.
Spain lost power under the latter princes of Austria, and was dismem-
bered by the " succession" war, which terminated in favour of the house
of Bourhon.
Alphonsus VI., king of Portugal, was deposed and the kingdom de-
clared independent of Spain by the peace of Lisbon.
In England, Charles I. was beheaded, and the monarchy abolished.
Oliver Cromwell was declared protector of the Conintonwealih, which
lasted but a short time after his death. The Stuart family were estab-
lished again on the throne. James II. abdicated. V\ illlam, sladlholder
of the United Provinces, was elected king, and secured the succession of
the house of Hanover at the death of Anne.
Italy underwent an almost entire change by the peace of Utrecht;
the house of Austria was put in possession of its most fertile countries.
At the same time the house of Savoy, profiting both by tlie war and the
peace, increased its possessions in Italy, and thereby raised its influence
in Europe.
The United Provinces increased in riches and power: their indepen-
dence was secured by the peace of Westphalia; but they engiiged in wars
whii'h drained them of their treasures, without augmeniing their power.
The republics of Switzerland and of Venice ai)peared to he of less con-
sequence among the European slates than heretofore ; but the former eon-
timiod to be liappy in its mountains; the latter tranquil among its lakes.
Sweden, whose power was prodigious under Charles X. and Charles
XII., lost much of its grandeur after the defeat of the latter prince at
Fultowa. Russia became almost on a sudden enlightened and powerful,
under the auspices of Peter the Great. Poland, uufortiuiate under .lolui
Ca.siuiir, was made respectable under John Sobieski. Hungary was
desolated by continual intestine war, and deluged with the blood of its
own inhabitants.
The Ottoman eiripire continued weak under princes incapable of gov-
erning, who placed the sceptre in the hands of ministers altogether as
weak and incapable as themselves.
EIGHTH PERion. — (1714—178!).)
This period was replete in negotiation, in treaties, and in wars. The
balance of power, intended systematically to produce pi'rpctual peace,
had, on the contrary, been the means of exciting coiitlnn;il war. The
peace of Utrecht, siyned by almost all the powers of Europe, failed to
re(;oncile the emperor and the king of Spain. Philip V. counnenced war.
The English and Dutch procured the treaty of Vienna, in 1731. which i)Ul
an end to that calamity ; but a lu^w war commenced on the e 'ection of a
king (if Poland. France declared war aj^ainst the empenir, which termi-
nated by the peace of Vienna. The dcatii of Charles VI., l?-!!*, produced
a new war, more important than the former was, and of longer duration.
Fr;ince look the part of the electorof Bavaria, as a ccmipeiilor for imperial
dignity against the house of Austria. Tlie success of the arms of the
Frt'iicli and Bavarians, induced the (]ueeii of Hungary to dciacli tiie kiny
of Prussia fniin the alliance. The defcclioii of Ibis jiriin'c clian^ed llie
♦ace of alTairs; and llie subsequent victories of niitrshal Saxe obliged the
M13T011ICAL, CHIIONOLOGICAL AND OEOGHAPHICAL.
SW
beH'iBereiit powers to conclude the peace of Aix-lc-Chapelle, which al-
furdod bill a short Crilin to ciisuiiguiiied Europe. Tlie houses of Bourbon
and Austria, so long enemies and rivals, now united their eflforls to main-
tain the balance of power. But the English and French soon found pre-
text for new disagreements, and war was again declared. The king of
Prussia took pari with the Eiii,'li8h, and the kingof Spain with the French.
This war terminated much in I'avour of the English, and peace was con-
cluded ill 1763. In Italy the houses of Austria and Bourbon had the prin-
cipal sway. Savoy, assisted by England, augmented its power: the
island of Sardinia was given in exchange for Sicily. Cliarles Emanuel
III. joined a small part of the Milanese to this territory, and Corsica be-
came a province to France. In Holland, William IV., prince of Orange,
was declared sladtlioldcr of the Seven United Provinces.
Sweden, after the death of Charles XII., underwent an entire change :
the house of Holslein-Eulin asceivled the throne. Gusiavus III., the
second kingof tliis family, seized upon the liberties of his people, and be-
•;:inie a despot. In Kuissia the four princesses who had held the sceptre
since tiie death of Peter tlie Great, rendered the empire worthy of the
fireat genius who may be sly' id its founder. Poland was dismembered
't by its three powerful neighbours, Russia, Austria and Prussia.
■P.^ Prussia, which had not ceased to aggrandize itself since the elector of
%i Brandenburg received the title of king, was raised to the height of grandeur
V »nd power under the wise government of that celebrated hero and philo-
I sopher, Frederic II.
••'y In Turkey, Aclimet III. was obliged to surrender his crown to his
-i nephew, Moliammed V. Mustapha III. espoused the cause of the Poles
^i against the Russians, and sustained great losses. His successor, Acliinet
IV. |)iit an end to this unfortunate war by a peace, to gain which he made
great sacrifices.
Tilt) English colonies in America revolted from the mother country,
threw off its yoke, and declared themselves independent. France, Spain
and Holland, declared in their fav«)iir ; when after a war of eight years, it
was terminated by in 1783 by a peace, whereby they were acknowledged
as an independent nation.
NINTH PERIOD. — (1789 — 1815.)
This period was ushered in by one of the greatest revolutions that evei
happened in Eiiro[)e, or the world. The French, so long habituated to
despotism, threw off,as it were in a moment, the yoke imposed upon them
and their forefathers for many ages. Their king, Louis XVI., apparently
joined in the effort, but at length, wanting firmness for so trying an occa-
sion, prevaricated, and attempted to fly ; he was seized, tried, iniqiiitously
condemned and executed. His queen, Antoinette of Austria, suffered
also under the giiillDtine. The powers of Europe, headed by the emperor
and the king of P^n^^.siil, coalesced together to crush the revolutionary
spirit of France. Great Britain, Spain, Russia, H(dland, Sardinia, Naples,
the Pope, and a variety of inferior powers, joined the confederacy : to
this was added a powerful parly in the interior, and the flames of civil
war spread far and wide. Massacre, rapine and horror, stalked through
the land : iiolwitlistHiKling which, the Convention formed a ironstitutioii,
levied numerous armies, and conquered Holland, the Netherlands, and all
the country west of the |{liine. Italy submitted also to the Gallic republi-
cans ; and Germany was penetrated to its centre.
Several changes look [)lacH in the government Buonaparte conquered
Egypt: and, in his absence, France lost great |:rtvt of his conquests in
Italy. He returned, and assuming the government under the title of first
consul, reconquered Italy. Soon after, he established the Italian repub-
lic ; was liinuelf constituted president; aud made peace with England.
M!.
^ : I
«t
PUKLIMlNAliy OBSEUVAIIONS,
which lasted but a short time. A new war cori<n\e:iced. Buonaparte was
elected emperor of the French.
Great Britain, notwithstanding the part it took in the confederate war,
pushed its commerce and manuiactures to an extent heretofore unknown.
It made several conquests, nearly annihilated the French navy, and
obliged their army to evacuate Egypt. Peace was restored, but was of
short duration. War again commenced: a military spirit showed itself
throughout the nation, and tremendous efforts were made. French im-
petuosity and British valour were for years witnessed in the Spaniuh
peninsula. Russia was invaded by a powerful host under Napoleon H to-
naparte but the invaders were utterly annihilated. The crownvig ;;! if
the war was the ever-memorable battle of VVaierloo, whersLy 'he cvcT-
throw of Napoleon was effected, and the peace of the world resmred, afier
gigantic efforts and sacrifices, on all sides, which have no ) jralltl :.n 1 ; u ry.
CHRONOLOGY.
CoMP.^RATivELT Speaking, the science of Chronology is but of recent
origin ; for many ages elapsed before the mode of computing time, or even
of giving dates to important events, was at all regarded: nny, after the
value of historical writings was felt and acknowledged, Chronology long
remained imperfect; the most ancient historians leaving the precise
periods they record undetermined. When Homer and Herodotus wrote,
and for centuries afterwards, there was no regular distribution of time
into such parts as months, weeks, and hours; nor any reference to
clocks, dials, or other instruments, by which the perpetual current of time
\t'.i-. subdivided. Tiie divisions of time which are considered in Chrono-
logy, relate either to the different methods of computing days, montlis,
and years, or the remarkable eras or epochs from which any year receives
its name, and by means of which the date of any event is fixed. The
ciioice of these epochs is for the most part arbitrary, each nation preferring
its most remarkable revolution as the standard by which to regulate its
measurement of time. Thus, the Greeks have their Argonautiu expedi-
tion, their siege of Troy, their arrival of Cecrops in Attica, and their
Olympic Games. The Romans reckoned from the foundation of their city,
but in their annals they also frequently advert to their various civil ap-
pointments and external conquests. The modern Jews reckon from the
Creation; and the Christians from the Birth of our Saviour. From this
we count our years backward towards the beginning of time, and forward
to the present day. But it was not till the year 532 that this plan was in-
troduced; and even then the abb6 Dionysius, who invented it, erred in
his calculations: nor was his error discovered for upwards of six centuries
afterwards, when it was ; i iid '■■; bedcficient four years of the true period,
liut as an alteration of a s'sihai .vliich had been adopted by nearly all
Europe, would have O' 'i' iui. •" '■ ''p'.'ulable in' vi^nienciis ui civil and
ecclesiastical affairs, • «.• , ny general * .j.isent, suffered to re-
main, and we continue lo reckon from what is called the "vulgar era,"
which wants four years and six days of the real Christian epoch.
It cannot be denied that there are many difficulties in the way of fixmg
a correct Chronology ; but still there are four data from which satisfac-
tory coiicliisioiis relative to certain events may be drawn; and, by ascer-
taining whether others occurred before or after them, we may in general
arrange the most remote transactions with a degree of regularity that at
the first view might have appeared hopeless. These are, 1. Astronomical
observations, particularly of tlie eclipses of the sun and moon, conibiiied
with the calculations of the years and eras of particular nations. 2. The
I ■•'5
w
el
d
HISTOlllCAL, CmiONOlOOiOAL AND GEOQRArHiCAL.
i9
■te was
le war,
uiown.
y, and
was of
d itself
iieh ini-
Spiiniiih
g •. ;t if
le r-v.T-
ed. after
Vri-iA-ry.
)f recent
3, or even
after the
logy long
e precise
us wrote,
., of time
erence to
nt
n
. of time
,. Clirono-
s, months,
ar receives
ixed. Tlie
I preferring
regulate its
itie expedi-
j, and their
f ttieircity,
Lis civil ap-
oil from tlic
From tliis
and forward
)lan was in-
it, erred in
lix centuries
true period.
bv nearly all
, [a civil and
ffered to re-
• vulgar era,
och.
vay of fixing
lich satisfac-
ind, by ascer-
ay in general
ilarily that at
Astronomical
,on, combined
ions. 2. The
P
1%
t
■estimonics of credible I'hors. 3. Those epochs in history which an*
■o well altc: led and dcterinnicd as never to have been controverted. 4
Ancient medals, coins, inonuniciits und inscriptions. We have also some
artificial distinctions of time, which iicverttielcss depend on astronomical
calculations; such arc ;lie Solar and Lunar Cyci<'N, ihe Roman Indictiuii,
the Feast of Easter, the Bissextile or l-pap-Year, the Jubilees and Sab-
batic Years of the Israelites, the Olympiads of the Greeks, the Hngira of
the Mohammedans, &c. But it must be borne in mind, that the study of
Chromdogy, though so useful to the clear understantUng of historical
records, is a distinct science, and requires to be studies methodically. —
Our purpose in this place is merely to point to it as on« of ** the eyes of
history."
GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE WORLD AND ITS
INHABITANTS.
Br Geography is understood a description of the Earth. It is divided
mto Physical or Natural Geography, and Civil and Political Geography.
The first, or Physical Geography, refers to the surface of the earth, its
divisions, and their relative situations; the climate and soil; the face of
the country; and its productions, animal, vegetab'>' and mineral. The
second, or Civil Geography, includes the various n aions of the earth, as
divided into empires, kingdoms, republics, provinces, &c., and the origin,
language, religion, government, political power, commerce, education and
manners and customs of those nations.
The form of the earth is very nearly spherical ; the polar axis being
only about 38 miles shorter than the equatorial ; and as the diameter is
nearly 8000 miles, so slight a difference in a globular body would be im
perceptible.
In the study of Geography, maps and globes are indispensable ; but,
owing to their form, globes give a better idea of the relative sizes and sit-
uations of countries than can be learned from maps.
The earth has an annual and a diurnal motion ; it moves completely
round the sun in about 365 days, 6 hours; and turns comfletely round, as
if on an axis or spindle, from west to east, in about 34 hours: an imag-
inary line, therefore, passing through its centre, is called ts Axit. The
extremities of the axis are called Pules — North and South — the one near
est to the country we inhabit being the North Pole.
A line drawn round a globe is obviously a circle; and as various circles
are described on artificial globes, for reasons hereafter mentioned, we
speak of them as though they were really so delineated on the earth'*
surface.
The principal circles on the globe are the Equator, the i^cliptic, the
Tropic of Cancer, the Tropic of Capricorn, and the Arctic ar.vl Antarctic
circles. All circles are considered as divisible into 3G0 equal narts, called
degrees; each degree into 60 minutes, and each minute into fO seconds:
H degree is thus marked ", a minute thus', and a second 'hus ": so
that 28^ 52' 36" means 28 degrees, 52 minutes, 36 seconds. And as a
whole circle contains 3G0 degrees, a semi-circle (or half a circle) will con
tain 180°, and a quadrant (or quarter of a circle) 90°.
That circle on the surface of the globe which is everywhere equally di8>
iant from each pole, is called the Equator; and it divides the elobe into
two equal parts or Hemispheres, the Northern and Southern. The appel-
lation Equator, or Equinoctiid {noctes (cquantur), is given to it, because,
when the sun, through the annual motion of the earth, is seen in this cir-
cle, the days and nignts are equal in every part of the world.
The Ecliptic is so called, because, all eclipses rf the sun or moon can
so
Paia.lMINARY OBSKRVATION*
only take place when the moon is in or near thai circle. This circle ik
described on the terrestrial globe solely for the purpose of performing a
greater number of problems.
The Tropics are two parallels to the equator, drawn through the eclip-
tic, at those points where the ecliptic is at the greatest distance from the
equator; which is about 33° 30' from the equator, on either side. When
the sun is opposite to one of the tropics, those people who are as far from
the corresponding pole as the tropic is from the equator, see the sun for
more than twenty-four hours. This is the case with every part nearer
to the poles, but never with any part farther from them. To point out
this peculiarity, a circle is described on the globe, 234° from each pole
One of these Pu!ar Circlet is called the Arctic, the other the Antarctic ; sig-
nifying the north, and that which is opposite to the north.
The Zones (so called from a Greek word signifying belts or girdles) de-
note those spaces between the several principal circles before described.
Thus between the poles and polar circles are the two frigid zones, be-
tween the two frigid zones and the tropics are the two temperate zones,
and between the two tropics the torrid zone ; deriving these appellations
from the temperature of the atmosphere.
The Latitude of a place is its distance froin the equator. It is measureti
by the number of degrees, &c., in the arc of the meridian, between the
place and the equator; and is called North or SuufA, according as the
place is north or south of the equator.
Limptude is the distance of any place from a given spot, generally the
capilalof the country, measured in a direction east or west, either along
the equator or any circle parallel t'j it. The Kiiglish measure their Ion-
giiudeeast and W(>st of Greenwich, the French east and west of Paris, &c
Mcrtdians, or circles of longili'iles, are so called from meridtcs, or mid-
day; bcciiiise, as the earth makes one coinplele revolution n)und its own
axis in tweiuy-fonr hours, every part of its surface must Ln the course
of that time he directly opposi'.t! to the sun. The sun, therefore, st that
point, will appear at its greacest altitude, or, in other words, it will be
mid'day or noon.
Divisions or thk KiiRTii.
It was usual until the present century to speak of the great divisions of
the Karth as the Four Quarlrrs of the World, viz; Kurope, Asia, .M'rica,
and America. Hnt a more scientific distribution has since been oenerally
adopted; and the chief terrestrial divisions of the earth's surface are now
thus enumerated : Europe, Asia, Africa, North atid South Amcrtca, Australia,
and Poli/nesia. Of these, Kurojie, Asia, and Africa, form the lOartern
Hemisphere, (or the Old World); and America the Western Hemisphere,
which, frotn its not being known to Kur()i)eaiis till iIk; close of the 15tb
oentury, is called the Ni^w World. Australia includes that extensive re-
gion called New-Holland, together with New-Zealand and adjacent isles;
and Polynesia comprehends tht? ninnerous groups of volcanic and corallne
islands m the Pacinc Ocean, exteniliiig eastward to the Philippine Islands
and from New-Guuiea to the coast of America.
The Orean occupies about two thirds of thc! earth's surface; and its
waters are conslanlly encroaching upon the land in some places, and re-
ceding from it in others. To this cause may he atliiltiiled the formation
of many islands in diffrrent parts of the worid. The greatest depth of the
oceai' which has been ascertained, i-* aliont 000 fathoms; its mean depth
is estimated at about 800 fathoms. Near the tropics it. is extremely suit,
but the Silliness considerahlv diminishes towards the jioles.
This immense expanse of water is divided into siualler oceans or seas,
giilfs, buys, Ac., Innilcd partly by real, partly l)y ima^iniary boniidari(^s
The l'ii<]lic Oceuii, which covers nearly one third of the eiirth's surface
•1
HISTORICAL, CHRONOLOGICAL, AND GEOGRAPHICAL.
31
inns of
A '.Vic 11.
iiprally
now
alralin,
•liirtcrn
plHTO,
15lli
ivo rn-
islcs ;
iraline
Isismds
md !t»
ml ro-
n-'ition
»r (lift
(l('|)ih
Halt,
aricm
rfac»
and is about 10,000 miles in breadth, lies between the eastern coast of Asia
and Australia, and the western coast of America. The AUaiUic Ocean lies
between Europe and Africa on tlie east, and America on the west. The
Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are each distinguished into North and South.
The Indian Ocean is bounded by Asia, Africa, and Auslraha. 'I'he Arctic
or Frozen Ocean, lies to the north of Europe, Asia, and part of America.
The Southern Ocean lies south of all the continents.
In this condensed Work which we now submit to the public, it will not
be expccied that the manifold uses and advantages of a knowledge of His-
tory could be discussed, or that many facts and reasonings which might
elucidate obscure or controverted passages could be brought forward; but
we trust it will generally be found that the materials we have made use
of have been derived from the must accurate sources of historical infor-
mation ; that while a great mass of matter has been brought together, it
may, at the same time, appear, that judgment and circumspection have
been used in proportion to the importance and difficulty of the task; and,
moreover, that truth and impartiality have been regarded beyond all other
considerations. Upon events which have recently occurred, or are in
progress at the present moment, we know that different opinions will pre-
vail and therefore, in relating such transactions, an honest and fearless
regard for truth and the good of society is the bounden duty of every one
who presumes to narrate them. Hy this golden rule we have endeavoured
to abide, and humbly hope we have suci^icded.
Tiie idea of iiiakliig the Tkeasuhv uk Historv extend toanother volume
was at first entertained; and, in truth, no small portion of it was prepared
under an iinprcssion that such was inevitable. If, therefore, it should appeal
that some of the Histories have not due space allotted to them, tins fact is
offered as our most valid reason for sucli apparent inequality : but it is by
no means inteiiiied as an excuse for the luiigtii of the History of England;
for it is almost impossible to speak of any great events which have occur-
red among civilized nations — especially within the last century — that do
not, directly or indirectly, bear on Uritish interests, and which consequent-
ly, come within our province to notice.
It seems, however, that a few words of an explanatory or apologetio
nature are still necccssary. To be brief, then: — A uniform method ol
spelling foreign proper names has not always been rigidly adhered to; or,
it may be, sucii names are spelt difTfieiitly in other works. For instance,
we have written Genghis-Khan, as the most usual orthography ; but we
have found it elsewhere written Zmgis Khan, Cinfris Khan, and Jenghis
Khan. The name of Mahomel, or Mohammed, is wrilien both ways, and
each has its advocates, though modern custom, we tiiiiik, is in favour of
the latter method. Many others niiglil, of course, be mentioned; but in
none arc so many variations to be found as in the Chinese names. It may
also happen that the transactions of one ronntry may appear to he given
more fully than necessary in the history of another; and iice i..isa. The
necessity of avnidiiig needless repetitions, in a work so condcnsiid, and
the desire at the same tiini: to omit noiliing of iin[,ortance, must plc.idour
excuse for such faults, while the too frequiMil absence of a vigorous or
elegant stylo of ciMiiposition, may be llioii<;lit to require a siiniiar apology.
We are, indeed, fully sensible that, wiiii all our cans many iinperl'cctiona
will be founil, and ilial we must rely rhn'lly iipmi llie camloiir and lilieraiity
)f that public, wiiosc kind 8ii|)pi>r'. ami encoiiragement on former occasions
)ve !iave felt and gratefully acknowledged.
I
J
%-#^
'■.7;
THK
TREASURY OF HISTORY
INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE SKETCH
or
G E i^ E U A 1. ins T 11 Y.
I
t
1
I
('HAl'TEU I.
THE ANTEDIIXVIAN WORLD.
Histonv, beyoiii] all other siiulifis. is calculalnd to enliitlitf-n the jiidj^-
mciiit itiid cnhiiBi! th(; uiulei-stiiiidint;. Every pnge eonveys some usei'iil
lesson, every sentence has its moral; and its range is as boundless as its
nmtter is various. It is accordingly adinitied, as an indispulahh! iixioin,
that there is no species of lilcrary composition to which liie lacnliies of
the mind can he more laiidalily directed, or from which more useful infor-
mation may lie deriviMJ. While it imparts to us a knowlcdjfe of man m
his social relations, and thereby enaliius lis to divest ourselves of many
errors and prejudices, it lends to strengihen our abhorrence of vice, and
creates an honourable ambition for the attaiimient of true greatnes^ iiiid
solid glory. Nay, if considered as a mere sourct? of rational aiiiusctneiit,
History will still be found inliiiitely superior to the exlravajirant fictions
af romance, or ihi! distorted pictures of living manners; for by the /lahit-
ual perusal of these, however polished their style or i|uaint their humour,
the midlect is IVeqiteiitly debilitated, and the luMri too often c(irrii()ted.
In all the re( prds (d' ancient history there is a mixture of p()eij<-ai fable ;
nor is it wholly to thi! historian's immaturity of reason, or to the general
supersliljoii that prevailed in remote ages, that wv are to ascribe this pre-
dilection for niiU'vellous and wild narralion. It has with great truth been
8;iid that the lirsl transactions of men, were bidd and exiravagant— tiieir
nmbitlon being morii to astonish their fellow-creatiircs by the v.islness of
their designs, and the difnciilties Ihey <'ould overcome, llniii by any ra
tioiial and extensive jilaii of public utiiily.
Moilern history, liow(!ver, claiiiiN our more |)arlicul;ir reg:ird. In that is
described tliosi- actions iiiid events which have a necessary connection
Willi the limes in which \\v. live, and winch liave a direct' influence upon
the goveriinieiit and cotii'tjtulioii of our c<iinitry. It unfolds the secret
wheels of political intrigue, tiie artilices of diplomacy, and all those! com-
plications of iiitcri'sl which arise from national rivalship; while at the
same time it lays before lis the causes and coiiscipirnces of great events,
anil edifies its by examples which coiiie hoiiie to our understandings, and
art! congenial with mir Inibiis niid feelinirs. Hut wc will not take np more
of the reader's tmie in expatiating on llie ri lative merits u\' ancient and
modern history ; trusting that sufilcieut li.is been said to induce liim to
ni'coin[iiiiiy us while we attempt to ilcscnbt! the rise, pnigress and siibvcr.
Aion ol empires, ami the causes of llieir prosperity or decay.
As specni.ilioiis iipuii the origin and formaliiMi of the world belong rutliiii
tu philosopliv than history, we utiuuUI deem it superi;rog,itury to iiutiuo
I.— 3
*■
34
OUTLINK SKETCH Of GKNKUAL IIISTOHV
It
the subject, however shglitly, were it not prohahio thai its eiilire omission
mijrhl be uoiii^iiiered an uiiiiecessiiiy deviation fioiu an ahuusi universal
practice, inii!<nuicii as it has lieen sanclioned by the example of the most
tininent writers of ancient and modern limes. On these and oilier ques
tions, ahkc uncertain, the most ojiposite o|)inions have been pronuilgated,
and the most irreconcilable hypotheses advanced in their support ; we
shail, however, not stop to inquire into the relative merits of the various
and discordant theories which have so long and so uselessly occupied the
•tttcntinn of philosophers, naturalists, and theologians.
That the earth has undergone many violent revolutions, no possible
doubt can exist in the mind of any one who has paid even the most su-
perficial attention to the discoveries in geological science during the last
and present centuries; but the mighty process by which our globe was
originally formed is a niystery quite as unfathomable now as it was iu the
darkest periods of human exisience. Lei us, then, be content with the
sublime exordium of the great .lewish lawgiver ; and we shall find that
the account he gives of the creation, though eloquently brief, is iieilherHl
legorical nor mystical, but corresponds, in its bold outline, with the phe
nomena wliich is exhibited to us in the great book of nature. It is true
that there is nothing in the writings of Nioses either calculated or intended
to satisfy curiosity ; his object was simply to declare that ilie whole was
the work of an Almighty architect, who as the Creator and Sovereign of
the Universe, was alone to be worshipped.
With regard to the primitive condition of mankind, two very opposite
opinions prevail. Some represent a golden age of innocence and bliss ;
others a state of wild and savage barbarism. 'I"he former of these is found
not only in the inspired writings of the Jews, but in the books esteemed
sacred by various oriental nations, as the Chinese, Indians, Persians, Ha-
bylonians, and Egyptians, 'i'lie latter began their history with dynasties
of gods and heroes, who were said to have assumed human form, and to
iiave dwelt amont; men. Tlu^ golden age of the Hindoos, and their nu-
merous avatars of the gods, are fictions of a similar character, as well as
their two royal dynasties descended from the sun and moon, vith which
we find a remarkable coim-idence in the traditions of Peru, vccording to
the other doctrine, the human race was originally in the lowest state of
culture; and gradually, but slowly, attained perfection. It s in vain, how-
ever, for us to look to the traditionary lah^s of antiquity ; fir with the ex-
ception of the Mosaic history, as contained in the first six chapters of
Genesis, we can find nmie which does not either abound withlhegrossest
absurdities, or lead us inio absolute! darkness.
"Commentators," says Anquelil, '-have amplified by their reveries the
simple, naiiiral, and afil'ciing narrative of IMost.'s. That historian has in-
formed us, in a few words, wli;it was the origin "'' ' arious customs and
arts, and recorijcd tlu- names of llieir inveiiiors. Lnmech, the son of (,'ain,
gave the fii-st examiile of polygamy, ('ain himself, built the first city, and
introd'.iced weights and ineasnies. One of his grandsons ' was the father
of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.' Jubal jiveiited
music, Taliul-C^'alii llxsirlsof forging iron, and cast iiig brass; and a female
named Naainah, iliose <if spinning and weaving."
'I'liat the anledilnviaiis led a paxioral and agncullural life, forming one
vast comniiinity, without any of those divisions into diMVrent nations
which have sii,ce tak<'n place, seems fully evident, lint tin; most mate-
rial part of their history is, Ihal having once began to transgress the divine
conmiaiids, llicy followed the alliiiemi ills of |)assion and sensuality, and
proceeded in iheir career of wickedness, till at lenglli the universal cor-
ruption and impieiy of llie w<n'ld had reached its /inilli, and Ihc Almighty
Ctcator revealed to Noah Ins purpose of {jeslroying the whole himinii race
except himself and Ins family, by a general deluge; commanding him lu
I
OUTLINB SlCKTCll OF GICNKIIAL HISTORY.
34
prepare an ark, or sm.ablo vessel, for the preservation of the just from the
iinpeiuliiig judgineiil, as well as for the reception of animals destined tw
reproduce their several species.
CHAPTER II.
FROM THE neLUGG, TO THE SETTLEMENT OP THE JEWS IN CANAAN.
After the Flood had prevailed upon the earth a hundred ami (ifiy days,
and had decreased for an ecpial time, Noah became convinced, by the re-
turn of a dove with an olive branch, that the land had again emerged. The
time when this great event took place was, according to the common com-
putation, in the lfi56th year of the world ; though other dates have been
assigned by different ehronolugists. Many other nations, in the inytho-
loy jcal part of their history, narrate circumstances attending a vast inun-
(laiion, or universal deluge, which in their eitsential particulars, corres-
pond with the scriptural at;count, and are supposed to owe their origin to
■^ it. The Chaldeans describe a universal deluge, in which all mankind was
■^ destroyed, except Xisuthrus and his family. According to the tradition-
ary history of the Greeks, the inhabitants of the earth all perislntd by a
vr flood except Deucalion, and his wife Fyrrha. By the Hindoos it is be-
J| licved that a similar catastrophe ocfcurred, and that their king, Salyavrata,
I with seven jiatriarchs, was preserved in a ship from the universal destrne-
f lion. Kven the American Indians have a tradition of a similar deluge,
■.) and a renewal of the human race from ihe family of one individnnl. Uut
.;j these ac(;ounts being unsupported by historic evidence, it would be an un-
profitable occupation of ihe reader'stime to ccntiment on them. We shall
* :, therefore merely observe, that many ingenious theories have occupied the
attention of distinguished men in their endeavours to account for this uni-
versal catastrophe. The Mosaic account simply tells us, that the windows
of heaven were opened and the foimtains of Ihe deep were broken up, and
s^ that as the Hood decreased the waters returned from off the face of the
k earth. That there is nothing uimatnral in this, geological seiem^c fur-
J nishes ample evidence; in short, distinct proofs of the deluge are to be
found in the dislocations of the regular strata, and in the phenomena con-
nected with alluvial depositions — which can only be attributed to the
agency of vast torrents everywhere flowing over and disorganizing the
surface of the earth.
According lo Ihe narration of the inspired writer, the individuals prc-
!<erved from the deluje were Noah and his wife, and his tlireesons, Sheni,
Ham, and .laphet, with their wives; in all, eight persons. We are in-
formed that the ark rested on mount Ararat (in Armenia); but whether
Noah and his sons remained long in that neighbourliood mii^t be left to
mere coiijcciuie. We merely learn that the greatest portion of Ihe hu-
man race were some time afterwards assembled on th< plains of Sliinar,
where they eiigaurcd in hiiilding a tower, with the foolish and impious in-
tention of reaching the skies, or, in the languagi; of .Scripture, " w hose lop
may reach unto heaven." Uut this attempt, we are informed, was IVus-
irated by the Almiifhty. who confounded their languaire, so that they no
lunger understood each other's speeith. The scene of ihi.i abortive iinder-
lakiiiir is supposed 1 have been upon Ihe Kiiphrati s, where ll.ibvlon was
built, not far from which are extensive masses of ruins ; and llie remains
of a largi- mound, called by Ihe Arabs the Mursi Ninirod, or Nimiod's tow-
i.r, is gener.illy believed to" be the fiMindalioii of the lower of Mabel.
In endeavouring to account in a natural way. and no. as tl (feci of a
niiraele, lor Ihe confusion of laimruaires ami Ihedispersjoii of iiiaiikiMd Dr.
Shiickford comes to the follo\, iug rational conclusion " 1 imagine that
iv.
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GKNEllAL HISTORY.
I
the common opinion abont tlie dispersion of mankind, is a very wrong one
The confusion of tongnes arose at first from small beginnings, increasinu
gradually, and m time grew to such a height, as to scalier mankind over
tiie fa(;e of liie earlh. When these men came first lo Babel, iliey were
but few; and very probably lived together in three families, sous of Sliem,
sons of Ham, and sons of Japhet; and the confusion arisnig from some
leading men in each fannly inventing new words and endeavouring lo
teach them to those under their direction ; this in a little time divided the
three famdies from one anoiher. For the sons of Japhei affeciiug tiie
novel inventions of a son of Japhet; the sons of Ham affecting those of a
son of Ham ; and the sons of Shem speaking the new words of a son of
Shem; a confusion would necessarily arise, and the three families would
part; the instructtors leading oflT all such as were iniliated in their peculi-
arities of speech. This niigltt be the first step taken in the dispersion of
mankind : tliey might at first break into three companies only ; and when
this was done, new differences t)f speech still arising, each of ilie families
conlii ned to divide and subdivide among themselves, lime after time,
as their numbers increased, and new and different occasions arose, and
opportunities offered; until at length theie were p'.anied in the world,
from each family, several nations called after the names of the persons of
whom Moses has given us a catalogue. This I think is the oniy notion
we can form of the confusion and division of mankind, which can give a
probable account of their being so dispersed into the world, as lo he ffcn-
erally seiilcd according to their families; and the tenth chapter of Oen-
esis, if rightly congidercd, implies no more."
From tlie families of the three sons of Noah, then, are all the nations of
the earth descended. The children of Shem were Khim, Asshur, Arph-
nxad, Lud, and Aram. Flam settled in Persia, where he became the
father of tliat mighty nation; the descendants of Asshar peopled Assyria;
and Arphaxad stilled in Chaldea. To the family of Luii is generally as-
signed Lydia; and Aram is believed to have settled in Mesopotamia and
Syria. The children of Ham were Onsh, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan.
The desceiidaiits of Cush are snp[iosc(l to have removed from the south-
east of H;ihj Ionia, afterwards called Khusestan, to the eastern parts of
Arabia; from whence they by degri'es migrated into .Africa. Mizraim
peo[)led Fgypt, Kthiopia, I-ybia. and the rest of the northern parts of the
same coiitiiKMit. No pariiciilar country has been assigned to Phut, who
is believed lo have settled soinew iiere in Arabia, near to Cush. Uut Ca-
naan is generally allowed to have settled in PliaMiicia ; and to liave
founded those nations who inliabited Jiulea, and were for the most par>
siilisequently exterminated by the Jews.
As Sloses givi's no account of the life and death of Japliet, Noah's eldest
son, he is presumed not to have been present at tlie coiifnsioii of ISabcl ,
but that Ins sex en sons were afterwards heads of nations tliert! is good
reason to believe. Their names were Cionier, Magog, Madai, Javan. Ju-
lial, Meslii ill, and Tiras. (Jonier, a<'cordiiig to Josephus, was the father
of the (lonierilts or Celies, viz., of all tiie nations who inlialiiled the
northern purls of Fnrope, under the names of (Jaiils, (^inibrians, Ctolhs,
tiv., and will) also migrated into S|)aiii, where they were called (\'llibe-
riaiis. I'riiin Magog, Meshecli, ami Jubal, proceeded the Scythians, Sar-
niatians, and Tariiirs; from Madai, Javan, and Tiras, the Medes, lonians
(treeks, and Thracians.
It is evident lli.it the monarchicid forms of government begun early,
Minrod, one of the soii-t of Ciisli, having been made king of nabylon,
while the rest are supposed to have |j|aiited difleri'iit p:iils of Araliia
The sacred liiHiorian says " Nimrod hi'gan to be a miglity one in the
earlh — a mii.'hiy liniiier before the I,ord." He is said to ha\e Iniili sevi'ra.
.-.iiies, but wlnii he began his reign, bow long he reigned, and who were
m
OUTLINE SKETCH OP GENERAL HISTORY.
37
Ins successors, \v»! arc not informed. The Jews suppose him to be the
SMino with Ainraphei, the ivingof Shiuar, who, with his three confederates,
were defeated by Abram. Some have imagined iiini to be the same with
Di'his, and the founder of the Babylonish empire; others with Ninus, the
foiiiuier of llie Assyrian. Nineveh, afterwards the capital of the Assyrian
PMipire, was built by Assluir, who also founded two other cities, called
|{is(!ii and Iiehobot\ of the situation of which we are now ignorant.
AljoMt tiic same time various other kingdoms sprung up in different parts
of the world Thus we read, in the sacred vonime, of the kings of Egypt,
(j(!rar, Sodom and Gomorrah, &c., in the time of Abraham; and it is but
reasonable to suppose that the nations over which they reigned had for
some time e.xisleii : for, as the learned and pious Bossuet remarks, " we
see laws establishing, manners polishing, and empires forming. Mankind,
by degrees, gets out of ignorance: experience instructs it : and arts are
invented or improved. As men multiply, the earth is moi-e closely peo-
pled ; mountains and precipices are passed; first rivers, then seas, are
crossed ; and new habitations established. The earth, which at the begin-
ning was one immense forest, takes anotlier form: the woods cut (tr)wn
make room for fields, pastures, hamlets, towns and cities. They had at
(ir.st to encounter wild beasts; and in this way the first heroes signalized
tluMnselves. Thus originated the invention of arms, which men turned
al'K'rwards against their fellow creatures."
The first considerable national revolution on record is the migration of
the Israelites out of I'-gypt, and their establishment in the land of Canaan.
This event was attended with a terrible catastrophe to the Egyptians.
The settlement of the Jews in the land of Canaan is supposed to have
happened about 1491 b.c. For nearly 'JOO years after this period we find no
■luthentic account of any other nations than those menlioned in Scripture.
i
CHAPTER III.
TIIK FAIIULOUS AND IIKKOIC AUtS, TO THE INSTITUTION OK THE
OLVMl'IC GAMES.
\Vk now perceive, in profane history, the dawn of what is called the
heroji' age; in ■.vhieli historical facts, though still tinetm-ed with the mar-
vellous, begin to assume something like the appearance of truth. Egypt
is seen grailually recovering from tlie weakness induced by the visitation
of the d(!slroying angel, and the memorable disaster of the Red Sea, by
which her nobility and the flower of her army had been euL'ulfed. (Jreece
rapidly emerges from obscurity, and makes oilier nations feel the effects
oftliat enterprising and martial spu'it for which her sons were afterwards
80 renowned. Various migrations take place in Egypt and Asia, and make
settlements in ilifferent [larls of Europe. Thus was civilization greatly
extended; for by the concurrent testimony of all writers it appears, that
while the deseeiidaiits of Shem and Hani, who peopled the east and south,
were estaiiliKJiing (lowerfid kingdoms, and innkiii!; great advanei's in the
Useful arts, the posterity of Jiiphel, wiio settled in the west ami north, by
degri'CF h;id sunk into a stale of barbarism. To the Egyptiin colonists,
therefore, were they indebted for their laws and religious mysteries; and
tliey also excited among them a lasle for science and llic arts, while the
Phmniciaiis tauiiht them writing, iiavio.iiion mul cummeree.
The Creeks were now growing great and formnlahle. ami their actions
liiiil an imiiii'iise iiitliii nee on the destinies of other nations. About llSt
yenrs ii.c. Iliey disliiiLMiislied themselves by their expeditiims auiiinst Trov,
city of Phryiria .Minor; wliiili, alter a siige often years they (iluudered
mil' iiiinit. tineas, ;i Trojan prince, esca[ied with a ' nail liiiiid of lii«
m
OUTLINE SKETCH OF QENEllAL HISTORY.
1!
\
foiintrymt n liilo Italy ; and from ihem the origin of the Roman empire may
li<^ iriK'i'il. Al llu! jM'riod »e are now speaking of we find liie Lydians,
MyHiiinK, iiml >*m\w oilirr nations of Asia Minor, first mentioned in history.
Thoni{h we necessarily omit, in this brief outline, a nuilliiude of icnpor-
tniil InMisiiclidiis whieh are reeorded in the Bible, the reader must not
ioHit Ri){ht of llie fact that the sacred volume is full of historical interest .
mid we Kimll have frequent occasion to refer to the actions of "God's
clioBi'ii piMiple" as we describe events mentioned by profane writers. For
the pt'CNcnl it In sulReient to state, liiat about 1050 years before the birth
of (fliriNl, tlie kiu>rdom of Judea, inider king David, approached its utmost
extent of power ; that in the glorious reign of his sou, the wise and peace-
ful SotonKiii, which followed, that stupendous and costly edifice, " the
tcniple of (iod," was completed, and its dedication soleintuzed with extra-
ordiniiry piety niui miignificence; that the revolt of the ten tribes took
pliu'c in the rclfin of Rehoboani, the son and successor of Solomon, by
which ,l('rti!<)d<'m wtis rendered a more easy prey to the Kgyptian king,
culled in Sciiplure, iShishak, atid supposed to be the great Sesostiis, whose
itceiJN make rii c(Mis|iicuons a figure in lh«! history of his country. After
llie liipfte of inmlher century, we learn that Zera, an Ethiopian, invaded
Jiiilea with an army com|iosed of a million of infantry and tiirce hundred
ehariotK, but was defeated with great slaughter by Asa, whose troops
aiiiounli'il to about half that uninber. By tliis time the Syrians had be-
eiMiic II iiowerful people; and, taking advantage of the rivalry which ex-
JHlcd lii'twern the kingdoms of Isr.iel and.lu(lah, aimed at the subjugation
of bolli. 'Phi' Syri.in empire was. however, eventually destroyed by the
\HMyrmiiN. taidi'r Tiulath I'ilesar, in 710 a c. ; as was also the kuigdcnn of
Sinniiria by Siialinancser his snecehsor, in 721 ; and such of the people as
CHCiiped ilealli, were carried captives into Media, Persia, &c.
Wlnb' tlie ri'soiirces of the mighty nations of the Ivisl were expended
in elVcctiiig their nuilual dcsliuriion, the fouiidalions of some powerful
empires were laid in the West, which were destined, in prm-ess of time, to
(»iibjni,nite Mild give laws to the eastern world. About eight centuries be-
lore the ('liiisliiin era the city of Carlhiigc, in Africa, was founded by a
Tyriiin coloi;y. and became the capital of a powerful republic, which eon-
tiniii'd 7'M years, iliiringthc greater part of which tnne il.ssiii|is traversed
the Meditcrr.niean and even tin; Atlantic, whereby it was enabled to mo-
iin|ioli/,e,n'< it were, the commerce of the whole world. In Kurope a very
inipiMlant ri'Vii|iiii(Mi took (iljice abdiit 000 n.c, namely the invasion and
cniii|iiei<t ol' llie IN'lopiinnesiis by the Ilcraclida;, or descendaiils of ller-
ciilcf*. Of this event, and its conseqiiiiices. we shall have to speak al
greiitir hiiglli, in its proper place, in the body of the work; we shall,
tlicret'ore, nicfcly reniiirk here, lh.it the PelopoimcMis is a large peninsula
Hiiniiteil lit (lie Ninilhern e.\lrcinity of Circici', to wliic'h it is joined by the
iMihinim of ('(uiiiih. It is of an irreyiilar figure, iiboiit 5(13 miles in cir-
r'liinfereiice. and is now called "The Morea." On the isihmns stood the
Oily of ('oiinili; while the l»elo|ioiinesus contained the kingdoms and re-
SiiblicH of Nicyon, Argos, Laeednjinon or Sparta, Messenia, Arcadia and
IV't'iiic,
^
CIIAPTKR IV.
»-BOM TIIK INgTITUTION OK TIIK OLYMPIC GAMKS, TO TIIK
DKATII OF eVKIJS.
In ?7('i n (•.. (he Olympic games, instituted by ITi rcule.s, and hnig dis-
roiiliiiiicd, vM're revived, and wiib their revival we riiid '.lit liist(n'y of the
(Jrei'iaii '■lilies, mid the alTiirsof the world gcneially, are more lo he di;-
(Viided on ill short, the period which Vano calls labulous ends, and the
■tfS
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
39
I long (118-
Uiry (if tiie
V. lO l)(^ (Ic-
ids, and tlic
liistorical times begin. This is m.iinly attributable to the continuance cf
the Olympic games, which grcHtly facilitnted not only the writing of their
history, but iliiit of other nations ; for, us each olympiad coiisisit-d of four
years, the chronology of every important event be(;ame indubitably fixed
by referring it to its "olympiad. They also greatly contributed to the civi-
lization of ilic Grei'ian states, and to the general advancement of the polite
arts. At this period Itonie, which was one day to be the mistress of the
world, arose : its foundation being laid by Romulus about 750 years be-
fore the (ronunencemnnt of the Christian (?r.i. Forty-three years after, the
Spartan state was remndelled, and received from Lycurgus those laws
which alike contributed to the renown of him who made and they who
observed them.
If we take a glance at the general state of the world in the following
century, we shall find that the northern parts of Kuropc were thinly peo-
pled, or inhabited by unknown and barbarous nations. The Oomeriaus,
or Celtic tribes, had possession of France and S[)ain. Italy was divided
into a number of petty states, among which the Romans had already be-
come formidable, having enlarged their dominions by the addition of sev-
eral cities taken from their neiglibours. Foreiuost among the slates of
"if Greece were those of Athens and Sparta : the martial charu-ter of the in-
•^ stitufions of Lycurgus had rend(!red the latter fammis in war; while the
'■'< foriuer were enriching themselves by navigation and cotnmerce. Corinth,
' Thebes, Argos, atid Arcadia, were the other states of most consideration.
The sceptre of Uabylon was at this lime swayed by Ncbui-hadnezzar, by
whom the kingdmn of .liidea was totally overthrovvn, 5S7 n.c., and its
temple burned to the ground in the following year. He also took and de-
inolishiMJ the city of Tyre, despoiled Kgypi. and made such prodigious
■•? conquests both in the east and west, that the fam(! of his victories filled
:j the world with awe; till at length his empire comprehended Phrenicia,
f Palestine, Syria, Uabylonia, Media, Persia, and part of India. One great
c!:'ject of his pride and ambition was to render his capital beyond all ex-
^ ample gorgeous ; nor can we consider the wonders of that city, as related
S by Heroilotus, at all incredible, when we remember that the strength and
■i resour(!es of his mighty en)pire were made subservient to the purpose.
The next imporiaut eveiu that occurred was tin; revolution occasioned
by the niiscoiKlnct of Fvil-merodacli, Nebuchadnezzar's son, who, without
provocation, wantonly attacked and Iiegaii to idiuider and lay waste the
country of the Medes. This proilucedtm immediate r('V(dl, w'jiich quickly
extended over all Media and Persia. The Medes, headed by Astyages
and his son Cyaxeres drove bai-k theinlrniler and his followers" with great
slaughter; nor does it appear that the Uabylonish monarch was after-
wards able to r(Mlu 'c them to subjection. We now come to the period
when the brilliant career of (^yrns demands our notice. Me had signal-
ized himself in various wars under Astyages, his grandfather, when, hav-
ing been appointed g('uer;dissimo of the Median and Pcrsiim forces, he
attacked the Uabylonish empire, and the city of Hahylon itM'lf f(dl before
his victorious arms, (\vrus now issued a decree for the restoration of the
Jews, a. id the rebuilding of their 'I'ctnple. By a succession of victories
\u: had become master of ;dl the I'last, ;md for sonu; time the Asiatic af-
fairs conliuucd in a state of Iranquillity. it is necessary to observe' in this
[dace, that the 'Medes. before the lime of Cyrus, though a great and -ow-
erfiil people, were eclipsed by the superior" prowess of ilie IJ ibyloniiuis.
Rut ('yrus having cotupiered ilieir kiuudom, by the united fon"e of tho
Medes and Persians, il appears that the great enipire of which he was the
founder must have taken its name from both nations; so that the eiupire
of till! Medes and that of the Persians were one and the same, llMUigh in
conseqiM'iii-e of Ihe ulory of its wise and victorious leader it snhsiMpienllv
retained only the latter name. Meanwhile, it continued to extend itscl"/
10
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
on every side; and at Inngth Caiiibyses, the son and successor of Cyrua
coiKiueied Egypt, and added that country to his already overgrown do
minions.
CHAPTER V.
TROM THE ERF.CTIOIV OF THE PKUSIAN ESlPlnE, TO THE DIVISION OF THE
CBECIAN EMPIRE AFTER THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER
The Babylonians, groaning under the oppressive yoke of tlieir Persiai.
masters, in"517 n.c. made a desp(^rat(; efTorl to shiike itolT; but they were
signally defeated by Darius Hyslaspis, «ho besieged the city of Babylon,
demolished its fortifications, and caused its walls to be lowered from 200
to 50 cubits. Darius then turned his arms against the Scythians ; after
which he directed his course eastward, and reduced lh(! country as far as
tlie Indus. In the meantime the lonians, who had submitted to (-yrus,
revolted, which led to the invasion of the Grecian slates, and tiiose dis-
asters to the Persians by land and sea, which we have elsewhere related.
In 459 BC. the Eifypiians made an incfTectu-.J iltunipt to regam tiieir inde-
penden(;e. They also again revolted in 4 ! "j n.c, and, being assisted by
the Sidonians, drew upon the latter that terrible destruction foretold by the
prophets, while they more firmly rivelted the chains which bound them-
selves to the Persian rule.
The Persian history exhibits every characteristic of oriental cruelty,
treachery, and despotism; and, wiih a few splendid exceptions, presents
us with a series of monarchs whose lust of power was equalleil only by
their licentiousness. But the greatness of the Persian empire was soon
about to he hmnbled. Ten thousand Greek mercenaries had served under
the youn^iT Cyrus in his rebellious attempt to seize tiic throne of tiis
elder brother, Artaxerxes Miiemon ; but he was defeated and killed at the
battle of Cunaxa, near Babvlon ; and his Grecian allies, though in a strange
country, atid surroniided oi. all sides by enemies, effected iheirsafe retreat
under Xeiioplion, wliosi; conduct on this occasion has been extolled both
by ancient and modern writers, iis cxiiibiting a matchless union of prudent
caution and military skill.
In this rapid sketch we shall not stop to notice the various contests
wliieh took place between the firccian states, thougli liicy make a coii-
sidciahle fi;riire in their respective histories; but pass on to the time of
Philip of Macedcii, who, taking advaulate of the wars and dissensions
which were gradually weakening tiie neigliboiiriiig stales of Greece, began
to meditate their cciinpiest ; and by souietiincs preteiiriiiig to assist one
state and sometimes another, he finally eirected his object. Having be-
come masier of all firct-ce, he projected the eoiupiesl of Asia : his death,
however, by assassinalion, left that great acliievenieut to be attempted by
his ambitious and warlike; son, Alexuiidcr, surnained lli<: (ircat.
No man who ever lived, perhaps, possessed the necessary (pialities foi
the execution of this mighty project in ji more emiiienl degree than the
youthful .Mexaiider. Drave, skilful, and impctimus, Ik; niarciied 1^ un
victory to victory; till at lenglli the power of the l'i;rsiaiis was totally
ovenhrown at ilie battle of Arbela, 331 ii.c, and an end put to the empire
by the niunU'r of Darius by Bessiis in the following year. Alexaud(;r hav
ing sui)Jui'd I'(r>ia, his victorious arms were now direcied against the
eoutitrics which houndid Persia; and having reduced Hyreaiua, Uactria,
and several oilier independent kingdoms, he entered India and subdued
all the ualioiis 1(1 the river Ilypliasis, oiu; of tin; braiiciics of the Indus,
At length the p.iiience of bis troops became exhausted ; they saw that the
ambition i\< llieir leader was honiulless, and icfnsed to gratii'y liis |)assion
for ui!i\eisal ciuujucst by proceeding farther, lie died at Babylon in tlio
1
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENKUAL IlISTOilY.
41
year 323 bc, li'iiviii>>: llie affairs of his vast empire in a most unseltJei)
state, and not even naming liis successor.
In tliti western world, at this period, great kingdoms were evolvint;
from obscurity, and events of tlie iiigliest importance succeeding eacli
other wiili unexampled rapidity. The first object that hcie claims our
ailenlion is the establishment and rapid growth of tlie Roman repubJic.
In 509 B.C. Tarquin, the last king of Rome, was expelled, and the govern-
ment entrusted to two magistrates, annually ehicted, called consuls. Thus
the republic proceeded, thougli amid perpetual jealousies and contentions,
till it reached its higliest pitch of power and grandeur, by the successive
conquest of Italy aiid her isles, Spain, Macedonia, Cartilage, Asia Minor,
Syria, Palestine, Gaul, Britain ami Kgypt. It was, neveriheless. exposed
to the greatest danger from tiie ambiiion of individuals : the civil wars of
Marius and Sylla, and the conspiracy of Uatiline, shook, it.s very centre;
and by the contention arising out of the rivalry of Julius Ciesar and Poin-
pey, it was ultimately overt lirown.
On the death of Alexander the Great, four new empires immediately,
as it were, sprung up. He had left behind him a large and victorious
army, commanded by generals who, bred in tlie same school, were not
ess ambitious of sovereign rule than their master. Cassander, the son
of Antipaler, seized Macedonia and Greece; Aiitigomis, Asia Minor; Se-
leucus marked' out for his share Uabylon and the eastern provinces; and
Fioleniy, Kgypl and the western ones. Furious wars soon succeeded this
division of Alexander's wide-spread empire ; and several provinces, taking
advantage of the general confusion, shook off the .Macedonian yoke alto-
gether. Thus were formed the kingd(jms of Pontus, Uitiiyiiia, Pergamus,
Armenia, and Cappadocia. Antigonus was defeated and killed by Se-
leucus at the battle of Jpsus, 301 b.c, and the greater part of his domi-
nions fell to the lot of the conqueror. The two most powerful and per-
manent empires were, in fact, Syria, founded by Selcucus, and I'Jgypl by
Ptolemy Sotcr. But there was also another empire at that time existing
which demands our notice. The Parthians, originally a iribe nf Scythians
wlio had wandered from their own country, at length set I led in the neigh-
bourhood of Hyrcania, and were successively tributary to the Assyrians,
Babylonians, Medes and Persians. The country in which lliey settled
obtained from them the name of Parthia; and when Alexander invaded
Asia, they submitted, with the other dependencies of the Persian empire.
After the death of the .Macedonian coiupicror, Parthia was siibjcet, first to
Eumcnes, then to Antigonus, and finally to the kings of Syria and B.ibylon.
In the reign of Antioclius Tlieos, the rapacity and crimes of A^ithocles,
the Syrian governor, roused the spirit of the Parlliians; and. under Ar-
saces, a man of great military talents, they ex|)elled their oppressors, and
laid the foundation of an eiii|)ire whicii ultimately e.\l(!Miii'd over Asia, b.c
2.50. The Syrians atlempleil in vain to recover this province. A race of
able and vigilant princes, who assumed the surnaiiK! of ArruciJici'rinn thu
founder of tht^ir kingdom, not only ballled their ell'orts, but so inereased
in power, that while they lielil eighteen tributary liingdnnis. between the
Caspian and Arabian seas, they even for a time disputed wiih the itomaiis
the empire ol the world.
CHAPTER VI.
FROM niK WARS OK IIOMK .\M) rVRTMACK, TO TO
eir.'rii of christ.
Tnr Romans, who for more than five hundred years h.id bei'ii consiiintly
victorious, met with an oppoiuMit in Hanriibal, conm mili'r of tin' Caiilia-
ii;inian forces, whose consummate generalship fur .> iinie turned (he tide
(2
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
I <
i I
nf fort inc, nnd, niiiking Italy the battle-field, he <,'HlliMitIy opposed on their
native soil the liiirdy veterans of Rome. I.oiiir and doiilitfiil were llie.:e
eaiiyniiiiary contests ; but in the end the Cnrthajfinian armies were recalled
into Africa, which the Romans had invaded, and he who, at ihebaiiUMif
rniniiv, had struck the Roman legions wilh terror, was totally defeated at
Zama; by which the second Pnnic war was concluded, in the year 183 b.c.
In fortv years from that date the fate of Carthage was iilliniaiely decided.
The llonians having; declared war against it a third lime, used all their
energies for accomplishing its final destrnction. The city was long and
fiercely assailed: tlie genius of the yoimgcT Scipio at length triumphed
over !he desperate valnur of thebesieged ; and Carthage, once mistressof
the sea and ilie most formidable rival of Rome, was reduced to ashes, and
for ever biottcd from the list of independent nations.
During tlie contentions between Rome and (Carthage, a confederacy was
formed by tluf stales of (ireece, under tlie name of the Achnean League,
which soon eclipsed, in splendid achievcmenis and power, both Athens
ind Sparta. Weary of the tyranny of the Macedonians, the Oreciau
gtaies had entered into this compact for recovering their liberties ; but
having imprudently given the Romans an opportuniiy of intermedding in
tlieir affairs, they were eventually reduced lo a Roman province, under
the name of Acliaia. This celebrated league was begun about ihe year
♦jei DC. and continued formidabl.! for mor*^ than l.^O years, under officers
called Prietors, of whom Aratus and Pliiiopfpnieii were the most lenowned.
About this period we read of the direful oppression of the Jews by An-
tiochus i;piphaiies. After their return from the Babyhmish (;apiivily,they
coniiiiued in subjection to the Persians till the time of Alexander; and
subsequently, as the fortune of either Kgypt or Syria happened to prevail,
they were under its dominion. On the subjugation o( l''gypt by Antiochus
•■^piphiiiies, the .lews being treated wilh great severity by him, they natu-
rally, but imprudently, expressed their joy on hearing a re[)ort of his
death; and it was not long bef(M-e the enraged monarch took the fiercest
vengeance on them. He marched at the head of a powerful army, took
Jerusalem by slorin in 170 b.c, and committed the most bonid cruelties
on the inhaliitants. Their religion was for a while abolished, their altars
defih'd, and every iiu'iu'uity oflercd to the people that tyranny and hate
could suggest. An imagi' of Jupiter Olympius was erected in Ihe hcdy
place, and unclean beasts were sacrificed on the altar of burnt ofi^'rings.
Rut the Jews s()o;i rallied ; and uu'ler Maltatbias the true woisliip was
reslctred in most of the cities of Judea : the temple was piirificij by Judas
Maccalnens, lf)'5 n.c. ; and a long series of wars ensued between the
Syriiiis am! the Jews, in which the latter gained many signal advanlapfcs.
About l.'iO years hcfore the birth of Christ the principal einpiies and
stales of l!ie world may be thus enumerated. In Asia were Ihe empires
of Syria, India and Parthia — iMch of them powerful and extensive — with
.\rabii, Poiitiis, Armenia, and some oilier countries of less importance.
In Africa wen; the; kingiioms of KgypI, Ktliiopia, N'uinidia, M.iiiritania,
ind Octiilia; the last named three, now that (7arlhiige was destroyed, ap-
pearing to the eyes of the ambitious Romans as llieir easy prey. In Eu-
rope ibcrc were none able to oppose the Roman legions, save tlie fjauls
anil snine of tlie nations inhabiting Spain It was not long, thiTefore,
lifter the conquest of (~"artliage and Corinth that the finnl siilijiig .lion of
•Spain was rcsidvcd (Ml ; for all the posscssi(>iis which the, (^arlba.^inians
held in that country had already fiUen into tlu^ hands of llie victorious
rtomaiis. They accordinsly began by attacking the laisiianians ; but
this brave peiple, under the coiidiict of V'irialiis, a leader whose skill,
valour, and prudence eininenily f|ualifii'd him for his post. Imig bid defi-
ance lo the Kninau arms: in the field he was not lo he subdued : and ho
at last mot his death from the hands of assassins hired by his treacherous
■M
'H-
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL IIISTOaY.
43
4i
enemy. The Romans now, in tlie wantonness of their power, scrupled
nol to use Ihe biisesl unil most corrupt means for reducing the wiiulo
country; and tliougli many tribes bravely maintained their iuilcpendence
for years, Spain ullnnutely became a Uomau province. But all-povverlul
ns Rome bad now become, her cavil and pulaicat condition was far from
enviable. Hi,-r conquests in (ireece and Asia broujjht luxury, cruelty, and
creneral corruption in their train; and those heroic virtues for which in
ihe early days of the republic she was renowned, iiad totally disappeared.
We nmst, however, reserve for its proper place an account of the civil
cumuiolions, proscriptions, and assassinations which followed ; and pass
onward in our brief recital uf sucli events us peculiarly appertain to gen-
eral history.
Attains, king of Pergamus, had left all his goods and treasures, by will
to the Roman people ; upon which his kingdom was speedily converted
into a Roman province, under the name of Asia Proper. iNext followed
the conquest of the Ualearic Isles (now called Majorca, Minorca and I visa);
Numidia was soon ufierwards reduced ; but the subjugation of Maurituiua
and (jululia was for a time delayed.
While Rome was approachnig her zenith, the decline of the Syrian
empire was apparent. 'I'he civil dissensions between the two brothers,
Auliochus Ciry|)hus and Antiochus Cyzicenus, gave an opportunity for
the cities of Tyre, Sidon, Ptolemais and Gaza, to declare their indepen-
dence ; while the .lews not only rccovorcd their liberty, but e.vt(;nued
their dominions as far as in the days of Solomon. About the year 83 b.c.,
Tigranes, king of Armenia, became master of Syria, but the Romans soon
wrested It from him, and added it to the immensely extensive possessions
of the republic.
Kgypt, wliicli h'ld hitherto maintained its proper station, tell after the
battle of Actlum, and, like its predecessors, was reduced to a Roman pro-
vince about the year 30 b.c. Rome mnsi no longer be regarded as a re-
fiublic ; and its change from that form of government to an empire may
)e looked upon as advantageous to those nations who were still free, for
the inordinate desire of conquest which had hitherto marked the Roman
character, for a time seemed to be lulled, and during the reign of .\ugustus
the tempi'' of Janus was thrice closed — a ceremony coeval with the origin
of the siaie, to denote that it was at peace with the whole worlil. This
pacilii; prince died in the /fith year of his age, and in the 4otli year of his
rciffi), A.u. 14; his empire exteiidiiiif, in Kurope, to the ocean, the Rhine
and the Danube; in Asia, to ihe Euphrates; and in Africa, to Ethiopia
ami the sandy deserts. It was in this memorable reign, in the year of
Rome 7ii that Jesus Christ was born, and ilie holy religion of which he
was the I'ouiuler. persecuted and despised thougii it was at first,* gradualLv
spread over the Roman world.
CHAPTER VII.
FROM THE BEOINMNO OF THK CUBISTIAN ERA, TO THE APPEARANCE
OP MOHAMMED.
In the year 07 a. d. the memoralile war with the Jews commenced,
which, though ii lasted but three ye.irs, ended in the total destruction of
their city and nation, after eiiduiing all the horrors of war carried <in by
each party with sanguinary fury. About ten years after this event the
real conquest of Uritain was edccted by Agricola. The empire had now
reached lis utmost liiiiiis, and under the just and upright Trajan, Rome
h,id reason to rejoice, not merely in her extent of territory, but in the
equitable administration of her laws, and iu the virtue and wisdom of liei
u
OHTLINK SKKTCIl OF UKNKKAL HISTORY.
sciintors. Adrian succ-t'eiiml Tr;
11,111, aiii
>ll()W(>ll 111
his footstpps. Tlie
(Icc'liiie of impcri;il Rome was, however, f;isl approueliiiig, for ulthmigli
Aiiloniiiiis, suriianied the Pious, obiiiiiied the reyard of his siilijei-ts and
the respect of fortMgners, living in peaee during the whole of his reign,
yet sciirceiy had Mureus Aiirelius Aiitouiiuis succeeded to the tli rone, be-
fore the ijiermanic tribes united, as in the time of Mririus, and poured in
their warlike hordes upon Italy; and, while they grew more and more
formidable, famine and pestilence ravaged many of the Roman provinces
A.D. 180.
From this time repeated incursions of hardy adventurers from the north
of Europe, under various names, I0(d< place, but thouLrh often beaten, they
renewed their attempts with a degree of courage and perseverance that
required all the energy and superior discipline of the Roman legions to
overcome. From the death of Aurelius to the reign of Dicxdesian, many
of the Roman emperors were mere sensualists ; there were, however,
some splendid exceptions, and by the warlike genius of such the incur-
sions of the barbarians were from time to time arrested. The Romans
had also for a long period met with a most powerful adversary in the
Persians, and when, in 2fi0, the emperor Valerian was defeated and taken
prisoner by them, the empire seemed to be hastening to utter and irreme-
diable destruction. Wliih; Gallienns, the son of V^ilerian, and his associate
in power was revelling in luxury at Rome, numerous claimants of the im-
perial dignity arose in the dllTerent provinces. These were designated
the "thirty tyrants," (though tlK'ir numbers did not exceed twenty, and
there was no good reason for designating them tyrants). Their dominion
was, however, not of long duration, and on the death of (lallienus he was
succeeded by Claudius, wlio had tlu; merit of deliverins Italy from the
(lOths. After him came Aurellan, who introduced order into the state,
restored internal tranquillity, and defeated his enemies both in Kurope and
Asia. Under 'I'acitns, Prolnis aiul Cams, the empire was in a measure
restored to its former lustre; but the barbarians still pressed onward; iuid
when the government fell into the hands of Dioelesian, he changed its
form, sharing the imperial dignity with Maximinian, to whom lu^ com-
mitted the VVest, while he ruled in the Knst. In this manner was the gov-
ernnii nt administered till the (l;iys of t^onstantine, who in A.n. .130 re-
inoveil the imperial seat to Hyziuilnini, wliicli he named (Miiistanlliiople,
became :i convirl to Cliristiaiiiiy, and p\u ;in end to one of tin- most vim
lent persecutions against its professors Uiat ever dlsirraced the world.
'I'lie iiniiu'dlate successors of ("!onst;intiiii' did little 'o uphold the l?oiiian
power, and Julian, who asceinled the throne in .1(il, renounced Christianity
;iud opi'iily professed the ancient religion, but he was both too pidilic and
too hinnane to |)ersecute his Christian siilijects. We find, however, that
the decline of the empire was everywhere visible. After his death its iii-
leriKil corruption lunl weakness coniinned to increase ; Unit strict discipline
which had formerly n'Uilered the Koman legions invincible, v(daxeil, and
while corruption and Injusiice renilereil the government odious at hoHie, jtR
fnmlier towns were attacked and its distant provinces o •errui> by Ik'ree
and nueivilized hordes issuing from tin' north, e;ist and wesi. It is ;it this
piriod that we read of Alaric, lln? Visigoth, who [ilnndereil Rome, A.n.
lOli; of (Jeiiseric, tile powerful king of the \ inidals ; and of \tidi, the
lluii, emphatically teinied " tie- scourge of (lod." In fact, the Scytliians,
Siiruiallans, fiotlis, Huns, Vandals, and otln r barlianuis natiinis, watched
all occasions to break into il, and though sonii' of the emperors In-avely
withst 1 their attacks, no efforts could finally stem the ruthless torrent
which kept pouring in on all sides. .\t length the lleruli, a people wlu;
niigralr'il from the shores of Ihi- H.iltic, and had grown formiilable as they
priK'cedi'd sonlhwirds, app( ared in Italy. They were headed by llic
Valiant Odoace-, and being joined by other tribes, (|uickly became innslerA
1
fl
OUTLINI'; .-KliTCll Ob' QliNKttAL HISTORY
45
A. II.
Illl I, llic
I'lhiiiiis,
iilclmd
llinivcly
I tcirri'nt
|l<" wIk;
li\s llii-y
Ihy llu'
Inaalork
of It ilv, and the city uf Uome itself surrendered to their victorious uruis,
A.D. 176.
'I'he fall of the western empire was thus ('onsummiited, but the Romans
still niainiained tlieir sway at C'onstantinoiJie. The eastern empirt", ill
fact, at tiiis time comprehended all Asia Minor and Syria, Etiypt and
Greece ; but neither its domestic nianagement nor its military prowess
gHve hopes of a leiiglhened doi'iiuion. Luxury, elTeminacy, and supersti-
tion sapped its vitals; continued wars wiih tlie Persians, Uuljrarians, and
other barbarous nations, exhausted its strength ; and a similar fate to that
of th(! western empire appeared to await it at no very distant period.
Still, as we follow tl.e stream of history, we shall find that it not only
survived the wreck forseveral centuries, but at times displayed an enerijy
and pciwer worthy of the Koman name.
Revolutions succeeded one another among the savage conquerors of the
West with fearful rapidity. The Henili under Odoacer were driven out
by the Goths under Theodoric. The Goths were expelled by the Romans
under their able general Helisarius, but while he was absent quelling an
insurrection in Africa, they regained their footing, and again took posses-
sion of Rome. 'I'lie Franks next invaded Italy, and made themselves
masters of ih.! province of Venetia, but at lasi the superior fortune of the
emperor Justinian (ircvailcd, and iht; (idllis.were finally subdued by his
pro-consul Narses, A. D .55'J. From that time till the year 5(i8, Narses
governed Italy with great prudence and success, as a province of the
eastern empire, but having incurred tiie emperor's displeasure, Longinus
was appointed to succeed him, and was invested with abscdute power.
He assumed the lille of exarch, and resided at Riiveima, whence his gov-
ernment was called the exarchate of Raveiina, and having placed in each
city of Italy a governor, whom lui disliiiguished with the title of duke, he
abolished the name of senate and coiisnls at Rome. But while he was
estabiisliing liiis new !-overeigiiiy, a great portiim of Italy was overrun by
the Iiombards. In sliort, we lind that they steadily marched on from I'an-
iioiiia, accom|ianied by an army of Saxon allies, and w ,re not long before
they became masters of all Italy, with the exception of Rome, Ravenna,
and some of the eastern seaeoast.
A warlike nation called l''ranks, who were divided into severnl tribes,
Mad been gradually rising into importance, and quitting the banks of tlu!
Lower Rhine, they li'id made lliemsi'lvcs masters of no iiiconsideralile part
of (iranl. A wailike ami ambitious chief among Ihcm, namc(i Clovis, un-
dertook the coiKjiiest of llie wh(d(! country, and having defeated and killed
his powcifnl rival, Marie, king of t\w Gotli«, he possessed himself of all
the c<Mintries lying between the Rhine and the Loire, and thus became the
founder of till! French monarchy, a.d. 4S7.
A few years bcfoitt the coiiqiiesi of Rome by thi! Ilernli, the V'isigothi
erected a kingdom in Spain, and as tliey advanced eastward, about the
same time that t'lovis was extending liis coiKiuesis to the West, the; river
Loire was tlic natural bound iry of the two kingdoms; but a w ir soon
broke mit bet wfcn ihem, wliicli ended in favour of (Movis. AiiotliiT king-
dom had previously liicii foimded in liie wesiern pirts of .'^paiii by ilio
Suevi, who wi're subdued by tiie (uillis imdcr Tlieodorii-, in lO!) ; and
eventually, a.d. .084, these restless warriors subjugated nearly the wliolo
uf Spain.
CIIAITKR VIII.
paoM TiiK nisK. or moiiammkh, to tiik. commknckmk.nt of tiik
CIII'SAUKS.
LfT im now turn our alienlion for a moment to a general virw of iho
Morld nn it uxiBted in the sixth century of the (.'liristiaii era. The Roman
46
Ol'TLlNK SKICTCH OF (iKNKHAI, IIISTOIIY
empire 111 thn west x\;is niiniliihilcd. iiiid various iiatiims of iiortliPrn nx-
triKMioii were eillicr licrccly coiileiidiii^ with each ollur, or incdilii'iiig
new (conquests: the rasteni empire whs coiitlMiiiilly at war, conteiuling
wi;li the PersiHiis on one side, or linrrrtsscd by llie Httiicks of the Minis
iiiid I) I her tribes on its iiorlherii frontiers, while it was agitated and weak-
ened by religious and pohtical uiiiinosiiies. The Indians and other ori
enlal nations. iinac(!nslonied to war, were ready to fall a prey to the first
powerful invader, while the fiery inhabilaiits of Arabia, from their earliest
orijfiii H(;(;iistoined to hold and predatory warfare, were as ready to under-
take any enterprise which seemed to promise an adequate reward.
'J'his. then, was the very nick of lime most favourable for such a revo-
lution ill the world as was undertaken by the «ily and daring Mohammed
(or Mahomet), wh ), foreseeing the power and glory that awaited him if
success should crown his efforts, assumed (he tiile of "prophet," and
professed lo have received a direct eoniniission from <>od to become the
founder of a new religion. A.n- (>3'J. This forms a marked epoch in ehro
nology, and is designated the Hegira, or Klighl of Mohamined. He at (iist
eiuleavoiired by the force of his persuasive eloquence alone to make pro-
selytes, but finding himself ere long at the head of many thousand war-
like followers who acknowledged that "there was but (Uie (Jod, and that
Mohammed was his prophet," he took advantage of Iheir eiitliiisiasm, and
proceeded in the work of conquest. With a celerity truly siiiprising, the
'iriiiies of the prophet and his successors overran Syria, I'alcsline, Persia.
Miikharia and India. On the west their empire soon e.Mi'iidcd over l''gypt,
Harbary, Spain, Sicily, Ac. Hut Mohammed who died in the fi.3d year
of Ills age, did not secure the succession, or give any directions concerning
It, and the eonseqiienee was that the ndipliale was seized by many
usurpers, dissensions broke out among the " true believers," and in the
course of time this great empire, like the others whirh we have noticed,
declined in importance. The relijiion, however, still exisl.«, and the tem-
poral power of those who profess it is by no mciuis IrilliiiL''.
While this extraordinary revoliiiioii was gciiig on in the East, and the
Arabian nrniR were con(]ucring *• in the name of (iod and the prophet,"
the western nations as zealously upheld the doctrines promulgated by the
pope. From the days of (.'onstantiiie llie Uoinaii poiitifTs had been gradii-
iiily extending their power, temporal as well as spiritual, and at ihe period
(d which we are now speaking, not only was their sacerdotal dominion
liruily esiablished, but liieir political inihience was often excited for or
against those princes of surriuinding stales as best suited the interests o(
ilii' cliiircli. \Vlien, ill 7'JI), l.iiiiprand, king of the Lombards, bad taken
l<a\eniia, and ex|)<>lled the exarch, Ihe pope undertook to restore him. and
Ins rcsloralion was accordingly speedily efTccied, The aulhoriiy of the
Hvzaniine emperors in Kome, was, tndeed. little more than nominal, and
the interference of the popes in the temporal cimcerns of the diffe-enl
Kiii'o|)ean monarcliie.4 was of the most obnoxious and intolerable kind.
We have seen that the reduction of (Jaiil was effected by (Movis, (he
Frank, who is styled the founder of the French monarchy. That kiiiij-
doin, It may be observed was subsequriitly divided inio several pelly sove.
rcigiilies, and while the princes weakened each other by then eontcsls,
the nobles increased in power, leavinij their kings little mon* than the
hliadow of royalty. .At length they gave themselves up to a life of indo-
lence and ease, and iiliaiidoned ibi reins of government to officers called
inii\ors of tlie palace, nf whom the most eelelir.iled were Cli.irlcs Martel,
and Ills son I'epiu the I. title, who deposed ('hilderic, and became the
founder of the ('arlovingian or second royal race of Fr.ince. Of the
princes of tins race we shall here only spe ik of Carolns Magnus, after
wards called ('iLirlcmagne, on account of the extent of Ins eoiii|uests, liiit
reitoraliuii of the wciileru otnpirL', uiid thu 8|i|eiuiuur uf hia rcisn. Vor)
:»
'^
i
m
I
OUTLINE SKUTCH 01'" GENERAL HISTORY.
47
I
sonn after liis accMssidii to tlie tlironi!, the Saxons, who liad long been
tiilmlnri('» to I'rmici-, revoltud, aucl biiivdy anil ohstni.iti'ly coniendud for
llicii- I'rffdoin. hill ihfy were at list ()hh(j;(:(l to submit. In 774, aflir the
reduction of P.ivi^, and the capiur' of Uiilicr, thi; last king of the FiOin-
bards, Chirleinagiit! repaired lo Milan and was thine crowned king of
Italy. From this liiiie he was eng.iged in an almost ui)cea«ing warfare
ii<>'aiiist the Moors in Spain, the Saxons ami Huns in Uermaiiy, the party
of the easti'rn eiU|)i'ror in Italy, and the Normans, who infested liis niari-
tiiiie provinces. Having sub<hied his enemies, he repaired to Koine, in
the year 800, for the fourth and last time, and on Ohristmas-tlay, while
assisting at the eclelnatioii of mass, the pope, [,eo III., suddenly and uii-
expi'ctedly crowned him cniperorof the Romans, friini which time he was
lunioured wiili the lille of Cli.irlem igne, or Charles tiie (Jreat. At the
time of his deaili, whicii occurred in 814, he had reduced all that part of
Spain which lies hciween the Pyrenees and the Kbro, seized ll.ily from
the Alps to the borders of (Jalabria, and liso added to Ins dominions all
Germany soiilli of the Kyder, and Faiinonia. The world was llierefore
uiice more shared among tliree t;nMi powers. The empire of tlie Ar<ibs
or Saracens extended fnmi the (iaages to .Spain, conipreheiiilin>> almost
ill of Asia and Africa which has ever been known lo I'airopi'a.is, China
and Japan excejited. The eastern lioman empire was niduced lo Greece,
Asia Minor, ami the provinces adjoining Italy. And the empire of the
west, under Chai'lema>riie, conipreheiided France, Germany, and the
grealcr part of lt;ily. 'I'he son and successor of Charlemagne was Louis
1., at wliosi^ deaili the resloied eiipire of the west was divided, in ri40,
among ins four sons : Ijolharius was emperor ; I'epin king ol' Aipiilain;
Iiouis II. king of (iermaiiy; and ('harlcs II. surname I the Ij.iid, king of
France: a division that proved the sonri'eof (lerpelual coiiltMitioiis. 'I'lia
French retained the imperial title under ei<>'ht sovereigns, till !)I.>, when
liOliis III. the lasl king of (lennany of the race of (/hailemagne, dying
without III lie issue, liis coa in-law, Coiiiad, count of Frannnnia, wag
eleiMed cniperorof (Jerniiny. Tims the empire passed lo the (ieinians,
and became elective, Ity the siifTiages of the princes, lords, and deputies
of cities, who assumed till! title of electors.
During the period we have been describing, the union of the Aiiglo-
•Saxoii kingdoms was effceti^d by lOgherl, the king of Wessi'X, a.o. 8'J7.
The pirates of Scandinavia, too, about this lime heiran to make tlii'ir up<
pearance in large fleets, and spread devastation on the shores of I'ranco
anil other kingilonis of continental Kniope. In Kngland, where they were
called Danes, lliese Northmen harrassi'd the coast in a similar manner.
Mild, though frequently repulseil, in the course of time they had the satis-
faction of seeing monarchs of their own nation sealed on the throne of
Kimland. The Saxon race was. however, restored in lOll, in the person
of lalward siirnamed ihe Confessor, who, dying willioiil issue, llominateil
VVi|liai;» duke of Normandy, lo be his smccSMir. Here we may just re-
mark, that the predatory iribfs of Norihmen, of wlioiii we have heforo
spoken, at utrerenl limes overran and ravaircil most countries of lOnrope,
.mil a party .aving I'lilered France, under their leader Hollo, Cli iries the
Simple ceded lo lliem, in !>I-', the province of Neiisina. On this occasion
Kolhi emiiraced Cliristiaiiily, chaiiued Ins name to Kiibinl, and that of his
duchy lo Normandy. From linn was William Ihe Compii'ror ilescended.
At no period of the hir lory of the winid do ue find it in a more coiil'iiseii
and disiracti'd Mate, tli;iii at the epiidi lo wliii h we lii.ve now .irriveil. It
appears, imb rd, liki^ oiii> vast battle lii Id Our attention, however, is
prii.cipally aiiracteil by (he pi'epomler.iling inllnence of (term iiiv, in the
west, the ileclme of ihe lt\/.aiiliiie empire, and the increase of that of
the Turks, III Ihe e.ist ; lb,- divisions amoim llie Sariciiis of Spam, anil
lltuir Hubjugatiuii by those of Africa. Civiluaiioii was takiny u rctro|(adu
la
OUTLIWn SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
course; and while the feudal system and the spiritof chivalry, assisted by
tvie papal superstiilons, were rivetting the chains of liarbirisiii in (nie pari
of the world, the conqnesis and spoliations of (he Tnrks, like lliose of the
Goths and Huns before noticed, were fast ohliteralin^r the faint traces of
human science and learning that remained in the other. At last the Cm
sades (thouy;h they must ever be deplored as the wretched olVsprinsf of en
thusiasm and niissfinded zeal), by din'Cting the attention of Kuropeans to
one particular ohjcci, tnad(! them in some measure suspend ihe slaufjhter
of one another, and were the means of extricating Christendom from J
stale of political bondage.
lit
CHAPTER IX
FROM TUE FIRST CRUSADE, TO Tin! DEATH OF 8ALADIN.
The world, as we have seen, was at this lime diviilcd into two prnnd
reliffimis parties, namely, the Christians and M.ihaiumedans, each of whom
affected to ref^ard the small lerritctry of Palestine, which tliey called the
Moly Land, as an invaluable acquisition. 'I'he origin of the crusades may
therefore be atlriliuicd to a superstitions veneration for the places where
our Saviour had lived and performed his miracles, which annually l)roii|;lit
»ast inimbnrs of pilijrims from all parts of (Jhrislendom to visit the city
of Jerusalem, and those particular spots in its vicinity which had been
rendereil cs|)eci.illy meniorablc by his iireacbiiig-, siifierings, and death.
Altliou>ih the Saracens, under Omar, their second caliph, had taken .(eru-
<;ilcm, and e(Mii|ncre(i I'alestine, in the 7th century, they allowed llie pil
U'rims to continue to visit their favourite haunts on payment of a small Iri
hiile. In inn.'), however, l\u'. Turks wrested the holy city, as it was styled
from the Saracens; and, bein<r much more fierce and barbarous, the jiil
U'rims cnulil no loiifjcr with safety perform their devotions; and Kuro|>«'
nsonndeil with cfMiiplaints against the inlidcl possessors of I'alesliiie, who
profaned tin" holy places, and so crmdly treated Ihe devotees, Kuropc
was at the time full of enthusiastic warriors, who wanted but little stimu-
lus to lead tlieiii to the field of glory ; and pop<! (tregory VII. had already
meditated and iKiv'd the niiioii of Christendom against the religion of Mo-
hammed. Hesi.les the reliL'ions motive of freemg Jerusalem from tlu' do-
minion of the Turks, some views of ambition iniiiht have indu'cd the court
iif Itome to cnij-age in this project, lint whatever might have been the
chief motives, aii ofvportuuity somi presented itself, winch was seized with
ividity. A bold enitniM.i'^t, named Peter, who fnnn his useetic life was
railed Ihe llermil, having been on a pilgninage to Jerusalem, represented
die oppression of the holy city, and the erind treatment which Ihe Chris-
tians sntVered, in terms so appalling to lirhan II. (who tilled the papal .vee
4i the time), that the pimtitf listened to Ins scheme for nulling all the
f'liristian slates against Ihe Tnrks, ;ind leaning armies into Asia, sndicienl
I'l iinmber and prowess to eon(|uer these warlike people by whom tin-
llcdy Land was held m siibjectKni. In eoitse(|nence of tins a conned was
suinniinied, and a meeting of (deriry and laily look place in .1 Held in the
iieigllbourhooil of I'liceiiiia, at « liudi l(llin(i'(drsiasli(<ancl llUOdO seciilnrs
«eri' present. Itolh I'eter tin- Hermit ami Ihe I'ope, represented in Ihe
'Host vivid rolonr.'* the direful situation of their bri tliren in the l')asl, and
tlie indiL'iiity od'eri'd to th,' religion of ^ 'hrist. Their speeches were snilrrf
lo the passions of their hearers, and so will seconded by the advenlnroie
<;>irit of the tniies, that a violent ,'iiid tiiiniilluiMis declaration of w.ir \.ur%-
I'orlh fnunall siiles ; and the assembled iniiltitnde de vol eel thelMselves el eei
fully to a service tli.it they believed to he iiieritorions in the si :ht of Heavei
Tlio 7.e»|iins l»eter next visileil thu eliief eilicn mid sioveroigm* of Clu-i
i
OUTLINE SKETCH OP GENERAL HISTOUY.
HUdil'H'Ill
aIkIIII till'
iiiiril \V!is
ill t)i(?
:<l'Cllllir8
i III lilt-
I')m.sI, illlif
III' SllllCli
K iitiirou:
u ,ir Li.i'H'
vi'scl ( el
I Hciivi I
111 ritt'i
eendom, calling upon them to rescue the sepulchre of their Saviour from
the tyraniioiis grasp of the Turks. Another council was speedily held at
Clcrinoiil, in Auvergne, which was attended by many princes, and the
prealcst prelates and nobles; and when Urban and the Hermit renewed
their pathetic declamations, the whole assembly burst forth in a freneral
exchimalioii. "It is the will of Go J!" words which were immediately at-
tributed to divine inspiration, and adopted as tlie signal of rendezvous and
battle. Men of all ranks now flew to arms with the utmost ardour; and a
cross of red cloth was affixed to their right shoulder; hence the names of
erusade (or croisade) and crusaders were derived to express this new expe-
dition professedly undertaken on religious grounds. However imprudent
the project, the prevailing taste and prejudices of ihe age occasioned its
being adopted without cxainination. Independent of this, their passions
were absorbed in their love of war ; they were delighted with the thoughts
of adventures, and the brave were attracted by the hopes of gain as well
as with the love of glory. What was not lo be expected from the valour
of an infinite iiiimber of warriors fighting under the banners of Ihe cross 1
No means were left unemployed to swell tlieir ranks. The rich and poor,
the saintly and tlie criminal, were alike eager to show their devotion in
the cause. Sovereigns shared in and ajiplauded it ; the nobility with their
vassals engaged in it; and the clergy not only loudly extolled it from the
pulpit, but tuight the people to consider it as an atoneineni for their sins.
No wonder then that the number of adventurers at last became so immer- \
ous, that their leaders gniw apprehensive, lest the greatness of the arma-,'
ment should disappoint its purpose. Some were elated ai the prospects
of worldly advantage which opened to tlieir view as iliey bclield in per-
spective the rich conquests in Asia ; others llioiiglit of liie expiiition of
their offences in the tumult of war, and rejoiced that they could gratify
their inclinations while performing a sacred duty. If they succeeded, their
fortune seemed to be secured in tiiis world; if they died, a crown of nuir-
tyrdom was promised in the next. So many causes uiiiiiiig had almost
an insurmountable power ; and their concurrence is one of tiie most curi-
ous phenoiniMia to he met with in history.
An undisciplined multitude, toinpiited at three hundred thousand men,
led the way, under the command of I'eter the Hermit, and a soldier of for-
tune, called Walter the Moneyless. They passed tliroiijrii Hungary and
Ihilgaria. towards Constantinople ; and trusting lii supernatural aid for the
supply of their wants, Ihey inaih- no provisimi for subsistence on their
march. They were, in fact, c(Mnpo8ed partly of fanatics and jiartly of
wretches bent on plunder; and the result was, ;is might have Uvvw expect-
ed, that the enraged inhabitants of the conutrics which they pillaged fell
upon and nearly annihilated them before tlicy could r< acli (Constantinople,
the place appointed for their general rendczvmis. 'I'lie iiioii' disciplined
armies followed mm\ after. Among their leaders were the celebrated
Godfrey of Bmiillon, with his brothers, Haldwin and Miistace ; Robert,
duke of Nminanly ; Hugh, brother of Philip I., kiiiLr of I'lancc; Robert,
earl of Flanders; KaynuHid, count of Toulouse, am! other experienced
commanders. Thus led, this host of warriors tiaverscd (Jennany and
llui.gary, passed over the straits of (Jalllpidi, coiMnicicd Ne'e in 1007, An-
tioch and Ktlessa in 10!)H, ;ind lastly, Jerusalem, 111 lO!)!); of which city
GodiVev of lloinllon was chosen king ; liiii lie icfiise'l lo lienr that title in
the Holy Land; and died in 1100. In IIO-J. an ariiiv of -JtiO.OOO men left
Klirone on llie same desliiiation ; they pensjied, however, pi.itly iHl the
inarcli, and partly by the sword of the sultan of li'oniiiin. Such' was the
insue of the lirst cru'sadc ; but the spirit which had been thus excited was
not to be so readily exliiiguislicd ; a sec ond. a third, and several other cru-
ludes were iiiidertaken <l>iriiig a siiciessioii of alino.st two hiiiidrcd years,
uid ended in ver» sir lults. In 1-JOl, the town of Acre, or I'loli*
I. — 4
50
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
m
mais, in wliieli the descendants of Godfrey still maintained tlie regal title,
was plundered by the sultan of I'^Kypti and the Ciiristians were driven out
of Syria.
Tiiree monastic and military orders, theHospitallers, the Templars, and
Teuionic knights, were iMstituted at Jerusalem, to prolc'ci the pilgrims
from the attacks of the Turks. In this age the sacred was so confounded
with the profane, that it was thought the virtues and austerities of the
monk iiiight be united with tite warlike qualities and passions of the sol-
dier. The new orders, loaded with wealth and particular privileges, in a
short time became greedy, licentious, and insolent warriors, eneuiies of
one another, and by tiieir mutual hatred weakened the cause of IHirisiian-
iiy. What liappened before in Kurope was likewise seen in Asia: every
lord wanted to erect a sovereign power; principalities were subdivided
intofeifs; discord prevailed, and the Turks would soon have destroyed
them, if iliey had not likewise been divided among themselves.
The Christian empire in the Kast extended at this period from the bor-
ders of Kgypt to Armenia ; but it was encotnpassed by powerful enemies,
and its population, though brave, was by no means considerable. The
Turks had already taken I'Messa, and there was great reason to be appre-
hensive for the fate of Jerusalem, when I'lugenms III., fifty years after the
beginning of tlie crusades, was solicited by deputies from the lOast to re-
new lliem. This time the monk St. liernard took upon himself iheoflico
of its (rhief advocate;. He is represented as running from town to town, and
though ignorant of the language of the country, yet making the people fol-
low iiim, and performing iiu nberless minn'his. He accordingly every-
where g liiK^d an iulluence, o: whic'h there had been no parallel ; yet his
success could scarcely keep pace with his zealous wishes. Under the
humble habit of a monk, Uernard enjoyed a greater respect than was paid
to the most powerful princes : he was as (doquenl as he was enthusiastic,
and obtained an unbounded influpiKfc over the minds of the people. The
emperor Conrad, who first listened to him with a resolution to oppose
those dangerous emigrations, concluded with enrolling himself. Neither
conlil Louis VII., king of !•" ranee, resist the appeal of the orator. The
people abandoned their habitations in crowds; the nobles solil their lands
and laid tlu; price at his feet; and nearly a million of men solicited to be
enrolled among the champions of (Mirisiianity. ' It is said that each of the
armies had 70,000 "nun at arms :" these consisted of the nobility, who
were heavy armed, and followed by a much more uuineroiis body of light
cavalry. The number of infantry was inimcnse. 'J'lie emperor CJonrad
was the first that set out : lu; was the brother-in-law of IManucl Comenim,
at that lime reigning in (Joiistantinoph! ; but the (Jreeks, it is said, appre-
hensive that similar excesses W(uild be committed by the eriisKiers as in
the former <'.\pediiioii, furnished them with treacherous guides, which led
to their destruction ; his army was almost annihilaled ; upon which he
fled to Antioch, made a pilgrimage! to Jerusalem, and returned to ICurope
with a mere handful of men. Louis met with similar disasters, and fol-
lowed tin; exainpit! of Conrad; .so that when they were, eompelled to
withilraw, they left the Holy l.and in a much weaker cimdition lliaii they
had fiiunil it.
ICxpediiions so ill |)laiiiied and ill eoiidueted, served only to animato
the Turks to the destruction of tin; Christians of Jerusalem, and to show
them the little (Mdiciilty there would be in expelling them. Noradin,
whom tlicy ehosc! for their leader, proinotcd this desifin, and Saladin, his
Buecessor, completed iIk; work. The latter, aficr having nsyrped Syriii,
trminphed over the Persians, conquered Kgypt, and made himself master
of iloiiiiiiioiis that j'Xlended to itu' (Jxiis, returned by sea, in order to
*trip the lairopeans of the places they still retained. Damascus, Aleppo,
mid Acre, opened their gules to the conqueror, who, after having artfully
f
I
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
51
?al title,
fw
iveii out
M
^m,
lars, and
m
pilgrims
m
foundrd
■^
s of the
^
the sol-
M
;cs, ill a
M
billies o(
•w
iirisliiiii-
''^
,i; every
M
ibdividcd
M
(istroycd
'M
'M
the bor-
0.
eneniies,
1
le. The
be appre-
i after the
ist to ra-
the office
town, and
ii'ople fol-
ly every-
; yet his
Under the
1 was paid
thiisiaslic,
.pie. Tlie
to oppose
. Neither
lor. Tlie
licir lands
itfd to be
aciiof the
)ilily, who
)(ly of light
ror Conrad
t'oineinii',
iaid, appre-
iders as in
, whitdi led
which he
to Kurope
rs, and fol-
inipc lied to
n than they
to animato
mil to show
Noradin,
Siihulin, his
ipcd Syrii,
isidf master
in order to
iiH, Aleppo,
'ing urlfully
Jrawn the Christian army into narrow defiles, where he eomnianded the
passes, obliged them to surrender, with Lusiirnaii. tlieir king ; a. n. 1187.
He then niareiied towards .lerusaleni, whieh, being in a manner defence,
less, was easily taken ; and thus he destroyed for ever the little kmudom
wiiieh had not subsisted a eeiituiy, and for the aeqnisilioii of whieh by
the Christians so much interest had been excited, and so much blood had
been shed.
Tlie news of the loss of the Holy Land spread consternation in Europe.
Urban HI., wlio had exerted all his inlhicncc, spiritnal and temporal, to
prevent th.tt misfortune, died of grief soon after the fatal news reached
his ear. The Christian princes suspended their quarrels, and the desire
of recovering .lerusaleni produced a third crusade; a. d. 118'J. This was
infinitely better planned llian the lornier ones, and gave the most splen-
did hopes. Three princes of distinguished merit, who would have ex-
cited the admiration of aii^' age, were the leaders of this expedition.
Frederic I., surnamed IJarbarossa, om; of tiie most distinguished em-
perors that ever governed Germany, advanced by land, at the head of
150,000 men. Philip-Augustns, king of France, also conducted iliither a
large and well-appointed army; while Iticiiard Coeur-de-Lion, king of
England, the hero of this crusade, set out with his nobles and the H.)vver
of his troops. Isaac Angelus, the emperor of (^onstaniinople, looking
upon the crusaders as intrii.h'rs, had formed an alliance with Saladin and
the sultan of leoninm; but Frederic trininphed over the obsta(!les which
were opposed to him, and though he found hostile .irmies everywhere on
his mar<di, he ol)tained many signal vit'tories. In this manner he was
proceeding towanis Palestine, when, after crossing Cilicia, he met his
death from having incautiously halhiMl in the ("ydiius, the extreme cold-
ness of which had lificen hundred years before nearly proved fatal to
Alexander.
Philip of France, and Richard the "lion-hearted" king of England,
though ambitious rivals, were apparently united in their design of carry-
ing on the holy war; and, in order to avoid the Greeks, they prudently
preferred going by sea. Philip, who arrived first, distinguished himself
in several eiigageinents with the Saracens, took many places, and having
made himself master of the open country, laid siege to Acre. In the
meantime. Richard was advancing to second the elTorls of the French
monarch; and on liis arrival tlu^y found that tiieir united forces amounted
to about 300,000 men. There wiis, how(!ver, no real union among the
leaders. Philip, jealous of the heroic character of his rival, ■•nd tired of
the finitless expedition, embarked with the gre;itest part of Uk iirmy for
Fnince, h;iving (list sworn not to attack the possessions of Ricliard until
liie return of both to their dominions. Cffiur-de-Lion now heeiiue sole
iiiiisier of the operaii.ins. and ri'siimed the siege of Acre, which ai length
ca|jiliil;ili'd; lie def(ntted the sultan in several desperate encounters, and
by prodigies of vidoiir and military skill, forced victory from the standards
of the hr;ive Sidadin, who till then hiid been deemed inviiii-ible. While
Richard was |iiirsiiing his successes, jind on the eve of reaping ;t|| the
friiils of his toil, he learned that Philip, on his relnrn to France, luid in-
cited his (Richard's) brother to take u|i arms ;igaiust him, and was sitlaek-
ing the I'.nglish provinces in that kingdom. Thus forced to saerifii'e his
pxpcci.itions in the ICast to the interest and defem-o of his native domin-
ions, he rcununeed, with rage and vexation, the laur(ds he hsid won, and
his hopes of future con(|Ui'st. He then agreed to a truce with Saladin,
^y which the t^liristians were to be securely protected in Palestine; but
llioiigli Acri^ was in their possession, :m(l served as a bulwark for tliem
until the entire leriniiiation of tlie crusades, tin; design of this expedition
was frustrated bv leaving the sultan master of Jerusalem. Suladiii died
Ml n»3.
V
it*
ilni'
69 OUTLINE 8KKTCH OF GKNFRAL HISTDRY
CHAPTER X.
rHOM THB DKATH OI SALADIN TO THE END OF THB CRUSADES.
DuniNo the third crusade a revolution happened at Constantinople,
which divided the eastern empire for fifty-eight years. Alexius Aiigeius,
Burimnied the Tyrant, having dethroned Isaac II., usurped his seal in
llOft; iind Ah'xiim, son of Isaac, applied to the French and Venetians,
who pimncd liial way to the holy wars, to assist him in the recovery of
hill fiither'H cinnire. They a-cordingiy, in 1203, renouncing their designs
aifitinxt the lluly Land, laid siege to Constantinople, took it by storm, and
fepliiced loaiic on the throne; the next year, Alexius Ducas, surnamed
Mnrtziilphim or Murziifle, assassinated 'he emperor, whom the crusaders
had re.i'KliihJiNlu'd, and seized the crown. On hearing this, the F'reiieh
roliinicd, Mllncked the city, deposed Murtzniphus, and elected Baldwin,
coiitil (if Khitiders. in his room; he had four successors, the last of whom,
Diildwiii II,, was deposed in 1262, by Michael Paleologus.
Thin WMN the period iti which the sovereign pontifTs carried their at
tPlliplH iij(aiiist crowtied heads to the greatest excess; and we shall con-
i('(|ii('tilly fltid that a general history of the Kuropean states becomes
more iiml more connected with the court of Rome. Hut before we etiter
into thi^ condition of Christian Knrope, it will be better that we resume
llin Ihi'i'itd of history by which the crusades are continued, and then
rpliirii,
It iippciirs thnt notwithstanding the blood whicli had been fruitlessly
ilied III tlic "holy" cause, the zeal of the popes was not lessened. But
Iimoceiit III., who foresaw much greater advantages to the tiara in the
tnkiiiK of Contitiinlinopio than in the deliverance of Jerusalem, readily
pnrdoiH'd the lenders of the crusade for having broken through their en-
({iiKi'm''iiln, and was resolved to reap all the advantages he could from an
event ho iinexpeclcd. Up to a recent period the armies of the cross had
no other view hut to attack the Infidels. That confederacy was now
nhotil to be directed against their fellow-christians. In the south ol
Friince and elsewhere, the ostentatious pomp and ambition of the clergy
had Klveii great oU'eiice to many of the laity, who publicly proelaliiK^d
that ill the inemhers of the sacred profession they could not discover the
miniKiers of ii religion founded on humility and peace, and had formed a
reNolniion not to consider them as their pastors. Under the name ol
IhilarliiH, Cathiires, and Vaudois, tney had spread themselves in the
loiitherii provinces, ami particularly in Langiiedoi!, contiguous to Alby,
which they seemed to have made their head-qimrters. Iiniocenl, who
wiiM too nagacious not to see the future ill consequences to the papal
power if the darins principles of these sectaries were p(!rmilteil to ex
tend, rcHolved on their extermination. By the assistance oi the clergy,
who were ei|niilly interested in their desir iciion, he pre:'ched up a crn-
Nnile, and formed a powerful army, the command of whicli he cwit rusted
lo Niinoii de Montfort. At the same lime he erected a bioiKty tribunal,
hy which unhappy victims were dragged to the slake, on IIk! tesiimoiiy ol
the vilesi informer. It was in every respect as inupiilous as the Inqui-
Hitioii, of which it was in fact the origin. Two ri'ligions orders, lately
pttliihliNlicd mider the auspices of Innocent, and entirely devoted to his
iliiere)!!, were coinnilssioned to preside at tliese exccuiions. Thousands
of llie inlinliitanlN of Alby (whom we know by the name of Albigenses)
pcrHcculcd by the soldiers of the cross and the members of tlu' Inquisi
(Ion, penidicd by the swords of the former, or expired in the llaincs kin
(lied by the hitler.
After this inhuman persecution, carried on under the banners o( thf
■f
>t
,.c)i
>4
ii
■uUTLINR SKETCH OF GENKRAt, HtSTOHV.
a3
Uod of mercy, Innocent resumed his project of conquering the Holy
Land ; but he could not persuade the emperor to join iu the design, be-
cause his throne was too much disturbed ; nor the kings of France and
Kuglaiid, as ihey were too deeply engaged in their mutual quarrels. An-
drew, king of Hungary, and John de Brienne, titular sovereign of Jeru-
salem, commanded this crusade, and Cardinal Julien, legate of^the pope,
accompanied them. As the Christian leaders perceived that Egypt was
the support of the Turks of Palestine, they formed a new plan of attack
and directed their first operations against that kingdom. In this thej
were successful. The enemy, after having sustained several severe de-
feats, ainindoned tiif flat couritry to the Christians, and took refuge in the
mountains. The generals, sensible of the great danger of marching in a
country to which they were strangers, thought it necessary to secure the
heights, and reconnoitre the places through which they were to pass, be-
fore they proceeded any farther. The cardinal, consulting only the dic-
tates of impetuous ardour, treated their prudence as timidity, and declared
for pursuing the barbarians immediately. Finding the two kings opposed
his opinion, he assumed the style of a superior, showed them the pope's
order, and, being supported by the knights of St. John and the Templars
obliged them to pay a blind obedience to his will. The army, thus gov-
erned by this ecclesiastic, daily committed new blunders, and at length
was hemmed in between two branches of the Nile. The Saracens then
opened their sluices, and were preparing to drown the Christians, whc
tliouglit themselves happy to preserve their lives, by supplicating the
mercy of the enemy, and being allowed to return to Europe, though cov-
ered with disgrace.
The crusades seemed now to be at an end ; for the dire misfortunes
which attended these distant expeditions had quite extinguished the zeal
of Christian warriors, and the ferment which pervaded all Europe would
not allow sovereigns, however martial or ambitious, to leave their re-
spective countries- But there was yet another struggle to be made for
the possession of the Holy Land, the relation of whi(;h, although it car-
ries us too far forward in our attempt at chronological order in this outline of
general history, must be given here. Louis IX., of France, better known
by the name of St. Louis, having recovered from a dangerous illness
made a vow to take the cross, and, with all the zeal of one who was de-
sirous to signalise iiimself in the places that had been sprinkled with the
blood of his Redeemer, he invited his people to follow his example, and
effect the deliverance of Palestine from the power of the infidels. His con-
sort, Margaret of Provence, marched at his side, in order to share his
dangers ; his brothers and the principal nobility of the kingdom, accom-
panied by him. Nor was the French monarch left to contend with the
enemy singh^-lmnded. Piince Edward, the valiant son of the king of
England, followed with a large train of English noblemen. Having ar-
rived on the coast of Egypt, the army made good their landing, and
marched for DamieUa, \. o. 1216. Margaret led the troops in person, and
the city was carried by storm. The intrepid conduct of the leaders, and
the success which had hitherto crowned their arms, seemed to shov that
the decisive monnMit was now at hand when the subjection of Egypt was
to secure the conquest of Jiidea. But a sudden and dreadful pestilence
which raged in the ('hristian camp, a dearth of provisions, and the im-
prudent ardour of the count of Artois, who was surrounded by the enemy,
and perished with the flower of the nobility, gave a most unhappy turn to
its prosper(uis commpncement. Louis was attac^ked near Massoura, and,
notwithstatiding his horric behaviour, his army sustained a signal dis-
comfiture, and he himseif w:is made prisoner: a. n. 1350. Such was the
fate of (he last crusade for the recovery of Palestine.
54
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
St
CHAPTER XI.
fROM THE TIME OF GENGHIS KHAN, TO THAT OF TAMERLANU.
While the crusaders were figlitinw in the western piut of Asia, the na-
tions of the more easterly part were threatened with extermination by
Genghis Khan, the greatest as well as the most sanguinary conqueror that
ever existed. The rapidity of his conquests seemed to einulate those of
Alexander; but the cruellies he committed were altogether unparalleled
The Moguls, or Mongols, over whom this tyrant assumed the sovereign
ty, were a people of Eastern Tartary, divided, as at the present day, into
various petty governments, but acknowledging a subjection to one sover-
eign, whom they called Vang-Khan, or the Great Khan. Temujin, after-
wards Genghis Khan, one of the minor princes, had been unjustly deprived
of his inheritance at the age of thirteen, and could not recover it till twenty-
seven years after, a. d. 1201, when he totally reduced the rebels, and caused
seventy of their chiefs to be thrown into as many cauldrons of boiling wa-
ter. Ill 1202 he defeated and killed Vang-Klian himself (known to Ku-
ropeans by the name of Prester John of Asia) ; and possessing himself of
his vast dominions, became thenceforward irresistible. In 1206 he was
(icclared king of the Moguls and Tartars, and took upon liim the title ol
(ienghis Khan, or the great Khan of Khans. This was followed by the re-
duction of the kingdoms of Haya in China, Tangut, Kilay, 'I'lnkestan, Ka-
razim, or the kingdom of Gazna, Great Bukharia, Persia, and part of In-
dia: all ofwiiich vast regions he conquered in twenty-six years. It is
computed that upwards of fourteen millions of human beings were butcher-
ed by him during the last twenty-two years of his reign, and that his con-
quests extended eighteen hundred leagues from east to west, and a thous-
and from south to north. He died in 1227. One of his sons subdued In-
dia ;another, after crossing the Wolga. devastated Russia, Huncsary, Poland,
and Bohemia; while a third advanced into Syria, and conquered all the
niartime provinces of the Turkish empire. The caliphate of Bagdad, and
the power of the Turks in that quarter, were finally destroyed by this sud-
den revolution. In the meantime the Mamelukes, a body of militia form-
ed by the sultan of Cairo, expelled the Turkish conquerors, and seized tlit
throne of Kgypt.
The vast empire of Genghis Khan, however, had the fate of all others .
being too extensive to bo governed by any one of ordinary capacity, it
split into a multitude of small kingdoms as before; but they allowniid al-
legiance to the house of Genghis Khan till the timeof Timur Bck, or Ta-
merlane. The Turks at this time, urged forward by the inundation of Tar
tars who poured in from the Kast, were forced upon the remains of tht
Greek empire ; and at the time of Tamerlane they liad almost confiued
this once mighty empire within the w.ills of Constantinophs
We must now again cast our (!yes upon the transactions of Kurope. After
the death of Frederic II. the empire of Germany fell a prey to anarchy. An
interregnum took place on the death of the emperor Richard, in 1271, which
continued two years, and comph^ted the destru(;tion of the impi'rial do-
main. The trilKitary nations, Denmark, Poland am Hungary, absolutely
shook off the yoke ; each of them taking possessioii of what lay most con-
venient for them ; freeing themselves from quitrents and every obligation
by which they thouelit themselves under restraint; and leaving nothing to
the emperors but their paternal ir.herilance. Formerly taxes were paid to
the emperor by the imperial cilii-s ; from which they endeavoured to free
themselves, by taking advantage of the anari^hy that prevailed at this time,
and assumed the title of/rfeci'ip.*, to dislinguish them from a gr> at number
uf imperial cities which tlicy ailmitled into their body ; aud thus the Han
m
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
55
■natic leajriie was formed. At length they grew tired of aiianthy: and
Gregory 9. having threatened to mime an emperor if they did not, they
elcirtcd l{o(l()lph, count of Ilapsbiirg, the descendant of an old count of Al-
s;ir;(! ; from which election, humble as it was, the lustre of the House of
Aiisiriii is derived. The new emperor was seated on the throne with noth-
iMjr hut an empty title to support the dignity; he had neither troops nor
money: he was in suhjeetion to the clergy ; surrounded by vassals more
pow('rful that) himself, and in the inid.st of an enthusiastic people who were
ripe for sedition and anarchy. His fir.st care th(;refore was to conciliate
the affi'ctions of the people, and by that means he happily appeased the
spirit of faction. He also studied how to increase his (ioininions, so as to
make them respectable ; with this view, he artfully blended the idea of
glory and the right of the empire v ith his own interest; and having united
the forces of the Gi.'rmanic body against Oitocar, king of Bohemia, that
prince was compelled to yield Austria to the conqueror, who also obtained
Suahia: so that he was enabled to leave his son Albert in possession of a
rich and powerful state.
From the time of llodolphof Hapsburgthe timazing power of the popes
began to decline. The form of government remained the s.ime in Ger-
many; but it was materially altered in England and France, where the
middling classes (»f soiMCty had obtained a voice in the assemblies of each
nation. The manners of the lower classes of sociiity were still rii le and
barbarous in the extreme; but those of the nobility exhibited a singular mix-
ture of devotion, gallantry, and valour, in whicdioriginatiMl the several or-
ders of kiiigliiliDol, such as the order of the garter in Kngland, and the
golden fleeci! in Spain, of St. Michael in France, of Christ in Piu'tugal. &c.
To this siriinge eoinbinaliim of religimi with war and with love, may be
traced the origin of judicnal combats, jousts and tournaments, and that
spirit of chivalry which pervaded all the upper classes of society. Paint-
ini>', sciil[)lure, and archif'cture, arose in Italy through the exertions of the
fugitive Greeks. The arts of piinting and engraving wc^re also enlightening
the world ; and the science of navigation, and coiiseqiiently geography,
were much advanced by the discovery of the mariner's compass.
CHAPTFRXII.
FROM THE TIME OF TAMERLANE, TO THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
We now revert to the East. In (."Joa Tamerlane invaded Buldiaria,
which he reduced in five years. Proceeding from coMi|iiest to ('onquest,
he successively subdued Persia, Armenia, Georgia, Kar.izim, and a great
part of Tartary. He then turned his course westward, and having subju-
gated all the countries to the Euphrates, next poured his hordes over the
fertile plains of liulia, plundering Delhi, and pursuing the living Indians to
the banks of the Ganges. The cities of \sia Minor then felt his power;
and among his crueltie.nnay be numbered a general massacre of the in-
habitants of Bagdad. In 1.393 he invaded and r<iliieed Svria. In HO-2 he
brought an army of 700,001) men against the Turks, under the sul'an Ba-
jazet, who with a force of 1-20,000 engaged him ; but it ended in the total
rout of the Turkish host, and the captivity of its leadei-. At length, while
on his way to China, in 1405, the coni|uest of which empire lie medi-
tated, his progress was arrested by a suildi^n death, and most of the nations
he had vanipiished were able ere long to regain their independence, or had
to submit to new masters.
The civil contentions that arose among the sons of Bajazet revived the
hopes of the (Jreek emperor Manuel Paleoiogiis; but they were speedily
aimihilated. Amurath II. after overcoming his competitors, took The*
56
OUTLINK 3KKTCII Ol' QKNKRAL HISTORY
8alonif!a, and threatened Constantinople, v/h'\ch owed its salvation to the
Hungiii"-ins niider John Hunniades. Ainiiraih having obtained a truce;, iin-
niediately resigned the crown to his son Mohammed II., but an umcx|)(h;I
edattack from Uladi^hlns, king of HuMgary, induced him again to lake the
field. Afier the l)altleof Varna, in which the Chrstians were completely
defeated, he finally abandoned Ihe throne, a.d. 1414. in .Mohammed II. were
combined the scholar, the warrior, and the politician ; and he proved the
most determined as well as formidable enemy of Christendom. He, how-
ever, met with some signal revcrsc^s, parti<'ularly when engaged against
the celebrated Scanderlieg, prince of Albania. After making immense pre-
parations, Mohammed, in the full confidence of success, undertook the- siege
of Constantinople. The defence was obstinate; but having obtained pos-
session of the harbour, by having, with the most indefatigable perseverance,
drawn his fleet overland the distance of two leagues, the city surrendered;
and thus an end was put to the eastern empire.
Russia had long languished under the heavy yoke of the Tartars, when
Demetrius Iwanowitz made a desperate eflTort to effect the deliverance of
his coimlry ; and having defeated iis oppressors, he assumed the title of
grand duke of Russia. But the ferocious Tartars relumed with an immense
force, his troops were routed, and their gallant leader fell in the conflict.
His death was, however, shortly after revenged by his son, Basilius De-
metriwjtz, who expelled the ferocious enemy, and compiered tiulgaria,
A. D. 1150. Much confusion arose after his death; but Russia was saved
from anarchy by John Basilowiiz, whose sound policy, firmness, and sin-
gular boldness rendered him at once the con(|neror and the deliverer of his
country. Freed from every yoke, and considered as one of the most pow-
erful princes in those regions, he disdained the title of duke, and assumed
that of czar, which has since remained with his successors.
;}
CHAPTKR XHI.
THE REFORMATION, AND PKOORESS OF KVE.NTS DURING THE SIXTEENTH CENrORT.
At the beginning of the lOlh century the popes enjoyed the utmost tran-
quijliiy: the commoiions excited by the Alhigi>nses, Hussites fee, were sup
presscil . aiui. according to all appearance, they had no reason to fear an
opposii 11)11 to their auihority. Yet. in a short time after, a totally unfore-
seen event produced a singular change in the religious and political state
of F'liropc; this was the opposition of [iUtherto thedoctrkiies ofilie church
of Rome, iir the bngisiaing of what is commonly called t/ie Reformation,
The puhlinty with w»iii-h the sale of indulgences was carried oii underthe
sanction of Lcfi \'.. excited Ihe indignation of Martin Luther, an Augus-
tine monk and professor of theology at Witlemberg, in Saxony. Kmbold-
encd by the attention which he g.iined, not only from the people but from
some of their rulers, he pushed his inquiries .;:!'' attacks from one doc-
trine to another, till he at length shook the firmest fotiiKiaiionn .::;: which
the wealth and power of the church were established. Leo, therefore,
finding ilicre was no hopes of recdaiming so incorrigible a heretic, issued
a seiiteiK-e of excomniiinication, a. d. 15'-'(»: hut he was screened from its
effects by the friendship of the elector of S.ixony. On the election of
Charles V. to the imperial throne of Germany, bis first act was the assem-
bling a diet at Worms, to check the progress of Lutherinisin. In the pro-
gress of Ins arduous work, laither had the assistance of several learned
men, anionu' whom were Zninijlius, Melancthcm, CJarlostadius, &c, ; iiiid
there was the greatest probability that the papal Iheran'liy would have
been overtnrned, at least in the north of lOurope, had it not been for the
ODpusilion of the emperor Charles V., who was also king of S{iaiD. Uu
OtJTLINK SKETCH OF GENEKAL HISTOIIY.
57
•v-
m
m
Aw Heath of Frederic, his brother John siiecectlcd to the elcotorale ol
Saxony, by whose order Luther and Melanclhoii drew up u body of lawa
relating to the form of ecclesiastical governincnl, the mode of public wor-
ship, &c., wiiich was proclaimed by heralds throughout the Saxon doniin
ions; this example was inunediately followed by all the princes and states
of Germany who had renounced the papal supremacy. In a diet held at
Spires, in 15-J!J, the edict of Worms was confirmed ; upon wliii:h a soliiiiii
vroUsl was entered against tliis decree by the elector of Saxony and ollu^r
reformers ; from which circumstance they obtained the name of Pbo-
rESTANTs,— an appelation subsequently applied to all who dissented
from the doctrines of the Romish church. In the same year the elector
of Saxony ordered Luther and other eminent divines to coniinit the chief
article of their religion to writing, which they did ; and, farther to eluci-
date them, Melanctlioii drew up the celebrated " Confession of Augsburg,"
which, being subscribed by the princes who protested, was delivered to the
emperor in the diet assembled in that city, in 1530. From this time to the
death of Luther, in 1510, various negotiations were employed and schemes
proposed, under pretence of settling religious disputes.
While these transactions occupied the public attention in Germany, the
principles of the reformers were making a rapid progress in most other
countries of Kuropc: in some they were encouraged by the governing
powers, while in others they were discountenanced, and their advocates
subjected to cruel persecutions.
The Turks were now nuMiaciiig Hungary, and Charles V. thought it
prudent to forget his differences with the proteslant princes and their sub-
jects, for the sake of engaging them to assist him against the general en-
emy ; but on the approach of ilie emperor at the head of 100,000 men. al-
though the army of Solyman was at least double that number, the latter
retired ; and Charles returned to Spain, and engaged in an expedition to
Tunis, against the famous corsair Uarbarossa, whom he deposed from his
assumed sovrrc iirnty.
A loiitr ■Mill o-stinate war had been carried on between the rival sove-
reign .H Germany and France ; and the former, at the head of 50,000 men,
invatied the southern provinces, while two other armies were ordered to
ent«T Picardy and Champaigne. Francis laid waste the country, and for-
tifi«"(l (lis towns; so that after the lapse of a few months, disease and fa-
miiii so reduced the army of the emperor, that he was glad to retreat, and
a tiMce was effected at Nice, uiidi* the mediation of the po|)p, ad. 1538.
Charles had also to quell a serious insurrc(!tioii in Ghent, and endeavoured
ill vain to arrange the religious affairs ol Germany ai the diet of Ratisbon.
The progress of the Turks, who had become masters of nearly the whole
of Hungary, and his desire to embark in an expedition against Algiers, in-
duced hitn to make concessions to the protestants, from whom he expect-
ed assistance. The conquest of Altrier.s was a favourite object of Charles;
and in spite of the remonstrances of Dov liie famous (Jenoese admiral,
he set sail in the most unfavourable sea^'ii of the year, and landed in Af-
rica; the result of which w;is, that the greatest part of the armament was
destroyed by tempests: a.d. 1511.
'i'wc ;'''sirc of Ciiarles V. to humble tl ■ protestant princes, and to ex-
tend his own p((«i r, f.M^'.iiv.'."'.! '■> mmiif.^i itself in every act. At length,
being wholly free from domestic wars, he entered ^'raiiuc , hi:t '.\:?. g:'!!""*
defence of the duke of Guise compelled him to raise the seige of Metz,
with the loss of 30,000 men. In the following year he had some success
in the Low Countries ; but the Austrians were unfortunate in Hungary,
(n Germany tlw; religiou>i peace was finally concluded, by what is called
the "recess of Augsburg." It wvs during the progress of this treaty that
Charles V., to the great astonishment of all Europe, resigned the imperiiil
and Spanisti crowns, and retired to spend the remainder of his life at the
58
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
monastery of St. Just, in Spain, where he died, three years al'tor, aged
68. A. D. loGtj.
Charles was succeeded by his son Philip, and no monarcli ever ascended
a throne under {rreater advantages. The Spanish arms were everywhere
8ni;cessfnl, and the rival nations appearing unanimous in their desire for
repose after a series of devastating wars, peace was re-established be-
tween France and Spain, which included in it, as allies on the one side or
the other, nearly all the other states of Europe.
At this time Klizabeth filled the throne of England, and Protestantism
had there nut merely gained the ascendency, but it was established as the
religi(m of ilic state. In France aL(j the reformed religion was making
considerable progress; but its membci-s, who in that country were called
Huguenots, met with the fiercest opposition, from the courts of France and
Spain, who joined in a "holy league," and a rancorous civil war raged for
several years in many of the Frencli provinces. 'I'he duUeof Anjou com-
manded the Catholics ; the Protestants were led by Coligni and the prince
of CcMide. At length u hollow truce was made the prelude to one of the
most atrocious acts that st'iin the page of history — the savage and indis-
criminate ina-siicrc of the Huguenots throughout France, on llie eve of
St. Banliolomew (Aug. '-M, 157'J). The aci'ouut of this diabolical deed,
by winch (iO.OOO persons met with a treacherous death, was ri'ceived in
Rome a-id Spain with testacy ; and public thanksgivings were ofTered up
in their chiu'ches for an event, which, it was erroneously supposed, would
go far towards the extirpation of a most extensive and fornudable heresy.
About this period a serious insurrection of the Moors in Spain broke out
and a most sanguinary war ensued, which raged with great violern-e in the
soutliern provinces; but tin; insurgents were at length (|uelle(l. ami public
traiuiuillity restored. It was init long, liowever, befor(^ tin; revolt of the
Dutch took place, which ended in their final emancipation from thi; Span-
ish yoke, in 157i>.
But of all the preparations that were made for war and conquest, none
equalled that of Philip's " invincible armada,'' which he fondly hoped would
c<inquer llnglaud, and thus destroy the great stay of Proti'sianlism. Ihit
this iniini'iise armament, coiiststing of one hundred and thirty slii|is, and
nearly .IO.ihio men, after being partly dispersed, and losing several vessels
during a vudent storm, was most signally defeated by the Kutilish; and
Philip hail the mortification to hear that his naval force 'vas nearly antnhi-
lated. The |iarlicnlars of this event, ito ghnious to Kngland an<l so dis-
astrous to Spain, will he found in another part of this work; and we shall
hen! merely observe, that it greatly tended to advance the Protestant cause
througlidiit Europe, anil elTeitually dislroyed tiic decisive intliieiice that
8pani had acipiired over her neigliboiirs: indeed, from the I'.ital day whieli
saw the proud armada shipwrecked, (Llf^n), the energies of that once p.iw-
cri'nl cinnitry have been gradually declining, and its inhabitants seem to
have sunk into a state of lelliargii? indolence.
It is worthy of remark that, in all the stales of Europe, towards tlic lat-
ter end of tins century, a decideil lendeiiey towards the concentralion ol
flower in the hands of few iudiviiluals was fully perceptible. The n jHib-
ics became more aristocratieal, the immarcliies mori- unlimited, and the
despotic govirnments less cautious. The system pursued liy the domi-
neering court of Philip served more or less as an example to Ins e(uiteni-
porary sdvereiL'iis ; while the recent and rapid increase in the (jiianlity of
the preciiiiis iiielals, and the |inigress of the Industrious arts, by prodnemg
n innllitnde rf new desires, rendered the court more avaricious iiiiil thu
nobles more dependent.
M
OUTLlMi SKKTCH OF GENEllAL HISTORY
60
CHAPTER XIV.
rnOM THB COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY, TO THE PEACE 01
WESTPHALIA.
The seventeenth century, at its commencement, found Spain drained
01 its ireiisure, and destitute of eminent men. The eoh)niz!iii()u nf Amer-
ica, the war in the Low Countries, and the incessant enterprizesof Phihp
II. hail produced u pernicious effect on the p' pidation; and his successor,
Piiiiip 111., banished two hundred thousand Moors, who constituted the
mos' industrious portion of the remainingf inhabitants.
Povtu;,'al was now under the power of Spain ; and saw, as the conse-
quence of iier subjection, the greater part of the discoveries and conquests
of her better days fall into tin; hands of strangers. The Dutch, who were
forbid(icn, as rebels against the authority of Philip, to purchase in Lisbon
the conunodities of the Kast Indies, went to the lalter couiury in seach of
them, where they found an administration which had been rendered feeble
by tlie inrtuence of the climate, by luxurious and effi^uinatc habits, and
by spiritual and temporal tyranny, and while Philip IIL, after a seisje of
three years, which cost him (vom eighty to a hundred thousand men, got
possession of Osleiul, the Dutch took the isles of MoUkmui from his Por-
tuguese subjects. In fai't, of all the foreign possessions of the Portu fuese,
Goa, ii\ the Ivist Indies, and Brazil, in America, alone remaineil, a:< I had
our countryman. Sir Walter R:il{!i<)h, been adequately supported, the Span-
ish power in America would probably have been overth.-own. Italy en-
dured tlie yoke with impatience, and even Rome wished to see them hum-
bled. Venice both feared and hated them , and to the (hd<e8 of Mantau
aiul S.ivoy, tlie overbearing power, and the lofty tone of the cabinet ol
Madrid were insnpportal)le.
The gooil and great llenry IV,, king of France, whose excellent quali-
ties were not thoroughly appreciated in his own age, was assassinated, and
liis kingiloin again becaini! the prey of factions : A.n. KilO, His widow,
Marie ch; Medicis, sacrificed the welfare of the static to her pers(»nal incli-
nations ; and li(-r son, Louis XIII., '.vho was a child at the tiiiu; of his
father's death, never bee;, me fi man of independent character. It has been
well leniarked, that "the power of a state depends not so much on the nu
merical amount of its for<'es, as on the intelligeiu;e which animates their
movements;"' and c;'rtai i it is, that France, which in the latter pari of the
reign of llenry IV. seemed likely to produce an universal reV(diition in
the condition of Furope, li.id lost much of its political importance.
Free nations are ncv<;r luore powerful than when liicy arv obliged to
depend exclusively upon their own resources for defence, and when the
magnitude of the dangers which menai-e lh"m compels the devclopenient
of their moral energy. TIuh was iiistauccil in the case of Holland. In
the niiilst of its contests for freedom, tni' republic erected a mighty em-
pire in l\u] lOist ; and its navy rode triinnphant on the seas. Its reeonni-
tion as an indepeudent slate was soon after the necessary coiisi (pieiice.
The death of Henry IV., of Fraiwe, was not merely a disastrous event
IS reg.irded the |)iosperity of that kingdom, but oiu' which hail a power-
ful inlhieiiee cm the hopes or fears of the other princip il monarchies of
Furope, Mild by nnne mure than by llie house of Austria. Uodolpli II.
was Kiii'ceeiled in the empire by his brmlier, the arelidiiki' Muthias, a man
of great activity and an insatiable iliir^t for dominion, Thoiiuli oriirinally
favourable to the I'roteslaiits, he now evinced a disposition to oppose
lliem, and beinpt supported by Ferdinand, ihike of Styria, and the court of
Hpain, the Protestants look the ahirm, and had recourse to arms, which
•lav lie considered as the oiigiii of the c(debraled "thirty years' wflr "
du
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENEKAl. HISTORV
Oh ,he deatli of Mnlliias, Ferdinantl, who had succeeded him as kiiij^
of Bohemia and Hiiii<rnry, was raised to the imperial throne. 'IV; Uo-
hemian Protestants, dreadnig his higDiry, chose Frederic V., the clcctoi
palatine, for their sovereign. He was supported by alt tlie Piotesiant
princes of the (rermanic body, while Ferdinand was aided by the king ol
Spain and the Catholic princes of the empire. Their forces proved ove.'--
whelining; Frederic, defeated and helpless, abandoned the contest in
despair, and forfeited b()t!\ the crown and his electorate. The emperor
Ferdinand, slrengthenec by victory, and by the acquisition of treasure,
now tunuul the arms of his experienced generals, Wallenstein, Tilly, and
Spinola, against the Protestants, who had fori.ied a ieixi/ne with Chris-
tian IV., king of Denmark, at its hfad, for the restoration of the palat-
inate (a. d. 1035), but the Imperialists were victorious, and the Protest-
ants wen! compelled to sue for peace. They subsequently formed a
secret alliance with Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden; a. d. 1631).
The father of Gustavus had left him a well-confirmed authority, though
without treasure; the nobles who might have endangered his power had
been humbled in the preceding revolutions, and there was nothing to fear
from Russia, Poland, or Denmark. He was zealously anxious for the
success of the Protestant cause ; ho wished also to check the ambitious
designs of tiie emperor; and Germany appeared, in fact, to be the coun-
try in which he might seek for power with the greatest prospect of suc-
cess. His talents, both military and civil, were of the highi^st order.
Together with the lofty character of his genius, which manifested itself
in the greatness of his plans, he combined the power of attention to
minute details in the organization of his army, and a calm and penetrating
insight into circumstances of the greatest intricacy. His habits were of
the most simple kind ; and tliDUBh the boldness of his enterprises aston-
ished ihv. world, he was person:illy mild, beiii^ficent, susceptible of tho
warmest friendship, eloquent, popul ir, and full of reliance! on Providence.
Richelieu, the minister of Franc-e, desirous of curbing the power of the
house of Austria, subsidized (iustaviis; and Fngland furnished liim with
0,000 troops, beaded by the marqicis of llaniiltim. The magnanimous
king of Sweden, by his sudden and unexpected appearance in the empire,
by his irresistible progress, and finally by the victory of Ijcips'c, where
he was ojiposi'd to th(! Imperialist army under Tilly, revived the confi-
dence of thi! Protestant princes in tlicir own power. He (luickly made
hims(!|f master of the whole country from the Kibe (o the Klinie; but
having been repnlse<l with considerable l.>ss, in a furious attack on the
intrenchinents of the Imperialists at Niireinbcrg, and hearing that tlK^ir
gi'iieral, Wallenstein, had soon after removed his camp to Liiizen, he i)ro-
cccded thither to give him battle. The Imperial army greatly outniiin-
licrcd the Swedes and their allies, ami from daybreak till night the con-
flict was sustiined with uinbited viijonr; but though the victory was
nobly gar.ed by the Swedes, their gallant kiiiiX had fallen in tlie middle
of the fight, covi red with renown, and siiicendy dcploicd by his brave
and faiilifnl soldiers: a. d Itil'J. Hmh the king of Sweden anil ilie court
of France hail been alirmeil at the union of ihe wlndc powi r of th:r-
many, lu the hands of a ruler who assumed the t(me of a universal sov-
ereign ; and the etlleacy of ii good military system, directed bv the ener-
getic genius of a single leader, was never more ciniuuntly displ.iycd than
uii this occasion.
Th(! war was still continncil with various sui'ccns; but the weight of
it fell on till- Swedes, the German princes liavinu, after Ihe iatal Imtlla
of Norilliiigen, III Ki.ll, deserted them. In the fiillowing year, however
the troupe of France simiillaiieiMisly attacked the Austrian monaThy
nt every acce«»sili|c point, in order to prevent the for- es of the latter f'oii
autinn wiili deemve effect in nny quarter. In 10^7 the emperor Ferut
OUTLINK SKETCH OF GENERAL HISToaY.
61
iiand died, and was succeeded by his son, Ferdinand III., who pursued
the poliry of his father; but though lliere was coiisideruble disunion
among the confederates, the great events of the war were generally in
their favour. It would be iuconsislent, however, with the sketchy out-
line we are penning, to enter into further details of this memorable war,
and, perh ips, limited as our space is, we may have been already too dif-
fuse. We will, therefore, pass at once to the celebrated Pcare of West-
phalia, which was signed at Munster on the 24th Oct.. 1G4H. It was con-
cluded under the mediation of the pope and the Venetians, between the
emperor Ferdinand 111., Philip III., kmg of Spain, and the princes of the
empire who belonged to their party, on one side, and Louis XIV., Chris-
tina, queen of Sweden, the states-general of the United Provinces, and
those princes of the empire, mosily Protestants, who were in alliance
with this French and Swedes, on the other. By this celebrated treaty all
differences were arrnuired between the belligerents, except France and
Spain, who continued in hostilities for eleven years afterwards; but it re-
slon^d tranquillity to northern Kurope and Gurntany, and became a fun-
damental law of the empire, while Holland and Switzerland acquired a
simultaneous recognition and guarantee.
I
CHAPTER XV.
FROM THE CIVIL WAn IN ENOI.AN'D, TO TIIK PKACE OF RTSWICK.
At this period England was convulsed by civil war. During the pros-
perous age of Klizah(.'th, the commons had greatly increased in opulence,
and, without regard to the resources of her successors, she had alienated
many of the crown estates; .lames was prodigal towards his favourites,
and Charles fell into difTicultics in consequence of the disordered state ol
his financial affairs. Ho was magnanimous, amiable, and learned, but de-
ficient in steadfast exertion, and in the dignity and vigour necessary to
the situation in which he stood. His ideas of the royal prerogative
were extravntrant; hut he often showed a timidity and irresolution on the
appearance of op|)iislllon from liis Parliament, which emboldened them
to carry tliclr opposllion to the must unwarrantable lengths. In order to
raise supplies without the authority of Parliament, the king exacted the
customs iiiid levied an arbitrary tax on ships; many ft.'i|dal privileges and
ancient abuses were exercised with iiu'reascd severity; contril)ulion8 and
loans, called voluntary, were ex.acteil by force; the forms of law were
disregarded by the court of stiir-clianiber ; l''ny;lislimen were s\il)jected to
loiin imprisonments and exorbitan; fines, and their rights treated with con-
tcmiit. Froin the <llscussions to which these grievances gave rise, arose
others relating to the nature and origin of political constitutions. The
violeiKM! of parties d.iily increased; but as the king conceded, the Parlia-
ment (irew more arroyant in their demands, and the hour was rapidly up-
proachinif when it was evidenl anarchy would trample upon the ruins of
monarchy. At length a ficrci! civil war arose ; rcliglmi was made a polit-
ical stalkinii-horse, and gross hypocrisy overspread the land. Fnlhu-
niasts, ripiiilly iiiacccssil)|e to reason or revelation, to a sense of propriety
or any moral restraint, exercised the nost irresistible inlliience on the
course of e\cnt><. The high church ' i k into misery ; Ihi- ancient nobil-
ity wen: basely degraded ; the whidc ( iiiHiliulion fell into riiiiis; n " sol-
I'liin mockerv," misrullcil tlie king's i nl, took place, and Charles finally
perishiMJ hy ilic nxe of the executioner, a. n. l(il!t. His death was soon
followed by tlie usurpation of Croiuwt II, an ineorriL'ible tyrant, iletested
Mt hoinu and feared ubruad, but who had nut long left Iliu Bcciie of his
C2
outline; sketch op general ptstory.
restles? amhilion, before the nation, weary of tynmiiy and hypocrisy, re-
stored the son of their mnrdnred sovereign to the throne; a. d. KJGO.
From the pi^ace of VVe.stph:iiiii until the death of Ferdinand III , in
1()57, Gi'rniany remained nudislurbed, when considerable ferment pre-
vailed in llie Dirt, rcspeuting the elt^ction of his snccessor. The choice
,"f the electors, iiowever, liavii:nr fallen on his son Leopold, he immediate-
ly contracted an alliance with Poland and Denmark, against Sweden, and
a numerous army of Aiistriaiis entered Pomerania, but failing in their
ohjei;t, peace was quickly restored. Ho next turned his arms against the
Turks, who had invaded Transylvania, and gave them a signal overthrow.
In this situ iiion of aflTairs the youthful an I aml)itious Louis XIV,, king
of France, disturbed the peace of the empire by an attack upon tiie Nelh-
erla-ids, wliii'li In; claimed in right of his qu(!en, sister of Philip IV., the
latL Aing of Spain. In a secn^l treaty, Louis and Leopold had divided
the Spainsli mitnarchy; to the former was givrn the Netherlands, and to
the latter Spain, aft(!r the demise of Charles II., the reigning monarch.
Having prcpan-d ample means, the king and Turenne (Mitcred Flanders,
and iinnii'iliately reiluced Cliarlcroi, Toiirnay, Donay, and Lille. Such
rapid success alarmed the other F.iiropcan powers, who feai'('d that an-
other camp lign would make him master of the Low tvoinitrics, and a
triple alliance was formed between Kiiglanc!, Hi. Hand, autl Swudcii, witli
a view of setting bminds to his ainl)ilion, am! of ('ompidlinj!: ^^pain to ac-
cedt; to certain prescribed con iitiims. A treaty was, accDnliiigly, iiego-
tiated at .\i.v-la-Cliapelle, by which L(»uis was allowed to retain tlie tnwiis
lie had taken; and these he secured by entrusting their fortifications to
the celebrated Vaubaii, and by garrisoning them with his best troops;
A. D. IC,M.
Louis now saw that his desirriis on the Netherlands could not be carrif^l
into (dTect without the co-operation of Fiiiuland; but believing that tlio
profligate court of (^iiarh s II. w is open ti) corriiplioii, h'- easily siicceeil-
ed, through the medium of ('liarles's sifter, llenrietla, the diicliess of Or-
leans, in prevailing on I'.e prodigal king of Kngland to coii'diule a secrei
tre.ity with him, in wliich it was acrreed that ('liarles should receive i
largi; pension from Louis, and aid liiin in snbdniiig the United Provinces
'riu, caliiiiel (d" Versailles hiving also succeeded in detaching SwediiP
from the tripli' alliance, both monarchs, uiider tiio most frivohnis pro
tences, ilecl.ired wai airainst the States, a. n. lii7J. Witlioiit tin" shadow
of a pretext, Louis scizeil the diii'hy of Lorr.iiiie, an(| ('liarles maile i
base and iinsnecessfnl attempt to capture tin' Diitcii Smyrna llect, cvel^
wiiih^ tlie tre itv lietweeii the two countries evisted. The power that was
thus coiifederaKMl against Holland, it was inipossihlc, to witiisiand. The
combined lliets of France aiiil lOnjI ind amoniited to more than I'O siil,
and tlie French army on the frontiers consisleil of I'JO.onn men. The
latter, in the lirst instance, hore down all opp isilion, liiit on tin; i.'oininanil
of the Dutch army being given to the yoiiiiy prince of Orange, William
HI., the spirits and energy of the nation revived, and botli the govern-
ment and the peopli" were! united in their deteriiiinalKm, rattier than siib-
inil to disL'r.ieefiil terms, to abandon their country, and eniiL'ralc in a body
to their colonies in till? Fast Indies. Meanwhile Ilieir llei'ts under Van
Troinp and De Ituyter enifaged the eoinl(inc(l l''reiicli ami Kiiglish fleets
under Prince Rupert, in three hard-foiialit but iiidei'isive ariimis ; the em-
peror and the elector of llrandenbnrir joined the Dutch cause ; and
Charles II., distressed for want of money, and alarmed by the (liseoiilent
of his own siibjeets, lirst coindiided a separate peaci- with llidland, and
then oll'ercil his mediation towards bringing about a reconciliation of the
other I'oiiieiidinu p irties,
Louis at the head of one of his armies cmiipiered Framdie-rompK^ in
(he iikxt (.anipaiyii; while Turuiinu was successful oil the side of (ier-
lil
I
'I
4
OUThl.N'K SKETCH OF GENERAL HiSTOllY
63
many; but disafracnd his trophies by the devasirition itrul ruin (if the Pi-
latiiiatc. Ill l(i75, iio was killed by a raiinon-ball; and the Kreiich army
was fonred to rccniss the Rhine. They were sncressfiii, however, in the
ensuing campaign; and tlieir fleet defeated De Iluyter, ;ifier a series of
obslinale t'lijrauemonls ofT Sicily, in one of which he was slain. In 1677,
another cainpaiiji' was opened, which proved still more favourable to the
Frencdi. Val<'iicieiines, Cambray, and St. Omcr wer '■ taken ; inars^hal De-
Luxeinboiiro defeated the princ^e of Oraii'jje, and st 'cral important ad-
vantages were (rained by the rreiKih. At leiitrth the Dutch became anx-
ious for |)i'acc, and signed the treaty of Mineguen, in 1()78.
Louis ciiipioycd tins interval of peace in strens'thening his frontiers,
and in makinir preparations for fresh conquests. He then treacherously
made hiinself master of Strashurg, and some other places in Flanders.
By th(!S(! aggressions the flames of war were nearlv rekindled ; but the
treaty of Itatisbon prevented the continuance of hostilities, and left tho
Freiieb in possessimi of Luxembourg, Sirasbnrg, and the fort of Khel.
At this time (11)83) the imperial arms were occiifiied in opposing the
Turks, who, having invaded Hniiu;ary, and marched towards Vienna,
that city was on the point of being carried by assault, when the cele-
brated .liiiin Sobieski, king of Poland, came to its relief at the head of a
numerous army. This revived the contidence of the besieged, and their
assailants wen? repulsed ; while the main body, which iia<l been led by
the graiiil vizier to meet the Poles, were thrown into disorder at the
first chiirgi; of tlii! Polish cavalry, and fleil in the utmost confusion;
leavinii- in possession of the victms lln'ir artillery, hairgige, treasures,
and even the cousjcrated bantier of the propliet. Diiii/g the s^ , ; of
Vienna, Louis had suspended his operations, declaring that be wo 1 not
attack a ('hrislian power wliiie Kiirope was mciiaceil by infidels. He
was MOW ai tlie height of his power; and no sooner had the valour of
Sobieski iiverwhelmed the Ottoman force, then he reeonnnenced his waf
of aggraiidizcineiit. He liad just before Imiuhled the piral(! states of
Africa, traiii|)led on the independence of Genoa, concluded an advantag(!.
oils peaci! with Spain, and rendered himself obnoxious to the papal coiirt
by insiiliiiig i!ie diaiiity of the pope, lint while Ins ambition was alarm-
ing tli(' fears anil rousing the ind:giialioii of llnrope, he committed an
error wlii h, in a politj(;al point of view, the most iiitoleraiu Inuotry could
scan'cdy be blind enough to excuse. Henry IV, hail wisely granted
religions freediim to the Freneb protestants, ami iIk; edict of Nantes
which secured it to them was designed to be perpetual. Hut after vainly
piidcavotiriiut to control their consciences or reward their apostacy, Loms
formally revoked tln^ I'dict of Nantes, and treated his protcstant subjects
with all the injustice and cruelty th;'t blind faualicisin roitld dict.ite. or
brutal ily execiile. IJy this insensate act he deprived his country 'if lialf
a inillnm of inhabitant'*, who traiisferred to other lands their wealth, their
industry, and their commercial iiilelljgence.
The 'I'urkish >var having been teriniiiated, a league was formed at
Augshurjr, between the princes of (Jermaiiy, to resist the further en-
(Toaehmenis of tln^ French king. To tliis league Spain, Holland,
Sweden, and Denmark, acceded ; and Louis liavieg underiaken to restore
,1 lines II. who had lately been dethroned by Will am, prince of Orange,
England joiiKMi the alliance.
We mast hrw brieily allude to the revolution whi"!i had placed the
prince of Oranije on the throne of Fiiuland. Jaini's H. brother of liie
facetious bill nniiriiii'ipled Charles H. was a /eidoiis pros(d\ti^ of tho
Uoniaii Citliolie faith, and coiinccied with tin.' order (d the .lesuits. One
part of the nation was enthusiastic. illy attached to freedinn, and another
was cliiellv inspired by the hatred of the papal cciemoiiics ; but all
•greed that tho king had no just or (roiislitulional power to djctuto to .h«
04
OUTLINE SKETCH OP GENKaAL HISTORY.
I.' i
■ !
nation in matters of religion. James had offended many of tJic nobles ,
and they, instead of snccnmbing to the man they despised, addressed
themselves lo the stadlholder, who was his nephew and successor, and
the presuinpiive heir to the tlirone. At this juncture tlio queen of
England bore a son; an evt it vvhich produced different effects on the
hopes of the catholics and proiestaiUs. The stadtholdrr, in;movable in
all conliiigences, was confirmed in his resolution of rescuing England
from the tyranny by which it was now oppressed; but he kept his own
secret, and preserved his usual character of tranquillity, reserve, and im-
penetrability. Many of the English nobility repaired to the Flasfue,
where William lamented their situation ; and, with great secrecy, fitted
out an arm unent that was to effect the deliverance of th(! English nation
from popery and despotism. Tliough the king of France had sent James
infor.natiou of the proceedings of the prince of Orange, the infatuated
king could not be persuaded of his danger until the expedition was on
(he point of sailing. At length the slailtholder landed in Torbay; and
the unfortunate monarch, finding the situation of his aff.iirs desperate;
hastily quitted the English shores, and sougiit an asylum in France. A
convention was tlien sunmioui'd, llie throne declared vacant, and the
prince and princess of Orange, as " King William III. and Queen Mary,"
were proclaimed king and queen of England. This was followed by the
passing of the " Uill of Rights" and the " Act of Settle meat," by which
the future liberties of the people were secured.
At the head of liie league of Aug.sburg was the Emperor Leopold ; but
Louis, not daunted by the number of the confederates, assembled two
large armies ni Flanders; seat another to oppose the Spaniards in Catalo-
nia; while a fourth was employed as a barrier on the German frontier,
and ravaged the palatinate uiih fire and sword ; driving the wretched
victims of his barbarous policy from their burning houses by thousands,
to perish with cold and hunger on the frozen ground. In the next cam-
paign his troops archieved several important victories, and tlie French
fleet defeated the combined fleets of l''ngland and llollanii off Beachy-
head, a.d. U)90. Thus the war continued for the three following years,
exhausting the resources of every party engaged in it, without any im-
portant change taking place, or any decisive advantage being gained by
either that was likely lo produce a cessation of hostilities. With all the
military glory that France had acquired, her conquests were unproductive
of any solid advantage; her finances were in a sinking state ; her agri-
culture and coininerce were laugiiishiiio ; iind the country was threatened
\vitl- •'"» horrors of famine, arising from a failure of the crops and the
scarcity of haiids '.o cultivate the soil. All parties, indeed, were now
grown weary oi" a war in which nothing permanent was effected, and in
which the l^lood ai'.d treasure of t he combatants continued to lie profusely
and useless i^xpeiided. .Vccordiiigly, in 1007, negotiations were commen-
ced, under the mediation of the youthful Charles XII., king of Sweden,
and a treaty concluded at liyswick, by which Louis made great conces-
sions, restoring to Spain the principal places he had wrested from her;
but the reiiiiiiciation of the Spanish suec(!ssi<in, whicli it had been the main
object of the war to enforce, was not even alluded to in the treaty.
CHAPTER XVI.
COMMENCKMKNT OK TUB ElOHTKENTli CKNTURV, TO TIIK PKACK OK UTRKCHT.
Tint declining health of Charles 11., king of Spain, who hud no chil
dri'ii, ('iiaa^r(>(| iiio iitteniioii of the European powers, and ke|)t on llu
alert thoHe princes who were claimants of the crown. The cundidutoi
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
66
M
on tli(
.aiididalof
were Lonis XIV., the Emperor Leopold, and the elector of Uavaria; !•"
it was iiiiiiiifestly to tlie interest of those who wished to pn^serve the
balance of power ia Europe that the choice should fall on the latter ; but
he was unable to contend with his rivals. A secret treaty of partition
was therefore signed by France, England, and Holland, by which it was
agreed that Spain, America, and the Netherlands, should be given to the
electoral prince of Bavaria; Naples, Sicily, and the Italian states, to th«
dauphin, and the duchy of Milan to the emperor's second son, the arch-
duke Charles. This treaty coming to the knowledge of the king of
Spain, he was naturally indignant that his possessions should thus be dis-
posed of during his life ; and he immediately made a will in favour of the
electoral prince. This well suited the views of England and Holland;
but the iniention was scarcely made known, when the favoured prince
died suddenly, not without suspicion of having been poisoned. The
prince's death revived the apprehensions of England and Holland, and
they entered into a new treaty of partition. But the king of Spain be-
queathed the whole of his dominions to the duke of Anjou, second son of
the dauphin, who was universally acknowledged by the nation after the
death of Charles, who died in 1701 ; and the young king was crowned
under the title of Philip V,
The emperor Leopold being determined to support the claims of his
son, war innnediately commenced, and an army was sent into Italy,
where he met with great success. Prince Eugene having- expelled the
French from the Mil;inese, a grand alliance was formed between Ger-
many, F 'and, and ilolland. The avowed objecis of this alliance were
"to pr re satisfaction to his imperial majesty in the cas^e of the
Spanis,. succession ; obtain secin'ity to the English and Dutch for their
dominions and commerce ; prevent the union of the monarchies of
France and Spain ; and hinder the French from possessing the Spanish
dominions in Anierica."
James II., the exiled king of England, died at St. Germain's in France,
on the 7th of September, 1701; and was succeeded in his ncnninal titles
by his son, James HI., better known by the appellation of the Pretender,
VVith more magnanimity than prudence, Louis XIV. recognised his right
to the throne his fathcT had abdicated, which could not be considered
in any other light than that of an insult to VVJlliiim and ilie English
nation; and the parliament strained every nerve to avenge the indignity
offered to the monarch of their choice; but before the actual coinnien(;e-
ment of hostilities, William met with his death, occasioned by a fall from
his horse, a.u. 170v,>.
Anne, scetnid daughter of James II., and wife of George, prince of
Denmark, immediately ascended the vacant throne ; and, (ic'clarnig her
resolulidii to adhere to the grand alliaiK'c, war was declared by the three
powers against France, on the same day, at L(nidon, the Hague, and
Vienna. Her reign proved a series of hanlcs and of triumphs. Being
resolved to (uirHUC tlu! plans of her jiredecessor, she entrusted the com-
mand of ihe artny to the earl of IMarllioroiigli, who obtainei! considerable
success'is in Flanders; while the combiniHl English and Diiieh lleeta
captured the galleons, laden with liie treasures of .Spanish Ameriira,
which were lying in Vigo bay, under the protection of a French lleet.
Meanwhile, the French had the advantage in Italy and yMsac; but in
Flanders the genius of Marlborough (now raised to a dukedom) contin-
ued to be an overmatch for the generals opposed to him. Having secured
nis ciniquests in that country, he resolved to march into (M'rniany, to the
aid of the emperor, who had to conlend with the Hungarian insurgents
as well as the French and Ilavarians. He accordingly crossed the Hhine,
and meeting prnice Eugene at Mondlesheim, a juneliini was agreed on
and ell'eeted with the Imperialists under the duke of Baden; and, thus
L — 5
s«
OUTLINE SKETCH OP GENERAL HI8T0RY.
uiiilfld, tlipy ndvniiped to the Danube. The rival armies each amounted
t(i iiltoill ((((,000 men. The French and Bavarians were posted on a hill
tiflftr tho viilnnc of Blenheim, on the Danube; but tliough their position
WiiH W{?ll chddRn, their line was weakened by detachments, which Marl-
borouifh pfrcciviiifr, he charged through, and a signal victory was the
rddiill. The French commander, Tallard, was made prisoner, and 30,000
of thn French and Bavarian troops were killed, wounded, and taken ;
wliilfi tlifl \i>»n of tlie allies amounted to 5,000 killed, and 7,000 wounded :
A.D, 1704. Hv this brilliant victory the emperor was liberaied from all
diiligor; llic! Hungarian insurgents were dispersed; and the discomfited
Brmy of Friince hastily sought shelter within their own frontiers. In
SlXiiil Hiiil !t;.ly the advantage was on the side of the French ; but the
Victory of Hlcnhrim not only compensated for other failures, but it
Srently raised the Kiiglish character for military prowess, and animated
1(1 (MMirii^ic of th(! allies.
A 111011(1 other great exploits of the war was the capture of Gibraltar by Ad-
mlriil Nir (Icorj^c Rooke and the prince of Hesse. This fortress, which had
hittwrlo Itren deemed impregnable, has ever since continued in possession of
tlin l'lii|j|iHh, who have defeated every attempt ujade by the Spaniards for
itM recovery.
In the following vear (1705), the emperor Leopold died, and was sno-
Cf^i'ded by his son .loseph. In Italy the French obt:iined some consider-
able (\dviu)laBe» ; while m Spain nearly all Valencia and the province of
('iititlonia oiminitted to Charles III. The hopes and fears of the belliger-
iints were thus kept alive by the various successes and defeats they
oxperienced. I.ouis appeared to act with even more than his usual ardour :
he Nciil an army into (icrmany, who drove the Imperinlists before them;
while his Italian army besieged Turin, and Marshal Villeroy was ordered
to act on the o(Tei\sive in Flanders. This general, with a superior force,
^iive Itallle III MarU)orough at Ramillies, and was defeated, with a loss of
7000 killed, (ionn prisoners, and a vast quantity of artillery and ammunition.
All Hrabaiit, and nearly ill Spanish Flanders, submitteil to the cotujuerors.
The allicM, under Prince Kiigene, were also successful in Italy; while, in
Npftin, Philip was forced for a time to abandon his capital to the united
forces of the Mnglish and Portuguese. Louis was so disheartened by
these reverses that he proposed peace on very advantagcdus terms; but
the (lilies. Instigated by the duke of Marlborough and Prince F.ugene, reject-
ed It, alllidiigh the objects of the grand alliance might at that time have
been giiined without the further (effusion nfblood.^ Thus refused, I.ouis
oiiee more exerted all his energies. His troops having been compelled to
evacunte Italy, he sent an additional force into Spain, where the dnkeof Ber-
wick (a natural sonof James 11.) gained a brilliant and decisive victory at AI-
lliiin//! over the confederates, who were commanded by the earl of Oalway
mid till' murtpiis de las Mlnas ; while the duke of Orleans reduced Valencia,
nnd the cities of F.erida and Saragossa. The victory of Almanza restored
the llonrlion cause in Spain ; and Marshal Villars, at the In^ad of the French
•rmy in Cermany, laid the duchy of VVirtemberg under contriinition
Tlie general result of the war hitherto had miserably (lisa[)pointcd the
F.nglisli ; Miirlliorough felt that a mon? hiilliant campaign was necessary
to render liim and his party popular, lie therefore c-,)ssed the Scheldt,
•lid came up with the French army, under Vendome, at dudenarde. They
were ^lrnle;iv posted ; but the British cavalry broke throngli the enemy's
lines nl the ((rst charge; and though the approach of night favouri'd the re-
tri'iil of the French, they were p'.;t to a total rout, and !)0(I0 prisoners fell
into the IhiikN of the Fniilish. Shortly after, I. isle was forced to surren-
der , mill Hlient and Bruges, which had been taken by Vendome, were re-
taken. AliiMit the same time the islands of Sardinia and Minorca surren
ilered to the KngliHh fleet, and the pope was compelled to acknowledge the
•relidukn L'harlus as the lawful king of Spain : a. d. 1708
OUTLINE SKETCH OP GENERAL HISTORY.
0T
1
The treasury of Louis being greatly exhausted, and his councils dis-
traded, he again expressed his willingness to make every reasonable con-
cession for the alt;iininent of peace, offering even to abandon the whole of
the Spanish monarchy to the archduke ; but his proffers being rejected,
except on terms incompatible with national safety or personal honour, the
French king, trusting to the affection and patriotism of his people, called
upon them to rise in defence of the monarchy, and in support of their hum-
ble and aged king. His appeal was patriotically responded to. Kvery
nerve was strained to raise a large army, and the salvation of France was
confided to Marshal Villars. The allied army was formed on the plains
of Lisle; the French covered Douay and Arras. Eugene and Marlbo-
rough invested Mons. Villars encamped wiihin a league of it, at Mal-
plaquet. Klated with past success, the confederates attacked him in his
mlrenohments: the contest was obstinate and bloody: and though tiie al-
lies remained masters of the field, their loss amounted to about 15,000
men ; while that of the French, who retreated, was not less than 10,000,
(Sept. 11. 1709). Louis again sued for peace ; and conferences were
opened at (iiMtrnydenburg early in the following spring : but the alliesstill
insisting upon the same conditions, the French monarch again rejected
them with firmness. The war continued, and with it the successes of
tike allies in Flanders and in Spain, where the archduke again obtained
possession of Madrid. But the nobility remaining faithful to Philip, and
fresh succours arriving from France, the duke of Vendome compelled the
alli(!s to retire towards Catalonia, whither they marched in two bodies.
The English gemiral. Stanhope, who commanded the rear division, was
surrounded at Drigluiegi., and forced to surrender, with 5000 men; and
though the jjrincipal division, led by Staremberg, compelled Vendome to
retieat, and continued their march in safety, they were unable to check
the victorious progress of Philip's arms.
The expenses of a war so wholly unproductive to England had by thii
time exhausted tlie patience of the nation ; and a change had taken plac«
in the Uritish cabinet that was nnfavouruhle to Marlborough and his designs
Through the death of the emperor Joseph, which had just occvirred, the
archduke Charles succeeded to the imperial dignity, thus giving a new
turn to the politics of the sovereigns of Europe, who were in alliance to
prevent the union of the Spanish and German crowns : a great obstacle to
the restoration of peace was therefore removed. Hostilities however con-
tinued, but with 80 little energy, that no event of importance occurred du-
ring the whole campaign. At length the English and French plenipoten-
tiaries concurring in the same desire for peace, preliminaries were signed
between England and France, at London, Dec. 1712. The following year
a congress was held at Utrecht for the general pacification of Europe ; and
a ji^finite treaty of peace was signed on the 31st of March, 171.3, by the
plenipotentiaries of all the belligerant powers, except those of the empe-
ror and the king of Spain. It was stipulated that Philip should renounce
all title to the crown of France, and the duke of Berri and Orleans to tl-at
of Spain; that if Philip should die without male issue, the duke of Savoy
should succeed to the throne of Spain ; that the Spanish Netherlands,
Naples, Milan, and the Spanish territories on the Tuscan coast should be
Becurecl to Austria ; that the Khiiie should be tin; boundary between France
and Germany ; and that England was to retain Gibraltar and Minorca.
In the following year the emperor signed the treaty of Rastadl, the condi-
tions of which were less favourable to him than those offered at Utrecht;
and jMjilip V. acceding to it sinne time after, Enro|)e once more enjoyed
tranquillity. Shortly after liaviim thus extrie;ited himself frcnn all his diffi-
culties, the long and eventful reign of Louis XIV. was terminated by hi«
death, and his great trrandson, Louis XV. ^ing a minor, the duke of Orleaii.
was made regent of France.
«8
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE AGf. or CHARLES XII. OK SWEDKN, AND PETER TH3 GREAT OF RUSSIA.
TuofGH we have confined our attention to the wars wliich occupied tlio
noulh and west of Kiiroi)e at the latter end of t!ie 17th century, we must
not overlook the events that took place in the north and east, through the
nvalry ;ind ambition of two of the most extraordinary characters that ever
wielded the weapons of war, or controlled the fate oi' empires: these men
were Charles XIL.of Sweden, and Peter the Great, of Russia.
It is here necessary to retrace onr steps for a few years. In ICfil the
people of Denmark, disgusted with the tyranny of their nobles, solemnly
surrendcreil their liberties to the king; and f'rederic, almost without any
effort of his own, became an absolute monarch. His successor, Christian
v., made war on Charles XI., of Sweden, who defended himself with great
ability, and, dying in 1697, left his erown to his son, the valiant and enter-
prising Charles XII.
During the reign of Alexis, Russia began to emerge from the barbarism
into wliich it had been plungsd by the Mongolian invasion and the civil
wars occasioned by a long course of tyranny on the pari of its ruhjrs. His
son Theodore pursued an enlightened policy, reforming the laws encour
aging the arts, and introducing the manners and customs of more civilized
nations. At his death he bequeathed the crown to his younger brother,
Peter, in preference to his imbecile brother Ivan, who was several years
his senior. Through the intrigues of their ambitions sister Sophia, a re-
bellion broke out ; and owing to the incapacity of ono brother and the
youth of the other, she continued to exercise the whole sovereign power.
BcMiig accused, however, of plotting the destruction of her youngest bro-
ther, she was immediately arrested and imprisoned; and Ivan having re-
tired into private life, Peter became sole and undisputed master of the
Russian empire, which was destined through his efforts, to acquire event
ually an eminent rank among the leading powers of Europe.
Endowed with an ardent thirst for knowledge, gifted wiih the most per-
severing courage, and animated by (ho hope of civilizing his nation, Peter
I., deservedly surnamed the Great, exhibited to the world the unusual spec-
tacle of a sovereign descending awhile from the throne for the purpose ol
rendering himself more worthy of the crown. Having regulated the internal
affairs of Russia, Peter left Moscow, and visiKid Erance, Holland, and
England incngmlo; investigating their laws, studying their arts, sciences, and
manufactures, and everywhere engaging the most skilful artists and me-
chanics to follow him into Russia. Hut his desires did not end there, ho wish
ed also to become a conqueror. He accordingly, in 1700, entered into an
alliance with Poland and Denmark, for the purpose of stripping \\w. youth-
ful Charles XH. of the whole, or of a part of his dominions. Nothing dis-
mayed, the heroic Swede entered into an alliance with Holland and Eng-
land, laiil siege to (/Openhagen and compelled the Danish governmiMit to
sue for peace. 'I'he Russians had in the meanlimi! besieged Narva with
80.0(10 men. Put (Jharle.s having thus ('rushed one of his enemies, in the
short spatre of three wei.'ks, immediately mandied to the relief of Narva,
where, with oniy 10.000 men he forced the Russian entrenchments, killed
18,000 and took 30,000 prisoners, with all their artillery, baggage, and
I'limunition. Peter being prepared for n-verses, coolly observed, " I
Riiew that the Swedes would beat us, but they will teach us to become
con(|U(!rors in our turn."
Having wintered at Narva, in the following year Charles defeated the
Poles arid Saxons on the Diina, and overrun Iiivonia, (^ourlaud, and Li-
thuania. Elated with his successes, he formed the project of dcthroninK
S
OUTLINE SKKTCH OV GKNERAL HISTORY.
69
Augustus, king of Poland. Oombiniiig policy with the terror of his arms,
he eiitcred VV;irsa\v, aiihl, through tiie iutrigues of the primate of Poland,
he obtained tlie deposition of AiigHstus, and the election of his irienil, the
young palatine Sianislmis Leczinski, a.d. 1704. Though Peter had lieen
unable to afford his ally Augustus mueh assistance, he had not been inac-
tive. Narva, so recently ihn scene of his discomfiture, he took by storm,
and sent iui army of Cd.OOO men into Polanrl. The Swedish king, how-
. ever, drove them out of the country, and, at the head of a noble and vic-
torious army, he marched onward with the avowed intention of dethroning
his most formidable enemy, the czar of Russia. Peter endeavoured to
avert the storm by sending proposals of peace, which being haughtily re-
jected, he retreated beyond the Dnieper, and sought to impede the progress
of the Swedes towards Moscow, by breaking up the roads, and laying
waste the surrounding country, (.'harles, after having endured great pri-
vations, and being urged by Muzeppa, hetman or chief of the Cossacks,
who offered to join him with 30,000 men and supply him with provisions,
penetrated into the Ukraine. He reached the place of rendezvous, but
the vigilance of Pi-ler had rendered the designs of the heiman abortive,
and he now appeared rather as a fugitive, attended with a few liundred
followers than as a potent ally.
The Swedish army had still greater disappointments to meet with. No
supplies were provided, and General Lcweiihanpt, who had been ordered
to join th(! king with 15,000 men from Livonia, had been forced into three
engagements with the Russians, and his ariny was reduced to 4000.
Uraving these misfortunes, Charles continued the campaign, though in the
depth of winter. In the midst of a wild and barren country, with an army
almost destitute of food and clothing, and perishing with cold, he madly
resolved to proceed. At length he laid siege to Pultowa, a fortified city
on the frontiers of the Ukraine, which was vigorously defended. His
army vvas now reduced to 30,000 men, and he waii snfl^(M-ing from a wound
which lie had received while viewing the works. The czar, at the head
of 70,000 men, advanced to the relief of Pultowa, and Charles, cirried in
a litter, set out with the main body of his army to give him battle. At
first the impetuosity of the Swedes made the Russians give way, but
Charles had no cannon and the czar's artillery made dreadful havoi! in the
Swedish lines. Notwithstanding the desperate valour of the troops, the
irretrievable ruin of the Swedes was soon effected; 8000 were killed,
6000 taken prisoners, and 12,000 fugitives were forced to surrender on the
banks of the Dneiper from want of boats to cross the river. The Swedish
army was thus wholly destroyed Charles, and about three luiiidred
men, escaped witli much difficulty lo Bender, a Turkish town in Bessa-
rabia. wli(!re he was hospitably received, and where he remained inact.ve
during several years, buoyed up with the hope that the Ottoman Porte
would espcnise his cause, and declare against the czar of Russia. In one
fatal day (Charles had lost the fruits of nine years' victories, and the shat-
tered remnant of that army of veterans, before whom the bravest troops
of other countries quailed, were transported by the victorious czar to
colonize the wild and inhospitable deserts of Siberia.
Hut th(! inflexible king of Sweden had not even yet abandoned all hope
of humbling the power of his hated rival. At length, in 1711, war was
declared against Russia by the Porte, and the vizier Baltagi Mehemet nil-
vaiiced towards the Dannbe at the head of 200,000 nun. By this immense
force the Ihi.ssian army on the banks of the Prnih was closely surrounded
and reduced to a state of starvation. At this critical juncture, the czarina
Catharine, who a<'companied Iier husband, sent a private message lo the
vizier and procured a cessati ui of hostilities preparatory to o[)eihng nego-
tiations, which were s[)ced'ly followed by a treaty of peace. (Miarlefl,
wlio had calculated oa the total destruction of the czar, felt liiglilv in<
TO
OUTLINE SKETCH OP GENERAL HISTORY.
censed at this disappointment of riis mnst ardent hopes, and eventually
procured the dismissal of the vizier. His successor, however, still less
favourable to the views of the royal warrior, persuaded the sultan, Achmet
III., to signify his wish that Charles should leave the Ottoman empire. But
he resolved to remain, and the Porte had recourse to compulsory mea-
sures. His house was invested by Turkish troops, and after a fierce de-
fence on the part of himself and his few attendants, he was taken and con-
veyed as a prisoner to Adrianople.
The enemies of Sweden were, in the mean time, prosecuting their suc-
cessful career. Stanislaus, whom Charles had placed on the throne of
Poland, had been compelled to yield it to Augustus, and the Swedish
frontiers were threatened on every side. General Steinbock, after having
gained a brilliant victory over the Danes and Saxons at Gadebusch, and
burnt Altona, was besieged iiiTonningen, and forced to surrender with the
whole of his army. Housed at this intelligence, the king of Sweden
left Turkey, and after traversing Germany without any attendant, arrived
safely at Stralsun.l, the capital of Swedish Pomerania.
At the opening of the next campaign, [a.d. 1715] Stralsund was besieged
by the Prussians, Danes and Saxons, and though obstinately defended by
the king, was forced to capitulate, while he narrowly escaped in a small
vessel to his native shores. All Europe now considered that his last effort
had been made, when it was suddenly announced that he had invaded
Norway. He had found in his new minister. Baron de Goertz, a man who
encouraged his most, extravagant projects, and who was as bold in the
cabinet as his master was undaunted in the field. Taking advantage of a
coolness that existed between Russia and the other enemies of Sweden,
Goertz proposed that Peter and Charles should unite in strict amity, and
dictate the law to Europe. A part of this daring plnn was the restoration
of the Stuarts to the throne of England. But while tlie negotiations were
in progress, Charles invaded Norway a second time, and laid siege to
Frederickshall, but while there a cannon-ball terminated his eventful life,
and his sister Ulrica ascended the throne, a.d. 1718.
By tlie peace which Peter signed with Sweden, he obtained the valua-
ble provinces of Carelia, Ingrain, Esthovia, and Livonia. On this glorious
occasion he exchanged the title of czar for that of emperor and autocrat
of all the Russias, which was recognized by every European power. One
year after (a.d. 1735) this truly extraordinary man died, in the 53(1 year
of his age. and the 43d of a glorious and useful reign. Peter the Great
must be considered as the real founder of the power of the Russian em-
pire, but while history records of him many noble, humane, and generous
actions, he is not exempt from the charge of gross barbarity, particularly
in his early years. He must not, however, be jndged according to the
standard of civilized society, but as an absolute monarch, bent on the
exaltation of a people whose manners were rude and barbarous.
Catharine I. who had been crowned empress the preceding year, took
quiet possession of the throne, and faithfully pursued the plairs of her illus-
trious husband for the improvement of Russia ; obtaining the love of her
subjects by the mildness of her rule and the truly patriotic zeal she evinced
for their welfare. She died in the second year of her reign, and left the
crown to Peter H., son of the unfortunate Alexis, and the regen(;y to
prince MenzicwfT, who was afterwards disgraced and banished to Siberia.
After a short and peaceable reign Peter IF. died, and with him ended the
male line of the family of Komanof a d. 1730.
1
I
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENEHAL HISTOUY.
n
I
1
I
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE AFPAIIU or EDROPK, FROM TIIK ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HANOIERIAR
SUCCESSION m ENGLAND, TO THE YEAR 1740.
Arrived at a period of coniparaiive repose, we may now take a retro-
spective glance at the affairs of Great Britain. In 1707, Scolh.\id and
England hnd been luiited under this appellation, and the act of union in-
troduced equal rights, liberties, commercial , rrangements, and a parlia-
ment common to both nations. During the hie of William III. theprotes'
lant succession had been decided by act of parliament, in fpvour of the
countess palatine Sophia, duchess of Hanover, wife of the first electoral
sovereign of that territory and mother of George I. This pis'icess died a
short time before queen Aime, and George I., upon that event, took the
oath of succession, by which he engaged to obse. ve and mi^i.itain the i ..vs
and liberties of Britain, not to engage that kingdom even in defei i^e
wars on account of his electorate, and to employ no other than !h :\jh
ministers and privy counsellors in the administration of governmeu,.
As George I. in a great measure owed his succession to the crown to
the Whig party, he openly avowed himself their frieu" u- ■■] patron, and
they were no sooner in office than they used their pov, er ti crush their
political adversaries the Tories. One of the first acts af hia reigti was
the iQ^peachtnent of theduke ofOrmond, and the lords Oxford and Uoling-
brokS. Oxford was committed to the Tower, but Boliiigbroke and Or-
mond made their escape to the continent. The evident partiality of the
monarch for the Whigs, and their vindictive proceedings, ^ave great um-
brage to many persons, and roused the anger of all who were favourable
to the Stuart dynasty. These feelings more especially prevailed in the
Highlands of Scotland, and a plan was formed for a ge.;eral insurrection
in favour of the Pretender, whom they proclaimed under the title of James
III. By the authority of the prince the earl of Mar had raised his standard,
and the clans quickly crowded to it, so that he was soon at the head of
9,000 men, including several noblemen and other persons of distinction.
But their plans were prematurely formed, and their want of unanimity in
conducting the necessary operations proved fatal to the cause in which
they were embarked. They were attacked and completely routed by the
royal forces at Preston Pans, a.d. 1716. The Pretender and the earl of
Mar effected their est^ape, but most of ; c insurgent chiefs and officers
were doomed to suffer death as traitc-r. '■ iie rebellion beingr thus sup.
pressed, an act was passed for making p<>;:ianicnts sepienniali instead of
triennial.
We now return to the affairs of Spain and other continental states. We
have seen that the death of the emperor and the accession of the arch-
duke Charles to the imperial throuu, left Philip V. undisputed master of
Spain and of its colonies. His fivs! queen being dead, he married Elizabeth
Farnese. heiress of Parma, Tuscany, and Placeiitia, a woman of mascu-
line spirit, who, having a powerful influence over the mind of her husband,
and being herself directed by the daring cardinal Alberoni, his prime min-
ister, indulged in the prospect of recovering those possessions which had
been wrested from Spain, and confirmed by the peace of Utrecht. The
Bchemes of Alberoni, in fact, went much farther; by the aid of Charles
XII. of Sweden, and Peter I. of Russia, he designed to change the poll-
tical condition of Europe ; he desired to restore the Stuarts to the throne
of England, to deprive the duke of Orleans of the regency of France, and
to prevent the interference of the emperor by engaging the Turks to
assail his dominions. These ambitious projects were defeated by whai
was termed the " quadruple alliance" (a.d. 1716) between Austria, France,
72
oijTlink skktcii of (jkneral history.
England and HoUmid. The court of Spain for a time resisted this yiow-
erful confoderacy, but its disasters both by laud and S(!a, couipelled Philip
to accede to the lernis which were ofTered him, and Alheroui was dis-
missed, A.D. 17:20. A private treaty was afterwards concluded between
the kinjf of Spain and the oniperor, and another, foi the express purpose
of coiuiteracting it, was concluded between England, France, Holland,
Prussia, Denmark and Sweden. This led to a short war between F.ng-
land and Spam : the English sent a fleet to tlie West Indies to block up
the galleons in Pnno-Uelio, and the Spaniards made an unsuccessful at-
tack upon Gibraltar. Neither party having gained by the rupture, the
mediation of France was accepted, and a treaty was concluded at Seville,
by which all the conditions of the quadruple alliance were ratified and
confirmed. One of its articles provuling that Don Carlos, sou of the
queen of Spain, should succeed to Parma and Placentia, the Spanish
troops now took formal possession of those territories. It was also
agreed that the "pragmatic sanction," or law by which the emperor
secured the succes.sion of the Austrian dominions to his female heirs, in
failure of mal(> issue, should be guaranteed by the contracting powers.
George I., king of England, died in 17'J7, hut his death made no chango
in the pidilics of the cabinet, Sir Robert Walpole continunig at the head
of affairs afler the accession of George !I. Some few years previous to
the deatii of his father, the nalioii had experienced much loss and con-
fusion by the failure of the "South-Sia scheme," a commercial specula-
tion on so extensive a scale that il bad well-nigh produced a national
bankriiplcy. it was a close imitation of the celebrated " Mississippi
scheme," which had a short time before involved in ruin thousands of
our (Jallic neisjli'iours.
The pacific disposition of Cardinal Flenry, prime minister of Fiance,
and the no less pacific views of \Val|)ule, for nearly twenty years secured
the happiness and peace of both coiiniries. But the puynacious spirit of
the people, and the rememliraiicc of old griev'>nccs on liolh sides, led to
new altercations witii the Spaniards, which were greatly aggravat(!d by
their altackiiig the English ein|il()yed in culling ingwood in the bay ol
Campeai'liy. .\ war was the consefpience, and FrMuei' became the ally
of Spain, AD. 17.1l>. .\ small force being sent to t!ie West Inilies, under
Adnural X'ernoii, the iin|)ortant city of Porto-Uello was caiilurcd, which
success induced lh(! Enj>lis!i to send out oilier arinameiiis npoii a larger
scale. One of these, under Coniinodore .Anson, sailed i<'. the South Seas,
and after eneomilering severe st(uins, by wliiidi Ins force was much diml-
nisheil. lie ravaircd the coasts of Ciuli and Peru, and eveuluatly captured
the ricli galleon annuidly iKumd IViiin .\ca|Milco to Manilla. The olhor
ex'iediiion Masdireeied ayaiiist Cartliancna liiit it jiroveil most disastrous,
owing to the misininagcment and disjui' 's o( llie coininandeis, and to
the unlie.iMhiness of the climate, not less than l.'),0()0 troops having fallen
victims to disease.
■-'fit
M
M
CHAl'TER \IX.
r«OM TIIK A(rKSSiON OF TIIK. KMI'HK.ss TIIK.IIKHA, OK AUSTRIA, TO THr.
l-rACK OK AIX-].A-<ilAl>KLLK.
\Vk now return to the stair of atfiirsin northern Eiiro|ie. On thedeatli
of the einpeiiir, ("liarlis VI., his daiinhler, Maria Theresi, by virtue of the
pra;.nii:i|ii' sanction, took possesxion of Ins hereditary doinininns, Init shft
finiiid sill was not likely to reliiin |ieaceable possessiim of them. Tho
kin(« of Poland. Prince and Spiin, exiiibded llnir nspcclive (laiins to
the \. liole Austrian succession, and Frederic the (Ireat, km;; of Pnisaiu
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENEHAL HISTORY.
73
if tint
hill sh(»
TIk!
IIMIH tU
who nad just KsceiKled his throne, looking only to the aggranclizemfi'it of
his dominiiiiis, joined her enemies in tlie hope of obtiiininy: ;i share ol the
spoil. At the head of a well-appointed army he entered Silesia, .ook
Bresiaii, its capital, and soon conquered the province, and ni onier •• re-
tain his a('(iui:<iton he offered to snjiport .Maria Theresa against :'il liT
enemies, a.d. 1741. This proposal was steadily and indignantly rejected
by the princess, though she was well aware that the French and Bava-
rians were on tlie point of iiivadiiiif her territories, for the expre>s purpose
of elevalinij Charles Alljcrt, elector of Havaria, to the imperial dignity.
Under the command of the prince, assisted by the marshals Belleisle and
Broglio, the united armies einered Upper .\nslria, took Lintz and menaced
Vieima. Maria Theresa being compelled to abandon her capital, fled to
Hungary, and having convened llie slates, she appeared before the assem-
bly with her infant son in her arms, and made such an eloquent appeal
that the nobles with one accord swore to defend her cause till death.
"Moriamnr pro HKOE nostro Maria Theresa." Nor were these nn^re idle
words; her [)atrioiic subjiM ^ rushed to arms, and, to th(' asttmishment of
her enemies a large Hungarian army, under the command of Prince
CI tries of Lorraine, marciied to the relief of Vienna, and the elector was
obliged to raise the siege. A suDsidy was at tlie same time voted to her
by the British parliament, and the war assumed a more favourabh; aspect.
The .Austrians took Munich, afier di'feating the B^ivarians at Meniberg,
and the prince of Lorraine expclli'd the Prussians and Saxons from Mo-
ravia. The elector, however, had the gratification, on retiring into Bo-
hemia, to take the city of Prague, and having been crowned king of Bo-
hemia, he proce(?(!ed to Frankfort where he was chosen emperor under
the name of Clinrles VI L, ad. 17Ii.
'I'he king of Prussia having obtained a brilliant victory over the Aus-
trians at C/.arslau, took iniinedialc advantage of his position, and signed
a separate treaty w'ith the queen of Mungary, who ceded to him Lower
Silesia and (il.itz, on condition of his remaining neutral during li>'r contest
with the other powers. 'I'he conduct of Frederic gave just cause of of.
fence to the court of France, f<u% thus deprived of its most powerful ally,
the French army must have been inevitablv iuIikmI but for the superior
ilies of Marslial Bell
pel
eisie, « iio effc'cled one of the most masterly re-
treats through an «'neniy's ccnintry that has been recordeil in tlu' annals
of modern warfare. Louis XV'. now made oilers of pt-aee on the most
equitable terms, but the queen, elated with success, haughtily rejected
tlKMU. In conseipience of a victory L'^ained by Prince Charles of Lorraine,
she had also soon tlie gratification of rccovi riiiif the inij.erial dominions
from her rival Charles VII., who took refuge in Fiaiikfori, nu.l there lived
HI conifiarativc iudigi'iice and obscurity.
Kiigbind had now become a i,riiicipal in the war, and the united British,
Hanoverian and Austrian forces marched from I'Mamlcrs towards (Icr-
nianv.
The king ^>{ Fngland had ariivid in the allied
camp, and the
French commander. Marshal de Noaillcs, having cut off llicir nupplie
the (lestriictioii of the British and Austrian army was aniicipated, eiilior
by being cut to (licces if iliey attempted a retreat, or by their surrender.
They coiiimciiceil their retreat, and, foriunately for llicm, the ufood gener-
alship of Noailb's who had taken posscssnui (if Delliiciien m their Iront,
was counterai'ted by the rashness of liis in phew, the coniil de (irauiinont,
who advanced into a small plain to giv(! the allies battle; but the inipelu-
■l»ily of Ihe l''rench tnaips was met by the resolute and steady courago
of the allies, which obtained for iheiii the victory of Dcitingeii. Tim
marshal retreated, but the allies, owing to the irrei olutiim of (ieorgo II.,
•ibtamed no farther advantHge.
The iMiiuhiy and amliiiions conduct of (lie omprr^s, wlio avowed hrr
inlenlion of keeping Bavaria, gave ureal offfcnce to several of the (ieriimu
74
OUTLINE SKETCH OF UKNERAL HISTORY.
:i
princes, and France, Prussia, and Die elector palatine, united to cheek tne
(rro wing power of Austria. The French arms were victorious ui Flanders;
the king of Prussia, who had invaded Bohemia, was defeated with great
loss, and forced to make a precipitate retreat into Silesia, a.d. 1744. Not
long after this the death of the elector of Bavaria removed all reasonable
grounds for the continuance of hostilities, his son having renounced all
claims to the imperial throne, while Maria Theresa agreed to put him in
possession of his hereditary dominions.
During the campaign of 1745 the Imperialists lost Parma, Placentia and
Milan. In Flanders a large French army, under Marshal Saxe, invested
Tournay, while the allies, under the duke of Cumberland, though greatly
inferior in numbers, marched to its relief. The king of France and the
dauphin were i>' the French camp, and their troops were strongly posted
behind the village of Fontenoy. The British infantry displayed the most
undaunted valour, carrying everything before them ; but they were ill
supported by their German and Dutch allies, whose indecision or want of
courage lost the day. The capture of Tournay, Ghent, Ostend, and Ou-
denarde by the French, was the immediate consequence of this important
victory.
la England the fatal battle of Fontenoy disappointed the expectations
of the pi'ople, and produced great irritation in the public mind, while it at
the same time revived the hopes of the Jacobites, who thought it a fortu-
nate time to attempt the restoration of the Stuart family. Charles Kd-
waril, the young Pretender, accordingly landed in Scotland, where his
manly person and engaging manners won the hearts of the Highlanders,
who were everywhere ready to give him a hearty welcome and join his
standard. Tl-.us supported by the F4ighland chiefs and their clans, he
took possession of Dunkeld, Perth, Dundee, and Hdinburgh. Having pro-
claimed his father, he marched against Sir John Cope, the royal coui-
mander,over whom he obtaiuci' a victory at Preston Pans. After receiv-
ing some reinforcements he cr< - 'd the Hnglish border, took Carlisle and
Laiicaster, and marched boldly i^^i to Derby. But being disappointed in
his hopes of powerful assistanc; from the Fhiglish Jacobites, he took the
advice of the majority of his oflicers and retraced his ((tejjs. On his re-
turn to Sioiland his forces were considerably augmented, and, receiving
a supply of money from Spain, he prepared to renew the contest with
spirit. But though he was at first successful, by taking the town of Stir-
ling, and (i('f(Mtiiig the troops sent against him at Falkirk, the approach of
a larger army, commanded by the duke of Cumberland, shod comjielled
the prince to retreat to the north. On reaching ('ulloden Moor, near In-
verness, lie re.iolvt'd lo make a stand. As usual, the Highlanders made u
furious onset, but their desperate charge was received by a close and gall-
ing (ire of musketry and artillery, winch in a very short time proveil de-
cisive, (living up all for lost, (Jharles Kdw.ird desired his partizans to
jisfierse, and became himself a wretched and proscribed fugilivt*, in the
hourly dread of falling into the hands of his merciless pursuers, who, after
their victory, with liiMullike barbarity, laid waste theeonntry wiih tire and
sword. Alter wamleriiig in the Higlilaiuls for several months, and reeeiv-
iiig numerous proofs of tin- fidelity of his unfortunate adherents, whom
the reward of X'''l<l 0(10 fur his caiHure did not teiii|)t to betray him, he
escaped lo Fiance, a.u. 171(5.
Ill the mean time tlie French troop.s under Marshal Saxe were .iverun
ning ihe Nelherlands; Brussils, Aiilwer|>, and Nanuir were captured ; and
the Kaiigniiiiiry battle of Koucoux ended th(^ campaign. In Italy, tin- arms
(if France ami her allies were not eijually successful ; and after a series ol
battles in (lennany and the Low CounlneN, in which the lortune of war was
pretty e(|uidly lialaneed, eonferi'iices wereopeiieil at Ai\-la-('liapelle, and
(«relimiiianes of peace signed; a. i>. 174H. The basis of ilns treaty was tint
^Tn
J
OUTLINE 3KKTCH OF GENERAL HISTORY
76
restitution oPhU places taken duriiitt tlx' war, and a mutual release of pris-
oners. Frederic of Prussia was guranteed in ilie possession of Silesia and
Glatz; the Hanoverian succession to the English throne was recognised
and the cause of the Pretender abandoned.
We brought our notice of Russia down to the death of Peter II., ::' 1730.
When that occurred, a council of the nobles placed on the throne Anne
Iwannowa, daughter of Ivan, Peter's eldest brother, who soon broke
through the restrictions imposed upon her at her accession. She restored
to Persia the provinces that had been conquered by Peter the Great; and
terminated a glorious war againstTurkey, in conjuctiun with Austria, by sur-
rendering every place taken during the contest . a.d. 1735. She is accused
of being attached to male favourites, the principal of whom was a man of
obHcure birth, named John Biren, who was elected duke of Courland,
and who governed the empire with all the despotism of an autocrat. Pre
viously to her death, Anne had bequeathed the throne to the infant Ivan,
and appointed IJiren regent; but the latter enjoyed his high dignity only
twenty-two days, wlien he was arrested and sent into exile in Siberia,
Russia has ever been noted for cabals, intrigues, and revolutions. Thesol-
diery had been induced to espouse the cause of Klizabeth, daughter of
Peter the great. Anne was arrested and imprisoned; the infant emperor
was „onfined in the fortress of Schusselburg ; and Elizabeth was iinmedi-
ately proclaimed empress of ail the Kussias. This princess concluded an
advantajfcous peace with Sweden ; and lent her [xiwerful assistance to
Maria '1 lieresa, in her war with the king of Prussia, for whom Elizabeth
felt a violent personal enmity.
CHAPTER XX.
PROORKSS or EVKNT9 DURING TIIK SKVEf* YKARS' WAR IN EUROPK, AMEH-
ICA, AND THK FAST INDIKS.
DiiRiNo the period we have been d:'scribing, in which the west and the
north of Kurope resounded with the crifs of distress or tin? shouts of vic-
tory, the throne of Hiiulosian was filled by Mahmoud Sh.ili, a voluptuous
prince: who, in order to avoid becoming the object of personal halrtd,
coiilidcd all public business to the iiobirs and his ministers : these officers
offended or neglected the subahdar of iheDeccan, who invited Nadir Shah
to invade the East Indies. In 173^1 the Persian warrior uuirihcd uito that
coimtry at the head of an army inured to war and g-eedy of plunder, and
defeated with ease the innumerable but disorderly troops of the mogul.
The crown and sceptre of Mahmoud lay at the feet of his conijueror.
Delhi, his capital, was taken; every individual whosrappearance rendered
it proliaulcthat he was acquainted with concealed treasures, was subjected
to the mo>t horrid tortures ; and it is asserted that 100,000 jicrsons were
massacred in one day! He plundered the country of upwards of thirty
millions sterling, and extended the bounds of his empire to the banks
of the Indus. After commiliing the must revolting acts ofcrueliv, ho
was apsassinated by his own officers, who placed his nephew, Adil Shah,
on the vaeaiii throne ; a. d. 1T47. We will now take a view of European
interrsis in that distant region.
Ainoiigother stipulations in the treaty of Ai.v-la-Chapelle, it was agrted
that the English settlcuM'iil of Madras, which during the war of the sue-
cession hail been taken from the English by the French, should he restor-
ed, Dnpleix, the French governor of Pondicherry, had long fiought an
opportiimiy for adding to the dominions of his countrymen in India; and
the contniual disputes of the native nrinees favoured his schemes, inas-
much as the interference of tlie French was generally solicited by one of
the parlits, who remunerated their European allies by fresh conccBsinnn
#
76
of
OUTLINE SKETCH OE GENERAL HISTORY.
rally
ed'ihe jealc
territory on every such occasion. This natura
of their Knglish rivals, who adopted a similar line of policy; so that
whenever there was a rupture between the native princes, they each found
al'ies in the Kuropeim settlers. A fierce contention arose for the nabob-
jiiipofthe Carnatic. The French supported the claims of Chunda Sahib;
the English being applied to by Mohammed Ali, son of the 1-ite nabob of
Arcot, espoused his cause : a. d. 1751. It was at this time that Mr. Clive
(afterwards lord Clive) appeared in the capacity of a military leader.
He had bi;en originally in the civil service of the East India Company;
but he now exchanged the pen for the sword, and soon proved himself
more than a match for all the talents which were brought into play against
him. With a small force he took Arcot ; and he afterwards successfully
defended it against Chundah Sahib, who besieged it with a numerous army.
Many brilliant victories followed on the side of the English and their allies.
The Rajah of Tanjore, and other independent chiefs joined them. The
French lost most of their ac(|iiisitioiis : Mohammed All's claim was ac-
knowledged ; and a treaty was entered into between the French and En-
glish, thai neither party should in future interfere with the affairs of the
native princes. Time proved how useless was such a stipulation.
The peace of Aix-la-Chapelle was not of long duration. France and
England were still at war in the East indies, and their differences in re-
spect to the boinidaries of their respective colonies in North .America still
remained for adiuslnipnt. Another war in Europe was the inevitable con-
sequence ; and irom the term of its duration it obtained the name of " the
seven years' war." England united with Prussia ; and an alliance between
the emperor, France, Uussia, Sweden, and Saxony, was immediately con-
cluded: A. D. 17')tl. The coniinenceinent of the cain|)aign had a discoura-
ging aspect for the king of Prussia ; the Russians were advancing through
Lithuaiiiii, a Swedish army occupied his attention in Poinerania, and the
united forces of the French and Imperialists were advancing through Ger-
many. With his cliaracterislic boldness, Frederic anticipated the attack
of his numerous foes, and invaded both Sa.xony and IJohemia ; making
himself master of Dresden, routing the Austrians at Lowesitz, and com-
pelling 17,000 Saxons to lay down their ains at Parma.
In the ensuing campaign the inarsh;il d'Estrecs crossed the Rhine, with
80,000 men, to invade Hanover. The Hanoverians and H<;ssiaiis, under
the coiniiiaiid of the diike of Cumberland, were driven out, and the French
became masters of the electorate. Uiiawed by the formidable prepara-
timisof his enemies, Frederic again asHuincil tlin offensive, and penetrated
into Rolieinia ; but a victory olitaincd at Koliii, by the Austrian general
Daiin, coiiiprlleil liiin to retreat h isiily into his domiuioiiB, which W(!ri; now
threatened in every direction. The Fr( ich had rapidly advanced upon
Magdeburg ;liie victorious Russians threatened the norlh of Silesia, while
the Aiislrians had attacked the soutli and even penetrated to llerlin,
where tliev levied liciivy contribuiinns ; and the prince of Itninswick He-
vcrn had didtvereil U[) Hreslan. In thiseinergency, Frederiir c(Mild scarce-
ly expect lo ai'(juire any further fiine; but, with his ("•cusiomed energy,
he hasteni'i! to Dresden, assembled an army, and with half the nninberof
his French and (■crinan opponents, vjiive them battle at the villageof Ros-
bai'li, an I ohtaincd over them a most brilliant victory. Ills loss amount-
ed lo only five tnindreii men, while that of the enemy was tniu^ tliDusand,
in killed, wounded, iniil prisoners. In four weeks after ho obtained the
far more i'liportant victory"!' Mssa, and recovered liresiaii.
Dunni; Iliecam|)ai:in of 17r>^i, ilie Prnssian monarch recovered Schweid-
nitz,ini<l invested Oliii'ilz. In llie meantime I'rince Ferdinand of llriiii!i«
wick cronscd the Rhine, defcaied the French at Cr, velt, and penetrat<'d to
the very gates of I.ouvain in Itr.iliant. .No (-(Mnmander, perhaps ever en-
dured the vii'itaitudes of fortune in more rapid succession than did Fred
■^:
OUTMNK 8KETCH OB GENISKAL HISTORY.
77
eric in this csinipaign; but tliougli he was several times in the most immi-
neiit peril, he at length compelled his formidable rival, Marshal Daun, to
raise the sieges of Dresden and Leipsic.and to retire into Bohemia, while
Frederie himself entered the former city in triumph.
It is in crises like these that the destiny of slates is seen to depend less
upon the extent of their power, than upon the qualification of certain emi-
nent individuals, who possess the talent of employing and increasing
their resources, and of animating national energies. This wa.i in an es-
pecial degree the case of Frederic the Great. He was engaged with the
powerful and well-disciplined armies of Austria; with the French, whose
tactics ami impetuosity were undisputed ; with the immovable persever-
ance of the Russians ; with the veterans of Sweden, and with the admira-
»ly organized forces of the empire. In numerical strength they far more
han trebled tl.e Prussians; yet he not only kept them constantly on the
ilert, but frustrated their combined attacks, and often defeated them with
great loss.
At the opening of the next campaign (17o9)the fortune of war was on the
side of tlie Prussians. They destroyed the Russian magazines in Poland,
levied contributions in Dohemia, and kept the Imperialists in check.
Prince Ferdinand, in order to protect Hanover, found it necessary to
give the French battle at Minden, where success crowned his efforts,
and had it not been for the unaccountable conduct of Lord George Sack-
ville, who cominanded the cavalry, and disobeyed or misunderstood the
order to cliarge tlie discomfited French, a victory ns glorious and com-
plete as that of Dlenheim would in all probability, have been the result.
A decided reverse soim succeeded; the combined Austrian and Russian
army of 80,000 men attacked the Prussiatis at Cunersdorf, and after a
most sanguinary coullict the latter was defeated. Frederic soon retrieved
this disaster, and tiie war continued to proceed with dubious advantage ;
but the I'Jnglish grew tired of this interminable kind of warfare, and turned
their attention from the actions of their intrepid ally to matters aflecting
their colonial interests in the l']ast and West Indies, and in America.
The bold and skilful operations of Clive in the Hast Indies attracted
great notice. Having renistated the nabob of Arcot, his next great ex-
ploit was the recaptnr(M)f Calcutta, which had been taken by the nabob of
llcngal. This was followed by the unexampled victory of Plassy, atid
the final cstalilshmcnt of the llriiish in nurilieru India. In America, Adini-
ral Hocaswen burned the enemy's ships in the harbour of Louisburg, and
compelled the town to surrender; the i^land of .St, .lohn and Gape Ureton
was taken iiv (ieneral Amherst ; and Ilrigadiiir Forlie.s captured fort Du
Quosiu>, while the Frcnidi settlements im the Afric.in coast were reduced.
The island of Gaudaloupe, in the VVe.st Indies, was also taken by the
Emjlish. ("rown Point and Ticondcroga wertMidiniuered by (Jcneral Am-
herst, and Sir NViliium .lohiisou gained jiossession of the importatU for-
tress of NiaKara. The Freiudi, thus attacked on every side, were umdile
to with.stand the (lower and enthiisiisni of tlieir enemies: and General
Wolfe, who was to I:, ;•■" been assisted in his attack on Quebec by Amherst,
fitidinglhat the latter general was unable to (<Mni a junction with him, re-
solved to attempt the arduous and ha/,ai''':Ms enterprise alone. With
this vii'w he lauded his troops at night under tiie heialits of Abraham,
and led them up the sleep and precipitous ascent; so that when the mor-
ning dawned, llii' French commaniler, the Marquis de Montcalm, to his
astonishment, saw the Knulish occupying a posilidu which had befure been
deemi (I in.iceessililc. To sav<f the city a buttle was now inevitable ;
both generals prepared with ardour for the rouflict. .lust as the scale of
victory was licijinniiig to turn in favoiirof the llritisli. the heroic Wolfe fell,
mortally wounded. Willi redoulilcd energy his jrujlant troops fouiiht on,
till at length the French lied in disorder; and, when the inlelligenro wu
/
I
II
78 OUTLINE 8KETCH OF GKKKIJAL Hlf:TORV
brought to the dying hero, he raisei) hi? hiad, and ivith 1 ? < t breatn,
fHintly utleied, " I f'ie hapt;- ;" nor ^• ■ >. tie rip, li of ' Tontivi!?!. I js noble
or soldierlike. He had bnii morla iy ivouuiicd ; Mid he v-;'., ..> sooner
apprised of his daitn^r ihr.i! he Lxclai'ind, "so much the heurr: I shall
II t live to witness f.he surrender of Qui.t 'C." The eonr)plete subjugation
of tilt' Oanadas qiiirkly followt"!. And, amiJst the exploits of Ins army
and i:<i\y, Georjic ! . expired suddenly at Kensington, in the 34ih year of
his peiy.i, and was SLicfceded by his gra idron, George HI., a. v 1760.
On the Kiiropcan foiitinfiit the last, c.jiiipaigns \--vr<: ca- ■ led or with less
spirit than before; both sidi s wore 3xhiusted by theii previous efforts,
and the p rty which x' i..s desirous of p«;a"e endeavourec. to avert such oc-
currences as might revive thu hcpes of tlK! eiiofi' A f-.mily compact
was now concluded betwee , the rourtsof Vrrsaiius iid Miulrid ; and see-
ing no ••liance of gaining any colonial adv.n;, ages over Briu.m while its
navy roiU' triumphant on Iho occiui, tlicy resolved to try thvir united
slMiffth in attempting the subjngalion of its ancient ally, Portujral. That
I ni.iiry was defended more by it-< naturaJ advantages thr.n by its military
force ; the progress of the Spaniards being retarded by the inisenble con-
dition of the roads, and by the neglect of all provision for their sustenance.
An English force of 8000 men, t(i,','cther with a large supply of arms and
ammunition, was sent to assist tli>' Portuguese, and though aeveral towns
at first fell into the hands of the S|K\niards, the British and native troops
displayed a decided superiority tln'Mighout the campaign, and compelled
them to evacuate the kingdom with c("iisiderable loss. In Germany, Prince
Ferdinand and the marquis of Granby not only protected Hanover, but re-
covered the greater part of Hesse. At the saint? time Frederic experienced
an unexpected stroke of good fortune. The empress Klizabelli of Russia
died, and l»cter HI., who had long adiuiied the heroic king, and who had
never forgotten that the inlluence of Frederic had especially contributed
to the foundation of his Mopes and qreatness, had no soonc^r ascended the
throne than he made peace with him, ind restcired all the conquests of
the Russians. From that lime the king was not only enabled lo concen-
trate his whole force against the Austrians, but was supported by Peter,
who concluded an alliance with him, and despatched to his aid a corps of
20,000 men. The reisin of Peter HI., was, however, of very brief dura-
tion; and Gatharinc H., although sli(! confirmed the peace, recalled the
anxjiiary Russians from the F'russian army.
Meanwhile the Kiiglish were extending their conquests in the West In-
dies, 'i'hey took llavannah and Manilla from the Spaniards, with Marti-
nique, St. I.iicie, (irenada, and St. Vincent. iVom the French. Tired of a
war which threatened the w hole o( their colonies with riiiu, !!;*■ cabinets
of France and Spain were glad to find that llic liritish iniiester was ecjual-
ly anxious to bring the war to a close. Peace, wliic! 'as now the uni-
versal object of desire to all parlies, was concluded at Versailles, on the
10th of February, 17(iH, between (ireat Hrilain, France, and Spain, and five
days later, ai Hiibertsbiirg in Saxony, beiwei i Anstriaand Prussia. This
memorable contest, which had reijujred siieii an ''xtraordinary expendi-
ture of bliiod and freasnr*? — a war in which the half of Furope had been in
arms against lOiiglaiid and Prussia — was concluded .villi »careeiy any al-
teration III the territorial arrangeiuents of (iermany, and without proilii-
cine any great or lasting benefit to "ither of the bell'igeranis, so tar, ai (east
aj. their iiileresis in F.urop(> were ciii;ceni( d. Hut in the Fast and West
Inihes, as well as in America, it had added greatly to the colonial poMses-
flions of Great liritian.
t
i
OUTLINE SKETCH OP GENERAL HISTORY
79
H>
CHAPTER XXI.
fROM THR
CONCLUSION OF THE SEVEN VKARS
POLAND.
WAR TO THE FINAL PARTITION Of
The " seven years' war," the principal features of which we have griv-
^n, left most of the contending powers in a stale of great exiiansiion ; but
.lone had been more affected hy it than France, While that country, how-
ever, was dcciining, Russia, under the Empress Catharine If., was rapidly
acquiring a preponderating influence among the nations of Europe; and
no opportunity of adding to her already extensive territories were ever
neglected. On ^he death of Augustus III., king of Poland, the diet assem-
bled at Warsaw to choose a successor. Catharine espoused the cause of
Stanislaus Poiiiatowrky ; and as the discuscions were not conducted with
the temper which ought to characterize deliberative assemblies, the pru-
dent empress, us a friend and neighbour, sent a body of iroops thither to
keep the peace. This had the desired effect, and Stanislaus ascended the
throne. Hut Poland had long been agitated by disputes, both religious
and political, and the new sovereign was unable to control the elements
of discord by which he was surrminded. The animosity which existed
between ilie Catholics and the Dissidents, as the dissenting sects were
called, had risen to a height incom[)atible with the safety of the kingdom.
The Dissidents, who had been much oppressed by the Catholics, claimed
an equality of rights, which being refused, they appealed to forei/'ii pow-
ers for protection ; those of the (Jreek church to the empress of Russia,
and the Lutherans to the kings of Prussia and Denmark. A civil war
now arose in all its horrors, and its miseries were greatly aggravated hy
the insolence and brutality of the Russian troops which Catharine had
sent to the aid of the Dissidents. The Catholic nobles formed a confede-
racy for ihc maintenance cf their privileges and tiieir religion ; but it was
useless to coniend against the overwhelming forces brought against them.
Cracow, where they for a hmg time held out against famine and pesti-
lence, was at length taken by storm, and the unhappy fugitives were pur-
sued beyond the Turkish frontiers.
The protection which the confederates received in Turkey, and mutual
jomplainis concerning the incursions of the wmndering hordes of Tartars
«nd Cossacks, hud, some years before, furnished a pretence for war be-
tween the Porte and the Russians. It was impossible that Mustapha III.
could any hniifer contemplate with indifference the transactions which
took place in- Poland ; not only was the security of his northern provinces
endangered, but he felt justly indignant at the violation of his domii'^ons.
He accordingly remonstrated with the einpre.ss ; and she speciously re-
plied, that having been ri'(incsted to send a few troops to the assistaiu-o
of her unhappy ntighboiir, in order to (]tiell some internal commotions,
she cmilil nn refuse. Hut a body of Russians having afterwards burned
the Turkish town of Halla, am) put all its inhabitants to death, war was
declared, and the Kuropeiiii and Asiaiii! doirinicnis of the Porte sunuiioned
to arm.s. Wliih! all tl;(! odicers who wcr'"' to compose the suite of the
grand vizier were prcpari' g at (\)nstintiiioi)le for their departure, the mul-
tifarious Ionics of militia assembled liiemseives out of Asia, and covered
the IJdsphorus and llellcspimt with numerous transports. On the other
hand, the (liirerenl iiati<)ns (composing the extensive empire of iIk^ autocrat
of all the Russias, iiiokI of wlmni were hut a few degrees removed from
barbarism, put themselves in iDotinn, ai.d a body of troops, sclect'd from
among the corjis ilisfiersed over Pohiiid, was assembled on the siije of ibo
Ukraine. The capitation tax of the Russian empire was raised, ui'l a war
cuiilribuiiun of 20 pur cent, levied on uU salaries. Large armies on both
/
r)0
OUTLINE SKETCH OP GENEllAL HISTOHY.
»iil(!N ndviini'i'il ii(;;iiiist the Danube ; and in ilic spring of 17()9 tlmTuikisn
Ntiin.liiril U'iiN (liMphiycil .11 tliu fruiili;n's uF lliisaiii, where the Ottoman
troi»|m riMinnilli'd Irijjhtfiii liivagts, and drove ihi; enemy across the Uneis-
li!l' 1 th'-y, however, suUered a severe ih'feat at Choczun, and a more de-
t'lHJvo hhnv WII9 soon after slrncl; by the Russians, vviio twice def(;ated the
TiH'kinh lleet, and at ienjriii bmnt fifteen of their ships of tlie line in the
biiv id' ( 'henmu. Mraiitime, the Uiissiaii hind for(;es were equally success-
fill; Ihi; (Jirand Olloman army was totally overthrown near the i'ruth,aiul
lllti ciiplme u( Dender. Ismail, and other places, (juiekly followed.
(irecec, long aeeuslomed to suhjeetion, was but ill-provided with troops,
uiid till! inliahilaiils pursued their own affairs unmolested; but wliea they
nioi'ived iiilidli"eiu-e of the enli rprise of the Russians — a Christian peo-
Iilit of Ihe (iieek ehiirch — to deliver llie (ireeks from the yoke of the Oar
iiil'iaiiH, the love of liberty was rekindled in many of their hearts. All
Idieoiiiii, II113 plains of Argos, Arcadia, and a [lart of Achaia, rose in iiisiir-
nielioii, and upared none of tiieir former rulers. 'I'iie 'i'nrks, in the inean-
tlllie, eroNHcd Ihe islhniiis in order to relieve Patra, and the pasha of Uos-
lllii, with ;)ll.lM)(l men, advanced with litile resistance into the ancient Mes-
Bi'lie; at Modoii Ihe (Jret^ks were defeated with great loss, and it was cvi-
ihtiit that Ihejr hope of r(!gainiiig their freedom was a delusive one. At
llie end ol Ihe eampaigii tlie plague broke out at Yassy, and spread to
Mofii'ow, Vr'here It earned off !J0,0()O persons, at the rale of nearly 1000
vieliiiiN (hilly.
'I'liii < 'rimea was seized by tlie Russians, and the grand vizier was forced
In ritlienl iiilo IhiMmis ; the .laiiizaries rose, put their aga to death, and set
(Ire lo their eaiiip. 'I'lie I'orle in the meantiini' was delivered from ,\ii Hey,
the Muypliaii p.l^«lla, who f(dl in battle against his brother-in-law, Moliuin-
llli'd, I'liirope hail lakeii a mine lively iiiieresl in his adventures, bei iiiise
he iippeiired lo he elevated above naliiiii il prejudices; but hi.s fault emi-
HiHled III Ins inaiiilesling Ins contcMiipt lor those errins tco .Nirly, and in
on ih'i'ided a maimer. 'I'lie Russians at len<>lli erossed ihe Daiiiihe, and
llie .hiiii/iaiieH n.ive way. They were twice coinpelh'd lo ahaiidon the
NK'Uii of Sili-lria, and ihey lost a great part of their artillery near Varna.
Hut 11 reveme of fortune was nigh; for not long afier, Hassan Pasha, a
mini of ureal euiirage and iiitelligenee, ly birth a Persian, and who was
inuli in till' favour of ihe sultan, swore t'. it not a Russian shoulil pass the
iiuliimii il n|iiino.\ on the 'I'mkish .side of the Damibe — and he laitlifuUy
lim word.
1iiNlii|iha III. died in 1774, and was siieeeeded by his brother, .\bd-ul-
Ijitllind, Dili neither llu- sultan nor his peopli; appean.'d inclined to prus-
(Ufllle Ihe war. Ahmil the same lime, Pugatidieff, the (."ossack, at the
liead of iiiiiiv wailike liordes, broke into open rebellion; and this coii-
viiieeiM ',ilh,iriiie lliat peace was not less desirable for Russia than for
the I'mli . A Ireaiy was accordiniily entered into, by which the latter
ceded a loiiHideriible portion of teriiiory to the empress, together wilh
II riuhl lo the free naviualion of the Hlack <Sea.
We Mow reliirn lo iioliee the midain'holy fat<' of Poland. An attempt
on the peiNimal liberty {>( Stanislaus li.ivnig been made by the tnrbuleni
llllil hiKoled nobles, it served as a prele.M for the empress of Russia first
lo ni'IhI an army iiilo tlii! country, and alierwanls, 111 ciminnetion with
I'rilHHHi anil AuHiria, lo plan its dis'membeiineiit. lOaeli parly to tlie coin-
pael had some old pretended elainis to uige in hrdialf of the robbery, and
UN I lie other 1 1 at 1011.4 of Kurope were not in a condition to wage; war against
the pinverliil Irio, their ineiliatorial iiiterferenee woiilil have been inetTec-
tlial. A lliel was called to give a I'olonr to the iransaclion, and a major-
lly of voliH III ing secured, the arinn's of the spmlers severally took pos-
^I'HHion ol Ihe diMliii'ls which hail been previously parcidled out ; ■.i".,l lit-
lln tnie reimiiiied of I'olaiid— iade|)eiidijnl Poland — but its language ant
•In aiiinei A. tJ lT7;i.
kepi
Ml
OUTLINE HKlCTCll OF UENKIIAL HIciTOUY.
Bl
CHAPTER XXII.
FBl> Ilia COMMENCEMENT OF THE AMERICAN WAR, TO THE RKCOCNiriON Of
THE INDEPENDENCE Of" THE UNITED STATES.
To describe, with clironologiciil order, even a limited portion of the
inoinenioiis events of the period to whicii we are now appniaching, would
be impossible in an outline sketcii of general history. We shall tiiere-
fore coiiliMit ourselves with merely alluding to some of the leading fea-
tures wliicli present themselves, and then enter upon our series of sepa-
rate histories.
The first great event, then, which in this place demands our attention,
18 llie American war. Our notice of it, as a matter of course, will be
most brief and cursory. Among the earliest settlers in Ncn'ih America,
were many who eniigriilcd from (iieat Britain on account of civil or re-
ligions persecution— men, who, being of republican principles, and jeal-
ous of the smallest encroachments of their rights, naturally instilled those
principles into the minds of their children, and thus laid the fciuiidation of
that spirit of resistance to arbitrary acts of power, which kiiulUtd the
flames of war between the mother country and the colonies, and ended in
the establishment of a powerful republic. The consliiulion of the Amer-
icHii colonies bore the original iininess of liberty. Under the protection
of Great Britain, North America stood in fear of no foreign enemy, and
llie consciousness of her native strength was alri^ady too great to |)ern)it
her to feel much apprehension even oi her mother counliy. Religion
was everywhere free from restraint, agriculture was held in honour, and
peace and order were protected Pt;a'iist the attempts of parties, and wild
and lawless men. The people, uke the country they inh.'l'i'c' Mopen'td
to be ill the full vigour of yc tli; ardent, iiKlependent, and capable ot
astdiiishing exertions when ar used by ihe stimulus of the passions.
Ill /'(Jo a stamp-duty on va.ious articles was imposed by the British
parlianieni on the colonists, oi I on their remonstratiiig, the act w'as soon
after refiealed. Subsequentlv u duty was laid on tea; this was resisted,
and at Boston the tea was thinwii into the sea. Coeri^ive measures were
then tried, and in 1775 a civil war began. In the following year the
Ameiicans issued their Decl:, ration of Ini'cpendeni'e. Many battles were
fought, but nothing very decisive took |.i a;c till the year 1777, when Gen.
Burgoyne, the British commander, was surrounded at Saratoga, and com-
pelled to surrender, with about 4000 men.
With a blind infatuation, little dreaming of the danger of espousing
primnph's professedly republiciin, and with no other view, indeed, than
that uf h'iMibling a powerful neighbour, France now entered the lists as
the ally of the Americans, and Spain no less blindly followed the exam-
ple. But Kiighiiid had augmented the iiumbtr of her tr<i()ps, an I placed
them ui'.der the cominand of lords Cornwallis and Rawdon, wiio harassed
the Americans, under Washiiiglon, while Admiral Rodney displayed hia
Buperiorily in a naval enirageinent with the Sp.iniaMs. But it was not
merely the hnstility of the Frei\ch and S()aiiianls tlial the I'higlish had to
cope with; the jealousy of the contiiieiital powers displayed itself by
their entering into an armed neutrality, the avowi'd object of which was
to resist the riylit of search which Kiiirhind's long-eslablislied naval supe-
riority had taught Iier to e.\ercise as a riijht over the vessels of other iia-
tion.s. Holland was now added to the list of enemies, iln; faithless con-
duct of that state having induced the Brit; ;'i government to declare war
.•.oainst it, and inan> of the Dutch possessions in South America and the
West Indies were taken from them. Meantime the war in AmiTUja, as
Well as on its coasts, was carried on with increased vigour, the rreiich
'i2
OUTLINE SKETCH OP OlSNERAL HISTORY.
exerting themselves not as mere partisans in ;he cause, but as principals
It was evident that, allhaugli the war might be long protracted, the recov-
ery of the North Anujr can colonies was not likely to be acconiplislied ,
and as the English had been several limes oul-sreneralled, and the last
loss on their part eonsis.ed of 6000 men at Yorkown, under (^rnwallis,
who had been compelled to surrender to a powerful eombinfed French and
American army commanded by Washington, England began to thmk
•eriously of making up tlie quarrel with her rebellious sons.
During the latter part of the war, Admiral Rodney gave the French
fleet, commanded by Count de Grasse, a memorable defeat in the West
Indies, while General Elliot showed the French and Spaniards how futile
were their attempts against Gibraltar. In short, great as were the dis-
advantages with which the English had to contend, the energies and re-
sources of the nation were still equal to the task of suceesslully coping
with its enemies in Europe, while in the vast empire of British India
fresh laurels were continually gathered, and the French were there dis-
possessed of all their stittlements.
On the 20th of Jamiary, 1783, the independence of the United States
was formally acknowledged by England, and George VVastiington, the
man who had led the amiies and directed the councils of America, wan
chosen president.
CEIAPTER XXITI.
FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FKKNCi! RlVOLUTlON, TO THE DEATH or
RUBESPIERKE.
The most eventful period of modern history now bursts upon our view
In the course of the ages tha'. have passed successively before us, we
have witnessed sudden revolutions, long and sanguinary contests, and
the transfer of some province or city from one sovereign to another at
the teriniiiaiion of a war. These have been ordinary events. We have
also marked the gradual rise and fall of empires, the suhjiigaiion of king-
doms, and the annihilation of dynasties ; but they bear im comparison to
that terrific era of aiiarciiy and blood, designated " the French Revolu-
tion." The history of that frightful period will be elsewhere related ; we
Shall not hen' attempt to describe its causes, or notice the rise of that
ntupendmis military despotism which so long threatened to bend the
whole civilized world under its iron sceptre. The apologists of the
French revolution tell us that it was owing to the excesses of an expen-
sive and dissipated court; to the existence of an immense slanilnig army
in the time of peace; to the terrors of the Basiile; to teltres de cachet (or
mandates issued for the apprehension of suspected individuals), and to a
general system of espionage, which rendered no man safe. Others as-
Bcribe it partly to the "spirit of freedtmi" imbibed by the French soldiers
during the American war; but, still more, to the general dilfnsion of po-
litical pliilosopliical, and infidel writimis, which, replete with sarcasm and
wit, wer<! levelltil equally at the pulpit and the throne, and thus, by un-
Bettlin<r ;ie minds of the people, destroyed the moral bunds and safe-
guards t>< s()ci<iy.
Hut, whatever might have been the true causes, certain it is, that vague
ideas of freedom beneath republican instiliilions had tmsettlerl the minds
of men, not merely in France, but throughout Europe. It wus in that
country, however, that piililic discontent was most strongly manifested.
The piMiple were ripe for mnovation and (diange ; and Louis XVI., though
amiable as a man, had not the necessary energy or abilities to counteract
public feeling or diteci the storm.
■■'if
% '
O'JTI.INE SKETCH OF QENERAL HIST iRY.
83
I
In 1789, when the public income of France was inadequate to the
wants of the state, it was thought advisable to convoke the States Gen-
eral, or representatives of the thrne orders— nobles, clergy, and tiers-iiat
or commons. At first some salutary reforms were agreed to; but the
commons wished to assume too great a share of the power, and, beinst
the most numerous body in this natinual assembly, they carried their fa-
vourite measures in spite of the court and privileged orders. To check
the rising spirit of turbulencre and faction, the king was advised to collect
a large body of troops in the environs of Paris, and he also dismissed
Necker, his minister of finance. Both these measures were highly un-
popular, and the mob, excited by the democrats, connnitted great ex-
cesses. Among other acts of outrage, they seized the arms deposited in
the hotel of the luvalides, attacked the Bastile, and levelled that ancient
fortress with the ground. From that hour may be dated the fall of the
monan'hy. The terrified king tried every mode of concession; but the
infuriated populace, led by artful and interested demagogues, and now
familiar wiih scenes of blood and tumult, were not to be appeased. The
capital was divid('d into sections, and the National Guard was formed,
and placed under the command of the Marquis de lu Lafayette, who had
earned his popularity in the American war. Meanwhile the Assembly
abolished the privileges of the nobility and clergy, confiscated the property
of the church, divided the kingdom into departments, and subverted all
the ancient forms aiul institutions; a. d. 1790.
A very general emigration of the nobles and clergy took place, and
Louis, ;ib;indoned even by his own brothers, was virtually a prisoner, or
a mere tdol in the hands of his enemies. And now aiose that democratic
society, afterwards farmus in the blood-stained annals of the revolution,
under the name of Jamhins. From this focus of rebellion issued numer-
ous emissaries, who founded similar societies, or clubs, in every part ol
Frane'c; and thus their coiuaminating infiiienee spread around till the
whole j)olitical atmosphere became one corrupt mass. Stu'rounded on
every side by enemies, the king and the royal family at length resolved
to seek refuge in one of the frontier towns; but they were discovered at
Varennes, and brouHJu back to Paris amid the insults of the rabble. The
most violent Jacobins loudly demanded his death ; a. d. 1791.
War had eoiinneiiced on the part of Austria and Prussia, and the French
at first met wiih some severe cheeks; but on the advance of the Prus
siaiis, the duke of Brunswick published a violent manifesto against the
French nation, whieh did much injury to the cause it advocated. A de-
cree was issued for suspending the king from all his fm itions, as well as
for the immediate ccnvoeaiioii of a national c(i!iveiuion. He and his
family were closely confined it) the tower of tho Temple, and the com-
mune of Paris, at that time under the control of DanUjo, Robespierre, and
Marat, began its tyrannical reign. Under a pr» leiice tliat the Koyalists
who were confiiied in the different prisons were domestic enemies of
Frat. 'e. the forms of justice were dispensed wiih. and they were inhu-
maidy butchered. Royalty was next formally abolished; and it was re-
solved ere long to bring the king to the scaffold. Meanlime two power-
fid parlies appeared in the assembly ; the (iirondists, or Brissotmes, led
by Brissot, who were sincere republicans, and the Jacobin, or mountain
parly, so called from the upper sc ais whieh they occupied, acting under
Robespierre and his friends, whose sole objects were atiarchy and blood-
shed.
Duinnuriez, at the head of the French army, h».d found it impossible to
prevent the entrance of the duke of B."unswick into Champagne; but
disease and famine arrested his progress, and he was compelled to aban-
don all his conquests. The Austriaus were also obliged to retreat.
Savoy was conquered by a republican force, and Germany invaded. This
84
OUTLINE SKKTCH OF GENERAI, HISTORY.
Aiislrians were sifjiiHlly defeated at Jemappe ; and this was qti.ckly fol
lowed by the reduction of Brussels, Leige, Namur, and of the whole of
the Netherlands, which were declared free and independent oUtes.
In December, 1793, the royal captive was led to the bar of the Converi'
tion, where, after undergoing a long and insuitinu; examination, he was
unanimously declared guilty of conspiring agaiiisit the national liberty,
and sentenced to die by the guillotine. He conducted himself with dig-
nity, and heard the decision of his fate with firmness and resignation.
Thus perished, in the 39th year of his age and the 19th of his reign,
Louis XVI., tiie amiable and unfortunate descendant of a long line of
kings. Soon after this judicial murder, a decree of the national Conven-
tion promised assistance to every nation desirous of throwing ofT the
yoke of its rulers. This was naturally regarded as a virtual declaration
of war against all the kings of Kurope ; and Kngland, Holland, and Spain
were now added to the list of its enemies. The war for a lime assumed
a new feature; a British army, commanded by the duke of York, reduced
Valenciennes, and attacked Dunkirk, and the French lost their conquests
as rapidly as they had acquired them. But before the close of the year
1793, the fortune of war was again in their favour; the duke of York
was obliged to raise the siege of Dunkirk, with great loss ; while the
Austrians were driven within their own frontiers.
The iiorrors of civil war now raged in France with unmitigated fury.
The ferocious Robespierre was at the head of the fiercest Jacobins; and
Paris daily witnessed the execution of the most respectable of its citi-
zens. Nearly all, indeed, who were remarkable either for rank, property,
or talents, were the victims of the reign of terror; and among the num-
ber who fell by the axe of the guillotine was the unfortunate queen,
Marie Antoinette, who had been for some time immured within the dun-
geon of the Conciergerie. The royalists in La Vendee dared to oppose
the revolutionary decrees; but the cities which resisted the regicide
authorities, particularly Lyons and Nantes, were visited with the most
horrid persecutions. Hundreds of victims were daily shot or guillotined,
and tlie whole country was laid waste with demoniac vengeance. In the
meantime extraordinary measures were taken by the convention to in-
crease the armies by levies en masse; and private property was arbitrarily
seized to support them. The Rnglish took possession of Toulon, but
were soon forced to abandon it to the troops of the convention. It is
worthy of remark, that on this occasion the talents of Napoleon Buona-
parte were first signally distinguished; this youngoflicer having the com-
mand of the artillery of the besiegers. The war in the Netherlands was
carried on with vigour, victory and defeat alternately changing the posi-
tion of tiie allied armies.
The progress of the French revolution was naturally watched with
feelings of intense interest by the people of Kngland, but with sentiments
very opposite in their nature; and it required all the talents and vigour
of those who were at the helm of state to uphold the ancient institutions,
and direct the national councils with safety.
During the year 1794 the French armies were pretty generally success-
ful. But while they spread terror abroad, the French nation groaned
under the sanguinary despotism of Robespierre and his ruthless asso-
ciates. The time had at length, however, arrived when this monster was
to pay the forfeit of his own wretched life for the outrages he had com-
mitted, and the unparalleled misery he had caused. Being publicly ac-
cused of treason and tyranny by Tallien, he was arrested, and executed
the following day, along with twenty-two of his principal accomplices,
amidst the merited maledictions of the spectators. In a few days, abova
seventy members of the commune also shared a similar fate.
OUTMNE SKETCH OF GENEilAL HieTOtlY.
S6
CHAPTER XXIV.
««UM THK ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FRENCH DIRKCTORTi TO THE PEACE
or AMIRNS.
A great naval victory over the French was achieved by lord Howe on
•Ire 1st of June, and several West India islands were taken from them,
i'he French troops were uniformly successful in Holland; the stadt-
holder was compelled to seek an asylum in Kngland ; and the country,
under the new name of the Batavian republic, was incorporated with
France. Soon after tliis, France received a new constitution, which
filaced the executive power in the hands of five directors and the legis-
ative coim(!il of elders, and a council of " five hundred."
In 1795 Prussia and Spain made peaix with France, which gave the
republicans an opportunity of bearing with their whole force on the fron-
tiers of Germany. The royalists in La Vaiide6 again rose, but were
speedily reduced. About the same time tiie Cape of Good Hope and
several of tiie Dutch Kast India possessions were taken by the English,
whilet admirals Bridport, Hotliam, and Cornwallis defeated the French
fleets.
Once more let us revert to Polisli affairs. The late partition of Poland
had opened the eyes of Europe to the probable future encroachments of
the courts of Vienna, Pelersburgh, and Berlin ; and the PoIes,*aware of
their impending fate, resolved to oppose the designs of their enemies by
a vigorous and unanimous effort. Under the brave Kosciusko they gave
battle to the Russians, and maintained a long and sanguinary contest,
which ended in their driving the enemy out of Warsaw, with immense
slaughter. But the armies of Austria, Russia, and Prussia, invaded
Poland on every side ; and Suwarrof, at the head of 50,000 men, anni-
hilated their army, recaptured Warsaw, which they pillaged, and, sparing
neither age nor sex, put to the sword nearly 30,000 individuals. The
final partition of the kingdom then took place.
The campaign of 1796 opened with great vigour on the part of the
allies, as well as on that of the French, and numerous severe battles
were fought in Germany, the advantage inclining rather to the side of
the allies. Moreau, who had pursued his victorious career to the
Danube, there received a check, and was farced to retrace his steps to
the Rliine; but though often nearly surrounded by the Austrians, he ef-
fected one of the most masterly retreats of which we have any record in
modern times.
But it was in Italy that the most brilliant success attended the French
arms. ' The command had been given to Buonaparte. Having routed
the Austrians and Piedmontese at Monte Notie and Millesimo, he com-
pelled the king of Sardinia to sue for peace. Then followed his daring
exploit at the bridge of Lodi, and his seizure of Bologna, Ferrara, and
Urbino; till, at length, finding himself undisputed master of tlie north ol
Italy, he erected the Transpadane and Cis-padane republics. — Among
the other events of the year may be noticed the capture of St. Lucia and
Granada, in the West Indies, by Sir Ralph Abercrombie; the failure of a
French expedition sent to invade Ireland, which was dispersed by ad-
verse winds; the abandonment of Corsica hy the British; some fruitless
negoiiatjons for peace between England and France, and the demise ot
the empress Catharine II.
Tlie papal states were next overrun by the French, and the pope was
under the necessity of purchasing peace, not only with money and the
surrender of many valuable statues, paintings. Sec, but by the cession ot
(Urt of his territories. Buonaparte then resolved to invade the lieredilarv
80
OUTLINE SKKTCH OF GKNEHAI. IITSTORY
states of ilio emperor; and the Freiieh nrmies hiivinn- ir;iiiie.l consider
able advantages over tlii'ir adversaries, the Freiieh directory took advan-
tage of their position and offered terms of peace, and a delinilivo treaty
was cvontnaliy .signed at Cainpo Forniio. Uy this treily the Venetian
states, which had been revoUitionized by Buonaparte during the negotia-
tions, were reded to Austria, while the Austrian possessions in She north
of Italy and the Netherlands were given to Franco in oxehau'^e. Genoa
about the same time was revolutionized, ami assumed the name of the
Ligurian republic. At the latter end of this year l^ord Duncan obtained
an important victory over the Dut<'h fleet ofT the coast of Holland.
Till! Frencli havmg no oilier power than (Jrcat Hritain now to contend
with, the year 1708 was ushered in with runviurs of a speedy invasion;
and largo bodies of triops, assiMnbled on the opposite shores of France,
were said to be destined for this grand attack, which was to be under 'he
direction of the victorious giMieral Unonaparte. These preparations v • re
met in a suitable manner by the Knglish, whose efTeciive male population
might aliuosi literally be said to be embodied for the defiMure of the
eouiilry. At the same lime a dangerous and extensive rebellion broke
out in Ireland; but the vigilance of the government di^feated the inten-
tions of the reheis, and iliey snbmiiled, though not without the severest
measures being adopted, and t!ie conserineiit etrusion of blood.
A secret naval expediiion upon a large scale, with a w(!ll-appointed
army on board, under the command of Uuonaparle, had been lor some
time preparing. It at length set sail from Toulon, took possession of
Malta on their way to Fgypt, and, having eluded the vigilam-e of Nelson,
safely landi'd near Alexanilria, which town they storiiiiMi, and massacred
the inliabitants. 'I'he veteran troops of France everywhere prevailed
over the ill-iiiscipllned M unelnkes, and the wliDJe of Fgypl soon sul)mit-
ted to the cotKiu'ror. M iniwliile Admiral Nelson discovered and loially
destroyed the French licet in the bay of Aboukir. Wliile these event's
were passing in Fgypt, the French governncni (irosecnted its revolution-
ary principles wherever its emissaries could gain admillanc(!. Uoine
\v as taken by them, thi! pope imprisoned, an-l a re-public erected. Swit-
lerland was r.so invaded, and, notwithstanding the gillanl elTcH'ts of the
Svviss patriots, the country was united to France under llie title of the
Hidvetian repulilic. The territory of Oeneva was also incorpor,il<"d with
FraiK'c. These niijiistifiable invasions showed so plainly the a^^grandiz-
ing piilii-y pursued iiy ilie French directory, tli;'', the eni(>erors nf Russia
and Austria, the king of Naples, and the Porte united with Kngland tr»
cliei'k their a'nbitions designs.
The year 179:) presented a continued scene of active warfare. The
Neapolitans, who I'.ad invaded the koman territory, were not onlv driven
hack, but the whide kingdom of Niples siihnittcd ti> the Freiii-h, and
'.he king was comp'-lletl to seek refuge in Sicily. The French armies
also took possession of Ti.'scany and Piedmont; but the op-rations of
the allies weri' conducted with vigour and success. The archduke
Clnrles routed the French iiuijer .fourdan in the hard fonijlit Intiles of
Ostracli and Stockacdi; and the Aiislro-Unssian army obtamcil a decisive
victory sit f^issano, ami drove ilie enemy oi >tilan and (iciioa. The
arms uf the republic were eijiially unfortiinit" in oilier parts. Turin,
' 'essandria, and M iiitn.i were tikcn; and the French under .loiiherl and
.loreaii, were totallv routed al Novi. .Switzerland afierivards b"camo
the |irincipa! scene of action ; and there also tlii! army of Sow irrof w.ts
HUcccssful ; bill another Itissiin arinv, commanded by Ivoraskolf. was
nilnked and def''aled by M issena, .iiid /nrich taken by slorin. In ll.ilv,
however, sui'cess still alteililed the allies. The French were e\pell»r|
rrom \apluH and Ruino, and ihu papal chair was suoii after otrcuniod t>y
Pius VU.
OUTLINE SKETCH ( F GENEBAL HISTORY
JIIU^II \><1IIIU1 »a>7ll9 U\ll'll«lLt> LIIIJ ^WUill^V. tllllJ (WtlVltV \Jl kJli
Sidney Smilli rcsisleil the rcpeiUcd assiiulis of llic h'lt'iicli duriiijf a sieije
ofsixly-niiK! days: iiiKi Biioitiiparto, tiioiigluit the Iwid of 1J,0II0 vcleraM"
was coiii|)l(H(ly foiled in all his alteiiipts, and was obliged to relrt'itl ii j
Kgypt. lie was afterwards successful in severul eneoniilers wiili ihe
Turks, particularly at Aljoukir; but, foreseeing thai the expedition would
ulliinately prove disastrous, he conlided the couiniaud to (ieneral Kleber,
and secretly returned to France. Uuonaparte's invasion of lOgypt was con-
sidered as pieparalory to au uilenipt on India, where, at the vt^y time,
the Briiisharnis were crowned with great success — Seringapatani having
been taken, and our (urinidable enemy, TippooiSaib, being found amung the
slain.
Discord ami anarchy reigned thnnighout France, under the weak, yet
arbitrary adniinisiraiion of the directory ; anil the sudden appearance of
Buonaparte was the signal for a new revolution in that governnxMit
Al
uuuiiii)iaiie Wits iiie signal lor <i new revoiuiion in iiiai ir(iveriini(Mii, i\.\
the he.id oftlie conspiracy was his brother LuiMcn, president of ilio coun-
cil of five hundred, who was supported by (^imbaccri's, Talleyrand,
Sii-yes, Foiiclic, &c. The directory was speedily ovcrlnrned, asenaieand
tiiree consuls were appoinlcil, and Hiiiina|)arle was chosen first consul.
One of his lirst acts was that of making paciiic ovcriiiris to Kngland,
wiiicli were rcjecled. He tlien put himself at the head of tht: army.cross-
I'd Mount St. IJeTiiard, and marclied from victory to vicioiy, till ilie mem-
orahle baillc of Marengo decided tlie fate of Italy. The successes of the,
French in (JeriiMiiy were of a lessd<M'isive naliire : but the dcf< al of Ihe
allies at ll.ihcnliiideii iiuhiceil i'-iaiicis II. to sign the treaty of Liiiieville,
!iy whiih he ceded soiiK! of Ins possessions in (ierinany, and iransferrud
Tuscany to tlieiiuke of I'aroia.
Al the hemimiiig of 1801 Kngland was without an ally, and had to ron-
(eiid with aiioiher formil.ible opponent in I'aul I., of l{u^sl,l, who had in-
duced 8w(!deii and neiimark to iiiiiie with linn in fonniiig an armed iieu-
tr.ilily. To eriish this iiDrihern confederacy in the hud, a large (let was
iii'Ut to the I'altie, under the command of .S,r Hyde Parker and Lord Nel-
son ; (;o|KMihageii was attackeil, and tin; wlioleof the Danish ships were
either taken or destroyed. Tins vicbiry nave a latal blmv to Ihe ni.riliern
confederacv, «'lni'li was eveiitnallv aiiniliilaicd by the deaib of I'aul. and
the accession of his son Alexander, who inimediatelv released the British
vessels detaineil in bis jtoris, and olhurwisu Hheweil liiit iiicliiialion tu be
on amii-ahle terms with Knghuul.
in Kgypt (ieneral Kleber bad been assassinate
llic French troops devolved on Menoii ' ■ ■•
An
Kalph Abereromhie had now arrive I and a decisi
ami the command ii(
Kiiglisli army, under .Si;
•tory was gamed hy
(hem al Alevaiidria, hut they had to btnieiit the loss of tin ir gall nil coiii-
mander. will) fidi iii the aclioii. (iraiid Cairo, ItosiUla, and AlexandiiR
soon after «ii'-reii:lere I, all 1 the Frenen agreed to evaeu ile ihe country.
The other events of the year IHOI were of minor im|i(irtaiii'e : and m llic
spring of llie fidlowniL' year |ieace was sii^neil al Amiens. I'.iiglaiid con-
sented to surrender all Its compiesls, with ihe t xeeplion of (.'eylon iiiiil
Trinidad; the Ionian is| uids were to form a republic , and .Malta w.is tu be
restored to iis original |)ossi'ssors.
A new constitution was given to France in IHU-J, by which Biinnnpartfi
was declared chief coi'sul for life ; Ihe wlioh; of tin exeeniivi' anthorily,
and even the a|)pomiim'iil of Ins two cidle agues being ve^leil in linn. New
conslitiilions w're alsi given to Swil/.erlaiid
Ihe It iliaii repiib-
Un« About thid |)criud Buonuparlu Mciit a coiisidcrable force to luducu
18
OJTLINK SKICTCH OI'' OLNliHAL HISTORY.
ihe island of St. Domingo, where Toiilssaiil L'Ouvertiirc, a negro, had erect
ed H republic. After an obstiiiute and saii'iuinHry contest, the rebellious
negroes submitted, and Touissant was treacherously seized and sent to
France ; but the French were unable fully to recover Ih.e island.
CFAPTKR XXV.
FROM THE UECOMMENCKMKNT OF HOSTILITIES, TO THE TREATV OK TlI.Sn.
The treaty of Amiens was little better than a hollow truce ; and many
disputes iirisin;; respcclinu lis fuKilment, the war was resumed. In open
violation of the law of nalions, UiKuiaparle immediately eomnianded the ar-
rest of all the Hnijlish whotn business or pleasure had drawn into Franiio.
Hanover was iuvaded and plundered ; and an iirimense force was collect*-
ed on the FrcMcli coast, for the avowed purpose of anniliilaiinjf the IJritish
power: but this, :is before, proved an empty boast. Holland, beiny; placed
under the control of Fiance, was dragfireii into the wtir, and soon lost h^r
eoloiiirs. St Doininiro threw otT its forced allefriance to France, unit
Dessaliiies, the successor of Toiiissant, was made president of the repiib
licof Hayii, Ihe ancient name of the island, 'Vho Fne;lisli at this time
were very successful in India, under the government of the marquis o/
Wellesley.
The personal amhiiion of lliioiiapnrle was every day more evident, and
he at leiiL'tb re<idved to aiinilidite Ihe repiiblie, and crown himself with
an ini[)t'rial diadem. Having procured ilie assassiiialion of ilie duke d"Kii-
gliein, and hy the basest arts inipressed on the minds of the people ai)
ideatli.it treasonable practices were carryiiit; on against bun, the servde
senate. ile-*irous, as they said, of investing him with the bii;liest title
of sovereiu'iiiy, in order tin' more elTeetu.dly loeslahlisb his aulliority, pro-
(dainieil linn emii'Tor of till- Fri'iich — a title which was acknowledged im-
mediately by all the sovereigns of Kurojie, (iieat Britain and Swedei)
•ilone excepted : a. i>. IMOt.
nuriin! the follow lug year Hnonaparl(> n'<sumed Ihe iron crown of l.oin-
bardy, iiinler the title of king of Italy, which aroused tlii; iridlgiiation oJ
Francis II., who united with Hnglini and UiMsia- lint an event which
of all others was most calculated to raise the hopes of the allies, was the
nnexainiilcil victory gained by Nelson off'I'Mfalgar (Oct. 21) over the com-
bined (lei'ts of France anil Spain.
In (ieriniiiy the Austrian army was doom, d to siilTer great loss. At
the head of II'), 000 soldiers, Napoleon crossed tlii! Illiine ; and at Flm,
the .Viistiiin giMieral Mack surrendeii'il his whole force, consistiiii,' of 1 II),-
000 men. Vir'iina was soon after I'litered by Napoleon, and at leimth the
Auslriaiis were completely defeated at ihe battle of .'.osterlii/.. This in-
duceil Fr.iiieis to sue for peace ; and a lre,ily was coni'lnded at {•resbtirij,
by which he <'i<led to Fraiici the slates of Venice, iind resigned the Tyrol,
&c , to llie newly I'reated king of VVirleinbiirg.
F.arly iii lr<0(i the F.nglish re' 'k Ihe Cape of (Jooil Hope from thn
Dnlch. About llio same lime Naples was invaded by the Fn iich, ami
Napoleon g'lve Ins brother, .losepli lltioiiipavtc, the crown of that king-
dom, its legitimate sovereign having previous''' iircd to .Sieilv. Holland
wan also ereetci) into a kingdom, aii<l u'neii l( s orotlier l.ouis. Amiilsi
these ail I iither I nport lilt changes fiu' lliii a!rK<''"idr/>cinenl of Ins family,
Huonf.pirle formed the " confederalion of Ihe liliine," Ihe name given ii>
Ihosi' states wdiine rulers renounced the ancient laws of Ihe empire. The
eonlinne.l encroachmeiiis of France now ronsi'd the k g of I'liissia, who
riisbed |ireeipiialely in'o a war, and imprn lenlly staked his fortni.e on the
rhaiice of one battle. Tins w.is the celebrated battle of Jena, liert I lO.UlMI
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTOIIY.
8fl
Mrtissians and Saxons conlendcd with 150,000 of the French, and were
Jefeafd and clostdy pursued. Ucrlin fell into the hands of the victors,
anri the Prussian general, Uiucher, after a brave resistance, was forced to
capitulate. I'rince Hohenloe and his ariuy surrendered at I'renlzlau.
Silesia was overrun by the French, who peniitrated into Poland, and exci-
ted the Poles to assert their in(le|)ehdence. The Russians, who were now
advancing', met and defeated tiie French at Pullusk ; and, notwithstand-
nig the cond)ined efforts of Murat, Ijasnes, and Ney, they were also suc-
cessful at (ioloinyn. In the insolence of [xivver. Napoleon, at Berlin, is-
sued his famous decrees, prohibiting'all conimereial nitercoiirso with the
Urilisli isles, and conmianding tiu; confiscation of every article of Uritish
manufacture, which scheme of exclusion he dignified with the name of the
" continental system."
The grand Hussian army under Denningsen, enrountered a superior
French force near Fylau, where a sanguine but indecisive conflict en-
sued. IJanlzic surrendered to Lefevre ; and a complele victory being
gained by the French at Friediand, it was shorily followed by the irealy
of Tdsit. The Russians and Prussians submitted to all the innieriui's
demands of N'apcdeou ; but (iustavus, king of Sweden, alone refused to
treat wiih him, or to recognize his imperial dignity.
Tluj Danes having yielded to the influence of France, an expedition was
sent thither by H'.fjlaud, for the [lurpose of preventing the l)anish fleet
from falling into tiie hands of the French. Copenlingeii surrendered after
a f<'w days' siege, and the sliips andiiaval stores were delivered Id the Fn-
glish. Tins act of atfgression was resented by the emperor of Kus^ia,
who dechired war agamst Fiigland. Among other rem irkal>le events of
this year, weri! the de()arture of the prmce regent of Porlugal and his
conn to the Urazil^;, the conquest of Portugal by the French, and the
erection of Saxony mlo a kingdom.
CH.\PTK(l XX VV
TUK FllKNCII INVAHIOM OK SP.\IN, AM) 81111s. KNT PKNINSULAR WAIl.
What open force could not effect, was cai.icd by intrigue nnd treach-
ery. Napoleon having invited Charles I V.,kmg of Spain, to a eoufercnoe
at llayoune, sei/.e(l his (urson, compelled him to abdicate, and triiusrerred ihe
crown to Joseph llnonaparte, whose place at Nap'.i'.-' was so(mi after oc-
cupied by Mm-al, .Napoletin's < "Ik r m-law. Spain was fil'ed with French
troiips, and no <ipposiiioii was i i a.i, i ; but as gixin as Ine Spainards re-
covereil from tluir cotislernaiion, liie people rose in idl piuMs, and |)ro-
claimed Ferdinand VII. The natr ■ s beiriii the war with great spirit ; the
usurper fled Inim .Madrid; while Pahifox ,ind the brave inhabita. its of Sar-
agossa gained nninorl.il honour by the mvinciMe cinn'iige l!iey displayed
ill defending their town against tlie lio'ious attacks of th(^ French, who
were eventually compelled to retreat
The I'ortugiiise fnllciwed the exainplr of the Spaniards , and a Hritish
lirmy,comni .:<ded liv Sir ArlhnrWellesley, landed and defeiled the Frencll
general, .lunol, at Vimiera. Itiit .Sir Hugh Dalrympli' arriving to ai'^suine
Ihe ('(Hiiinaiid, the conveniiiin (d' ('iiiini was eiileied nitii, by which the
(•'reiich army, with all its baggage, artillery, &c , were to be coiivevi'd to
France, An Ungl'sh army of UO.Oiio nien, iiii(!i r Sir .Tidm M' ire, landed
in Sp.iin, and advanced as far as Nidamanea , but tin French fm: e in that
eotiiitry amounted to 1.')0,OIIO. Madrid was lalicii, and lh(> lliiglisb, not
being well sn, orled by the .SiiaiiiardM, were eoinprlled to retreat. At
('oi'iiina» sevi^re battle wim toiiglit, and Kir John Muoro was inurtallv
S'UUIldl:d
oo
OUTLINE 8KETCH OF OKNEllAL HISTORY.
fiil
Hi '
■IS
Austn;i having dccl.iivd war iiy;aiiist France, Napoleon entered tlie field,
repulsed the Ansirians at Kckiniihl, and took possession of Viciuia. Tlio
dH liduke (Miarles gave liiui battle near Essling, wli i li was desperately
contested, and terminated in favour of the Austrians ; but stum after, at
Wagrani, the Ftench {jained an important victory. The brave 'J'yrolese
in ihis campaign made the most heroic efforts against the Frencli; but
the patriot lioHer was taken and sliot.
A most UMsuccessfnl expedition was undertaken by the English against
Antwerp. It was composed of nearly 40 JOO men; great numbers of
whom were swept of by a pestilential fever while in possession of the
island of Walcheren; and ti.e remainder ri;urne(l without effecting any
Useful object. In oilier parts the Kiiglish were more successful, huvmg
taken Cayi nnc, Martinicjue, and three of the Ionian islands.
In 'I'urkcy tiie sultan Seliin ha<l been assassinated; Mahmond was
seated on the throne, and peace was concluded between the Porte and
Great Uritain. After a jirolraeted negotiation with Napoleon, the emperor
of Austria signed the treaty of Vienna, by which he was ohlii^rod to sur
reiuler to France, Uavaria, und Russia, a considerable portion of his do
millions.
^-'ir .Vrtliur Wellesley had now the chief command in the PiMiinsela.
He fort-ed the passage of the Uouro, recovered Oporlo, and drove Soiill
out of Portugal, lie; then dcfeate.l the i'Vencli with great slaughter at
T:iavera; but the enemy being reint'orced, lit- was obliged to retreat
His great cervices were, liowever, duly appreciated, and he was created
Haroii Wellinglon. At the close of 180!' the (Spaiii>h patriots sostainet'
some severe defeats, and (ieroiia was taken by them. Marshals Junoi
and Ney commenred the ensuing lanipaign wilii the capture of Astorif
and ( iiidad iiodrigo. while Masseiia entered Portugal, anil took Aineida
At Biisiit'ii Lord WellnigtiMi defeated liiiii, and reaching the iinpregiiabli
lines of 'rovres Vcdras, he look up a I'ttrnng positum, from w Inch the French
could not dislodge him, and M.is.seiia soon afterwards commenced a dis
astrmis retreat.
'l"he campaign of l>*\ 1 was distinguished by ii series of battler,, in which
the eoiiteiiding arinit s displayed gnat bravcv, but without any decided
advantige to either HI the fiid. Among tliu r ill whicii the allies were
most siKcessful, were Hidajoz, Albeura. and llarrosa. The year IrtU was
alFo memiH-ahle as the perivxt wjien the Sn.iiiish American colonies began
to renounce their allcgianee to Spam, ami struggle for indepeiidiniee.
In HP.' the events of the war assiimeil .i new eiimplr.\ioii. .\ change
had taken jilaee in the govifiiinenl of Spam, and more earnestness and
eturgy was displayrd m its cjuiieils. Lord W ('lliiiglon cou'dieneed with
the capture of < 'tiidx ! Kodrigo and lladajix ihen advancing 'iilo S|iain, he
gained a decis've vioory over Marmoiit near >i»lam<iii('a, wliiidi was fol-
io wei
1 by I
lis einrunee in
to Mil
where he wa« r<-iived wi;h the most
vnthuHiaste- acclaiiiaiions. In uie lueaiiiiine iIm« |i;iirii)i armies m (he
north of .Spiin wer*" niHnnnily nuccess
ful:
iiid HI (lie south ilie French
rere riimprll>-d lu riise the iteigf of (,^adiz, and evacuate liranadu, (^or<
'lova, Suville, &c.
rHAPTK.R XWH
li '
I ■
t :
r»OM TUK IMVASIO.I OF Bf i<SI* Br THK rKKNClI TO fHK WtBTORATION 0»
W« mu»l now <«lci'> a npitJ re»n-w i#f th»>*»* pxlrnordinnry ncpiteii in (he
Nortli «■•:!. li rneiud tlif AttcntMiii of all Kunpc, and lillf(l cveiy breast
WKll MtkMius exi(< i'l«(.i(iii Till' i inperor At^sa'idi'r fi'li hnn»elf liiiniilia-
ti'd, uiA ins cuuiti<ry iii>«ruii bv Uiat ri|{t<i vuouivunco of llie ' eontineiital
OUTLINE SKETCH OK GiCNERAI, HloI'OKY.
Mi
Hygteni" whi(;li N'jipoleon Imd insisted on, and ttie botiiuilcNS ambitiou o.
the liiltcr, added to his hatred of ail that was English, led Inn) to attempt
iho subjugation of llie Russian empire. He concluded an offensive and
defensive alliaiicb with Austria, Prussia, and the confearation of the Rhine,
whose forces were destined to swell his ranks. The immense army,
*mounting to above 475,000 men, now marched towards the Russian fron-
tiers; and the Russians gradually retired at the approach of the enemy,
who, thougii checked and harassed in every way possible, pressed onward
with ninazing rapidity. At length a tremendous battle was fought under
the walls of Smoleiisko, and the city was quickly after evacuated, the
Russians retreating on Moscow. Having received daily accessions of
Iroops, among whom were numerous bodies of Cossacks, Kntusoff, the
Russian commander, determined on hazarding a grand battle, when a
most sanguinary contest ensued, in which the French lost about 40,000
and the Russians .'iO,000 men. Hut Napoleon be'n\^ reinforced, he was
enabled to take possession of Moscow ; he had scarcely, however, taken
up his head quarters in the Kremlim, before he discovered thit the city
was set on fire in several places, by order of Rostopchin, its patriotic gov-
enor, and the greater part of it was soon reduced to a heap of ruhis. Thus
being in a moment, as it were, deprived of shelter, and feeling the severity
of a Russian winter fast approaching, Napoleon endeavoured to negotiate,
but Alexander, who, at the commencement of tlie French invasion had
declared that "now tiie sword was drawn he would not again sheath it as
ling as an enemy remained in his dominions," indignantly rejected every
pioposition. Cut olT from all supplies, and exposed 'o the incessant at-
tacks of the exasperated Russians, among whom were hordes of Cossacks,
the wretched troops commenced one of the most disastrous r^Ureats ever
recorded in history. Again and agiii had Ihey io sustain the vigorous
attacks of th<'ir |)ursucrs, till tlie wlude route was strewed with baggage,
artillery, and ammunition, and wilh the mangled and frozen bodies of men
and horses. Of the mighty force that invaded Itussia, oidy 30,000 returned
to France!; 400,000 perished or were made prisoners; while the author ol
all their UMp;iralltled siifTerings basely deserted his army, travelled through
Poland and (Jermany in disginse, and reached his ea[)ital in saftMy.
The un(!xample(l leverses of Napoleon were bailed by the nations on
the coniineiit as the signal for their deliveriince from his iron grasj). Al-
exander conelnded an alliance with Sweden and I'russi.i, and they pre-
pared for liositilines, Smne sanguimiry but iiideri.sive battles were fought,
and a short arniisiice was agreed npciu, during which time Au.'tria joined
the le.Tgne, and all p.irlies prepared for tin? renewal of the eonlest wilh
increased vigour. The grcitest UMauimily |irevajle(l in the councils \,[ the
allied sovereigns. Their armies m:uU> a formldabli' aliack on Dresden,
though lhe\ falliH! in their object of tal iiig the eily li\ a itni/i-dr mam: but
the veteran lijuclx-r dcfeate'd the enemy at Kalzbach, and thereby deliv-
ered Silesia. V.Kidaniine wna Ix'aten at Cniin, and Ney at .lulterbock.
It was now resolved ihat the wh(di' of the allied armies slioiild make 9
tiiinullaiieons elTorl to I'nish the common enemy. The forces of Napole-
on were eoncentr.ited at I.eipsic, and (here it was that the allies attacked
and totally ilefeated him. The sanguinary liilile raged fri)m dawn of day
till night ; both sides sntVered immense loss, but that of the Freiii'li was by
far the greatest. Coiisuliiii'j his own |)rrsunal safely, as in liiri retreat
from Russia, Huonapiirle hastily reached I'ari- , whiU? the French garii-
cons which occupied the Sixon and Prussian fortresses were idiandoned
to their fate. The victory of laepsic ;ir )used every nation yet in albanco
wilh Frince to throw otT the oppressor's yoke. Among the number wa«
Holland, whose Inhabitants expelled the Fn nch, and recalled the (irilico
of()ran«e. The Riissian campaign and the war that now raired in fJer-
many, had proved bonclicuil to lliu 8^)uni8li cause, b) withdriiwin<( ludiiv
>2
OUTLINE SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY.
of Napoleon's experienced generals and veteran troops. Lord Wellington
crossed the Douro, and rnarchiuj^ northwards CHme up with the French
army, commanded by Marshal Jourdan, at Vittoria, where he obtanied a
decisive victory, Jnue 21, 1813. The nicmotable seige of St. Sebasstian,
nnd the defeat of Marshal Soult, to wiiose skill the ta.sk of defending tiie
frontiers of France was confided, were the other most proinmunt events
of the campaign ; and France was soon after entere<l on the sonth-west
by the English and Spaniards, and on the north-east by the combined ar-
mies of Russia, Prussia, and Austria.
In the meanwhile the French emperor obtained a levy of .300,000 men,
to oppose the threatened invasi-^ a. Several engagements took place ; but
the allies marched steadily on, h\ iliflTereiil routes, and at length approached
the city of Paris, which capitulated. On the following day (March 31,
1814), the emperor of Russia and llie king of Prussia, accompanied by
their generals and staff, made their triumph, i! entry into Paris, amidst the
acclamations of the uihabitants, who, wlit.her sincere or not, made Ihe
air resound with reiterated (!ries of "Vive I'Kmpereiir Alexandre ;" "Vi-
vent les Uonrhons;" "A bas les tyran, Sec. In the meantime the mar-
quis of Wellington had defeatrd Sonli tear Toulouse, and was advancing
towards the capita!. Napolcn, finding that tlib senate had deposed him,
and that the allied powers ivere determined not to enter into any treaty
with hiiii as sovereign of F'rance, abdicated his usurped crown at Fon-
tainbleau ; and the isle of KIba, with a suitable income, was assigned him
for his future residence. Louis XVIII. was placed on the throne of his
ancestors, the other sovereigns who had been deprived of their dominions
were restored, and all Kurope once more hailed a general peace.
We must not omit to notice that the Americans, having l>"en dissatis-
fied with the Uritish or<lers in eoimcil, resulting from the Ucrl.n and Milan
decrees of Napoleon, thought proper, in 1312, to declare waraj^amsl Kng-
land, and ibillivvith invaded t'anada ; they were, houever, (Iriven back
fwilh considerable loss. The American commodor^. i'erry, succeeded, on
the lOih of September, 181,'!, in capturing the Uri licet on Lake Erie.
Fort Krie was also taken l)y the Americans in July, 1814, and during the
same month were fought sanguinary battles at Chippewa and Hridgewater.
On the 11th of September, Sir (Jcorge Provost, with 14,000 ukmi, made an
attack upon PlaHsburg, but, after a severe contest, was compelled to retire
with great loss. The Uritish llect under l)owni(! was ca|)inred by Com-
modore M'Donongh, on Ihe same day. The war was terminated by the
treaty of Ghent, Dec. 12, 1814. J
1
i
fii
CHAPTKR XXVIIL
rnoM TIIF. BETUI •• OK BUONAPAHTE FROM ELB.*, TO TIIF. OF.NKRAI. PEACK
In March, 181,'), wiiile the plenipotentiaries and the allied sovreigiis were
oceupicil at the congress of Vienna in laying the found ition of a perma-
nent |)eace, the astoiin<liiig news arrived iliat Napoleon had left F.lba, and
landed in Frame, with about 11 ')0 followers. Such was the encourage-
ment he received, that when, on the ll'lh, he readied Foiitainblean, he was
at tlu^ head of 1.'»,000 veterans, with the eertainiy that niimennis corps
were advancing on every side to join Ins standard. Preparations were
made to arrest ins piogress; but on his march he was powerfully rein-
forced, and he reached Pans unmolested. Louis had previmisly left
Ihi' capital and now sought an asylum in the Nctherlanils. The allien
••ivircigiis In thi^ nicanlime iNSiird a maiiiresto, in which it was declared,
tinil Napuleun Uuonaparte, by violating the cotivuntioti in virtue of wliicli
OUTLINE SKaTCn OF GKNRRAL HISTORY.
93
PKACR
lis were
ncrma-
liii, and
)iiriigo-
lii' was
« corps
s were
ly rcin-
y left
alliea
^clared,
r wliich
he had leoii settled at Flba, had forfeited every claim to protection, ami
he was siiiemnly pronounced an outlaw.
Ill answer to this manifesto Napoleon published a declaration, assert-
ing tliat lie was recalled to the throne by the unanimous wish of the French
people. Large armies were assembled with all possible expedition, and
Buonaparte, with extraordinary celerity, opened the short but memorable
campaign, by attacking the advanced posts of the Prussians on the 15th
of June. On that and the following day considerable success attended
his arms, but on the field of Waterloo (June 18) the genius of Wellington
and the steady valour of the British troops gave a death-blow to his hopes
and once more rescued Europe from its degrading !tiralflom. Having
witne«3.'d the irretrievable ruin of his army, he fied with the greatest
precipitation from the field of battle, while the residue of his discomfited
troops were pursued by the Prussians uiulcr Blucher. The combined
armies now rapidly advanced towards Paris, an 1 Buonaparte, finding thai
his reign was at an end, fled to the sea-coast in the hope of making his
escape to .\inerica. In this, however, he was foiled by the vigilance of
the Hritish cruisers, and he at length surrendered to captain Maitland, ol
the Bellerophon, who, at his request, brought him to tlie British shores,
though he was not permitted to land. Afier some discussion it was re-
solved he should be imprisoned for life in the ishiini of St. Helena, whither,
accompanied by a small train o( attendants, he was forthwith sent. Louis
XVIII. was a second time rc>:' i f d to his throne. An act of amnesty
Was passed, from which a few oi Napoleon's most strenuous supporters
were excliuled, whilst Ney and Labedoyere were shot.
By th(^ terms of the treaty entered into between France and the allied
powers, it was agreed that sixteen of the frontier fortresses of France
should be garrisoned by the allies for five years, and that 1.50,000 allied
troops, under the duke of Weilinglon, should he maintained in that king-
dom for the same space of time. The following arraiiirements were also
concluded at the congress of Vienna; Prussia was enriciied by t!ie annex-
ation of a portion of Saxony, and recovered Lusatia; Russia received a
large part of Poland; the Venetian territories were given to Austria;
Genoa was assigned to the king of Sardinia ; the papal dor.iinions were
restored; while the I'nited Provinces and the Netherlands were formed
iiilo a kiiiL'dom for tlie prince of Orange. ICngland restored lo the Dutch
some of ilie colonies she had taken from tliep;, and various minor cliaiiL'es
also took place. A confederation was then entered into by the sovereign
.•itales of (iermany for nnitnal defence and the prevention ot' inleriial war,
and. to crown the whole, the emperors of Russia and Austria, with the
king of Prussia, boiinrl themselves by a solemn compact, called the Holy
Alliance, tlie |)rofes«ed oliject of which was to preserve the p(>;icc of Eu-
rope, and to maintain the principles of Christianity in their respective
domiiiioiis.
Having brought our "Outline Sketch of (>eiieral History" down to a
period so nioincnious, we shall leave all sul)>.e(|neiit events for narration
m the Hisldrics of separate countries which follow. In the brief and cur-
sory Inirii.'uii iiiMi we have given, the reader has had a rapid view of t!ie
rise and fill of empires, the excesses of despotic povvfr, and somf of the
.ounlless eviK atti iiilant on a state of anarchy. Sidl if must be remem-
bered that ill this slight sketch we have only pioi.erred the wnv. As we
proceed. It will be our aim more fully to d(> elope the moliv(», wliiie wc
describe the actions, of those rer|ioiiKihle individuals in who^e hands the
destinies <d' nations aie eiiirn^led; and the judicious re ider, imprensed,
as he cannot f;iil to be, with the niiitabilitv ol hnnian inf<tiiiilioiiH and the
in^labiliiy (d' human grandeur, will lie iiaiurally Ini i.o eoiiiemplate and
admire the everruliitif conduct of Divine Providence ui ine aioral govern
nient uf the world-
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE WORLD.
EUROPE.
Europe lies almost entirely in tlie northern temperate zone; a small
part of it at the northern exireniity is e^teniled beyond tlie arctic circle,
but it (iocs not iipproiich nearer to the equator than ;i5.1 ()cgrees. On the
east anil soiuh-enst it is bounded by Asia; on the west, north-west, and
south-west, by the Atlantic Ocean; on the north, by the Frozen Ocean;
and on the south, by the Mediterranean Sea. It is about 3,400 miles in
lenjjth, from Cupe St. Vincent in Portugal, to the Uralian Mountains in
Russia; and 2,500 miles in breadth, from Cape Malapan to the Nortn
Cape in Lapland.
In proportion to its size, Europe is the most populous of all the great
divisions of the globe, and, except in its northern slates, it enjoys an
agreinible tenipiT.nure of climate, Tlii! soil, thoujrh not equil in luxuri-
ance to ih;it of ihc tropics, is \ -ll a'lapted to tilliijie and pasturage, so
that it afionls a coiiions supply of tlu' necessariesof life, while its mines
produce the most useful metals, aii<l its seas teem with fish.
In no pint of the world are manufactures carried to greater perfection
than in several of the European countries, especially in (treat Britain,
France, and (JernMuy, and that commi'ri-ial intercourse which of late years
has so V(!ry trreatly increased, is griulnally ohliteratin<j naticnial preju<lices,
exciting: emulation, rewaviline; iiuli.slry, cultivating fi^elinirs of mutual
esteem, and increasing the eotnt >its, conveniences, :ind luxuries of all.
To the commerce of Kurope, in f ' (, tliere appears to be rii> limits; its
traders are to be seen in every country, luid every sea is lilled wiih its
ships. Moieover, as the seat oi^arl and scieiK'e, as .lie region where civi-
lization is in active progress, and where Cln'istiiiiiity is extending its be-
nign iinhieiu-e far and wide, lOurope Indeed maintains a prou i eminence,
and, jndgMiy from present appcarani:es, its inhabitants bid fnw at no dis-
tant day lo extend their dominions, already vast, by colonizing and giving
laws to nations now scarcely emerging from barbarism.
ASIA.
The general history of this division of the world carries nsback to the
creation. The cradle of cnir first .'arents, and the portion of the earth
where the most slnpendcnis acts of iivine pnwer and wisdom have been
displayed, Asi;i presents a most inlcicsting subject for the contemplative
mind. It was here that the world before the flood, as far as we know,
was eiincentered. It was here that the antediluvian patriaridis settled,
and spread abroad the families (>f the earth. After the Hood, Asia was
the heart of life, the source of all that fiopuhition which has sinc(! covered
the gl<)l)e with its myriads of iniialiil;nits. The present race of Asi;ilics is
deduced from the Hebrews, the Indinis, and the Tartars. I; is fo'.eign to
Oiir purpose to follow the se'ieu ;i '^-e various tribes of population, whieli,
96
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE WORLD.
from the great fountnin, overspread the earth, and especially Europe !■•
deed, the wlu.le of I'hiiope, however elevated in the se^de of reason an<t
intcllig(!nee above their primitive sources, derived its people and language
from Asia, while from Asia JMinor have flowed arms, arts and learning.
AFRICA.
Africa is situated to the south of Europe, and to the west and soutii-
west of Asia. It is separated from the former by the Meditf rranean Sea
and the Struits of Gibraltar, and from Asia by the Hed Sea, at the most
northerly extremity of which it is united to Asia by the isthmus of Suez.
The history of this immense peninsula, like several of the kingdoms of
which it is composed, is involved in much obscurity. Interesting as are
the monuments of former greatness to be found in this part of the world,
esnecially in Kgypt, there are no memorials on which the eye of science
rests with more intensity of attention tlian upon those tablets which have
enshrined the names of the several martyrs, from the time of Pharaoh
Necho, to the inhuman murders of many an enterprising European trav-
eller. The smi of civilization which once illumined with all its splendour
one portion of this division of the world has been greatly obscured, and
of the greater part of it we may say,
" Shadows, cloiuU, and darkness rest upon it."
AMERICA.
Th!s vast continent, or New World of the Western Hemisphere, lies
between the Atlantic; and Pacific; Oceans, the former separating it from
Europe atid Africa, and the latter from .\sia and Australia. Its iuimeuse
rivers and proiiiy^ious mountain chains are (piite uneqtiallcd in the world,
and the bays, lakes, cataracts, and forests, are also of unrivalled extent
and grandeur. It is divided into North and South America, and is in
length about iiOOO miles, possessing, of course, every variety of climate,
from the burning heat of the torrid zone to the intense cold of the arctic
eircle. Since its discovery by Cohnnbus, vast nnniliers of Europeans
have made this continent their home, the generality being attracted hither
by the eap.il)ilities it seeuu^d to afford them of enriching themselves:
America ha^ a)ho been an asylum fortlie victims of political and religious
persecution. [Aboimding with every production necessary for the com-
fort and convenience of man, blessed with all the privileges of civil and
religious freedcun, this new coimtry, wliicii iiiit three and a half centuries
ago was miknown to the ICastern World, iias risen to a height of pros-
perity almost unexampled in the history of nations, ami the colonies of
the United Stales, which, less than a hundred years since, Great Britain
scarcely considered worthy of her notice, has sliaken off her authority
and now proudly fling out their lianners side by side with those of the
mother country, in every clime, and already threaten to dispute with her
uie pre-eminence she so justly claims upon tlieseas. Untrammelled with
the wre(d;s of tottering or fallen dynasties, the citizens of this new repub-
lic are working out upon an extensive scale the great problem of self-
government.]
><
A SERIES OF SI
TE HISTORIES.
THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
The propriety of commencuig our series of separate histories with England must, we
think, be obvious to every reader. Its rank in the scale of nations ; its unrivalled com-
merco and extensive foreign possessions ; its naval and military prowess ; and the intel-
ligence, enlerprizc, and industry of its inhabitants — fully entitle it to the honor of prece-
dence. Uutthisis not all ; the love of our country excites in us a laudable curiosity to
inquire into the conduct and condition of our ancestors, and to become acquainted with tlie
memorable events of their history ; while our reverence for the glorious Constitution by
which our most valuable privileges are secured, prompts us in nn especial manner to trace
its rise and progress, and thoroughly to ascertain upon what foundation onr political and
religious liberties are based. " If nn Englishman," sold the great Frederic of Prussio,
■' has no knowledge of those kings that Riled the throne of Persia, if his memory is not em-
barrassed with that infinite number of popes that ruled the church, we are reaily to excuse
him 1 but wo shall hardly have the same indulgence for him, if he is a stranger to the
origin of parliaments, to the customs of bis country and to the diSerent lines of kings who
have reigned in EoglaQd."
CHAPTER I.
THE BRITISH AND ROMAN PERIOD — TO TIIK SUBJUGATION OP THE ISLAND
BV THE SAXONS.
Tkb rule laid down by the celebrated historian, David Huine, for his
treatment of early British history, is so reasonable, so obviously the only
rule by which the historian can avoid disfi<rurniii: his nariative of realities
by connecting it with fables and figments, thai it would be to the last de-
gree unwise to depart from it, even were it laid down by a writer of far
less celebrity and genius.
We cannot belter account for the silence with which we pass over the
very early a^es of Britain, than by quoting the short paragraph in which
the eminent writer to whom we have referred, at once suggests and vindi-
cates that course.
"The fables," says he, " which are commonly employed to supply the
place of true history, ought to be enliroly disregarded; or if any excep-
tion be admitted to this general rule, it can only be in favour of the ancient
Grecian fictions, which are so celebrated and so agreeable, that they will
ever be the objects of the general attention of mankind. Neglecting,
therefore, all traditions, or rather talcs, concerning the more early histo-
ry of Britain, we shall only consider the state of the inhabitants as it H\t-
pt^ared to the Romans on their invasion of this country. We shall
bricflv run over the events which attended the conquest made by that
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THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
empire as beIon<>;ing nioie to Roman than to British story. We shall
hasten through the obscure iinJ uniuieresting period of Saxon annals, and
shall reserve a more full narration tor those times when the truth is both
so well ascertained and so complete as to proinis'j entertainment and in
struction to the reader."
That Britain, liite Gaul, was originaliy inhabited by a tribe of theCeltae,
IS as welt ascertained as sucli a remote fact can be with respect to a peo-
ple destitute of letters; iaiiguafre, nianners, government (such as it was),
and religion, all tend to show ther common origin. But the Uritons, from
their insular situation, retained their full rudeness and their primitive man-
ners and customs long after the Gauls, from their intercourse with the in>
iiabitants of other parts of the continent, had considerably improved in
both respects.
The British people were divided into many kingdoms or tribes ; and
though each tribe had a monarch, each monarchy was principally founded
upon physical force, and of course greatly tempered by it. For despotism,
indeed, there was but little opportunity, whatever the inclination of the
king. War was the principal occupation of tribe against tribe, and hunt-
ing at once the chief amusement; and, next to the feeding of Hocks and
herds, the most important means of subsistence. Wandering hither and
thither in search of pasture for their cattle, these wild tribes were perpet-
ually coming into collision wiih each other; and so frequent and fierce
were their wars, that but for the interference of the Druids — in this respect
a body of men as useful as in many other respects they were mischievous —
their mutual rancour would have proceeded well-nigh to mutual annihila-
tion.
Though we have stated the Britons to have been free from kingly des-
potism — though, in fact, the king was only the first freeman of a iribe of
freemen, there yet was a despotism, and a terrible one, for both
king and people — the despotism of the Druids. The Druids were the
priests of the Uritons; and they were also their teachers, their lawgivers
and their inngistrates; and the peculiar tenets which were iiu^nlcated upon
the British from their earliest childhood, were such as to render the Druid
priests omnipotent, as far as the term can be applied to men and man's at-
tributes. He who dared to ofii'iid the Druid priest in any one of his multi-
farious oflices, lost all pca(te in tiiis world, even if his life were spared;
he was exiuiiiimunicated, utterly and hopelessly ; shunned by his fellow-
men, who dared neither to aid nor to soothe him, he could but retire to
the deepest solitudes of the forest, battle for his precarious existence with
the forest brutes, and perish like them, obscure and unregarded. Nor was
the pang with which he closed his eyes forever upon this world mitigated
by any bright and cheering hope in a future life. The ineteinpsycTiosia
had been a part of his belief from infancy, and he who died under the fear-
ful ban of the Druidsdied in the assured and terrible conviction that he would
live for(!ver under successive forms, each more obscene and contemptible
or more hated, persecuted, and tortured, than that which had preceded it.
Willi such means of upliolding their power over a rude people, it will
easily be believed that ihe Druids had little trouble in ruling both king and
subjects. And, detestable as were their cruel sacrifices of human victims,
this exc(!eding power over the mini's of the people was so far valuable,
that it supplied the want of more leg timate power to prevent wild courage
proceeding to frenzied ferocity, and .o prevent war from being prosei vtud
to the extent of extermination.
Humanity can never fail to regret the miseries and the crimes that
characterize wars, or o delesi the injustiiie and Ihe insolence of Ihe
feeling wliiih prompts the stniiig to trample upon the weak, and thu
wealthy In |iluiider the poor. But, while we neiressarily look with iheie
feelings upon invision and war in the uL'siract, we must not close our eyes
THE TRKASURY OF HISTORY.
to tlie fact, that the sufferings, however great, of a barbarous people inva-
ded ami overrun by a civilized people, are but temporary, and are follow-
ed and more than couuterbalauteci by a permanent deliverance from the
squalid miseries and the mental darkness by which savage life is every,
where chiiracterized. The poet may tune liis harmonious lay to the Wiw
of those primeval ages,
'■ When wild in woods the noble savage ran ;"
But the sterner pen of history, informed by the actual experience of the
voyager, must give no such flattering picture of barbarism. Whether in
the prairies of America, or in the wild bush of New- Holland, we find the
savage invariably miserable and a mere animal ; superior to the other an-
imals in conformiition, but, alas! even more subject to disease and famine
than they are. We may sympathize with the terror which the poor sav
age feels when civilized man invades his haunts, and we have every right
kto demand that conquests be effected with the least possible cruelty ; but
\ve£till must admit that it may become a great and enduring mercy to the
coifffuered.
•Britain, whose fleets are upon every sea, and upon whose conquests and
possessions the sun, literally, never sets, was the home of numerous
tribes of mere savages long after the mighty name of Rome was heard
with awe or admiration, with love or hale, in every civilized nation of the
earth.
Dwelling in wattled huts of the meanest construction, most of these
tribes shifted their habitations from phue to place as new pastures became
necessnry for their cattle ; but some tribes wer"^ stationiiry and practised
agricidture, which, though of the rudest kind, served to improve their sub-
sistence.
Julius C.Tsnr, the renowned Roman, having overrun Oanl at ihc head o(
his irresistible legions, had his attention attracted to Britain b. c. .55. He
dntermiued to conquer it, and it is to his invasion that vvc primarily owe
our present splendour and importance. From his own history of his Gal-
lic wars it is that we chiefly derive our knowledge of the state of Britain;
ard it is on his authority that we describe its rude and poor condition.
Tne conquest of such a coimtry could have nothmg but the love of con-
quest for Its motive ; but to a Roman, and, above all, to a C.csar, that mo-
tive was sufticieni to incite to the utmost enterprise, and to reconcilt-. lo
the utmost danger and the utmost suffering.
Not far from the present site of the town of Deal, in Kent, C-esLr made
a descent upon Britain. The savage appearance of the natives, and the
fierce reception they at first gave to their invaders, struck a temporary ter-
ror even into the hearts of the veteran soldiers of Rome. But the cheek
was only momentary. A standard-bearer lenped upon the inhospitable
shore, and the legionaries followed their eagle. Ciesar advanced some
distance into the country ; but every mile of progress was made under the
harrassing attacks of the natives, whose (lesnllory mode? of warfare, and
their Intimate ae.qualnlancu with the wild country, made them formidable
In spite of their want of discipline and the rude nature of their anus. But
the steady perseverance and serried ranks of the Uoman.s enabled them still
to adviince ; and they giilned so much advantage, that when (;a's.ir deemed
it nececsiiry to return to his wlntei qiiarlers in (Jaiil, he was able lo e.v
tort promises of a (Msaeeahlo reception when he should think proper lo re-
turn, and received I ostages for tiielr fidelity. He withdrew accordingly,
and the Britons, ignorant, and, like all barbarous people, incapable of look-
ing forwiird to disiunt consequences, llanrantly failed to perform their eii-
ffHgeiiicn'.s. Disoliedience was what the Koman power would not 'it that tune
have brooked from a pa iple far more civilized and powerful that the Brit'
^^.'
lUO
THE TREASURY OJJ" HISTORY.
3n8, and Caesar early in the ensuing^ summer again made his appearance
on the coaot or Kent, On this oi^casion he Tiiund a more regular and or
ganized Ton^e awaiting liim; several powerful tribes having laid asidi
their domestic and petty diflferences, and united themselves under Cassi
belaunus, a brave man, and so superior to the majority of the British king»
that he was possessed of their general respect and confidence. But mere
valour could avnil little against the soldiery of Rome, inured to hardships
rather enjoying than fearing danger, thoroughly disciplined, and led bv at
consummate a soldier as Julius Caesar. The Britons, acordingly, harrasS'
ed him in his march, and disturbed his camp with frequent night-alarms,
but whenever they came (o actual battle they were ever defeated, and with
dreadful loss. This time Coisar made his way far into the country, cross-
ed the Thames in face of the enemy, and in despite of the precaution they
had taken to stake the bed of the river, detroyed the capital of Cassibel-
aunus, and establiished askingoftheTrinobantesa chieftain, or petty king,
named Maiidubratius, who, chiefly in disgust of some ill treatment, real or
imagined, which he had suffered at the hands of his fellow-countrymen^^
had allied himself with the Romans. ^
But though Caesar was thus far successful, the wild nature of the coim
try and the nomadic habits of the people prevented him from achieving
anything more than a nominal conquest of the island. He was obliged
to content himself, once more, with the promises which the islanders the
more readily made him, because they never intended to fulfil them, and
he again Icit the island, never to return to it; for the domestic troubles
of Rome, greatly caused by his own ambition and daring genius, left nei-
ther him nor the Roman people any leisure to attend to a poor and re-
mote island. His successor, the great Augustus, was wisely of opinion
that it rather behoved Rome to preserve order in her already vast empire,
than to extend its bounds. Tiberius was of the same opinion ; and Cal-
igula, flighty and fickle, if not absolutely mad, though he made a demon
Btratlon of completing the work which Caesar had begun, seized no spoik
more valuable than cockle-siielis, inflicted only a fright upon the Britons,
and gave Rome nothing for the vast expense of his c -ic expedition,
save materials for many a merry pasquinade and hear* h.
For nearly a century after the first descent of Cae .e Britons en-
joyed peace unbroken, save by their own petty disputes, dut in the reign
01*^ the emperor (Maudius, a. d, 43. the design of coiiqiiering the island of
Britain was again revived, and Plautius, a veteran general, landed and
fairly established himself and his legionaries in the coutitry. As soon as
he received tidings of the success and position of his general, Claudius
himself came over; and the Cantii, the 'iegiii, the Trinobantes, and other
tribes of the south-eastern part of the island, made their formal submis-
sion to him, and this time, probably, witli something like sincerity, as
they had experienced the power of the Roman arms, and the superiority
of the Roman discipline.
The more iidand Briums, however, were still fiercely determined to
maintain their liberty and preserve their territory; and several tribes of
them, united under the command of Caractacus, a man of courage and
of conduct superior to what could be anticipated in a mere barbarian,
made a stout resistance to all attempts of the Romans to extend their
progress and power; a. o. 50. Indignant that mere barbarians should
even ill a slight degree limit the flight of the destroying eagle, the Ro-
mans now sent over reinforcements under the command of Osloriiis Sca-
pula, whose vigorous conduct soon changed the face of affairs. He beat
the Britons fai-iher and farther back at every encounter, and penetrated
into the country of the Slluri-s (now forming part of South Wales), and
here in a general engagement he completely routed them and took u vant
numlicr of p luiiers, among whom was the brave Caractacus.
THK TH.KA3URY OF HISTORY.
101
re-
This bravo though unfortunate prince was sent to Rome. Arrived in
that mighty city, he was scarcely more astonished at the vast wealth and
grandeur which it contained, than at the cupidity, of the possessors of
such a city, and their strange desire to deprive a p';cple so poor as the
Britons of their wild liberty and wattled huts. It is to the honour of the
Romans of that day, that Caractacus was treated with a generosity which
was at once equal to his merits, and in strong contrast with the treat-
ment which Rome usually reserved for defeated kings who had dared to
oppose her. And this generosity of the Romans to Caractacus individ-
ually, is the more creditable and the more remarkable, because his cap-
ture by no means prevented his compatriots from continuing the strug-
gle. Though always distressed, and often decisively worsted, the Britons
still fought bravely on for every acre of their fatherland ; and as they
improved in their style of fighting, even in consequence of the defeats
they received, Britain was still considered a battle-field worthy of the
presence of tlie best officers and hardiest vetenuis of Rome.
Irritated at the comparatively slow progress of their arms against so
poor and rude a people, tlie Romans now gave the chief command of
their troops in Britain to Suetonius Paulinus, a man of equal courage
and conduct, and notdd even among that warlike race for unwavering
sternness. This general perceived the true cause of the British perti-
nacity of resistance in the face of so many decisive defeats and severe
chastisements. That cause, the only one, probably, which could so long
have kept such rude people united and firm under misfortune, was the
religious influence of the Druids, whose terrible anger had more terror
for their deluded followers than even the warlike prowess and strange
arms of the Romans. Suetonius, then, determined to strike at the very
root of British obstinacy ; and as the little isle of Anglesey, then called
Mona, was the chief resort ( 'the Druids, he proceeded to attack it, right-
ly judging that by making a lirrible example of the chief seat of their
religion and their priests, he should strike more terror into the refractory
Britons than by defeating them in a hundred desultory battles. His land-
nig was not eflTected without considerable difficulty ; for here the naturally
brave Britons fought under the very eyes of their powerful and dreaded
priests, and with the double motive of desire to win their praise, and
terror of incurring an anger which ti.e'y believed to be potent in the fu-
ture world as in this. Urged by such considerations, the Britons fought
with unexampled ftiry and determination, and the priests and priestesses
mmgled in the ranks, shrieking st-ange curses upon the invaders, waving
flaming torches, and presenting so unearthly and startling an appearance
that many of the Roman soldiers, who would have looked (^oolly upon
certain death, were struck with a superstitious awe, and half imagined
that they were actually engaged in personal warfare with the tittelar de-
mons of their mortal foes. But Suetonius was as disdainful of super-
stitious terrors as of actual danger, and his exhortations and example in-
spired his men to exertions that speedily put the ill-armed and undiscip-
lined Britons to flight.
The worst crime of which the Druids were guilty, was that of ofTering
to their gods human sacrifices. Even in time of peace, victims selected
by the Druids, either in actual malice or in mere wanton recklessness, fed
the devouring flames. But it was more especially in war time that these
truly h(»rrible sacrifices were frequent, antl the victims numerous. Con-
fident in their hope of defeating the Romans by force, and the terrors of
their superstition, the Druids of Mona on this occasion had promised their
cruel di'ities a plenteous sacrifice. The fires were prepared— but they
who were to have been the ministering priests became the victims; for
Suetonius, as cruel as those against wwiom he fought, burned the captive
Druids at their own altars. Having wreaked this cruel vengeance, and
THE TBEASURY OF HISTORY
uut down or burned the dense groves in which the Druids had tor ages
perfornied the dark rites of their mysterious religion, he left Anglesey
and returned into Uritnin, confident that the blow he had thus struck at
the most veneniled seat of the Briiish faith would so shake tlie courage
and confidence of its votaries, that he would have for the future only a
series uf easy triumphs. But his absence from the main island might
have been of more disparagement to his cause tiian his feats at M(ma had
been to its advantage. Profiting by their brief freedom from his pres-
ence, the scattered tribes of the Britons had reunited themselves, and un
der a leader, who, though a woman, was formidable both by natural char-
acter and sinimeful provocation.
Boadicea, widow of the king of the Iceni, having offended a Roman
tribune by the spirit with which she upheld her own and her subject's
rights, was treated with a shameful brutality, amply sufficient to have
maddened a far feebler spirit. She herself was scourged in the presence
of the Roman soldiers, amid their insulting jeers, and her three daughters,
scarcely arrived at the age of womanhood, were subjected to still more
brutal outrage.
Haughty and fierce of spirit even beyond the wont of her race, Boadicea
vowed tint the outrages to which she had been subjected should be amply
avenged in lioman blood; and the temporary alisence of Suetonius from
Britain was so well employed by her, that he found on his arrival from
Moiia that she was at the head of an immense army, which had already
reduced to utter ruin several of the Roman settlements. The safety of
London, which was already a place of considerable importance, was his
first care; but though he marched thither with all possible rapidity, he
was not able to save it from the flames to which Boadicea had dnonied it,
and all those of its inhabitants who were not fortunate enough to make
a timely escape. Nor was the Roman discomfiture confined to London
or its nei<,'lil)<>urhood. Successful in various directions, the Uritoiis were
as unsparing as successful ; and it is anirmed — though the luniiber has
always appeared to us to he very greatly exMga;erated— that of Romans
and the various strangers who had a(;('ompained or followed them to
Britain, no f(>wer than 70,000 perished in this determined and sanguinary
endeavoiirof the Britons to drive the invaders from their shores. Kveii
allowing somewhat for the error or exaggeration of early historians, it is
certain that the loss inflicted upon the Romans and their adherents by
Boadicea, was immense. But the return of Siietmiins inspired his coun-
trymen with new spirit, and the tide of lortiine soon left the native island-
ers. Pluslied with iiiimerous successes, and win'ked up to a frenzy of
enthusiasm even by the cruel use which they h'nl made of their success,
they eollei'ted all their forces for one final and mighty effort. Suetonius
and Boadicea in person commanded tlieir respective forces. 'I'lie latter
liarnngued her troops with great spirit; the former contented himself
with making his arrangements with consnmmnte art, well knowing that
his legionaries required no exhortation to strike hard and home at an
enemy that had put the Ron>ai) eagle to flight, and make earth drink deep
of the prinid Roman blood. The battle was obstinate and terrible ; but
once again the marvellous superiority of (liscipline over mere numbers
and courage, however vast the one or enthusiastic the other, was striking-
ly displayed. 'I'hc dense masses of the Britons were pierced and broken
' e Roman phalanx ; the defeat became a rout — tin; rout a massacre.
by
Boadicea escapcMl from the field by the swiftness of the h(n-8es of her
own chariot : but despairing of ever again being able to make head against
the detested invaders of her c(nnitry, anil preferring death to falling again
into the hands of those who had so mercilessly nialireated ooili herself
and her ilaughters, she swallowed a potent poison, mid when i vertaken by
till! pursuing soldiers, waft beyond their malice, being then in the agonies
of death.
THE, TRKASURY OF HISTOttlf.
103
Though Seutonius had achievt'd great successes in Britian. he had done
•o only at llie expense of such extraordinary htsses and cruelty on both
sides, that Nero recalled him from his government, apparently under the
impression that his excessive sternness and severity unfitted him for a
TOst in which it was not merely necessary to know how to combat the
resisting, but also how to conciliate the conquered. Two or three other
generals were briefly entrusted with this difRi;nlt and delicate post, which
they filled with credit to themselves and the Roman name; but it was the
goctd fariune of Vespasian, through the prowess and judijnient of his fa
mous general, Julius Agricola, completely to subdue Britain to the Roman
dominion.
A consummate soldier, Julius Agricola was no Icps consummate as a
civil governor; and while he led his victorious legi(ms against the ISritons,
driving farther and farther backwards to the bleak rocks and forests of
Caledonia ihiise who did not perish in the field, or were too proud to do
homage to their conqueror, he showed himself admirably fitted for the
pecuhar duties to which he had been appointed, by the skill with which
he made kindness and liberality to the submissive go hand in hand with
stern severity to those who still dared to resist the Roman arms. Having
followed the more obstinate of the Britons from post to post, !Uid defeated
their collected force under Galgacus in a pitched battle, he erected a chaia
of forts between the Frith of Forth and that of Clyde, and thus divided the
northern retreat of the hostile Britons from the southern parts, that now
formed a great and settled Roman province.
In this province the British inhabitants were by this time but little in
clined to give any farther trouble to their all powerful conquerors, of
whose warlike prowess they had seen too many proofs to give ihem even
a faint hope of successful resistance. Moreover, Agricola skilfully and
assiduously availed himself of their peaceable disposition to instruct
them in the Roman tongue, as well as in the Roman habits and arts. His
efforts in this direction were as successful as his former exertions to put
down resistance had been ; and both London and the smaller places soon
negan to wear a busy and civilized aspect. The skill with which the Ro-
mans incorporated with themselves even the rudest and most intractable
people, when they had once by their conquering prowess fairly got fooling
among them, was to the full as astonishing and admirable as that prowess
itself. The Romans from time to time strengthened the northern fortifi-
cations of Britain, and thus prevented any inroad from the still untamed
hordes native to Scotland or sheltered there ; and the southern Britons
were so fully contented with their situation, and became so perfectly in-
corporated with their conquerors, and initialed into their habits and feel-
ings, that the only disturbances we read of in Britain during a long series
of years arose, not from insurgent attempts on the part of the Britons, but
from the turbulence of the Roman soldiers, or from the ambition of some
Roman governor, \Vho, made presuming by holding high state and author-
ity in 80 distant a province, was induced to assume the purple and claim
the empire.
The wonderful improvement made in the condition of Britain by the
residence of the Romans was at length brought to a period. The barbaric
hosts of the north were now pressing so fiercely and so terribly upon Rome
herself, that the old and hnig sacred rule of the Roman senate, never to
contract the liiuiis of the empire by abaiuloni:ig a colony once planted,
was obliged to be disregarded. The outlying legions were wanted for the
defence of the very heart of the empire ; and the insular situation of Brit-
ain, and its very slight consequence with respect to wealth, naturally
pointed it out as a cidoiiy to be earliest and with the least regret abandonea.
Scarcely had the Roman legions disparted when the Uritons were assailed
hv the Ficis and Scuts. The chain of northern forts was strong and ad-
Il I
lot
THE TREASI/RY OF HISTORY.
iTiirably planned, but hardy and warlike defenders were no less necessary,
and the Britons had so long been ac<;ii»tonied to look for all military ser-
vice to the veterans who had dwelt among them, that they had lost
much of their ancient valour, and were no match for the fierce barbarians
whose bodies were as little enervated by luxury as their minds were un-
tamed by any approach to letters or politeness.
An appeal to liome, where an interest in Britam was not yet wholly
lost in the more pressing instincts of self-preservation, was answered by
the immediate despatch of a legion, which drove away the barbarians
The departure of the Romans was immediately followed by a new incur
sion ; aid was again sent from Rome, and the enemy again was driven
back. But the situation of the Roman empire was now so critical, that
even a single legion could no longer be spared from home defence, and
the Romans, having put the northern fortifications into repair, exhorted the
Britons to defend themselves with perseverance and valour, and took
their final leave of them in the year 44iS, after having been masters of the
island, and exerted their civilizing influence upon its inhabitants, for very
nearly four centuries.
It had been well for the Britons if they had not been in the habit of re
lying 80 implicitly upon the Romans for defence. Now that Rome left
them thus suddenly and completely to their own mastery, they were in
precisely the worst possible stage of transition to fit them for a struggle
with their more barbarous northern neighbonis ; they had lost much of the
fierce and headlong valour of barbarians, without acquiring the art and
discipline of civilized warriors, and they liad just so nui<:h of wealth and
luxury as sufTu-cd to tempt cupidity. Many of their boldest and most vig-
orous youth had cither been incorporated in the Roman soldiery, or had
fallen in support of (irutian and Constantinc in their ill-fated pretensions
to the impori'il throne. The northern barbarians, ever on the watch, soon
became aware that the Roman legion, before which their untrained hosts
had been compelled to give way, had departed ; and they forthwith assent
bled in vast numbers and again assailed the northern fortifications. To
men so long unaccustomed as the Britons were to self-defence, the very
consciousness of having to rt ly wholly upon their own valour and pru-
dence, had an appalling and bewildering elTect. They made but a feeble
and disorderly rcsisiance, were speedily beaten from their forls, and then
fled onward in panic, leaving the country as they passed through it lo the
mercy of the savage invaders. The behavior of these was precisely what
might have been expected ; the sword and the torch marked their foot-
steps, hamlet and town were razed and ruined, and the blackness of deso
latioii was seen in the fields whicrh had lately been covered with the wealth
of harvest. Beaten at every point at which they attempted to make head
against their enemies, and Kccing in the terrible rage with which they
were pursued and harassed, no prospect but that of utter and irredeemable
ruin, the unfortunate Britons sent an embassy to Rome to iniplore aid
once more. Their missive, which was entitled The Gruans of the Unions,
graphically paints tiieir situation and their feelings. "The barbarians"
said this missive, "on the one hand, chase us into the sea, the sea on th"
other hand throws us back upon the barbarians; and we have only the
hard choice lift us of perishing by the sword ov by the waves."
But Altila, that terrible Scuiirjfe of God, as he profanely boasted him
self, was now pushing Roini^ herself to mortal extremity ; and had Britain
hevn even rich aiiil important, not a legion could have been prudently
spared at this crisis for its defence. Being poor and insignificant, it ol
vourse could not for an instant claim the attention of those who wcro
combating for the safety of the empire, and who had already begun to des-
pair of it. When the llritoiis found that they were indeed fiifally aban-
doned by Pome, they lost all heart, deserted even their 8tron{{C8t points
r'
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THK THEASUttY OF HISTORY.
lUti
of defence, and fled to the concealment of their hills and forests, leaving
their houses and property to the mercy of their enemies. These, in their
profusion and in the wantonness of their destruction, soon drew upon
themselves the pan<rs of actual want, and then abandoned the country
which tliey had thus converted into a desert, and carried all that was
moveable of use or ornament to their northern homes.
When the enemy had completely retired from the country the Britonv
ventured forth from their retreats ; and their industry, exerted under the
influence of the most instant and important events, soon removed the
worst features of ruin and devastati<m from their country. But as they
remained as unwarlike us ever, and were divided into numerous petty
communities, whose chiefs were at perpetual discord, their returning pros-
perity was merely an invitation to their barbarous neighbours to make a
new inroad upon people ingenious enough to create wealth, but not hardy
enough to defend it.
To Rome it was now quite clearly of no use to apply ; and Vortigern,
prince of Danmonium. one of the most powerful of the petty kings oj
Britain, who was very influential on account of his talents and possessions,
though of an exceedingly odious character, proposed to send to Germany
and invite over a force of Saxons to serve as the hired defenders of Britain.
As a general rule, calling in a foreign force is to be deprecated ; but, sit-
uated as the Britons were, we do not see what alternative they had be-
tween doing so and being either exterminated by the barbarians or reduced
to their own wretched and rude <;onditinn. It must, indeed, have been ob-
vious to Vortigern, and all other men of ability, that there was some dan-
ger that they who were sent for to defend, might remain to oppress. But
this was a distant and a merely problematical danger; that with which
they were threatened by the barbarians was certain, instant, and utterly
ruinous ; and even had both dangers been on a par as to certainty, the
Saxons, as less rude and barbarous, were preferable as tyrants to the Picta
and Scots.
The Saxons had long been famons for their prowess. Daring in the
flght and skilful in seamanship, they had made descents upon the sea-board
of most countries, and had never landed without giving the inhabitants
ample reason to tremble at their name for the time to come. Even the
Romans had so often and so severely felt their tnis(;hievous power, that
they had a special ofiicer called the Count of the Saxon Shore, whose pe-
culiar duty it was to oppose these marauders upon their own proper ele-
ment, and prevent them from landing on the Italian shore.
When the Briions determined to .^'". ily to the Saxons for aid, two broth
ers, by name Hengist and Horsa, were the most famous and respected
warriors among that warlike people. Tlicy were reputed descendants of
the god Woden; and this fabulous ancestry joined to their real personal
qualities and the great success which had attended them in their piratical
expeditions, h^d given them great influence over the most daring and ad-
venturous of the Saxons. Perceiving that the Romans had abandoned
Britain, they were actually contemplating a descent upon that island when
the British envoys waited upon them to crave their aid as mercenaries.
To a request which harmonized so well with their own views and wishes
the brothers of course gave a ready assent, and speedily arrived at the
isle of Tlianet with sixteen hunrlred followers, inured to hardship and in
love with danger even for its own sake. They marched against the Picts
and Scots, who speedily fled before men whose valour was as impetuous
as their own, and seconded by superior arms and military conduct.
When the Britons were thus once more dflivered from tlie rage and
cupidity of their fierce neighbours, they became anxious to part \yiili iheit
deliverers on such friendly terms as would insure their future aid should
It be required. But the Saxon leaders had seen too much of the beauty
IM
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
and fertility of the country, and of the weakness and divisions of its own
ers, to feel any inclination to take their departure ; and Hengist and Horsa,
80 far from niakin<r any preparation to return home, sent thither fur rein-
forcements, which arrived to the number of five thousand men, in seven-
teen-war-ships. The Uritons, who had been unable to resist the Picts and
Scots, saw the hopelessness of attempting to use force for the expulsion
of people as brave and far better organized, and therefore, though not with-
out serious fears that those who had been called in as mercenary soldiers
would prove a more dangerous enemy than the one they had so fiercely
and effectually combated, the Britons affected the most unsuspecting
friendship and yielded to every encroachment and to every insolence with
the bust grace that they could command. But it is no easy matter to con-
ciliate men who are anxiously watching for a plausible excuse for quarrel
and outrage. Some disputes which arose about the allowances of provi-
sioiLS for which the Saxon mercenaries had stipulated, furnished this ex-
cuse, and, siding with the Picts and Scots, the Saxons openly declared war
against the people whom they had been liberally subsidized to defend.
Desperation and the indignation so naturally excited by the treacherous
conduct of their quondam allies, roused the Britons to something like the
vigour and spirit of their warlike ancestors. Their first step was to de-
pose Vortigern, who was before unpopular on account of his vicious life,
and was now universally hated on account of the bad consequences of the
measure he had recommended, though, as we have already observed, when
he suggested the subsidizing of the Saxons, the Britons were in such a
position that it would not have been easy to suggest a better measure. His
son Vortimer, who had a reputation for both courage and military conduct,
was raised to the supreme command, and the Britons fought several battles
with great courage and perseverance, though with almost invariable ill for
tune. The Saxons kept advancing ; and though Horsa was slain at the
battle of Aytesford, Hengist, who then had the sole command of the Sax-
ons, showed himself fully equal to all the exigencies of his post. Steadi-
ly advancing upon the Britons, he at the same time sent over to Germany
for reinforcements. These continued to arrive in immense numbers, and
the unfortunate Britons, worsted in every encounter, were successively
chased to and from every part of their country. Whether with a desire to
make terror do the work of the sword among the survivors, or with a real
and savage intent to exterminate the Britons, Horsa made it an invariable
rule to give no quarter. Wherever he conquered, man, woman, and child
were put to death ; the towns and hamlets were again razed or burned,
and again the blackened and arid fields bore testimony to the presence and
the unsparing humour of a conqueror.
Dreadfully reduced in numbers, and sufTering every description of priva-
tion, the unfortunate Britons now lost all hope of combating successful-
ly. Some submitted and accepted life on the hard condition of tilling as
slaves the land they had owned as freemen ; others took refuge in the moun-
tain fastnesses of Wales, and a still more considerable number sought refuge
iu the province of Armorica in Gaul; and the district which was there as-
Bigned them is still known by the name of Britanny.
Hengist founded the kingdom of Kent, which at first comprised not only
the couniy now known by that name, but also those of Essex and Middlesex,
and a portion of Surrey. Being still occasionally disturbed by revolts of
the Britons, he settled a tribe of Saxons in Northumberland. Other north-
ern tribes, learning the success of Hengist and his followers, came over.
The earliest of these vvas a tribe of Saxons, who came over in the year 477,
anil, after much fighting with some of the Britons who had partially reco-
vered their spirit, founded the kingdom of Sussex. I'his kingdom, of
which the Saxon MUa. was the founder and king, included the present couii-
tv of Sussex and also that of Surrey.
THE TRBA8URY OF HISTORY.
107
Though from many causes there is considerable difficulty in ascertain-
ing the exact dates of the events of the very earliest Saxou adventurers in
Britain, it is pretty certain that the victorious and successrul Hengist en-
joyed tliu possudsion of his ill-acquired l^ingdoni until the year 483, when
lie died at Canterbury, which city he had selected as his capital.
In the year 496 a iribe ofSaxons landed under the command of Cerdic
and hia sun Keiiric. He was warmly resisted by the Britons, who still re-
mained attached to their country and in arms for their freedom, and he
was obliged to seek the assistance of liie Saxons of Kent and Sussex to
enable him to niHiiitaiii his ground until reinforcements could arrive from
Germany. These at length came under the command of his sons Mey la and
Bledda, and having consolidated tlieir forces with his own he brought the
Britons to a general action in the year 508. The Uritoiis, who mustered
in numbers far greater than could have been expected after so many and
such great losses, were commanded by Nazaii Leod. At the beginning
of the day the courage and skill of this leader gave him greatly the advaii
tagc, and had actually broken the main army of the 8a.K0iis, which was
led by Cerdic in person, when Heuric, who had been more successful
against anollier division of the Britons, hastened to his father's aid. The
fortune of war now turned wholly against the Britons, who were com-
pletely routed, with the loss of upwards of five thousand men, among
whom was the brave Nazan Leod himself. The Saxons under Cerdic
now established the West Saxon kingdom, or WV ssex, which included the
countie? of Hants, Wilts, Dorset, and Berks, and the fertile and pictur-
esque Isle of Wight. The discomfited Britons next applied for aid to
their fellow-countrymen of Wales, who under the prince Arthur, whose
real heroism has been so strangely exaggerated by romance, hastened to
their aid, and iiiHicted a very severe defeat upon Cerdic in the neighbour-
hood of Bath. But this defeat, though it prevented him from extending thu
kingdom he had founded, did not disable him from maiiiiaining himself in
it. He did so until his death in 534, when he was succeeded by his son
Kcnrick who reigned there until his death in 5G0.
In other parts of the island other tribes of adventurers had been equally
successful with the two of wiilch we have more particularly spoken ; but
as a mere repetition of fierce invi'.iiion on the one hand, and resistance,
often heroic but always unsuccessful, would neither amuse nor instruct
the reader, we at once pass to the event, which was, that the whole
island, save Cornwall and Wales, was conquered by bands of Saxons,
Jutes, and Angles, and divided into seven petty kingdoms, and called by
the name of Angles-land, subsequently corrupted into England. Of each
of these kingdunis we shall give a very concise account up to that period
when the whole island was united under one solo sovereign, and at which
the history becomes at once clearer in its details and more interesting.
CHAPTER II.
THE HEPTARCHY, OR THE SEVEN KINGDOMS OF THE SAXONS IN BRITAIN.
It has already been seen that Hengist, the earliest Saxon invader of
Britain, founded the kingdom of Kent, and died in established and secure
possession of it. He was succeeded by his son Escus. This prince,
though he possessed neither the military prowess nor the love of adven-
ture which had distinguished his father, maintained his plai;e in peace, and
not without dignity, to his death, which occurred in 512, when he was
succeeded by his son Octa.
Ocia like his fattier, was a man of mediocre talent, and unfortunatelv
108
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
for him he lived in a time when his neijrhbDurliood was Hiiything but traii
quil. The kingdom of tiie Kast Saxons, newly estalilished, greiitly exien-
<led its limits at his expense, and at his death, in 534, he lert his l<ingdoin
less extensive than he had received it by the whole of Kssex and Middle-
sex. To Oota succeeded his son Ymrick, who reigned in tolerable tran-
quillity during the long period of thirty-two years. Towards the close of
his reign he associated with him in the government his son Ethelbert,
who in 566 succeeded him. While the kings of the Heptarchy were as
yet in any danger of disturbance and reprisals on the part of the outraged
Britons, the meie instinct of self-preservation had prevented them from
having any considerable domestic feuds : but this danger at an end, the
Saxon kings speedily found cause of quarrel among themselves. Some-
times, as we have sen in the case of Kent, under Octa, one state was en-
croached upon by another; at another time the spirit of jealousy, which it
inseparable from petty kings of territories having no natural and cITicient
boundaries, caused struggles to take place, not so much for territory as
for empty supremacy — mere titular chiefdom.
When Kthelbert, himself of a very adventurous and ambitious turn, suc-
ceeded to his kingdom of Kent, Ceaulin, king of Wessex, was the moat
potent prince of the Heptarchy, and used his power with no niggard or
moderate hand. Ethelbert, in the endeavour to aggranilize his own do-
minions, twice gave battle to his formidable rival, and twice suffered de-
cisive defeat. But the cupidity and tyraiuious temper of Ceaulin, having
induced him to annex the kingdom of Sussex to his own already consid
erable possessions, a confederacy of the other princes was formed against
him, and the command of the allied force was unanimously voted to Eihel-
bnrt, who even in defeat had displayed equal courage and ability.
KthelbiTt, thus strengihencd, once more met his ri'al in arms, atid this
time with better success. Oaulin was put to the rout with great loss,
and. dying shortly after the battle, was succeeded both in his ambition and
in his position among the kinss of the Heptarchy by Ethelbert, who very
speedily gave his late allies aoundant reason to regret the confidence and
the Buppurt they had given him. He by turns reduced each of them to a
complctH dependence upon him as chief, and having overrun the kingdom
of MerciM, the most extensive of nil the kingdoms of the island, he for a
lime seated himself upon the throne, in utter contempt of the right and
the reclamations of VViibba, the son of Crid.i, the original foimder of thai
kingdom. Unt whether from a sense of the injustice of his conduct, or
from fear that a continued possession of so extensive a territory, in addi-
tion to that which of right belonged to him, should arm againut himself a
league as compact and determined as that by the aid of which he
had triumphed over his formidable rival Oeaulin, he subsequently resign-
ed Mercia to Webba, but not without imposing conditions as insulting
ds they wore wholly unfoniided in any right save that of the strongest.
From the injustice which marked this portion of Ethelbert's condmrt,
it is pleasing to have to turn to an important event which shed a liistrn
upon his reign— the introduction of Christianity to the Saxon population of
P.iiglaiiil.
Though the Britons had long been Christians, the terms upon which
llicy lived Willi the S,ixoiis were esjiecially iinfavouriible to any religious
proselytism bi-lwecii the two pcoph?; and, indeed, the early historians do
not scruple to confess that thi- Britons considi'red their coiu|tierors to be
unworthy to participate in the blessings of (christian knowledge and
faith.
Ethelbert, fortunately, wns mnrriod to a Christian lady, Bertha, dn"^h.
ter of Carihert, king of Paris, who. ere he would consent to his daii^rdter's
njarri.tge with a Pag in, sti|)Ulate(l Ih it the princess should fully aui* free-
ly enjoy her own re'.igion. On leaving her native land for Knglaii'', shr
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
109
P
was attended by a bishop, and both the princess and the prelate exerted
their uimost credit and ability to propagate the Christian faith in the
country of tlieir adoption ; and as Bertha was much beloved at tlie court
of her husband, she made so much progress towards this good end, that
the pope, Gregory the Great, flattered himself with the hope of convert-
ing the Saxons of England altogether, a project which even before he be-
came pope he had conceived from having accidentally seen some Saxon
slaves at Rome, and been much struck with their singular personal beauty,
and the intelligence with which they replied to his questions.
Encouraged by the success which had attended the eflforts of Bertha,
Gregory dispatched Augustin and forty other monks to Britain. They
found Kthelbert, by the influence of his queen, well disposed to receive
them hospitably and listen to them patiently. Having provided them with
a residence in the isle of Thanel, he gave them time to recover from the
fatigues of travel, and then appointed a day for a public interview ; but
friendly as the brave Pagan was toward the co-religionisis of his wife,
he could not wholly divest himself o. si.perstitious terrors ; and, lest
the stranger preachers should have some evil spells of power, he appoint-
ed the meeting to take place in the open air, where, he thought, such
spells would be less effective than within the walls of a building.
Augustin set before the king the inspiring and consoling truths ot
Christianity. Doctrines so mild, so gentle, so free from earthly taint,
and from all leaven of ambition and violence, struck strangely, but no
(ess forcibly, upon the spirit of the bold Ethelbert. But though much
moved, he was ndl wholly convinced ; he could admire, but he could not
instantly embrace tenets so new and so different from those to which
from infancy he had been accustomed. But if he could not on the instant
abandon the faith of his ancestors for the new faith that was now preach-
ed to him, he was entirely convinced that the latter faith was, at the
least, incapable of injuring his people. His reply, therefore, to the ad
dresses of Augustin, was at once marked by tolerance and by caution i
by an unwillingness to abandon the faith of his youth, yet by a perfect
willingness to allow his people a fair opportunity of judging between that
faith and Christianity.
" Your words and your promises," said he, "sound fairly; but inas-
much as they are new and unproven, I cannot entindy yield my confi-
dence to them, and abandon the principles so long maintained by my an-
cestors. Nevertheless, you may remain here in peace and safety, and
as you have travelled so far in order to benefit us, at least as you sup-
pose, I will provide you with everything necessary for your support, and
you shall have full liberty to preach your do(rtiines to my subjects."
Well would it have been for mankind if all potentates in all times and
countries had been as wisely tolerant as this Pagan Saxon of an early
and benighted age.
The decree of toleration that was thus accorded to Augustin was all
that he required; his own faithful zeal ami well-cultivated talents assured
liiin of success; and so well and diligently did he avail himself of the
opportunities that were afforded to him by the king's toleration and the
queen's favour, that he speedily made numbers of cfinverts. Every new
success inspired him with new zeal and nerved him to new exertions.
His aliBlinence, liiii p.iinful vigils, and the severe penances to which he
subjected hiinneir, struck these rude people with awe and admiration, and
not merely fixed llieir attention more strongly than any other means
could have done upon his preachings, but also predisiiosed them to be-
litve equally in the sincerity of the preacher and in the truth of his doc-
trine. Numbers, not only of the poorer and more ignorant, but also of
the wealthier and better inforined, becanw at first attentive auditors, and
then converts. They criwded to be baptized, and after a great inajorilr
110
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
of his subjects had thus been admitted into the pale of Christianity, the
king himself became a convert and was baptized, to the great joy oi
Rome.
Augustin had constantly impressed upon the king that conversion to
the Christian faith must he the result not of force or ihreateuings, but of
conviction ; thai the religion of Christ was the religion of love and of
perfect faith in doctrint^s set forth iit faithful preaching. He had con-
stantly exhorted the king to allow no worhlly motives to weigh in his
own conversion, and by no means to exert his authority, or the terror of
it, to produce an unwilling assent on the part of any portion of his peo-
ple, however humble, seeing that in the sight of Heaven, and in things
spiritual, the humblest peasant was as important and as precious as the
proudest and most powerful monarch.
But Gregory the Great was zealous in the extreme in the cause ol
proselytism, and by no means backward in availing himself of temporal
power for the fulfilment of spiritual ends. And as soon as he learned
that Ethelbert and a considerable portion of his subjects had embraced
Christianity, he sent to the former at once to conerratulate him upon his
wise and happy conversion, and to urge hin), by his duty as a monarch,
and by his sympathies and faith as a Christian, not any longer to allow
even a part of his subjects to wander on in the darkness and error of Pa-
ganism. To have the kingly power, he argued, implied and included the
duly of using it in all ways that could conduce to the wclHire of his sub-
jects — and what more weighty and tremendous matter could concern
ihem than the possession of that true faith which alone could secure
their happiness in this world and their safety in the world to come. Ex-
horting the king to blandishment and persuasion, he also exhorted him,
ni the case of those means failing with any, to resort to terror, and
threatening, and even chastisement. So ditTprent was the policy of the
piipal statesman and the pious and sin(;erely Cliristian feelings of his
zealous missionary !
Gregory at the same time sent his instructions to Augustin, and very
piirticular answers to some singular quc.stions put by the missionary as
to points of morality which he thought it necessary to enforce upon the
understandings and practice of hi.s new and numerous flock ; but these
questions and an-swers would bo out of place here, as they only tend to
illustrate either the exceeding grossness of the flock, or the exceeding
simplicity and minute anxiety of their spiritual pastor.
Well pleased with the zeal of Augustin, and with the snccess with
whir-h it had thus far been crowned, Gregory ujade him archbishop ol
('aiuerl)nry, sent him a pall from Home, and gave him plenary audiorily
over all the Uritish churi^hes that should he erected, llut ihough Agus-
tin was thus highly apiyoved and honoured, (iregory, who was shrewdly
rquainted with human nature, saw, or suspected, that the good mission-
ary was very proud of a success wliich was, indeed, little less than mi-
nculous. whether its extent or its rapidity he considered. At the same
time, therefore, that he l>oth pra'sed air' exalted him, he em(>liatically
warned him against allowing himself to be seduced into a too great ela-
tion on account of his good work; and, as Augustin manireRtcd some
desire to exert his authority over the spiritual concerns of (>aul, the pope
cautioned him ngaiiml nny such interference, and expressly iiifonned liirn
that he was to consider the bishops of that country wholly beyond his
jurisdiction. Strange contradictions in human reasoning and conduct?
We have the humble missionary dehorting a newly coivverled pagan from
persecution; a pope, the visible head of ilii- whole f'hristiaii world, and
the presumed infallible expounder of ('hrislian docirines, strongly and
expressly exhorting him to it ; and anon we have the ainliitloiis anil des-
potic patron of furciblu pruselytisiii witeljr and reasoiiably interposing
I
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
Ill
riis authority and Uiivicte tu prevent the recently so humble missionary
rroiii maivuiir sliipwrcck of Ins character Hud usetulness, by an unbecum-
tng iinil uiijiislirnibie indulgence in the soaring ambition so suddenly and
strongly awakened by the gift of a 111 tie briel anihonty !
It was not only in tiie influence that Oertha had in tiie conversion ol
tlie Saxon subjects of her husband to Christianity that shd was service-
able to tiieni, though compared to that service all others were of compar-
atively small value. But even in a worldly point of view her marrriage
to I'Ulit'lbert was of real and very important benefit to his subjects. For
her intimate connection with France led to an intercourse between that
nation and K.ngland, which not merely tended to increase the wealth, in-
genuity, and commercial enterprise of the latter, but also to soften and
polish their as yet rude and semi-barbarous manners. The conversion of
the Saxons to Chrisiianily had even a more extensive influence in these
respects, by bringing the people acquainted with the arts and the luxuries
'if Italy.
Stormy at its commencement, the reign of Elhelbert was subsequently
peaceable and prosperous, and it left traces and seed of good, of which
the (English are even to this day reaping the benefit. Ucsides the share
he had in converting his subjects to Christianity, and in encouraging
them to devote themselves to commerce and the useful arls, he was the
first Saxon monarch who gave his people written laws; and these laws,
making due allowance for the age and for the condition of the people for
whose government they were proniulged, show him to have been, even
if regarded only in his civil capacity, an extremely wise man and a lover
of peace and justice. After a long and useful reign of fifty years, Elhel-
bert died in the year CIG, and was succeeded by his son Eadbald.
History but too fre(|uently shows us the power of worldly passions in
perverting reliuions faith. Durmg the lifetime of his father, Ladbald had
professed the Chiistiaii religiini; but when he became king he abandoned
It and r(!turncd to the gross errors of paganism, because the latter aU
lowed the indulgence of an incestuous passi<Mi which he had conceived,
and which Christianity denounced as horrible and sinful. It is much to
be feared Uiat among the very earliest converts, in the case of the oon-
vi'rsion of a nui.ierous people, many, if not even the maj(trily, are guided
into the new way rather by fear, policy, mere (ashion, or mere indolence,
than by sincere conviction. In the present instance this is lamentably ap-
narent; for on EaJbald returning to the gross and senseless practices of
his forefallH.'rs. the great body of his subjects, outwardly at least, return-
ed with Inin. So c<nn|)letely were the Christian altars abandoned, a;<d
8<) openly and geninally was the (Miristian faith derided, that Justus,
b shop ol Rochester, and Mclitus, bishop of London, ab.indoned their
sees in d('S|)air, and departed the kingdom. Lanrentius, who had suc-
ceeded Auunsini in the Archiepiscopal dignity of Canterbury, had pre-
pared to follow tlicir example; but tni tlie evi! of his dc|tarture he deter-
mined to make one striking and final etfort to bring back the king into
the fold of the church.
When excessive zeal has to deal wilti ignnranee and rudeness— and
even yet the Saxons were both ignorant mikI rude — we are tiiiiglit by all
history that even the sincerest men, wrought upmi (ly excessiv(> zeal for
what they consider to be a righteous and iMi|iorlaiit work, will descend
to pious j'raiids to accomplish thai lor wlii<-h the plain truth would not
under the circumstances siillu'e. L^mrciilius was no excefitioii to this
.■.oiiiiixHi rul(^ StM'king an ini(>rvlt'w with the king, he threw ofT hia
upper garments, and exhibited his body covered with woiiihIs and hruisei
to BiKtli an extent as denoted the most savage ill-treatmiMil. The king,
though evil passion had led him formally to atijiire (.'hristianity. was not
prepared to sue, unmoved, such proof of brutality and irrevcreiico having
lis
THE THKA8URY OF HISTORY.
been shown to the chief teacher of his abandoned creed ; and he eagerly
and indignanily demanded who had dared thus to Ill-treat a personage so
eminent. LHurentius, in reply, assured him tliat his wounds had been
inflicted not by living hands, but by ihosc of St Peter himself, who had
appeared to him in a vision, and hud thus chastised him for his intended
desertion of a flock upon which his departure would inevitably draw
down eternal perdition. The result of this bold and gross invention
showed how much more powerful over gross and ignorant minds are the
coarsest fables of superstition, than the sublimest truths or the most
aflfecrtionate urgings of genuine religion. To the latter, Eadbaid had been
contemptuously deaf; to the former, he on the instant sai.-rificed his in
cestuous passion and the object of it. Divorcing himself from her, he
returned to the Christian pale ; and his people, obedient in good as in evil,
returned with him. The reign of Eadbalii, apart from this apostacy and
re-conversion, was not remarkable. The power which his father had es-
tablished, and the prestige of his father's remembered ability and great
ness. enabled him to reign peaceably without the exertion, probably with
out the possession, of any very remarkable ability of his own. After a
reign of twenty-five years, he died in 640, leaving two sons, Erminfrid
and Ercombert.
Erconibert, though the younger brother, succeeded his father. He
reigned for twenty-four years. This reign, too, was on the whole peace-
able, though he showed" great zeal in nxtting out the n'maiiis of idolatry
from among his people. He was sincerely and zealously attached to the
churcli, and he it was who first of the S»,xon monarchs enforced upon his
•ubjccts the observance of the fast of Lent.
Ercombert died in Gfi4, and Avas succeeded by his son Egbert. This
|)rince, sensible that his father had wrongfull^^obtained the throne, and
fearing that factions might be found in favour of the heirs of his father's
elder brother, put those two princes to death — an act of barbarous policy
which would probably have caused his character to dGS<;eiid to us in mitch
darker and moro hateful colours, but that his zeal in enahliiig Dunnina
his sister, to found a monastery in the Isle of Ely caused him to find fa
vour in the eyes of the monkish historians, who were ever far too ready
to allow apparent friendliness to the temporal prosperity of the church to
outweigh even the most flagrant and hateful sins against the doctrines
taught by the church.
It is nevertheless true that, apart from his horrible and mercil'^ss treat-
ment of his cousins, this prince displayed a character so mild and thoiighl-
ful as makes his commission of that crin»e doubly remiirkablc ai((l lamen-
table. His rule was moderate, though firm, and during his shorf reign of
only nine years he seems to have embraced every opporlimi'y of en-
couraging and udvnncing learning. He died in 67.'1, and was s'icceedetl
by his brother Lothaire ; so that his cruel murder of his nephcwi did nut
prove successful in securing the throne to his son.
Lothaire associated with himself in the government his son Hichard,
and every thing seemed to proinist; the usurpers a long anil proiperout
reign. Hut Edric, the son of Egbert, uniippalled by the double power
and abilitv which thus barred him from the throne, took shelter iit tho
court of Edilwalch, king of Su.ssex. That prince heartily espoused his
cause, and furnished him with troops; and after a reign of eleven years,
Lothaire was slain in battle, a.d. HBt, and his son Jliclmrd escaped tu
Italy, where he (!i(!d in comparative ol)scuriiy.
Edric did not long enjoy the throne. His reign, which presents no-
thing worthy of record, was barely two years. He died in WCi, and wu
succeeded by his son Widred.
The violence and usurpation which had recently taken place in the
kingdom produced tlie usual effect, disunion among the nubility ; and iliiU
TUK TllEASUKY OP HISTORY.
113
disunion, as is also usiuiUy the case, invited the attack of external en-
emies. Accordingly, VVidred had hardly ascended the throne when his
kingdom was invaded by Cedwalla, king of VVesscx, and iiis brother
Mollo. But though the invaders did vast daniajfe to the kingdom of
Kent, their appearance had the good effect of putting an end to domestic
disunion, and VVidred was able to assemble a powerfull force for the de-
fence of his throne. In a severe battle which was fought against the in-
vaders, Mollo was slain; and Widred so ably availed himself of the op-
portunity afforded to him by this event, that his reign extended to the long
term of thirty-two years. At his death, in 718, he left the kingdom to
his family; but at the death of his third successor, Alric, who died in 794,
all pretence, even, to a legitimate order of succession to the throne was
abandoned. To wish was to strive, to conquer was to have right; and
whether it were a powerful noble or an illegitimate connection of the
royal family, every pretender who could maintain his claim by force o(
arms seemed to consider himself fully entitled to strike for tlie vacant
throne. This aniirchical condition of the kingdom, and tiie weakness
and disorder which were necessarily produced by such frequent civil war,
paved the way to the utter antiihilution of Kent as a sep.irate kingdom,
which annihilation was accomplished by Egbert, king of Wessex, about
the year 820.
Richard,
{leroufl
power
at the
jcd his
years,
aped to
in the
and that
CHAPTER III.
THK HF.PTARCHV (CONTINUED).
The kingdom of Northumberland first made a consideralile figure and
exercised a great share of influenee in the Heptarchy under Adelfrid, a
brave aiifi able but ambitious a. id unprincipled rider. Originally king of
Bornicia, he marri(!d Acca, daughter of Alia, king of the Deiri, anil ai the
death of that monarch dispossessed and expelleel his youihful heir, and
united all the country norih of the Huinber into one kingdom, the limits
of which he still farther extended by his victorii^s over the Picts and
Scots, and tlie Britons in Wales. An anecdote is related of this prince
which seems to indicate that he held the clergy in no very ureal respect.
Having found or made occasion to lay siegi; to Chester, he was opposed
by the Britons, who marched in great force to compel him to raise the
seige, and they were accompanied to tlic field of li.illie by upwards of a
thousand monks from the monastery of B.iiigor. On being informed that
this numerous liody of religions men hail come to the firld of battle, not
actually to fight against him, but only to exhort their CDUiitryinen to fight
stoutly and to pray for their suceeaa, tiio stern warrior, wlio could not
understand the nice <]istin<'tion between those who fought against him
with their arms and tliose who prayed tli.it those arms might be victori-
ous, immediately detached soww of his troops witli oiders to charge upon
the monks as heartily as though they had been armed and genunie sol-
diers; and 80 faitlifully was this rnililess order obeyed, that only fifty of
the monks are said to have escaped from the s inguiiiary si'eiie \\iih their
lives, [ii the battle which immeilialidy followed this wiiiitoii butchery
the Britons were completely defiJaied, and .Vdelfrid having entered Ches-
ter in triumph, and strongly garrisoned it, pursued his inareh to the mon-
astery of Bangor, n'S(dveii that it should not soon again send out an
army of monks to pray for his defeat.
The early years of" the sway of Catholicism in every country were
marked both by the miinbers of the monasteries and the vast expense
that was lavished upon them. This was espeeiallv tlw iMse ni both I'lng-
land and — as we shall hereafter have to rem. irk — Ireland ; but in neither
I.-8
114
THE TREASURY OF H/STORY.
of tlifise countries was there anotlior monastery which could, for extent
at least, bear comparison with that of Bungor. From gate to gate it cov-
ereii a mile of ground, and it sheltered the enormous number of two
thousand monks; the whole of this vast building was now sacrificed to
the resentment of Adelfrid, who completely battered it down.
But the warlike prowess of Adelfrid was fated to prove insufficient to
preserve him in the power which he had so unrighteously obtained by de-
priving a young and helpless orphan of his heritage. That orphan, now
grown to man's estate, had found shelter in the court of Redwald, king of
the East Angles, This monan-h's protection of the young Edwin, and
that young prince's reputed ability and courage, alarmed Adelfrid for the
stability of his ill-acquired greatness ; and he had the ineffable baseness
to make offers of large presents to induce Redwald to deprive the young
prince of life, or to deliver him, living, into the power of tiie usurper ol
his throne. For some time Redwald returned positive and indignant re-
fusals to all propositions of this kind ; but the pertinacity of Adelfrid,
who still increased in the magnitude of his off"ers, began lo shake the con-
stancy of Redwald, when, fortunately for that monarch's character, his
queen interposed to save him from the horrid baseness to which he was
well nigh ready to (consent. Strongly sympathising with f'/dwin, she felt
the more interest for him on account of tlie magnanimous confidence in
her husband's honour which the young prince displayed by tranquilly con-
tinuing hi'' residence in East Anglia even after he was aware how strong-
ly his protector was sued and templed lo baseness by the usm'per Adelfrid.
Not conleiited with having successfully dissuaded her husband from the
treachery of yielding up tlu; unfortunate and dispossessed prince, she
farther eiideavoured to induce him to exert himself actively on his behalf,
and to march against the usurper while he was still i!i hope of having an
affirnialive answer to his disgraceful and insultinrj proposals. The king
of the East Angles consented to do tb.is, and suddenly marched n power-
ful army into Northumberland. In the sanguinary and <lecisiv(? hatllv.
which ensued, Adelfrid was slain, but not until after he had killed Red
wald's son, Regner.
Edwin, who thus obtained possession of the kingdom of Northninber
land, passing at oni-e from the condiliou of an exiled and dependent fugi
tive to that of a powerful monarch, displayed .ibility equal lo the latter lot
as he had displayed firm and digiiilied resignation in the former. Just,
hut infli'xibly severe in rcstniimng his subjects from wrong-doing, he put
such order into the kingdom, which at his accessiim was noted for its
licentiousness and disorder, that <)f him, as of some other well-governing
priiu'es, the oM historians relate that he caused valuable property to be
exposeil iiugnaril(;d upon the hiifh roads, and no man dared to appropriate
it. A ni'Tc (iguralive and hyperbolical aiu'cdote, no doubt, but one which
evidences the greatness of the truth on which such an exaggeration must
be founded.
Nor was it merely within even the wide limits of his own kingdom that
the fine character of Edwin was appreciated; it procured him admiration
and proportionate inlhiencc throughout the Heptarchy. His benefactor
Redwald, king of the East Angles, being involved in serious disi)utes with
his snlijects, was overpowered by them and put to death. The eonductt
of Edwin, both while? a fugitive and a soujourner among them, and in his
■ubsecpient prosperity and greatness, caused them to offi^r him their throne.
Hut they were incapable of imderslanding the whole greatness of his sjiirit
He lia<l too deep and abiding a sense of gratitude for the favours he owed
to Iteiiwald, aitil, Still more, to the (]ueen of that prince, to see their o(T-
sprinsr disinherited, and instead of accepting the throne, he threatened the
hast Angles with chastisement in the event of their refusing to give pos-
BeBsion of i' to the rightful >wncr Karpwold, second heir of the murdered
h;i
re:
is,
ow
nnr
t
his
of I
THE TREASUKY OF HISTORY.
lis
King. Earpwold acconlinjrly iiscuiided the thrKiie, and was protected
upun ■'. by the power and repiitatiuii uf Edwin.
Edwin married Ellielburga, daughter t»f Ethelbert, king of Kent, by Ber-
tha, to wlioin, chiefly, that monarci. und iiis people had owed their con-
version to Cliristianity. Of such a inotiier, Etiielburga on the occasion of
her marriage proved herself the worthy daughter ; she, as her mother had
done, stipulated for full and free exercise of lier religion, and she also took
with her to her new realm a learned bishop, by name Paulirms. Very
soon after her marriage, she began to attempt the conversion of her 1ms
band. Calm and deliberate in all that he did, Edwin would not allow the
merely human feeling of conjugal affection to decide him in a matter so
vitally important as an entire cliange of religion. The most that her af-
fectionate importunity could obtain, was his promise to give the fullest
and most serious attention to all the arguments that might be urged in fa-
vour of tlie new faith that was offered to him; and, accordingly, he not
only held frequent and long conferences with Paulinus, but also laid be-
fore tiie gravest and wisest of his councillors all the arguments that were
urged to him by that prelate. Having undertaken the inquiry in a sincere
and teachable spirit, he could not fail to be convinced, and the truth having
fallen bright and full upon his enlightened mind, he openly declared him-
self a convert to Christianity. His conversion and baptism were followed
by those of the greater part of his people, who were the more easily per-
suaded to this great and total change of faith when they saw their chief
priest, Coifi, renounce the idolatry of which he had been the chief pillar
and proponnder, and excel in his conoclaslic zeal against the idols to which
he had so long ministered, even the Christian bishop, Paulinus himsel
The reign of Edwin produced great benefit to his people, but rather by
his activity and industry than by its length, he being slain in the seven-
teenth year of his reign, in a battle which he fouaht against Cicdwalla,
king of the Welch Uritons, and Penda, king of the Mercia.
At the death of Edwin the kingdom of Northumberland was dismem-
bered, and its inhabitants for the most part fell back into paganism. So
general, indeed, was the defection from Christianity, that the widowed
Eilu'iliurga returned to her natal kinudom of Kent, and was accompanied
by Paidinus, who had been made archbishop of York. ,,
Alter the dismembered kingdom of Northumberland had been torn by
much petty but ruinous strife, the several portions were again united by
Oswald, brother of Eanfrid, and son of the usurper Adelfrid. Oswald was
stroni^ly opposed by the Uritons under the; connnand of the warlike Cied-
walla, but the Mritons were so desperately beaten, that they never again
made any general or vigorous attack upon the Saxons. As soon as he
had re-established the unity of the Northumbrian kingdom, Oswald also
restored the (Mnistinn religion, to which he was zealously attached. It
is, probably, rather to this than to any of his other good qualities, that he
owes the marked favour in which he is held by the monkish histori'.ns,
who Ixslow the highest |)ossible praises upon his piety and charity, and
who moreover aflirm thai his mortal remains had the power of working
miracles.
Oswald was slain in battle against Penda, the king of Mercia. After
his death the history of the kingdom of Nortlnnnherland is a mere melange
of usur|i:itions, and of all tin- distractions of civil war, op to the lime when
Egbert, kinij of Wegsi'X, reduced it, in (!onimon with the rest of the Hep-
larchy, to obedience to his rule.
116
THK THKASUHY OF H18TOR\.
I
CHAPTER IV.
TUB HEPTARCHY (CONTINUED).
The kingdom of East Aiiglia was foundod by Ufla ; but its history af-
fords no instruction or amusement ; it is, in fact, in the words of an enii-
nent historian, only "a long beadioU of barbarous names," until we arrive
at the time of its annexation to tlie powerful and extensive kingdcin oi
Mercia, to which we now proceed to direct the reader's attention.
Mercia, tlie most extensive of all the kingdoms of the Ileptarchy, could
not fail to be very powerful whenever ruled by a brave or wise king. Sit-
uated in the middle of the island, it in some one point or more touched
each of the other six kingdoms.
Penda, in battle against whom we have already described Oswald of
Northumberland to have lost both throne and life, was the first really pow-
erful and distinguished king of Mercia; but he was distinguished chiefly
for personal courage and tiie tyrannous and violent temper iti which he so
exerted that quality as to render himself the terror or the detestation of
all his contemporary English princes. Three kings of East Anglia, Sige-
bert, Egric, and Annas, were in succession slain in attempting oppose
him, as did Edwin and Oswald, decidedly the most powerful of the kings
of Northumberland ; and yet this monarch, who wrought such havoc
among his fellow-princes, did not ascend his throne until he was more
than fifty years of age. Oswy, brother of Oswald, now encountered him,
and Penda was slain; this occurred in the year 655, and the tyrannical
and fierce warrior, whom all hated and many feared, was succeeded by
his son, Penda, whose wife was a daughter of Oswy. This princess was
a Christian, and, like Bertha and Ethelburga, she so successfully exerted
her conjugal infiuence, that she converted her husband and his subjects to
her faitii. The exact length of this monarch's reign is as uncertain as the
manner of his death. As regards the latter, one historian boldly asserts
that he was treacherously put to death by the order and connivance of his
queen ; but this seems but little to tally with her acknowledged and afTec-
tionate zeal in converting him to Christianity ; and as nothing in the shape
of proof rr.n be produced to support so improbable a charge, we may pretty
safily conclude that cither ignorance or malice has given a mistaken turn
to some circumstances attending his violent death. He was suitcceded by
his son Wolfhere, who inherited his father's courage and conduct, and not
merely maintained his own extensive kingdom in excellent order, but also
reduced Essex and East Anglia to dependence upon it. He was suc-
ceeded by his brother, Ethelred, who showed that he inherited his spirit
as well as his kingdom. Though a sincere lover of peace, an<l willing to
make all honoural)le sacrifices to obtain and preserv; it, he was also both
willing and able to show iiiinself a stout and true soldier when the occa-
sion really demanded that he should do so. Being provoked to invade
Kent, he made a very successful incursion upon that kingdom; and when
bis own territory was invaded by Egfrid, king of Norlhunibcrland, he fairly
drove that monarch back again, and slew Elfwin, Egfrid's brother, i.i a
pitched battle. He niigned creditably and prosperously for thirty years,
and then resigning the crown to his nephew, Kendrid, he retired to the
monastery of Uiirdney. Kendrid, in his turn, becoming wearied of the
cares and toils of royally, resigned the cirown to ('eolred, the son of Ethel-
red ; h(^ then went to Home, and there passed the remainder of his life in
devout preparation for another and a better world. Ceolred was suc-
ceeded by V'-thelbald, and the latter by OIT.i, who ascended the throne in
the year 755 j he was an active and warlike prince. Very early in his
rcigii he defeated Lothaire, king of Kent, and Keiiwulph.kiiigof VVesscx
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
117
I
and annexed Oxfordshire and Gloucestersliire to his already large domin-
ions. But though brave, he was both cruel and treacherous. Bthelbert,
kin^ or the East Angles, had paid his addresses to the daughter of OfTa,
and was accepted as her afliaiiced husband, and at length invited to Here-
ford to celebrate the marriage. But iu the very midst of the feasting and
amusements incident to so importautand joyful an event, the young prince
was seized upon by order of OiTa, and barbarously beheaded. The whole
of his retinue would have shared the same fate, but that Elfrida, the daugh-
ter whom Offa thus barbarously deprived of her affianced husband, found
out what cruelty had been exercised upon their master, and took an op-
portunity to warn them of their danger. Their timely escape, however,
did not in the least aflfect the treacherous ambition of Oifa, who seized
upon East Anglia.
As he grew old, Offa became tortured with remorse for his crimes, and
with the superstition common to his age, sought to atone for them by os-
tentatious and prodigal liberality to the church. He gave the tithe of all
his property to the church, lavished donations upon the cathedral of Here-
ford, and made a pilgrimage to Kome, where his wealth and consequence
readily procured him the absolution of the pope, whose especial favour ho
gained by undertaking to support an English college at Rome. In order
to fulfil this promise, he, on his return to England, imposed a yearly tax
of thirty pence upon each house in his kingdom ; the like tax for the same
purpose being subsequently levied upon the whole of England, was even-
tually claimed by Rome as a tribute, under the name of Peter's pence, in
despite of the notoriety of the fact that it was originally a free gift, and
levied only upon one kingdom. Under the impression or the pretence
that he had been favoured with an especial command revealed to him in
a vision, this man, once so cruel and now so superstitious, founded and
endowed a magnificent abbey at St. Albans, in Hertfordshire, to the hon-
our of the relics of St. Alban the Martyr, which he asserted ho had found
at that place.
Ill as Offa had .acquired his great weight in the Heptarchy, his reputa-
tion for courage and wisdom was so great that he attracted ihe notice and
was honoured both with the political alliance and the personal friendship of
Charlemagne. After a long reign of very nearly forty years, he died in the
year 794.
Offa was succeeded hy his son Egfrith, who, however, survived only the
short space of five months. He was succeeded by Kenulph, who invaded
the kingdom of Kent, barbarously mutilated the king, whom he took
prisoner and dethroned, and crowned his own brother Cuthrcd in his stead.
Kenulph, as if by a retributive justice, was killed in a revolt of the East
Anglians, of whose kingdom he held possession through tiie treachery and
tyrannous cruelty of Offa. After the death of Kenulph the throne was
usually earned and vacated by murder; and iu this anarchial condition the
kingdom remained until the time of Egbert. And here we may remark,
«n passant, that neither in its political nor civil organization did the Anglo-
Saxon state of society exhibit higher examples of social order than are
usually to be found in communities entering on the early stages of civ-
ilization.
Essex and Sussex were the smallest and the most insignificant of all
the kingdoms of the Heptarchy, and deserve no particular mention, even
in the most voluminous and detailed history until the union of the whole
Heptarchy, to which event we shall now hasten.
We have already spoken of the stout resistance which the Britons made
to Cerdir, and his son Kenric, the founders of the kingdom of Wessex. A
«uccession of ambitions and warlike kings greatly extended the territory
and increased the importance of this kingdom, whii-h was extremely pow
erful, tliough in much interual disorder, whea iUi throne was ascended bv
iJ8
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
Egbert, in the year 800. This monarch came into possession of it undei
some peculiar ad vanlHges. A great portion of his life had been spent at the
court of Charlemagne, and he had thus acquired greater polish and know-
ledge than usually fell to the lot of Saxon kings. Moreover, war and the
merit attached to unmarried life had so completely extinguished the origi-
nal royal families, that Kgberl was at this lime the sole male royal des-
cendant of the original conquerors of Britain, who claimed to be the de-
scendants of Woden, tlie chief deity of their idolatrous ancestors.
Immediately on ascending the throne, Egbert invaded the Britons in
Cornwall, and inflicted some severe defeats upon them. But before he
could completely subdue their country, he was called away from that en-
terprise by the necessity of defending his own country, which had been
invaded ni his absence by Bernulf, kingof Mercia.
Mercia and Wessex were at this time the only two kingdoms of the Hep-
tarchy which had any considerable power; and a struggle between Eg-
bert and Bernulf was, as each felt and confessed it to be, a struggle foi
the sole dominion of the whole island. Apparently, at tlie outset, Mercia
was the most advantageously circumstanced for carrying on this struggle,
for that kingdom had placed its tributary princes in the kingdoms of Kent
and Essex, and had reduced East Anglia to an almost equal state of sub-
jection.
Egbert, on learning the attempt that Bernulf was making upon his king-
dom, hastened by forced marches to arrest his progress, and speedily came
to close quarters with him at Elandum in Wilts. A sanguinary aiid ob-
stinate battle ensued. Both armies fought with spirit, and both were very
numerous ; but the fortune of the day was with Egbert, who completely
routed the Mercians. Nor was he, after the battle, remiss in following
up the great blow he had thus struck at the only English power that could
for an instant pretend to rivalry with him. He detached a force into Kent
under his son Eihelwolf, who easily and speedily expelled Baldrcd, the
tributary king, who was supported there by Mercia, Egbert himscll' at the
same time entering Mercia on the Oxfordshire side. Essex was con-
quered almost without an effort, and the East Anglians, without waiting
for the approach of Egbert, rose against the power of Bernulf, who lost
his life in the attempt to reduce them again to the servitude which his
tyranny had rendered intolerable. Ludican, the successor of Bernulf, met
with the same fate after two years of constant strug^jle and frequent de-
feat, and Egbert now found no difficulty in penetrating to the very heart
of the Mercian territory, and subduing to his will a people whose spirit was
thoroughly broken by a long and constant suc-cession of calamities. In
order to reconcile them to their subjection to him, he skilfuly flattered
them with an empty show of independence, by allowing their native
king, Wiglaf, to hold that title of his tributary, though with the firmest
determination that the title should not carry with it an iota of real and in-
dependent power.
He was now, by the disturbed and turbulent condition of Northumber
land, invited to turn his arms against that kingdom. But the Northunt
brians, deeply impressed with his high reputation for valour and success,
and probably sincerely desirous of being under the strong stern govern-
ment of one who had both the power and the will to put an end to the an-
archy and confusion to which they were u prey, no sooner heard of his
near approach than they rendered all attack on his part wholly unneces-
sary, by sending deputies to meet him with an offer of their submission,
and with power to take, vicariously, oaths of allegiance to him. Sincerely
well pleased at being thus met even more than half way in his wishes,
Egbert not only gave their envoys a very gracious reception, but also vol-
untarily allowed them the power to elect a tributary king of their own
choice. To East Anglia he also granted this flattering but hollow and
i
f
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
119
valueless privilege, and thus secured to himself ti;e good will of the people
whom he had subjected, and the interested fidelity of titular kings, whose
royalty, such us it was, depended upon his breath for its existence, and
who, being on the spot, and having only a comparatively limited charge,
could detect and for their own sakes would apprise him of the slightest
symptoms of rebellion. The whole of the Heptarchy was now in reality
subjected to Kgbert, whom, dating from the year 827, we consider as the
first king of England.
CHAPTER V.
THE .\NGr.0-S.lXONS AFTER THK DISSOLUTION OF THE HEPTARCHY. — REIONg
OF EGBERT, ETHELWOLF, AND ELTHELBALD.
Thb vigorous character of Egbert was well calculated to make the Sax-
ons proud of having him for a monarch, and the fact of the royal families
of the Heptarchy being, from various causes, extinct, still farther aided in
making his rule welcome, and the union of the various slates into one
agreeable. As the Saxons of the various kingdoms had originally come
not from different countries so much as from different provinces, and as,
during their long residence in so circumscribed a territory as England, ne-
cessary and frequent intercourse had, in despite of their being under dif-
ferent kings, made them to a very great extent one people, their habits
and pursuits were similar, and in their lungnage, that rnostimportant bond
of union to mankind, they scarcely differed more considerably than the
inhabitants of Cornwall and thosn of Cumberland do at the present day.
Freed from the unavoidable differences and strife which had occurred
while so many jarring royalties were crowded into such a narrow and un-
divided space, tliey now seemed, by the mere force of their union into one
body, to be destined to be at once prosperous among themselves, and for-
midable to any one who should dare to attack them from without. All
things had concurred to give Egbert the supreme power in England ; and
all tilings seemed now to concur to make that power permanent and re-
spectable. The correctness of these appearances, and the real degree of
force possessed by the united people, were soon to be tested.
Britain, which both by condition and situation seemed so nearly allied
to Gaul, and so fitted by nature to be subject to it, was now, in a great
measure, to owe to tliat situation the attacks of an enemy that scarcely
knew fear, and did not know either moderation or mercy. We allude to the
Danes. To these bold and sanguinary marauders, who were as skilful on
the ocean as they were uns|)aring on the land, the very name of Christi-
anity was absolutely hateful. \Ve have seen how easily in England the
wild and unlettered Saxons were led into tiiat faith ; but, in Germany, (lie
Emperdr Charlemagne, instead of trying to lead the pagans out of error
into truth, departed so far from both the dictates of sound policy and the
true spirit of Christianity, as to endeavour to make converts to the religion
of peace and good-will at the point of the sword ; and, when resisted, as
it was quite natural that he should be by a people unacquainted with the
faith he wished to teach them, and strongly prejudiced against it by the
style in which his teachings were conducted, iiis persecution — generous
and humane though he naturally was — assinix^d a character which would
not be accurately characterized by any epithet less severe than tiie word
brutal. Decimated when goaded into revolt, deprived of their property by
fire, andoftheirdearest relatives by the sword, many thousands of the pa-
gan Saxons of Germany sought refuge in Jutland and Demnark, and nat-
urally, though incorrectly, judging of the Christian faith by the ccniduct oi
the Christian champion Charleiiiugne, they made the former hateful by
120
THK TRKASIfHY OF HISTORY.
by ilieir mere relations of iheerueliies of the latter. When the feeble ai»d
divided posterity of Charleniiigiic made llie French provinces a fair murk
for hold invaders, tlie mingled races of Jutes, Danes, and Saxons, known
in France under the general name of Northmen or Nonnuns, made de-
scents upon the maritime countries of France, and then pushed their
devastating enterprises far iidnnd. Kngland, as we have said, from its
mere proximity to France, was viewed by these northern marauders as
being hi some sort the same country ; and its inhabitants, as being equal-
ly Christian with the FVeneh. were equally hated, and equally considered
fit objects of spoliation and violence. As early as the reign of Urithrie in
the kuigdom of Wessex, in 787, a body of these bold and unscrupulous
pirates landed in that kingdom. That their intention was hostile there
can be little doubt, for, when merely questioned about it, they slew the
magistrate and hastily made off". In the year 794 they lauded in Nor-
thumberland and completely sacked a monastery, but a storm prcventingr
them from making their escape, they were surrounded by the Northum-
brian people, and compleiely cut to pieces.
During the first five years of Egbert's supreme reign in England, neither
domestic disturbances nor the invasion of foreign foes occurred to ob-
struct his measures for promoting the prosperity of his people. But about
the end of that time, and while he was still profoundly engaged in promoting
the peatreable pursuits which were so necessary to the w<nilth and comfort
of the kingdom, a horde of Danes made a sudden descent upon the isle of
Sheppy, plundered the inhabitants to a great nnmtnit, and made their de-
barkation in safety, and almost without any opposition. Warned by this
event of his liability to future visits of the same unwelcome nature, Eg-
bert held himself and a competent force in readii»ess to receive them; and,
when in the following year (a.i>. t<32) ihey landed from thirty-five ships upon
the coast of Dorset, they were suddenly encountered by Egbert, near Char-
mouth, in that county. An obstinite and severe contest ensued, in which
the Danes lost a great number ui' iheir force, and were, at Iciiglb, totally
defeated ; but as they were skilfully posted, and had taken caiT! to pre>-
serve aline of communication with the sea, the survivors contrived to es-
cape to their ships.
Two years elapsed from the battle of Charmoulh before the pirates
again made their appearance ; and, as in that battle they had sulTi-red very
severely, the English began to hope that they would not again return to
molest them. Hut the Danes, knowing the ancient enmity that existed
between the Saxons and the British remnant in Cornwall, entered into an
alliance with the latter, and, landing in their country, had an easy open
road to Devonshire and the other fertile provinces of the West. But here
afiain the activity and unslumbering watchfiduess of Egbert enabled him
to limit their ravages merely to their first furious onset. He came up
with them at flengesdown, and again they were defeated with a great di-
minution of their numbers.
This was the last service of brilliant importance that F/jbort p*rfotmed
for England, and just as there v-.s every appearence thai liis •• nhnir and
sagacity would be more than ever necessary to the saf '' i>f ;!■ ; - .''ry,
he died, in the year 838, and was succeeded by his son ' ;'.. i ■ li.
The very first act of Ethelwolfs reign was the division of the country
which the wisdom and ability of his father, aided by singular good for-
tune, had so happily united. Threatened as the kingdom so frequently
was from without, its best and chiefesi hope obviously rested upon its
•jnion, and the consequent facility of concentrating its whole flghting
."^rce upci any threatened point. But, unable to see this, or too indolent
10 ii • the v/hole governincnt of the country, Eihelwolf made over the
., . ui.? of ■> ^ut, Sus* .«, and Essex, to his sou Athelstan It was for
•lunate il.^u, under aich a prince, who at the very outset of his reign could
1
THE TRKAaURY OK UlriTOftY,
121
eommit an error so capital, England Im '. in most of lur |)rincipal places,
magislrat(!s (irgovornors of bravery and abdity.
•rtiiis VVolflitii-e, governor of Hampshiro, put to the rout a strong party
of tiie maraudnrs who had landed at Southampton, fi mi nofewerlhiin three"
and-thirly sail ; and, in the same year, Athelhelin, governor of Ditrseishire,
encountered and defeated another powerful body of tiiem who had huid-
ed at Portsmouth ; though, in this case, unfortunately, tlie gallant govern-
or died of h's woundH. Aware of the certain disadvantages to which tluy
would I/'.; exposed in fighting pitched battles in an enemy's country, the
I'Saiirg, II' their subsequent landing, took all possible care to avoid the ne-
f^-v'v :'J:)ingso. Their plan was to swoop suddenly down upon a re-
iired j).iii of the coast, plunder the country as far inland as they could
prudenil) advance, and re-embark with their booty before any consider-
4 iiMe force could be got together to o|)pose them. In this manner they
, ^1 |ilundered Kasl Anglia and Kent, and their depredations were the more
"iW dibtressing, because they by no means limited themselves to booty in the
k usual sense of that term, but carried off men, women, and even children
into slavery.
The frequency and the desultoriness of these attacks, at length, kept the
whole coastward in a perpetual state of anxiety and alarm ; the inhab-
itants of each place fearing to hasten to assist the inhabitants of another
place, lest some other party of the pirates, in the meantime, should rav-
age and burn their own homes. There was another peculiarity in this
kind of warfare, which to one order of men, at least, made it more terri-
ble than even civil war itself; making their descents not merely in the
love of gain, but also in a burning and intense hatred of Christianity, the
Danes made no distinction between laymen and clerks, unless, indeed, that
they often showed themselves, if possible, more inexorably cruel to the
latter.
Having their cupidity excited by large and frequent booty, and being,
moreover, flushed with their success on the coast of France, the Danes or
Northmen at length made their appearance almost annually in England.
In each succeeding year they appeared in greater numbers, and conducted
themselves with greater audacity: and they now visited the Knglish
shores in such swarms that it was apparent they contemplated nothing
less than the actual conquest and settlement of the whole country. Divi-
ding themselves into distinct bodies, they directed their attacks upon dif-
ferent points; but the Saxons were naturally warlike, the governors
of most of the important places seaward were, as we have already re-
marked, well fitted for their important trust, and the very frequency of the
attacks of the Danes had induced a vigilance and organization among the
people themselves which rendered it far less easy than it had formerly
been to surprise them. At VViganburgh the Danes were defeated with
very great loss by (^ orle, governor of Devonshire, while another body of
the marauders was attacked and defeated by Athelstan, in person, off
Sandwich. In tins case, in addition to a considerable loss in men, the
Danes had nine of their vessels sunk, and only saved the rest by a pre-
cipitate flight. Uul in this year the Danes showed a sign of audacious
confidence in their strength and resources which promised but ill for the
future repose of Kngland ; for though they had been severely chastised in
?■ more than one quarter, and had sustained the loss of some of their bravest
] . men, the niaii. body of them, instead of retreating wholly from the island,
i as they had usually done towards the close of the autumn, fortified them-
I selves in the Isle of Sheppy,and made it their winter quarters. The prom-
ise of early reiominencement of hostilities that was thus tacitly held out
' was fully and promptly fulfilled.
Karly in the spring of 853, the Danes who had wintered in the Isle of
Thanet, were reinforced by the arrival of a fresh horde, in 350 vessels
m
122
THE THliA&UilV OF HISTORY.
I ;
and t!iR whole marched from tlie Isle of Thanet inland, burning and de-
Btroyiiiff wlmtever wiis not sufficiently portable for plunder. Urichtric,
who — St) far had Ethelbert allowed the disjiniction of the kingdom to pro-
ceed — was now governor and titular king of Mereia, made a vain attempt
to resist tliein, and was utterly routed. Canterbury and London were
sacked and burned and the disorderly bands of the victorious enemy
sprf-ad into ttie very lieart of Surrey. Ethel wolf, though an indolent king,
was by no means destitute of a certain princely pride and during. En-
raged beyond measure at the audacity of the marauders, and deeply
grieved at tlie sufferings they inflicted upon his subjects, he assembled the
West Saxous, whom, accompanied by his second son Ethelbald as his lieu-
tenant, he led against the most considerable body of the Danes. He en-
countered them at Okely, and, although tliey fought with their usual reck-
less and pertinacious courage, tiie Saxons discomfited and put them to
flight. This victory gave tiie country at least a temporary resi-ite ; for
the Danes had suffered so much by it, that they were glad to pohipune fur-
ther operations, and seek shelter and rest within their intrencinnent in the
Isle of Thanet. Thilher they were followed by Hudaand Ealher, the pjv-
ernors of Surrey and K'Mit, who bravely attacked them. At the com-
niencement of the action the advantage was very considerably on the side
of the Saxons: but tiie fortune of war suddenly changed, tiie Danes re-
covered their lost grounds and the Saxons were totally routed, both
their gallant leaders remaining dead upon the field of batile ; a.d. 853.
Desperate as the situation of tlie country was, and threatening as was
the aspt:ct of the Danes, who, after defeating Huda and Ealher, removed
from the Isle of Thanet to that of Slieppey, which they deemed more con-
venient for winter ipiartcrs, Ethelwelf, who was extremely superstitious
and bigoted, and who, in spile of the occasional (lashes ofchivalric spirit
which he exhibited, was far more fit fora monk than foreithera monarch
or a military coinniander, this year resolved upon making a pilgriniiisjc
to Rome, fie went and carried with him his fourth son, the subseiiuently
"Great" Alfred, but who was then ;i child of only six years old. At
Home Ethel wolf remained for one year, i>assinghis time in prayer; earn-
ing the (latteries ami favmir of the monks by liberalities to the church, on
which he lavi.^hed sums which were too really and tenibly needed by liis
own im|(overislied and sufieriiig coiintry. As a specimen of his profusion
in this pious sqiiaiideiing, he gave to tli(3 papal sc(', in perpetuity, the year-
ly sum of three huiidied maneuses — each mancun weighing, says Hume,
about the same as the English half crown — to be afiplied in three etjual
porliiiiis: fir^l, iIk^ iiroviding and maintaining lamps for St. Peter's; sec-
ond, for the same to St. fauTs, and thirdly, for the use of the jiope liim-
Bidf. At till! end of the ye;ir"s residence which lie had ])romis(Hl himself
h(! reluriKMl lidine ; happily for his snhji'cts, whom lii.< prolonged stay at
Home could not liav<^ failed to im|)nverish ; his feolish facility in giving,
being not a whit iinirc rcinarkalilc than the unscrupulous alacrity of the
));i|)al eoiiit in taking. On reaching England, he was far more astonished
than gr;itilied at the state of aflairs there. Alhelslan, his eldest son, to
whom, as we iiave before menuoned, he had given Kent, Sussex and Es-
sex, li;ul been scnne tune dead; and l'',tlieli)ald, the second son, having, in
coiiseipniiee. assmned tlir ri'geiicy of the kingdom duriiiix his father's ab-
Hcnce, hail allowed filial alVcctioii and the loyalty dm' to a sovereign to he
coiupiereil by ambition. Many of the warlikt! nobility lielil Elhehvolf in
eoiiteiiipt, and 'id not scruple to alUrm that he was far iiim'e fit for cowl
iiiid e|i)i.^ler than for Ihi' warrior's weapon and the nxinarcli's throne. The
young and ambition iiiinee lent too facile an ear to these disloyal ileiiders
and snlT'iTcil IiuiimII to be persuaded to join aiil lii'ad ;i |iiirly to delhrone
Ins father and set hiniM'lf up in his pl.ii'c. Hut Elhelwolf, llionnh despised
by the ruder and fiercer nobles, was nut without mitneruus and sinuero
THE TaKASURY OF UISTOllY.
123
fi lends ; liis party, long as he had been absent, was as strong and as zeal-
ous as that of the prince; both parties .were of impetuous temper and
well inohned to decide tlie controversy by blows; and tlie country seemed
to be upon the very brink of civil war, of wiiich the Danes would no
doubt have availed themselves to subject the island altogether. But this
extremity was prevented by Eihelwoif himself, who voluntarily proffered
to remove all occasion of strife by sharing his kingdom with Ethelbald.
Tlie division was accordingly made ; the king contenting himself with
the eastern moiety of the kingdom, which, besides other points of inferior-
ity, was far the most exposed.
It were scarcely reasonable to expect that he who had not shrewdness
and firmness enough to protect his own rights and interests, would prove
a more efficient guardian of those of his people. His residence at Home
hud given the papal court and the clergy a clear view of the whole extent
of the weakness of his nature ; and the facility with which he had parted
Willi his cash in exchange for hollow and cozening compliments, marked
linn out as a prince exactly fitted to aid the Knglish clergy in their en-
deavour to aggrandize themselves. And the event proved the coriectness
of tiieir judgment; for at the very same time that he presented the cler-
gy with the tithes of all tlie land's produce, which they had never yet re-
ceived, though the country had been for nearly two centuries divided into
parishes, he expressly exempted them and the church reviMuics in gcn-
enl from every sort of tax, even though made for national defence; and
this at a moment when the national exigences were at their greatest
height, and when the national peril was such that it might have been sup-
posed that even a wise selfishness would have induced the clergy to con
irilnite towards its su,)port ; the more especially, as towards them and
their property the Danes had »!ver exhibited a peculiar malignity.
Klhelwolf died in 857. about two years after he had granted to the En-
glish clergy the iinportiint boon of the tithes; and he, by will, conlirmed
tu Kihclbald the western moiety of the kingdom, of which he had alreaily
put him in possession, and left tiie eastern moiety lo his second eldest sur-
viving son Ethelbert.
Tlie reign of Ethelbald was short; nor was his character such as to
iiiaki! it desirable for the sake of his people that it had been longer. He
wiis of extremely di'liiiuched habits, aiul gave especial scandal and disgust
lo his people by marrying his mother-in-law, Judith, the second wife of
his (Icceased father. 'I o the comments of the people upon this incestuous
iiiiil diagracefnl coniKU'lioii he jiaid no attention; but the censiire of the
I'iiiirch was not to be so lightly regarded, ;iiid iIk; :idvi(!e ,ind autiiority of
Swil hill, bishop of Winchester, indiiciul him to consent to be divorced.
lie died in ilie year 8(ii), and was succeeded by his brother ICthulbert, and
the kingiiont thus, oiil'! more, was united under one sovereign
CH.VPTER Vr.
TIIF. HKKlNS OF K.rilKI.nKUT AND KTIIKMlli.K.
The reign of Ethclliert was greatly disUirbed by the fie(|nent (lesceiits
of the Danes. On one oi'ciision they niai'i! a fiirions attack iipmi Win-
chi'sler, and did an iinmetise deal of mischief in the neighboiirliooii, but
were finally l)e;iten off with great loss ; and, on another occasion, the
lioriic of tlii'm that was settled in the Isle of Thiiiict, hiving thrown
I'^tlielbcrt off his giiaril by their apparent determination to keep sacred a
treaty into whitdi they hail etilereil with him, Hiiildeidy broke from their
;juaricrs, marched in gri' it niimbcrs into Ki'iil. and lliere committed the
inosl wanton outnges in addition to -oizmg immense liootv-
124
THE TREASURY OP HI3T0RY.
w
Ethelbert reigned solely over England but little more than five years ;
he died in hG6, and was succeeded by his brother Ethelred. He, too, was
greatly harrassed by the Danes. Very early in his reign, connived at and
aided by the East Angles, who even furnished them with ilie horses
necessary for their predatory expedition, they made their way into the
kingdom of Nortimniberland, and seized upon the wealthy and important
city of York. iKlIa and Osbricht, two high-spirited Northumbrian princes,
endeavoured to exjicl them, but were defeated and perished in the assault.
Fluslied with their success, the Danes now marched, under the (command
of their terrible leaders, Hubha and Hinguar, into Mercia, and after
much carnage and rapine established themselves in Nottingham, from
which (rentral situation they menaced tlie ruin of the whole kingdom.
The Mercians, finding that their local authorities and local forces were no
match for desperadoes so numerous and so determined, despatched mes-
sengers to Ethelred, imploring his personal interference on their behalf,
and the king, accompanied by his brother Alfred, who had already begun
to display those talents which subsequently won him an imperishable
fame, marched to Nottingham with a powerful army, a.d. 870.
The gallantry and activity of the king and his brother speedily drove
the Danes from Mercia, and they retired into Northumberland with the
apparent design of remaining there quietly. But peace was foreign to
their very nature, and, forgetful of their recent obligations to the treachery
of the East Angles, they suddenly rushed forih upon them, butchered Ed-
mund, their tributary prince, in cold blood, and coimnitled the most exten-
sive iiavoe and depredations, especially upon the monasteries.
The Danes having, in 871, made Heading a station, from which they
greatly harrassed the surrniiiKliiig country, Ethelred determined to dis-
lodge them. l)n desiring the aid of the Mercians he was disloyally re-
fused, they, innnindful of the ben<'fit they had received from him, being
desirous of getting rid of their dependence upon him, and becoming a
8ei)aratc people as in the Heptarchy. Even this shameful conduct of the
Mercians could not move Ethelred from his purpose. Aided by Alfred,
from whom, dmnig his whole reign, he received the most zealous and
ciricient assistance, he raised a large force of his hereditary subjects, the
West tSaxons, and marched against Ueiiiing. Iteing defeated in an action
without the town, the Danes retreated within the gales, and lOthelred com-
menced a scige, but was driven from before tlic i)lacc by a sudden and
well-conducted sally of the garrison. .\ii action shortly afterwards took
place at Aston, not far from Kcadnig, at which an incident occurred which
Eivcs us a strange notion of the manners of the age. A division of the
English army under Alfred connnenced the bailie, and was so skilfully
surrounded by tln^ enemy while }ei in a disadvantageous position and not
fairly formed in order of baiilc, ihat it was in the most ninnineni danger
of Ik ing completely cut to pieces. Alfred sent an ur!;cnt message to his
brollii'r for assistance, but I'Uliclred was hearing inasN, and positively re-
fnseil to stir a stcji until its cmiclusion. Had ihe day gone against the
Saxons, I'lthelred's ■ onduct on this occasion would |)rol)ably have been
censured even by tin priests, but as the Danes were put to the rout, and
with signal slaughter, ilu^ whole credit of the victory was given to the
piety of Ethelreil.
Heatc'.i iiiii of Herkshire, the Danes now took up a strong position at
Uasiiig, in Hams. Hen; they received a iiovverful reinforcement from
abroail, and sent out marauding parties in all directions willi great suc-
cess. St. di, indeed, was tliiir havoc, that Englishmen of all ranks
began to contemplate, with unfeigned terror, the near probability of theii
wlnde ccniiilry being overrun by tliesi' merciless and greedy invaders
The anxiety of KlIiLdred occasioned by these gloomy prosnects, wliuh
THE TKEASUttY OF HISTORY.
U5
were still farther increased by the impatience of the Mercians and others
under his rule, so much augmented the irritation of a wound he had received
in the buttle at Basing, that it terminated his life in the year 671
CHAPTER VII
rilK REIGN OF ALFRKD THE GREAT.
ALFRED succeeded his brother Ethelred, and scarce were the funeral
rites performed before he found it necessary to march against the enemy,
who had now seizcfi upon Milton. At the outset, Alfred had considerably
the advantage, but his force was very weak compared to that of tlie enemy,
and, advancing too far, he not only missed the opportunity of completing
their defeat, but even enabled them to claim the victory. But their vic-
tory — if such it was— cost them so many of their bravest men that they
became alarmed for the consequences of continuing the war, and entered
into a treaty by wliicii they bound themselves altogether to depart from
the kmgdoni. To enable them to do this tliey were conducted to London,
but on arriving there the old leaven became loo strong for their virtuous
resolutions, and, breaking off from their appointed line of inarch, they
began to plunder the country round London for many miles. Burthred,
the tributary prince of Morcia, of which London formed a part, thinking
it improbable, after his shameful desertion of Alfred's brother on a former
occasion, that Alfred would now feel inclined to assist him, made a treaty
witli tiie Danes, by which, in consideration of a considerable sum of
money, they agreed to cease from ravaging his dominions, and remove
themselves into Lincolnshire; but they had on former occasions laid
that county waste, and finding that it had not yet so far recovered as to
promise them any booty worth having, they suddenly marched back again
upon Mercia; then establishing themselves at Repton, in Derbyshire, they
commenced their usual career of slaughter and rapine in that neighbour-
hood. This new instanc(? of Danish pcrfiily filled Burthred with despair,
ami seeing no probability of his being abb- either to chase the Danes away,
or to render them peaceably dis|)osed eithiT by force or bribe, he aban-
doned his territory altogether, proi-eeded to Home, and there took up bis
abode in a monastery, wiiere he continueil until his death. nurthrc(l,
who was broiher-iii-law to All'ied, was the last titular and tributary king
of Mercia.
The utter abandoiiniPiit of the English cnusc by Burthred h-ft It no other
leading defeiKU'r but Alfred : a.o. S71. Brave and able as that prince was,
his situation was now truly terrible. New swarms of Danes came over,
under the leadershii) of laulhruni, ('sital, and Amund. ()iii< liaml of the
host thus formed took U|) their quarters In Noriliuniberland, and another
Cambriilite, whence the lalter inarched for Warcbam, in DorscMsliIre, and
thus sellli'il llicinselvcs In the very midst of .MlVed's territory. This cir-
euinHlance, from Alfred's superior knowledge' of the country and his faell-
ily of oblaining sii|)plies, gave hiin advantages of wliirh he so ably and
promptly aviuli'd hims<'lf, that the Danes wer(^ glad to eni{ai>(^ llieinsclves
to depart. They hail now, however, beeoini^ so notorious for breaking
their treatii>s. that Alfreil, in concluding this one with them, resorteil to
an expeilient very charai'lcristic of that rude and sllperstltlou^ age. He
made them confirm their pleilges by oallis upon holy relliincs. lie thought
It unlikely th.tt even Danes would venture to depart from an agreement
made Willi a ceremony winch was then thought so treineinlou'*, and even
sliiinld they be impious enoiigli to do so, lie felt quite ecrlaiii that lliell
awful pcrinry would not fail lo draw down full deslrui'tion upon them.
Bui the banes, who hated (Miristianity, and held its forms in utter con
'13
yl^
126
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
tempt, no sooner found tlieinselves freed from the disadvantageous pos'
tion in whic^li Alfred had plac^ed them, tlian ihey fell without waniinn; upon
his astounded army, put it completely to flight, and then hastened to take
posspssiiin of Exeter. Undismayed by even this new proof of the faith-
less and indomitable nature of the enemy, Alfred exerted himself so dili-
gently, that he got together new forces, and fought no fewer than eight
considerable battles witiiin twelve months. 'I'liis vigour was more effec-
tual against snch a foe than any treaty, however solemn, and they once
more found themselves reduced to an extremity which compelled them to
sue for peace. As Alfred's sole wish was to free his sulijects from the
intolerable evils incident to having their country perpetually made the
theatre of war, he cheerfully agreed to grant them peace and permission
to settle on the coast, on the sole condition that they should live peace-
ably with his subjects, and not allow any new invaders to ravage the
country. While they were distressed, and in danger, the Danes were
well pleased with these terms, but just as the treaty was concluded a re-
inforcement arrived to them fnun abroad. All thouglit of peace and treaty
was at once laid aside by them ; they hastened, in all directions, to join
the new comers, seized upon the important town of Chippenham, and re-
commenced their old system of plundering, nmrdering, and destroying, in
every direction, for miles aroinid their qnarters. The Saxons, not even
excepting the heroic Alfred himself, now gave up all hope of success in
the sirngule in which they had so long and so bravely been engaged.
Many fled to Wales and the continent, while the generality submitted to
the invaders, contented to save life and land at the exftense of national
honour and individual freedom. It was in vain that Alfred reminded the
chief men among the Saxons of the sanguinary successes they had
achieved in the time past, and endeavoin'ed to persuade them that new
successes would aitend new efforts. Men's spirits wen; now so utterly
subdued ttiat the Danes were looked upon as irresistible; and the heroic
and niifortiniale Alfred, unable to raise siiflicieni force to warrant him
in again endeavotning to save his country from the yoke of tlie foreign
foeman, was fiin to seek safety in concealment, and to console himsidf in
his temporary inactivity with the hope that the oppressions of the Danes
would be so nnmeasined and intolerable, that even the most peace-loving
and indolent of the Saxons would, at no distant day, be goaded into revolt.
Unattended even by a servant, Alfred, disguised in \\w coarse habit of a
peasant, wandered from one obscure hilling- pjacf? to another. One of
these was the lowly hut of a neatherd, who had in happier days been in
his servu'e. The man faithfidly obeyed the charg(! given to jiiin by the
king not to rev(?al his rank (?ven to the yood woman of the house. She,
UMsuspirKMis of the quality of her guest, was at no pains to (•(Uieeal her
o()iiu(iii that so able a man, in full health, and with an ixlremely vigonnis
appetite, inii;lil lind some better iinployinenl, bail llunigh the limi's were,
than moping about and muttering to liinis<'lf. On one occasion she still
more siroiiiily gav(! her opinion of the iillene.>^8 of her guest, lie was
seated befine the ample wood fire, putting his bow and arnnv in order as
she |iut some wlieaten cakes down to bake, and being called away by
some other (Uniiestic biisiness, slie desired Alfred to mind the cakes, giving
him especial charge to liirn ihem frecpieiilly lest tliey should be burned.
The king prinniseil due obedience, but scarcely bad Ins iinperious hifstesg
left him when he fell into a profound reverie on liisowii forlorn and aban-
doned eiiinlilion, and the manifold miseries of Ins coniitty. It is probable
that, diiriii'i that hnig sad day-dream, more tli:in one thought suggested
itself to Alfred, bv which Knglaiid, at a I'nlnre il;iy. was to be greatly
benefited, lint, as.suredly, his tlioiigbls were, fur that time at U'.isl, of
little benefit to Ins hostess, who, (Ml her return lo the collage, found tho
kmg deeil buried in Ins gloomy thoughts, and her cakes done, indeed, but
THK TREASURY OF HI3T0R\.
127
Qone — to a cincrer. The good woman's anger now knew no boimds ; oaf,
lubber, and lazy loon, were the mildest names which she bestowed iipon
him, as, with iiiinsilcd anger and vexation, she contrasted his indolence in
the matter of baking, with his alacrity in eating what he found ready
baked for his use.
So successful had Alfred been in destroying all traces of his wander
ings, that Hiibba and other leading Danes, who had at first made search
after him with all the activity and eagerness of extreme hale, not nn-
mingled with fear, at length became persuaded that he had either left
the country altogether, or perished miserably ere he could find means and
opportunity to do so. Finding that his enemies had discoiuimied their
search after him, Alfred now began to conceive hopes of biMiig able once
more to call some friends to his side. For this purpose he betook him-
self to SoiiKTsetshire, to a spot with which he had accidentally become
acquainliHl, which singularly united obscurity and capability of being de-
fended. A morass formed by the overflowing of the rivers Parret and
Thame bad nearly in its centre aboitt a couple of acres of firm land.
The morass itself was not safely practicable by any one not well aitquain-
ted with the coticealed paths that led through it to the little terra firma,
audit was further secured from hostile visitors by numerous other morasses
no less (liflii'ult and dangerous, while by a dense growth of forest trees
it was on (wery side environed and sheltered. Here he built himself a
rude hut, and, having found means to comnninicate with some of the inost
faithful of his personal friends, it was not long before he was placed at
the head of a small but valiant band. Sallying from this retreat mider the
cover of tlie night, and always, when practicable, returning again before
the inorniiig, he harassed and spoiled tin; Danes to a very great extent;
and his attacks were so sudden ami so desultory, that his enemies were
unable either elTcctually to guard against them, or to conjecture from what
quarter they proceeded.
Kven by this warfare, petty and desultery as it was, Alfred was doing
good service to his country. For with the spoil which he thus obtained
he was enabled to subsist and from tiint^ to time to increase his followers;
ami while his attacks, which could not be wholly mtknown to the Saxon
population, gave them vagim ho[)es that armed friends were not wholly
lost to tliein, they moderated tln^ cruelty and imperiousness of the Danes
by constantly reminding them of the possibility of a successl'id and gene d
revolt of ibe Saxons.
For U[)warils of a year Alfred remained in this secure retreat, in which
time he h. id gathered together a considerable iunnl)cr of followers; and
now at length his pers(!veranc(! had its rewanl in an opportunity of once
more meeting his foes in the formal array of battle.
Hubbii, the most warlil<(! of all the Danish chiefs, led a larjje army of
liis couiitryinen to besiege the castle of Kinvvilh, in Devonshire. 'I'hc
earl of that cmmlry, a brave and resolute man. di!emin<; death in the battle
field far preferable to starving witiiin his fortified walls, or lite preserved
by submission to t\w haled Danes, collected the whole of his garrison,
mill, having inspired iIkmu with liis own brave deterininatinn. made a
sudden sally upon the Danish camp in the (lirkness of night, killed llultba,
and roiiieil the D:inisli force with immense slaughter. He at the same
time (captured the enclianlcd lieufni, the woven -aven which adorned the
child' stand ird of the Dam"", and the loss of whiidi their siipi'r-<liti(ni»
feelings made more terrihU^ to them than that of their eliiif and their
cmnradi's who had perished. This Rmfin bad been woven mio llubba's
stauilard liy his three sisters, who ba'l accompanied tiieir work « ith certain
magical fonniila! which the Dat)es firmly helieved to have given the re-
presented biiil the power of preincting the good or (n'il ni cess of any
enterprise by the motion of its wings. And, considcrinjf the great power
128
THE TllKASUHY OF HISTOHY.
I
of superstition over rude and untutored minds, it is very probable that
the loss of this highly valued sliindard, coinciding with not only the
defeat, hut also the death, of its hitherto victorious owner, struck such a
general fear and doubt into the minds of the Danes as very greatly tended
to dispose them, shorllv afttr, to make peace with Alfred.
As soon as Alfred lizard of the spirit and success with which the earl
of Devonshire had defended himself aiid routed the most dreaded division
of the Danish army, he resolved to leave his obscure retreat and once more
endeavour to arouse the Saxon populaticm to arms. But as he had only
too great and painfid experience of the (^\lent to which his unfortunate
people haii been depressed in s()irit by liieir long continued ill fortune, he
determined to act deliberately and cautiously, so as to avoid an appeal
made too early either to find the Saxons sufliciently recovered to nnike a
new effort for their liberty, or to allow of their being prepared to make
that effort succssfully.
Still leaviuff his followers to conceal themselves in the retreat of which
we have spokcMi, he di.-iguised himself as a harper, a very popular charactei
in tliat day, and one which his great skill as a musiciari enabled him suc-
cessfully to maintain. In this clianu'ier he was able to travel alike among
Danes and Saxons without sns()icioiis recognition; and his music at once
obtaitied liim admission to every rank and the opportunity of cotwersing
with every description of people. Kiid)oldcned by fitiding liimself ntisus-
periled by even his own subjects, he tiow formed the bold project of pen-
etrating the very camp of tiie enemy to iiote their forces and disposition.
To soldiers in camp ainus"inent is ever welcome, and the skilfid music
of Alfred not merely gratified tlie cotnmoti soldiers and itiferior ofTiccrs
but even procured him, from their recommiMidaiiDns, adniittatice to the
tent of Guihrum, their priiii'c ami leacjcr. Here he reimiitied longeiiough
to discover every weak poitit of llie enemy, wiiether as to llie positioti ol
their catnp, wliicii was silualed at Kddiiiytoti, or as to the carelessness ol
discipline into which their utter contempt of the "Saxcm swine" caused
them to fall. Having made idl necessnry observations he took the earliest
opportnnily to depart, and sent messages to ail the principal Saxons upon
whom he could depend, requirmij them to meet liim on a specifuHl day, at
Hrixton, in the forest of Selwood. The Saxmis, who had long mourned
their king as dead, atid were gi'oaiiiiig lieiiealh the l)rulai tNramiies of the
Danes, joyfully ol)( yed his suM)imins, and at the appointed time he foimd
himself surrounded liy a force so nnuurous ami so enlliusiaslic as to give
him just hopes of l)eing able to attack the Danes with snc<'ess. Km)wing
the importauee of not allowin;^- this eullnisiastn loco(d, he wasted no time
in useless delay or vain form, Init led tlu'in at once to (tuthrmn's camp, of
which his recent visit niade him acciuainled with the most |»iaclicablo
points. Sunk in apathetic Indolenee, aud tliinkiug of nothing less than
of seeing a iMimeriUis liand of Ijiglish assembled to attack them, the
DaiK's were so panic-struck and smprised thai they foiiylii with non(M)f
Ihi'ir accustomed vigour or olistiincy, auil the bailie was speedily conver-
ted into a mere rout, ('real niunln'rs of i\w Danes |)erislied in this affair;
and thoiiuh llie rest, under the orders of (iiilhrtiui, fortified themselves in
a camp ami made preparations lor couliunnig the slniggle, they were so
closely hcmuieil in by .Vlfred, th il absoliile limiger |)ripved too strong for
their resolution, and r)iu;e more they offercil to tical for (leace with the
man whose meri y tliey had so <dlen aJMisecl, anil wlnise vahnir and ability
they had loni.'' since imagined, and exultingly believed, to be bmied in an
oliscnre aud premature grave.
The endiniiig aud perseveiiug inclination to cleineney which he cnii-
Rtantly displayed is by no means one of the least remarkable and admir-
alile trails in llie cliara'ler of Alfred. Tlioimh lie now liiiii the very lives
of his fell and malignant foes in Ins power, and though they weie bo con-
1 fiir TREASURY OF HISTORY.
129
111' con-
il iidiiiir-
;i'ry lives
e so con-
scious of their helplessness that they oflFered to submit on any terms,
however huniiliiitiiig, he gave them their lives without attemptiiijr to im-
pose even moilenitely severe terms. Peace for his subjects wiis siill the
great load-star of all his wishes and of all his polity ; and olien as he had
been deceived by the Danes, his real magnanimity led him to believe that
even their faithlessness could not always be proof against mercy and in-
dulgence ; he therefore not only gave them their lives, but also full per
mission to siHtle in his country, upon the easy condition of living in peace
with ins other subjects, and holding themselves bounil to aid in the defence
of the country in whose safety they would have a slake, should any new
invasion render their assistance necessary. Delighted to obtain terms so
much more favourable than they had any right to hope for, Gulhruin and
his followers readily agreed to this; but Alfred's mercy had no taint of
weakness. He, with his usual sagacity, perceived that one great cause of
the persevering hostility of the Danes to his subjects was tiieir diflference
of religion. Reflecting that such a cause would be perpetually liable to
cause the Danes to break their peaceable intentions, he demanded that
Guthrum and his people should give evidence of their sincerity by embra-
cing the Christian religion. Tiiis, also, was consented to by the Danes,
who were all baptized, Alfred himself becoming the godfather of Guth-
rum, to whom he gave the honourable Ciiristian name of Athelstan. The
success of this measure fully justified the sagacity which had suggested
i; to Alfred. Tlie Danes settled in Stamford, Lincoln, Nolliiiglmin, Lei-
cester, and Derby, were called the Five Burghers, and they lived as peace-
ably as any other of Alfred's subjects and gave him as little trouble. For
some years after this signal triumph of Alfred's prowess and policy, Eng-
land was unmiilested by foreign invaders, excepting on one occasion
when a numerous fleet of Danes sailed up the Thames, beyond London.
They committed considerable havoc on their route, but on arrivinir at Fnl-
harn they found the country so well prepared by Alfred to resist them,
that they made a panic retreat to their ships, and departed with such spoil
as in their haste they were able to secure.
Freed from the warlike bustle in which so large a portion of his life had
been spent, Alfred now devoted himself to the task of regulating the civil
aff;iirs of the kingdom. He committed the former kingdom of Mercia to
the government of his brother-in-law, Elhelbert, with the rank and title
of earl or duke; and in order to render the incorporation of the Danes
with the Sa.xons tlie more complete, he put them upon the same legal
footing in every respect. In each division of the kingdom he established
a militia force, and made arraiigenients for its concentr.ition upon any
given point in the event of a new invasion. He also re|).iired tiie va-
rious towns that had sufTered in the long disorders of the kingdom, and
erected fortresses in commanding siluaiions, to serve bolli as depots for
armed men, and as rdlying points for thi! militia and levy, en massF, of
the country aniunil, in case of need. But tiiough the admirable military
(lispositioii.s thus niade by Alfred made it certain that any invaders would
fiiiil tiienisclves holly ojiposed in whatever quarter they might make tlieir
ailack, Alfred w.is more anxious to have the internal peace of ilie conulry
wholly unbroken, than to be obliged, however triuinphanily and surely,
to ehaslisr the disturbers of it; he therefore now luriieil his altinlion to
the organization of siicli a naval force as shuuld be sulliiienl to keep the
piratical enemy from landing upon his siiores. He greatly increased the
inimbi'r and sireii>ith of Ins shipping, and pracliscd a larLte puiliiiii of his
leople ill naval tactics, to which, considering their iiisiilar siiiiaiion, the
\liigs and pi'iiple of Kngland had hiiherto been siraiiLu iy indiUVreiii. Toe
good eflccts of tlii.s wise prccauliim were soim ni.iiiiiest ; squadrons of
his arinrd vessels lay at so many ami at such well-chosen pusiliiins, that
llie D.iiies, though they often came in great numbers, were eiUier wliully
1.-9
i:'
t30
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
m
prevented from landing, or intercepted when retiring from before the land-
forces, and deprived of their ill-gotten booty, and their ships either cap-
lured or sunk. In this manner Alfred at length got together a iuuidred
and twenty vessels, a very powerful fleet for that time, and as his own
subjects were at the outset but indiffenMit sailors, he supplied that defect
by sparingly distributing among them skilful foreign seamen, from whom
they soon learned all that was known of naval tactics in that rude age.
For some years Alfred reaped the reward of his admirable policy and
untiring industry in the unbroken tranquillity of the country, which gave
his subjects the opportunity of advancing in all the useful arts, and of
gradually repairing those evils which the long-continued internal wars
had done to both their trade and their agriculture. But a new trial wag
still in store for both Alfred and his subjects.
A.D. 803. Hastings, a Danish chieftain, who some years before had made
a short predatory incursion into England, but who recently had confined
his ravages to France, finding that he had reduced that country, so far as
he could get access to it, to a condition which rendered it unproductive of
farther booty, suddenly appeared this year off the coast of Kent, with an
immense horde of his pirates, in upwards of three hundred vessels. Dis-
embarking the main body in tlie Holhcr, and leaving it to guard the fort
of Apiddore, whiidi he surprised and seized, he, with a detachment of nearly
a hundred vessels, sailed up the Thames as far as Milton, where he estab-
lished his head-quarters, whence he sent out his maurading parties in every
direction. As soon as tidings of this new incursion reached Alfred, that
gallant monarch concentrated an immense force from the armed militia
in various parts of the country, and marched against the enemy. Setting
down before Milton and Apuldorc, Alfred, by his superiority of force, com-
pletely hemmed ii" /le mtiin bodies of the pirates, and their detached par-
lies were encounttied as they relumed with their booty, and cut off to a
man. finding that, so far from having any prospect of enriching them-
selves, they were, in fact, compelled to live in England up(m the plunder
that they had seized in France, the pirate garrison of Apuldore made a
sudden sally with the design of crossing the Thames into Fsscj.v. Hut the
vigilant eye of Alfred was loo constanily upon them to allow either secrecy
or suddenness to give them success in this attempt. Ui\ arrested their
march at Farnluim, utterly routed them, and spoiled them of all their prop-
erty, including numbers of valuable horses. The slausihler was very great,
and those Danes who were so fortunate as to survive the battle, ii'adc their
way in panic haste to their piratical vessels, and sailed over to Essex,
where lliey entrenched Iheni-selves at Mersey ; Hastings, with the division
under his command, at the smne time going also into the county of Essex
and entrenching himself at Canvey.
(lUthrum, who from the time of his baptism had been constantly faith-
ful to the engagement into which he had entered with Alfred, was new
dead, as also was Guthred, another Dane of rank, who was very faithful
to Alfred, by whom he had been made governor of Northumbcrliind. No
longer restrained by the example and authority of those two ('ininenl
chiefs, the East Anglian and Norlhnmbiian Danes now suddenly exhibited
their ohi [)riipensiiy to strife and rapine, got together a Heel of nearly two
hundred and fifty vessels, and made their appearance in hostiU; array be-
fore Exeter. I,eaving a sufficient force; under coni[)etent command to
make hea<l aijainst tin; Danes in Essex, Alfred iminedjately haslened to
Exeter, and fell so suddenly ii[)on ihem, that with little loss on his side,
ihey were driven, in complete disorder and with immense loss, to their
fleet. They made attempts to land in other jiarls of the cnuntry ; but the
preparations winch Alfred had everywhere made of militia and armed
freemen, whom the recent aiarms had kept more than usually on the alert,
THE TRKA8UHY OF HlSTOllY.
13J
caused the pirates to be so warmly received, that they at length mailed
from the island altogether, in despair uf making any further booty.
The Danes in Essex, united under the command of tlie formidable Has-
tings, did immense mischief in that county. But the force left behind by
Alfred, increased by a large number of Londoners, marched to Braniflete,
forced the pirates' entrenchments, put the greater number of the garrison
to the sword, and captured the wife and children of the pirate ciiief. This
capture was the most importantly useful result of this well-conducted en-
terprise. Alfred had now in his hands hostages tiirough whom he could
command any terms ; but so generous was his nature, that he restored the
women and children to Hastings, upon the sole and easy condition that he
should leave the kingdom immediately, under a solemn engagement to re-
turn to it no more as a foeman.
But though the worst band of the Danes was thus forced to depart the
kingdom, the plague of the Danes was by no means wholly at an end.
There were very numerous scattered hordes of them, who neither owned
the leadership of Hastings, nor were willing to leave the country empty-
handed. These united into one large force, and fortified themselves at
Shobury, at the mouth of the Thames, whence tliey marched into (xlou-
cestershire, and being reinforced by a numerous body of Welchmen, for-
tified themselves very strongly at Boddington. Having now only tiiis
body to deal with, Allred gathered logetlier the whole force he could com-
mand, and drawins lines of cireumvallation around the pirates, deliberately
sat down with the determination of starving them into submission. They
held out for some time, slaying tlieir horses to subsist upon ; but at length
even this miserable resource failing them, tlicy sallied out in utter des-
peration. The most considerable portion of iheni fell in the fierce contest
that ensued, but a still formidable body escaped, and, ravaging the country
as tiiey passed along, were pursued by Alfred to VVatford, in Heriford-
siiire. Here another severe action ensued, and the Danes were again
defeated with great loss. The renuiant found shelter on board the Heet
of Sigefort, a Northumbrian Dane, who possessed ships of a construction
very superior to those of the generality of his countrymen. The king pur-
sued this fleet to the coast of Hampshire, slew a g:reat number of tlie pi-
rates, captured twenty of their ships, and — <iven his enduring mercy being
now wearied — hanged, at Winchester, the whole of his prisoners.
The effl<Ment and organized resistance which had of late been experi
enced by the pirates, and the plain indications given by the Winchester
exccuiions that the king was determined to show no more lenity to pirates,
but to consign them to an ignominious death, as connnon disturbers and
enemies of the whole human race, fairly struck terror even into ihe hith-
erto incorrigible Danes. Those of Northumberland and East Anglia,
against whom Alfred now marched, deprecated his resentment by the
humblest submission, and tiie most solemn assuratices of tlieir future
peaceable behaviour, and their example was imitated by the Welch.
The same admirable arrangements which had enabled him to free his
country from the Danes, were now of infinite service to Alfred in restor-
ing and enforcing order among his own subjects. It was almost iiievita
ble that great disorders should prevail among a people who so freqiieiiily,
and during so many years, had been subject to all the horrors and tinnults
incident to a country which is so unhappy as to be the theatre of war. In
addition to making very extensive and wise provisions for the true and
ertlcieiit administration of justice in the superior courts, and fraining a
code for their gnidancit so exci'llcnt that its siib.staiice and spirit subsist
1(1 this day in the eoinmiiii law of Engiainl, lie most en'e<'iiialiy provided
for the repression of petty olVeiices, as Wdll as nune serums oiii's, whetlicr
against persons or property, and the maiiiKT in vviiiidi lie tlid so, like tiie
manner in which he, us it were, made his whole kingdom a series o** .ar-
13'J
THE TREASURY OF HI9rOR\.
riaona to restrain the Danes, sliows that he, with admirable ger.ius, pt>r.
ceived the immense importanoe of an attention to details, and the eixtie
with which many graduated efforts and arrangements will produce a result
which would be in vain aimed at by any one effort however vast.
Of what may be called the national police established by Alfred, we take
the following brief and condensed, but extremely lucid and grapliic, ac-
count from Hume: "The English," says Hume, "reduced to the most
extreme indigence by the continued depredations of the Danes, had shaken
off all bands of government, and those who had been plundered to-dviy,
betook themselves on the morrow to the like disorderly life, and, from
despair, joined the robbers in pillaging and ruining their fellow-citizens.
These were the evils for which it was necessary that the vigilance and
activity of Alfred should provide a remedy.
"That he might render the execution of justice strict and regular, he di
Tided all England into counties; these counties he subdivided into hun-
dreds, and the hundreds again into tithings. Every householder vas
answerrtble for the behaviour of his family and his slaves, and even of '.lis
guests if they lived above three days in his house. Ten neighbounr^
householders were formed into one corporation, who, under the numc of
a tithing, decennary, or fribourg, were answerable for each other's con-
duct, and over whom one man, called a tithing-man, headbourg, or bond-
holder, was appointed to preside. Every man was punished as an outlaw
who did not register himself in some tithing, and no man could change his
habitation without a warrant or certificate from the bondholder of the tith-
ing to which he formerly belonged.
" When any person, in any tithing or decennary, was guilty of a crime,
the bondholder was summoned to answer for him, and if he were not wil-
ling to be surety for his appearance and his cleariiii' hnnself, the criminal
was committed to prison, and there detained till h .^ trial. If he fled,
either before or after finding surety, the hondholdor and decennary be
came liable to inquiry, and were exposed to the petialties of the law.
Thirly-onc days were allowed them for producing the criminal, and if
the time elapsed without their being able to find him, the bondholder, with
two other members of the decciniary, was obliged to appear, and, to-
gether with three chief members of the three neighbouring decennaries,
making twelve in nil, to swear that his decennary was free from all priv-
ity, both of the crime committed, and of the escape of the criminal. If
the bondholder could not find such a number to answer for their inno-
cence, the decennary was compelled by fine to make satisfaction to the
king, according to the degree of the offence. Hy this institution every
man was obliged by his own interest to keep a watchful eye over the
conduct of his neighbour, and was in a manner surety for the behaviour
of those who were placed under the division to which he belonged ; whence
these decennaries received the name of frank-pledges.
" Such a regular distribution of the people, with such a strict confine-
ment in their habitation, may not be necessary in times when men are
more inured to obedience and justice, and it might perhaps be re^'arded as
destructive of liberty and commerce in a polished slate: but it was well
calculiiled to reduce that fierce and licentious people under the salutary
restraint of law and government. Hut Alfred took care to temper these
rigours by other institutions more favonr.ihle to the freedom of the citi-
zens, and nothing could be more popular or liberal than his plan for the
administration of justice. The bondholder summoned together his whole
dcceiniary to assist him in deciding any lesser difference which occurred
among tlic members of this small community. In affairs of greater mo
mont, in appeals friim the decennary, or in controversies ar' .iug between
members of differtnt decennaries, the cause was brought before the hnn
dred, which consisted of ten decennaries, or a hundred families of free-
of
ii
THE TKEASURY OF HlSTOaY.
133
nmn, and which was regularly assembled ouce in four weeks for the de-
ciding o( causes. Their method of decision deserves to be noted, es
being ilie ori<rin of juries — an institution admirable in itself, and the best
calculated for the preservation of liberty and tlie administration of jus-
tice tiiat ever was devised by man. Twelve freeholders were ciiosen,
who, iiaviiig sworn, together with the hundreder, or presiding magistrate
of that division, to administer impartial justice, proceeded to tlie exainiua-
tiuii of tliat cause which was submitted to tiieir jurisdiction. And beside
tiiese iiioiuiily meetings of the hundred, there was an annual meeting ap-
pointed for a more general inspection of the police of the district, for the
inquiry into crimes, the correction of abuses in magistrates, and tiie
obliging of every person to show the decennary iu wiiich he was regis-
tered. The people, ia imitation of their German ancestors, assembled
there in arms — whence a hundred was sometimes called a wapmitake,
and its courts served both for the support of military discipline, and for
the administration of civil justice.
" The next superior court to that of the hundred, was the county court,
which met twice a year, after Micliaelmas and Easter, and consisted of
the freeliolders of the county, who possessed an equal vote in tlie deci-
giuii of causes. The bishop presided in this court, togetiier with the aU
dermaii, and the proper object of the court was the receiving of appeals
from tiie hundreds and decennaries, and the deciding of such controver-
sies as arose between men of different hundreds. Formerly the alder-
man possessed both the military and the civil authority; but Alfred, sen-
sible that this conjunction of powers rendered the nobility dangerously
independent, appointed also a sheriff to each county, who enjoyed a co-
ordinate auilioriiy with the former in the judicial function. His office
also empowered him to guard the rights of the crown in the county, and
to levy the fines imposed, which in that age formed no contemptible part
of the public revenue.
"There lay an appeal, in default of justice, from all these courts to the
king himself in council; and as the people, sensible of the equity and
great talents of Alfred, placed their chief confidence in him, he was soon
overwhelmed with appeals from all parts of England. He was indefati-
gable in the dispatch of these causes, but finding tiiat his time must be
entirely engrossed by this branch of duty, he resolved to obviate the in-
convenience by correcting the ignorance or the corruption of the inferior
maglstrat>;s, from which it arose. He took care to have all his nobility
instructed in letters and the law ; he chose the earls and sheriffs from
among; the men most celebrated for probity and knowledge ; he punished
severely all malversation in office, and he removed all the earls whom he
found unequal to their trust, allowing some of the more elderly to serve
by deputy, till their death should make room for more worthy successors."
Without any qualifiualion or allowance for the age and circumstances
in liich he lived, the military, and, even more, the civil talents of Al-
fred, and their noble and consistent ievotion to the magnificeiit task of
making a great and civilized nation out of a people disunited, rude, igno-
rant, tierce, and disorderly, would justly entitle him to the praise of being
among the greatest and best monarchs that have ever existed. But when
we reflect that he had to contend against a late, an imperfect, and irreg-
ular education ; that he, who, in a comparatively short life, so largely
figured both as warrior and sage, was twelve years old ere he began to
learn even the very elements of 'ileralure, and that, during the latter
years of his glorious life, he laboured under frequent and painfiil fits of
illness almost amounting to bodily disability, it would not be an easy task
to exagirerato his merits. Good as well as great, a patient and thought-
ful student, as well us a mighty chieftain in the field and a sage statesman
at the council-board, he probably approached as nearly to perfection
134
THE TREASURY OF KT8T0RY.
both as man and mnnarch. as is possible for one of onr fallible and Iran
race. To the Enjriisli r)f his own age he gave benefits, some of which
have descended even to onr own generation ; his renown shines forth in
the page of history like some bright particnhir star, a beacon of greatness
to tilings and of gooihiess to private men: and sad will that day be for
England, and degraded will be the English character, when the general
heart shall fail to throb with a lively, a grateful, and a gladly proud emo-
tion at the mention of him whom their sturdy fathers heartily and justly
hailed by the proud name of Alfrer the Great.
Cn.\PTKR VIII.
MlSTOnV OK THE ANGLO-SAXUNS, FROM THE DEATH OK ALFRED THE GREAT TO
THE REIGN OF EDWARD THE MARTVR.
Alered the Great, who died in the year 901, had three sons and three
daughters by his wife Kiholswitha, the daughter of an earl of Mereia.
His eldest son, Kdmund, iliiMl b(!fore him, and he was succeeded by his
second s(ni, Rdward, who, being the first English king of that name, was
surnanied The Elder.
Though Edward was scarcely, if at all, inferior to his truly great father
in point of military talents, his reign was, upon the whole, a turbulent
one, and one that by no means favoured the growth in the kingdom ol
that civilized prosperity, of which Alfred had laid the foundations both
deep and broad. But the fault was not with Edward ; he had to contend
against many very great difficullies, and he contended against them with
both courage and prudence. He had scarcely paid the last sad offices to
his royal father when his title to the throne was disputed by his cousm
Eliudwold, son of Ethelbert, the elder brother of Alfred. Had the hered-
itary and lineal descent of the crown been as yet strictly settled with a
regard to primogeniture, the claim of Eilielwold would have, undoubted-
ly, been a just one. But such was far from being the case ; many cir-
cumstances, the character, or even the infancy of the actual heir in the
order of primogeniture, very often inducing the magnates and people, as
in the case of Alfred himself, to pass over him who in tiiis point of view
was the rightful heir, in favour of one better qualified, and giving higher
promise of safety and prosperity to the nation.
Etiielwold had a considerable number of partizans, by whose aid he
collected a largo and imposing force, and fortified himself at VVimborne,
in Dorsetshire, with the avowed determination of referring his claim to
the dcci.sion of war. But the military condition in which Alfred had left
the kingdom now rendered his son good service. At the first intimation
that he received of his cousin's opposition, he on the instant collected a
numerous and well appointed army and marched towards him, deter-
mined not to have the internal peace of the whole kingdom disturbtjd by
a series of [jetty struggles, but to hazard life and crown upon the decision
of a single great battle. As the king approached, however, the informa-
tion of his overwhelming force that was conveyed to Etiielwold so much
alarmed him, that he suddenly broke up his army and made a hasty re-
treat to .Normandy. Here he remained inactive for some lime ; but just
as all ohserv(.'rs of his conduct imagined that ho had finally abandoned
his pretensioiis, Ik; passed over into Northumberland, where he was well
received by iIk; Danes of that district, who were glad of any pretence,
however slight, for disavowing their allegiaiK^e to tlii; actual king of Eng-
land. The five burghers, who had so long been in a state of rarely
brok(Mi tian(|inllity, also joined Etiielwold, and the country had once more
the prospect of endles.'* iml ruinous internal warfare. Ethelwold led hif
THE TREASUllY OF HI3T0EY.
13fi
ii
troebooleis iito VViltsliii< . Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire, and made
their esca|je good, with ;ui iininense booty, ere tlie royal fonjes could
couie up »iili tlieui. Hut the king followed his foes iuto Kust Aiiy;lia,
and fearfully retaliated upou that district the injuries that had been in-
liided upo.i' his peaceable subjects. When, laden with spoil, he gave the
onUir to retire, a part of his army, chielly Kentish men, disc^eyed him.
They were, coiisequenily, left behind in the enemy's country, and, while
busily engaged in adding to their already rich booty, were suddenly and
furiously set upon by the Danes. The battle was obstinate on both sides.
in the end the Danes were victorious ; but though they remained masters
of the field of battle, they lost their bravest headers, and among them the
original promoter of the war, Kthelwold himself. Tiie East Anglians
were now glad to accept the terms of peace offered to them by the king;
and he, having notiiing to fear from them, turned his whole attention to
subduing the Danes of Northumberland. ;Ie accordingly fitted out a
(leot, under the impression that by carrying the war to their own coast he
would infallibly compel them to refrain from plundering his people, by
the necessity they would experience of staying at home to defend their
own property. But the consequence of this mancBuvre was directly
contrary to what the king had, and not illogically either, supposed it would
be. They judged that the king's fleet carried the main armed strength of
ICngland; and, trusting the safety of their own property to concealment
and the chapter of accidents, they no sooner saw the royal fleet appear
oir their coast than they made a land incursion upon the English. But
they, too, had reasoned witli more seeming than real correctness.
I'jiiward was fully prepared to meet them by land as well as by sea; and
he attacked them at Teieiihall,in Slatlbrdshire, put a great number of them
to the sword, recovered the whole of the spoils they had taken from his
sui)jects, and drove all those of them who escaped death or captivity, in a
.nost desolate and poverty-stricken state, into their own country.
During the whole remainder of Edward's reign he was engaged with
one party or another of the English Danes. Hut he chastised each party
severely in its turn; and, by constant care and unsparing liberality, he
f(U'litied Chester, Warwick, Colchester, and many other cities so strongly
as to leave ihem little to fear from any sudden incursion of their perse-
vering and rancorous enemies. In the end he vanquished the Northum-
brians, the East Anglians, the Britisii tribes of Wales nearest to his fron-
tiers, and compelled the Scots, who had recently been very troublesome,
to submit to him. He was much aided in his various projects by his sister
Ethelfleda, widow of the Mercian earl Ktheibert, who was a woman ot
masculine genius as well as masculine haiiits and feelings.
Upon the whole, though the reign of Edward the Elder was a victo
rious, it can scarcely be called a fortunate one; for in it many of those
Danes wiio had long lived in habits of peace returned to their old taste
for plundering, and so many battles fought in his own country could not,
even when he was the most signally victorious, be otherwise than injuri-
ous to both the prosperity and the morals of his piJoplc.
Edward died in 925. We have already reiuarked upon the unsettled
state of the law of succiission to the throne in that age. Another instance
of it occurred now. Edward left legitimate children, but they were of
years far too tender to admit of their assuming the reins of govornment
under any circumstances, and cspei'ially so in the then iMiiiiiiieiit danger
of England being again convulsed by llu; Danes. Tlie chief people of the
nation therefore passed those young cliildren by and gave the throne to
Athelstan, an iilogiiimate son of the deceased monarch. Util though Alh
elstaii had the general siiffraifi's of the great men, there were some excep-
tions. Among those wen; Alfnid, a JSaxon nobleman of greai. inrtiience
iiiid popularity, who cudeuvoured to organize an armed opposition to th':
136
THE TREASURY OF HISTORTT
nrw kinsr. B"t the kinyr's suspicion fell upon this nobleman before his
('onspirH<'y was ripe for execution, and tie was seized and charfjed with
the offence, or rather llie intent of offtMiding. He by some means ascer-
laiiied, or he boldly presumed, that the king, however vehemently he
might suspect him, had in reality no tangible evidence, and he offc'red to
(!lear himself of the imputed crime by an oath taken before the pope —
Such was the awful respect in which tbe pope was then held, and such
was his sanctity supposed to be. that it was finally and universally be-
lieved that the fate of Ananias and Sapphira would inevitably befal any
one who should dare to make oath falsely in his presence. 'I'his belief,
absurd as it was, had singular corroboration given to it by the fate of this
Alfred. He was permitted to purge his guilt in the way proposed by him-
self, and he took the required oath in the presence of Pojie .lolin, but had
scarci.ly pronounced the words dictated to him ere he fell into convul-
sions, in which he continued till his death, which occurred in three days
This story has been spoken of as being a pure monkish invention. Wo
think differently. The monks did frequently exaggerate and even invent,
but that is no reason for assuming their guiltiness of !ik(? conduct where
there is no proof aeainst them, and where, without attaching (he slightest
consequence to the alleged sanctity of the pope's person, we can explain
the actual oct'urrence of the event by a simple physical cause. Anil what
more easy than to do so in this case? ,Super.-<tition was in those days by
no means confined to the poor and lowly. Ignorance — in the scholastic
sense of that word — was the birthright of the pmverful baron as well as
of the tramjiled and despised churl, long after the time of .Mhclstan ; and
many a noble who defied all human laws, and looketl scornfully upon all
merely physical danger, would blanch and cower at tales tlial the simplest
village l:iss of a more enlightened day would smile at. Tlicre is nothing
upon record to lead us to believe that this Alfred was more sceptical in
Biich matters than the generality of nobles. I'rged by a desire of safety
for life and possessions, and perhaps entertaining a hope of escape fron>
the conseipiences alh'gcd to await perjury such as he jiroposed to commit,
he might he buoyed tip siifflcicntly to commit tiie perjury, and yet, at the
very moment of commillniir it, terror, compounded of the consciousness
of a trcinendons cnilt. ami ol the tremendous conseiiucnces which
from infancy he had heard predical('(l of such guilt, would surely be not
unlikely to affect his brain. Men have maddened on the instant at be-
holding some horrilile siijlil, others have grown gi'ey in a siii'ilc night of
mtense and harrowiiiiX mental auony ; why, then, should we suppose it
impossible that the awful feelings incident to such a situation as that of
Alfred HJionld produce sudden epili'psy anil Hiibsc(|nent death?
'I'he result was as fortunate for Ailiejstan as it was disastrous to Alfred.
The kiiii; was freed from the opposition of a noble who iiiighi have been
very tronhlesonie to liim, and the manner of that nolilc's death was to all
ranks of men a most convincing proof not only that Aifrcil had been
doubly giiiliy. (irsi of conspiracy and then of perjury, but also that the
king was the riiihtfiil possessor of the crown, and that toilis|)iiie his right
was to incur all .Mlreil's danijer anil much of Alfred's guilt. The king
look care to siri'iiirlhcn and confirm this feelinii by confiscalniij: tlie whole
of Alfred's properly, as though his deatli, iimler the I'lrciiinsiances, was
lantamoiiiit to a Jmlicial Hciitence ; and, as he [iriidenily bestowed this
large property upon tile already weallliy moiiaslery of Milmsbiiry, ho
iiiailc the lall of a sinnle powerful eiieniy the iinniediale means of secur-
ing the friendship of an nifiiiltely more powerful i'or|Hiratioii,
ilaviiiu thiiH become free from what at first seemed a very imminent
peril, Allielsiaii tinned Ins atteiiinni loqnieimgihe Noriliinnhi lan Danes,
who just at tins tune were very ilisconteiiteil under the Mniflish rule. On
his urrival he saw reasun to believe that he cuuld belter S(!uure their obe>
THE TllEA lURY OP HISTORY.
137
aience by giving them a tributary prince of tlieir own race than by the
utmost severity, and he accordingly g;ive the title of king of Northum-
bei'and to Sithric, a powerful Danisli chieflan, to whom he also gave the
hand of his own sister Hditha. But, though this was siigacioua, and
seemed to be especially safe policy, it gave rise to (•onsiderable dilficnlty.
Sithric, who was a widower wlien honoured with the hand of Kditha, died
about a year after his second marriage, and Aiilaf and Godefrid, his sons
by the former marriage, assunied the sovereignty of Northnmberland, as
a matter of permanent and settled hereditary tenure, and not of the king'a
favour and conferred during his pleasure. Highly olTemled at this i)re-
gumption of the young men, Athelstan speedily ejected them fiom their
assumed sovereignty. Aniaf look shelter in Ireland and (iodefrid in Scot-
land, where lie was very kindly and honourably treated by Constantiiie,
then king of tliat country.
Athelstan, on learning that tiie pr'?sumptunus Dane who was so likely
to prove a troublesome enemy to him was protected by Constantiiie, im-
portuned him to put his guest into the Kiiglish power. Desirous of avoid-
ing, if possible, an open quarrel vviih so powerful a prince as Athelstan,
the Scottish monarch gave a feigned consent to a proposal which it was
almost as infainmis to make as it would have been to have complied with ;
but he gave (iodefrid private inliniation which enabled him to get to sea,
where, after making himself dreaded as a pirate, he at length finished
his life.
Athelstan, who, probably, was well informed by spies at the Scottish
court of the part which Consiantine had taken in aiding the escape of
'^iodefrid, nnrched a numerous army into Scotland, and so much distressed
that counlry that (/onstaiitine found himself obli;;i'd to make bis submis-
sion in order to save his country and himself from total ruin. Whether
his submission went to the extent of Constantine's actually acknowledg-
ing himself to hold his crown in real vassalage to the king, which some
historians stoutly atTirm and others just as stoutly deny, or whether it
went no farther than apology and satisfaction for actual offence given,
certain it is, that (-oiistanime took the earliest and most open opportunity
of showing that he looked upon the king of Kngland in any other rather
than a friendly light. For AnIaf, brother of (Jonsiantine's deceased pro-
Icgi', having gotten together a body of Welsh malcontents and Danish
pirates, ('onstaniine joined forces with him, and they led an immense body
of marauders into ICngland. IJndismayeil by the numbers of the invaders,
Athelstan marched his army against tliein, and, (diiefly owing to the valour
and conduct of 'riirkeiul, the then chancellor of Kngland, the invaders
were coinpletely routed. In this battle, winch was fiuight near lirunan-
hurg, in Nortliumlii-rland.a ureat number of tin- Welsh and Danish leaders
perished, and AnIaf ami the Scottish king, after losing a great part of their
forces, were barely abh; to effect their own escape.
It is said that on the eve of this great battle AnIaf was the hero of an
adventure in the Kiiglish camp like llmt of AU'icil the (Jreat in the camp
of (hilhrnm the Dane. Habited like a minslrid, he approached the Kiig-
lish camp, and his music was so much aihnired by the siddters that tliey
obtaineil him admission to the kind's tent, where he played during the
royal repast, so much to thi^ delight of tlie king and Ins nobles, that on
being dismissed lie received a very handsome present. Too polilii! to
betray bis disguise by refusing the present, the noble Dane was also far
too haiiuhty to rel.iin it; and iis soon as he believed hiinself out of the
reiich of oiiservalion, he buried it in the earth. One of Aihelsian's sol-
(hers, who had formerly fought under ilie banner of .\nl.if, had al the very
first sight imiigined Unit ht< saw his old chief under the disjmse of a min-
strel. In the clesire to ascertain if his suspicnm were correct, he followed
\nlaf from the royal tent, and his suspicion was changed into conviction
138
THE TREASUKY OF HlriTOUY.
1 i
»•
i ;
when lir saw a professedly poor and wandering minstrel burynig the
kiny's rich gift. He acc-ordingly warned the king that his daring enemy
had been in his lent. At first the king was very angry that the sokher
had nut made this discovery while there was yet time to have seized
upon the pretended minstrel; but the soldier nobly replied, that having
served nnder Aniaf, he conld not think of belraying him to ruin, any nmre
than he now eould peril tiie safety of Athelstan himself by neglecting to
warn him of Anlaf's espionage. To such a mode of reasoning there could
be no reply, save that of admiring praise. Having dismissed the soldier,
Athelstan "pondered on the probable consequences of this stealthy visit
paid to his tent by Anlaf ; and it having struck him that it was very likely
to be followed iiy a night-attack, he immediately had his lent removed.
The bishops of that day were to the full as brave and as fond of war as
the laity, and on that very night a bishop arrived with an armed train to
the aid t)f his sovereign. The prelate took up the station which the king
had vacated ; and at night the king's suspicion was verified with great
exaclilude. A sudden attack was made upon the camp, and the enemy,
disdaining all meaner prev, rushed straight to the tent which they sup-
[K sed to be occupied by tfie king, and the belligerent bishop and iiis im-
ine(liate attendants were butchered before they had time to prepare for
their defence.
'I'he decisive battle of Brunanburgh gave Athelstan peace from the
Danes, and he devoted the remainder of his reign to wise and active en-
deavours to improve the character and i ondition of his subje<'ts. Several
of his laws were well calculated to that end, and there is one which particu-
larly I'uiiiles liim, even without any reference to the barbarism of the age
in which he made it, to the character of a profound and sagacious think
er. Anxious to encom'age a mercantile spirit among his subjects, he or-
dained by this law that any luercliaut who on his own adventure shoidd
make three sea voyages should, as a reward, be promoted to the rank of a
thane or gentle.
After an c.Mremely active imd prosperous reign, upon which, however, his
endeavoiu'lo persuade the Scottish king into the cummission of an act of the
fiiullcsl treachery has left one dark and indelible stain, though the oidy
one, this King ilicd in the year Oil, and was succeeded by his half brother
Ivlimnid, the legiiimate son of I'Mward the Elder.
Siinndateil by the accession of a ni.'w king, and the unsettled state of
thiuijs naturally eonnecled with a new reign, the Danes of Northumber-
land broke out into rebellion against I'Mnnnid as soon as he had asceiuled
the thi-oiii'. Itiit I'Mimnul mar(thed so proin|)tly against them, and ut the
head of SI) imposing a force, that ti,iy met him with assurances of the
most hnmlile and pcrmaiu'nt nibmission, and even volmitariiy olTered to
prove their sinrrriiy as (iuthrum and his followers had formerly done to
Alfred, by becoming Christians. K.dmund accepted their Milimission, but
\h\ wisi'ly jiidncd that the submission cxiiirted by an armed force was not
liiM ly to hist much longir than the fear which tiial Au'ce awakened; and
he therefore removed tlie five Hurgher Danes from the Mercian towns in
wliiidi they had liecn allowed to settle. A wise pri'canlion, as they had
invariably taken advantage of their situation to aid rebellious or invading
Danes to penetrate into the very heart of the kingdom.
('umberland, in the hands nf iIk^ Wcdsli Dritims had beiMi on many oc
CHsidiis ii sore amioy;tnce t<i the northern porliiui of tin llhglisli dominion,
and Hdmiind took an o|ipiirlunily to wrest it from the llritims and li> bestow
it as a mdilary lii'f im Scutlaiid, that power accepting it oi, condition ol
protectjnu the northern part of I'^ngjiiiKl from Danish incursion.
Ivlmniid's active and useriil ren^ii h.id (uily endured six years wlien lie
WH:* iminliiid under rircninslaiices which giv(' us a slriinge nniice of the
iluiueatic habits of royalty at tint day. He was seated at a banipiet. at
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
139
liloiiccstor, wnen iiii infamous robber, named Leolf, whom he had some time
before condemned to banishment, entered the hall of banquet, and seated
himself at the royal table with as cool an assurance as thoufrh he had been
a I'avoured as well as an innocent and loyal siibjeet. The king angrily
ordered the fellow from the room, and, on' receiving some insolent refusal,
seized him by the throat and endeavoured to thrust him out. Whether the
rulfuin had from the first intended to assassinate the king, or whether the
knig's strength and passion alarmed the robber for his own life, is uncer-
tain ; but from whichever cause, Leolf suddenly drew his dagger and
killed the king on the spot : a.d. 946.
Edmund was succeeded by his brother Edred ;. another instance of ir-
regularity in the successyon, as Edmund left children, but so young that
they were deemed unfit for the throne, audit would seem that the n ulual
jealousy of the Saxon nobles as yet prevented them from thinking of a tem-
porary regency, as aineans atonce of preservingthe direct orderof succes-
sion and remedying the uonageofthedirectheirtothe crown. The new king
had no sooner ascended his throne than the Danes of Northumberland
pro\ed how justly Athelstan had judged of their sinrerity, by breaking the
peace to which they liad so solemnly pledged themselves. But Edred ad-
vancing upon them with a numerous army, they met him with the same
submissive aspect which had disarmed the wrath of his predecessor. The
king, however, was so much provoked at their early disobedience to him
that he would not allow their humility to prevent him from inflicting a
severe punishment upon them. He accordingly put many of them to the
sword, and plundered and burned their country to a considerable extent ;
and then, his wrath appeaseil, he consented to receive their oath of alle-
giance and withdrew his troops. Scarcely had he done so when these
ever-faithless people again broke out into rebellion, perhaps prompted on
this particular occasion less by ,iny niercly mischievous feeluig, than
by the real and terrible distress to which the king's severity had reduced
them. This new revolt was, however, speedily quelled, and he appointed
an KnuHish governor of Northmnberlami, and placed garrisons in all the
ciiic^f towns to enable him to support his authority. Edred about ih's time
also made Malcolm of Scotland repeat his homage for his fiefof Northum
herland. 'I'houijh Edred, as his conduct thus early in his reign demon-
strateil, was both a lirave and an active prince, he was extremely super-
stitions. He (ielighled to be surrounded by priests; and to his e*
peeial favourite Dnnstan, abbot of (Jantcrbnry. he not only committed
siinie of the most intluenlial and important olHces of the slate, but also
tn a very ridiculous extent, surrendered the guidance of his own common
sense. Of a hatiglity temper, and extremely ambitious, tliis monk, n> or
rier to have tools for the accompi'shment of his wide-spreading purposes
of self-acgrandizemenf, introduced iito England a great immber of a new
order of monks, the Uenedicliiu's, who, laying a stress upon celibacy b(?-
yond that laid by any former order, i. ;d professing generally a niort; rigid
way of life and a greater jjurity of heart, were, in trulli, the mere tools ol
the vast anil still increasinij ambition of Itome. to which the practice ol
celibacy among the prieslliood was especially favourable, as they who thus
debarrid themselves from conjugal and patiVnal ties could not fail to be
more uilhng an<l passive servants.
To introduce this new and entirely snliservient order of monks inio Eng-
land was greatly desireil by the pope, and the nmbiiious poju'v of Dun-
slan. and Ins almost despotic power over the snperstiiious mmd of Edreil,
niVordc'd ("nil opportunity for doing so. The inflnei.'i' of iMnislau, indeed,
was very ureat over the people as well as over Ihi' knig ; though he corn-
Uienced liff under circumstances which would have ruined a man of less de-
termineil ainbitiim.nud of less pliant and accomplisheil liy|)0('nsy than him-
Relf. Of iioblo birth, and enjoving the great advantage of huving buuti edu-
.40
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
II
caled by his uncle, the accomplished Adhelin, archbishop of Canterbury,
he entered the church early in life, but with so little of real vocation to the
sacred profession, that his way of life procured him a most unenviable
character; and King Edmund, in whose reign this famous saint of the
Roman cidendiir commenced his career, looked coldly upon a priest whosa
debauchery was represented to be such as would disgrace even a layman
Enraged at finding his ambition thus suddenly checked, he was not the
less determined that the check should be but temporary. AITectiiigto be
suddeiily stricken with penitence and shame, he secluded himself, at first
from tlie court, and then altogether from society. He had a cell made foi
his residence, of such scant dimensions, that he could neither stand fully
upright in it, nor stretch himself out at full length when sleeping; and in
this miserable dwelling, if dwelling it can be called, he perpetually turned
from prayer to manual labour, and from manual labour to prayer, during
all his hours, except the very few which he allowed himself for sleep. The
austerity of his life imposed upon the imaginations of the superstitious
people, who considered austerity the .surest of all proofs of sanctity ; and
when, wiiether in mere and unmingled hypocrisy, or in part hypocrisy
and part self-delusion, he pretended to be I'reqnently visited and templed
by Satan in person, his tale found greedy listeners and ready believers.
From one degree of absurdity to another is but an easy step for vulgar
credulity. It being once admitted that Satan, provoked or grieved by the
immaculiite life and fervent piety of the recluse, visited him to tempt him
into sin, what (iifficiiUy could there be in supposing that the recluse re-
sisted a long time only with prayer, but at length resorted to physical
force, and held the fiend by the nose with a red hot pair of tongs, until he
shrieked aloud with agony, aiul promised to abstain for the future from his
unholy importunity t Such was the tale which Dunstan, the recluse, had
the audacity to offer to the public belief and such was the tale to which
the public listened with attentive ears, and gave "faith and full credence."
When a long seclusion, and carefully circulated rumours of his piety and
self-mortificaiion, had done away with the ill impressions which had been
excited by wilder, but in reality, far less censurable conduct of his earlier
days, D' 'slaii oiure more made his appearance at court ; and, as Kdred
was deeply tinged with superstitions feeling, the priest was kindly re-
ceived at first, and very soon favoured and promoted above all the othei
courtiers. Raised to the direction of the treasury, and being, moreover,
the kiiiif'.s private adviser in all important concerns, Dunstan had immense
power and influence, which he used to advance the great object of Home
m substituting the devoted monks for the comparatively independent se-
cular clergy, who, having family ties and affertitms, were not sufficiently
prostrate or blindly obedient to suit the papal purposi;. During nine years
— the length of Kilreil's reign — the monks made ininiense progress in Kng-
land. They enlisted the feelings of the people on their side by their se
vere and passionate declamation against the worldly lives, and esfiecially
against the marriage of the secular clergy, whose wives they iiersisted in
calling by the opprobrious name of concubines. And Ihoiign the seculai
clergy, who possessed both talent and wealth, exerted themselves man
fully, not only to defend their own lives, but also lo expose the hypocrisy
pretended |iiirity, and aiaual and even shameful worldiiiess and sensuality
of their opponents, the power smd credit of Dunstan weighed fearfully
against them. The death of I'dred, which (x-cnrred in 9.55, revived then
hopes, and threatened to stop tin progress of the monks, and to lower
the credit of tlu'ir patron Dunstan.
The children of Kdred were still in their infancy when he died, and his
nephew. Kilinund's son Kdwy.whohad himself been passed over in favour
of Kilit'd < ;i tlu! same acconnl, now succeeded to the throne, lie was at
the time of his succession only ujuut seventeen years of age, and blessed
THE lEEASQRY OF HISTORY.
141
fftih a fine /»erson and a powerful and well-trained mind. But all his nat-
ural and acquired good qualities were rendered of but little use to hnn by
the enmity of the monks, with whcm he had a serious quarrel at the very
commencement of his career.
Opposed to the marriage of clerks altogether, the monks were scarcely
less hostile to the marriage of laics within the degrees of affinity forbid-
den by the canon law. Edwy. passionately in love with the Princess
Elgivii, to whom he was related within those degrees, was too inexperi-
enced to perceive all tiie evils that might result to both himself and the
fair Elgiva from his provoking the fierce, bigoted, and now very powerful
monks ; and in despite of all the advice and warnings of the ecclesiastics
he espoused her. The coarse and violent censure which the monks took
occasion to pass upon the marriage aggravated the dislike which, on ac-
count of their gloom and severity, Edwy had always felt to the monks,
whom he took every occasion to disappoint in their endeavours to possess
themselves of the convents belonging to the secular clergy.
If the king had disliked the monks, the monks now hated the king with
d most bitter hatred. By his marriage lie had offended their rigid bigotry,
by his favours to the seculars he disappointed their grasping avarice, and,
favoured and advised as they were by a personage at once so able, crafty,
audacious, and powerful as Dunstan, it needed not the spirit of prophecy
to foresee that hdwy would infalliby be their victim.
As if to show that they were determined to carry their hatred to the
utmost extent, they chose the very day of the coronation for their first
manifestation of it; the day upon which they had sworn fealty lo the sov^
ereign, at which to outrage him as a man, and commit little less ilian trea-
sonable violence upon him as their king! so little docs the rancour of
mingled bigotry and avarice regard even the forms of consistency and
decency.
The Saxons, like their ancestors, the ancient Germans, drank deep, and
were wont to be but riotous and uncouth companions in their cups. Both
from his youth and his natural temper, Edwy was averse to this riotous
wassail; and as his nobles, at his coronation feast, began to pass the
bounds of teniprrance, he took an opporlunitv to leave the l)an(iueting
apartment and go to that of his young and lovefy queen. He was instant-
ly followed thilhcr by tlie haughty and insoliMit Ilunstan, and by Odo,
archbishop of Canterbury. These presinnptuous chiircliincn upbraided
him in the most severe terms for alleged uxorioiisness, applied the coars-
est epithets 10 the alarmed queen, and finished by thrusting him back into
the scene of riot and drunkenness from which he had so lately escaped.
Edwy had not sufi^cient power and influence in his court to take imme-
diate and direct revenge for this most fliigrant and disgraceful insult; hut
he felt it too deeply to pass it over without visiting it, at the- least with in-
direct punishment. Aware that Punstati was by no means the iminiicu-
lale and unworldly pernon he was siippiiosed to be by the ignorant multi-
ude, and strongly suspecting that he had taken advantage of the weak-
ness and superstition of Edrcd greatly to enrich himself, he desired him to
give an account of his receipts ami expenditure during that jirince's reign.
Dunstan, with characteristic insolence, refused to give any account of Iho
monies which he aflirmcd to have been expended by order of Edred, and
whi'-h he on that account pretended that Edwy hud no right to inquirr
about.
Enraf^cd at the insolence of Dunstan, and yet not allogcthcr displeased
at being fntiushed with so good a pretext for ridding the court of the pow-
erful and haughty ecclesiastic, Edwy urijed this refusil agiiiiist him as a
certain proof of conscious malversntion, and ordered him to leave the
kingdom. Powerful as I)iiiisi;iii w;is, he was not yet in a coiidiiion to dis-
pute such an order; he could bruliilly iiisiiU the kiiitj, but lie did not as
142 THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
yet dare openly to rebel agiiiiist the kiiigly autliority. He went abroad,
therefore, but he left behind, in the person of Odo, the archbishop of Can-
terbury, one who was both qnahfied and willing to supply his place in
insolence lo the king personally, and in traitorous intrigue against his royal
authority. Odo and the monks seized upon the banishment of Dunstan,
richly as his conduct had merited a severer punishment, as a theme upon
which to sound anew the praises of that accomplished hypocrite, and to
blacken the character of the king and queen in the eyes of the people.
In so bigoted and ignorant an age such tactics as these were sure to suc-
ceed; and having made the king hateful, as well as the queen, whom
they represented as the wicked and artful seducer of her husband into all
evil conduct, both as a man and sovereign, Odo and his base tools at
length ventured from whispered calumny and falsehood, to violence the
most undisguised, and to cruelty the most inhuman and detestable.
Considiiruig their aversion to l^^dwy's marriage wiih his cousin to be
the chief cause of his 0|)[)osition to their interests, Odo and the monkish
party hated the queen even more bitterly than tiiey did the king him-
self. Proceeding to the palace with a strong guard, Odo seized upon the
lovely queen, branded her face with hot irons lo ctTace those charms
which had wrought so much evil to tlie ambitious churchmen, and car-
ried her into Ireland, where it was intended she should be kept under
strict surveillance for the remainder of her life. Kdwy was naturally
both brave and passionate, but he was powerless in t'le hands of the wily
monks as a lion in the toils of the hunters ; he tei. lerly loved his un-
happy queen, but he could neither save her from this lu'rrible outrage, nor
even iiunish her brutal and unmanly perseeutors. Nay more, when Odo,
after having tortured and exiled the queen, demanded that she should be
formally divorced, so much more powi^rful was the crozier than the scep-
tre, th^it the unhappy Kdwy was obliged to yield.
Cruelly as Klgiva had been treated, the brutality of her enemies fail-
ed of its main object ; though she sulTcred much from her wounds, they,
singularly enough, left scarcely a scar lo diminish her rare beauty.
Aware of the lyraimy which had been practised localise lOdwy to divorce
her, and considering herself still his lawful wife in the sight of Heaven,
she eludetl the vigilance of those who were appointed to wat(di her move-
ments, and made her escape back to Kngland. Hut befon; she could
reach her husband her escape was made known to Odo, and she was in-
tercepted on the road by a party of emissaries, by whom she was ham-
stringed ; and all surgical aid bving denied her, she in a f(^w days died,
in the must fearful agonies, in the cily of (Jloiicestcr. So completely monk-
ridden were the ignorant people, thai even this (letcstable anil nmiatural
cruelty, which ought to have caiiseiloneunivi?rsal outcry agiinst llie miscre-
ants who insiigateil it, was looked upon by the pco[)le merely as a [)iinish-
mi'iit iluc lo till! sinful opposition of king and queen to the canon law and
the holy monks.
Having gone as far as we have related in trciison, it cannot bo wonder-
ed at tliat the monks now |)ro( led to arm for ihe deilironement of their
uutia|ipy king. They set ii|) as his competitor his younger brotliir Kdgar,
who was at this lime a ymilh of only tiiirtccii or foinleen years of ngc ;
and they sdoii look possession, in his n;iine, of Mast Aiiglia, Mcnia, and
Norlhiimlii'rland. I'Mwy was nowconfintd to the southern co ml. es of
his kiiigiliMn; and lo ad 1 lo his danger and distress, his haiighly and im-
placable cnrmy, Dunstan. openly rcliirneil lo I'lnghuid to lend Ins power-
ful inlliieni-e to Mdgar in this ii:in,'itural civil strife, lie was madi' bishop,
first of Worcester and Uicn of l.oiidou, and. Odo dying, Dunsiaii was then
jiroinotcd lo the arcliliishopric of rantcilinry ; Mritlielm, who had beiMi first
uppoiiitcil to snci'ceil Odo, \)r\\\^ forcilily I'Xpclled fiU' that piir[)ose.
The coniiumnutle cuiunng u( Dunsluu fearfully aggravated the oviis 'ii
THE TllEASUftY OF HISTORY.
143
Edwy's condition, for the wily churchman caused liim to be excommuni-
cated, a siMitence wliich in that rude and ignorant a<Te would have sufficed to
crush a far more powerful monarch than he had been, even before rebel-
lion had divided his kingdom.
If we may judore from the unrelenting purpose shown by Dunstan, the
utter dethronement of Edwy, and his exile, or violent death, would have
been the sale termination of this disgraceful affair; but from the sin oi
his murdiir liis enemies were spared by his untimely and rather sudden
death, hastened no doubt by the miseries of which he had constantly been
a victim.
Edgar, for whom for their own purposes Dunstan and the monks had
usurped a part of the kingdom, now became the undisputed sovereign of
the whole. Though very young at this time, being only in the seventeenth
year of his age, this prince showed a profound, wily and politic genius.
Desirous of consolidating and improving his kingdom, and of procuring
it a high degree of credit among foreign nations, he seems to have clear-
ly perceived that he could only preserve the internal peace wliich was in-
dispensihle to his purposes, by keeping the favour of Dunstan and the
monks, of whose power he had seen so many proofs in the case of his
imfortunate brother. Well knowing their eager desire to wrest all the
religious property of the kingdom from the hands of the secular clergy,
he bestowed church preferment on the partizans of the monks exclusive-
ly. To Oswold and Ethelwold, two of the creatures of Dunstan, he gave
the valuable sees of Worcester and Winchester, and he consulted them,
and especially Diuistan, not incndy upon those affairs which more espe-
cially coiiirerncd the church, but even in many cases upon those of a pure-
ly civil nature. By this general subserviency to the ecclesiasticis Edgar
secured so strong an interest with them, that even when he occasionally
differed from thein, and preferred the dictates of his own strong sense to
their bigoted or interested advice, he was allowed to procijed without
any auirry feeling, or at least, without any opposition. There was a most
startling difference in the treatment bestowed by the monks upon this
prince, and that which they indicted upon his unhappy brother. As they
founded their claim to the veneration of miuikind upon their superior
pi(;ty, and more especially upon tluur inviolable observaiure of their vow
of chastity, so Ihey had made the alledged lewdness of Edwy the excuse
for their abominable In^atment of that prince and Queen Elgiva. Yet if
lewdness had indeed be n so Intefiil to them as to impel them to barbarity
towards a lovely and defi^noless woman, and to rebellion and treason
towards ihc'r sovereign, Edgar was tenfold more deserving their violent
opposition than even their ov/n statement showed Edwy to be. TIk; lewd-
ness of I'ldgar, after his pliant r.nd politic subserviency to the monks, was
the most distinguishing trait in his character. On one occasion he ac-
tually br((ke into a convent, seized a nun. by nam:' E lilha, and fori;i-
bly viol.ited ner. For this two-fold outrage against chastity and religion
the hypocrite D;nstan, who had inutilate(i Elgiva, and pers(a'uted Edgar
even to an untimely grave, merely for a marriage which was at iIk; worst
irregular, and which a bull from the pope would have nude regular, sen-
tentred Ivlgar to the absurdly piuirile punishmcul of abstaining for seven
years from wearing the crown !
.\s if to make the favour shown to him by the monks (iuil(' concdn-
siv(! as to lh(! hypocrisy of the pretences upoi\ whiidi they liail iiersecnted
his uitfortunate brother, this prince not merely in iulgi'd in disgraceful
amours; he actnilly ol)tain(!il his second wife hy murder! The story is
sufTlciently striking in ilsidf to deserv(! to he ridated at some hMigih. and it
aclnally demands to he so relateil an a (inal and eoiiidnsive proof of the
hypo"risy of the monks in their gross and barbarous treatment of
Kinn Edwy.
144
THE TREABUKV OF HISTORY.
Elfrida, dnughmr and heiress of the Rarl of Devonshire, was so ex-
trt niely beauiifiil that it was no wonder thu renown of her nharnis reached
tile couit, and tlie inflanimahle Kdgar resolved that if report had not ex-
aggerated tlie beanty of the lady lie would make her his wife ; the wealth,
power, and eharaeler of her fatliur forbidding even the unscrnpuious and
lewd Edgar from hoping to obtain her on any less honourable terms.
Being anxious not to commit himself by any advances to the parents of
the lady until quite sure that she was really as surpassingly beautiful as
she was reported to be, he sent his favourite and confidant, the Earl Athel-
wold, to visit the earl of Devon as if by mere accident, that he might judge
whetlier the charms of Elfrida really were such as would adorn the throne.
Earl Athehvold fulfilled his mission very faithfully, as regarded the visit,
but, unhappily for himself, he found the charms of Elfrida so much to his
own taste, that he forgot the curiosity of his m:ister, and sued the lady on
his own account. Well knowing that with the king for an avowed rival
his suit would have little chance of success, his first care was to lull the
eager anxiety of Edgar by assuring him that in this, as in most cases,
rumour with her thousand tongues had been guilty of the grossest exag-
geration, and that the wealth and rank of Elfrida had caused her to be re-
nowned for charms so moderate, that in a woman of lower d(!gree they
would never be noticed. Hut tliough the charms of Elfrida, Earl A»hel-
wold addeil, by no moans fitted her for the throne, her fortune would make
her a very acceptable countess for himself, should the consent and re-
conuneudation of his gracious master accompany his suit to her parents.
Fully believing that his favourite really was actuated only by merce-
nary views, Edgar cheerfully gave him the permission and re(!onimenda-
tion he soliciteii, and in the quality of a favoured courtier he easily procured
the consent of the huly — to whom he had already made himself far from
indiflferent — ami of her parents. He had scarcely become possessed of
his beautiful bride when he began to reflect upon what woidd be the pro-
bable conse(|u(Mices of a detection by the king of the fraud that had been
practised to gain his consent to the marriage. In order to postpone this
detection as long as possible, he framed a variety of pretences for keep-
ing his lovely bnde at a distance from the court ; and as his report of the
homeliness of Elfrida had completidy cooled the fancy of the king, Earl
Athi.'lwold began to liopc that his dereit would never be discovered. But
the old adage that "a favourite has no friends" was provet' in his case;
encMuies desirous of ruining him made his fraud known to the; king, and
spoke more rapturonsly tlian (,'ver of the charms of Elfrida. Enragei at
the deception practised upon )iim, but carefully dissembling hia real
motives and purpose, the king told Athcdwold that he would pay him a
visit and bi! introduced to his wife. 'Vo sui-h an intimation the unfortu-
nate eail could make no objc^ction which would not wholly and at once
s secret ; but he obtained permission
ay Ins pei
prec
mg.
under |)retence of making due pre|)aralio!i to nJCi'ive him, but in reality to
prevail upon Elfrida to disguise her beauty and rusticate her behaviour as
far as possible. This she promised, and probably at first intended to do.
But, on retli'ciiiin, sh(! naturally considered herself injured by the decep-
tion which had cost her tlii! throne, and. so far from complying with her
unfortun.ite hushand's desiri!, she called to the aid of her cliarins all the
assi.itance of the most becoming drc'ss, and all tin; sednctions of the most
graceful and accomplished behaviour. Fascinated with her beauty, Edgar
was beyond all expression enrageil at the diM-eil by wliiith his favourite
had contrived to chiMt Inm of a wife so lovely ; and having enticed the
unfirtiMialc carl Inio a ror(!st on a hunting excursion, he put him to death
with his own band, and soon after married IClfrida, whos(^ perfidy to her
murili'red Inisb.iu I ma Ic her, indeed, a very fit s[)i)ms(> for llie murderer.
'I'liougii muiji of llus monarch's time was devoted to ilissolute pleasures,
I I
iiuthi
and I
tCMC(
puris
gioiis
Mu
prese
a wall
serve
pliiiet
liiat
the
such
attein
by iii»
could
bours
equal
hiinse
iaval
exieiii
tribiit;
the al
actual
Cllllllll
I
THE TRBAaURY OP HISTORY.
145
he by no iiieaus neglected public business, more especially of that kind
wliicb procured hiui the indulgence of the monks for all his worst vices.
Mucii as the monks and the king iuid done towards wresting llie church
property fioni tlie hands of the secular clergy, more still remained to be
done ; and Kdgar, doubtless acting upon the advice of Dunstan, summoned
a council, consisting of the prelates and heads of religious orders. To
this council he made a passionate speech in reprobation of the dissolute
and scandalous lives which he aflirmed to be notoriously led by the sec-
ular clergy : tlieir neglect of clerical duty; their openly livmg with con-
cubines, for so he called their wives ; their participation in hunting and
other sports of tiie laity ; and — singular fault to call forth the declamation
of a kmg and employ the wisdom of a council — the smallness of their
tonsure ! Affecting to blame Dunstan for having by too much lenity in
some sort encouraged the disorders of the secular clergy, the accomplished
dissembler supposed the pious Edred to look down from Heaven, and
tiius to speak :
"It was by your advice, Dunstan, that I founded monasteries, built
churches, and expended my treasures in the support of religion and reli-
gious liouses. Vou were my counselor and my assistant in all my
sciienies; you were the director of my conscience; to you I was in all
things obedient. When did you call for supplies which I refused you '
\Vas my assistance ever witiiheld from the poor! Did I deny establish
menls and support to the convents and the clergy. Did I not hearken to
jour instructions when you told me that these charities were, beyond all
others, the most grateful to my Maker, and did I not in consequence fix a
perpetual fund for tiie support of religion ? And are all our pious endeav-
ours now to be frustrated by the dissolute lives of the clergy? Not that
I throw any blame upon you ; you have reasoned, besouglit, inculcated,
and invtngiied, but it now behoves you to use sharper and more vigorous
remedies ; and, conjoining your spiritual aulhonii/ with the civil power, U
vuri^e elfeclunlli/ the temple of God from thieves and intruders."
The wonis which we give in Italics were decisive as to the whole ques-
tion; tli(! innocence of tlie secular clergy, as a body, could avail them
nothing against tliis union of civil power and spiritual authority, backed
and cheered as tliat union was by the people, whom the hypocritical pre-
tences of tin; monks had made sincerely favourable to tliose affected
purists ; and tiio monkl-jh discipline shortly prevailed in nearly every reli-
gions house in the land.
Much as all honourable minds must blame the means by which Edgar
prcservcil tlu; favour of tiie formidable monks, all candid minds must
award him tiie praise of having made good use of the power he thus pre-
served in his own hands. He not only kept up a strong and well-discj-
pline(! land forre, in constant readiness to defend any part of his kingdom
tiiat might l)e altai^ked, but he also built and kept up an excellent navy,
the vigilance and strength of which greatly diminished the chance of any
siicli attack being made. Awed by his navy, the Danes abroad dared not
atteni|)t to invade his country; and constantly watched and kept in check
by his army, the domestic Danes perceived that turbulence on (heir part
could produce no effect but their own speedy and sure rum. His neigh-
bours of ScHuland, Wales, Ireland, and the adjacent isles, iield him m
equal respei-t ; ami, upon the whole, no king of England ever showed
iiliuself either more desirous or more able to preserve to Ins klngiloni the
invaluable Ixini'his of peace at homt! and respect abro.'d. In proof uf the
extent to wliudi he carried bis ascendency over the m lijhbouring and
Irihutary |)riuces, it is allirmed, tiiat being at Chester, and desiring to visit
the abbey of St. .lohii the Baptist, in the neighlionrhood of that city, he
actually canseil his barg(; to he rowed thith(;r by eight of those princes, in-
chiding Kenneth the Third, king uf Scotland.
I— 10
146
THE TKEASUTIY OF HISTORY.
The useful a.ts received a great impulse during this reign from the
Vjreat eueouragenient given by Edg:ir to ingenious and industrious
foreigners to se'lle among his subjects. Another benefit which he con-
ferred upon his kingdom was that of the extirpation of wolves, which at
the commencement of his reign were very numerous and mischievous.
By giving rewards to those who put these animals to death, they wore at
length limited into the mountainous and woody country of Wales, and in
order that even there so mischievous a race might find no peace he com-
muted the tribute money due from Wales to England to a tribute of three
hundred wolves' heads to be sent to him annually, which policy speedily
caused their entire destruction. After a busy reign of sixteen years this
prince, still in the flower of his age, being only thirty-three, died, and
was succeeded by his son Edward in the year 975.
CHAPTER XI.
rROM THE ACCESSION OF EDWARD THE MAItTVR TO THE DEATH OF CANUTE
Edward II.. subsequently surnamed the Martyr, though his death had
nothing to do with religion, was the son of Edgar by that prince's first
wife, and was only fifteen years of age when he succeeded to the throne.
His youth encouraged his step-mother, Elfrida, to endeavour to set aside
his succession in favour of her own son and his half-brother, Ethelred, who
at tliis time was only seven years old. This extremely bad woman pre-
tended that the marriage of her husband to his first wife was on several
accounts invalid, and as her beauty and art had been very su(;cessfully
exerted in securing favour during the life of Edgar, she would probably
have succeeded in her iniquitous design had the circumstances been less
favourable to Edward. But though tliat prince was very young, he was
at least much nearer to the age for reigning than his half-brother ; the will
of his father expressly gave him the succession ; many of the principal
men of the kingdom imagined that the regency of Elfrida would be an
extremely tyrannical one ; and Dunstan, who was in the plcniliule of liia
power, nnd who reckoned upon the favour and docility of young Edward,
powerfully supported him, and crowned him at Kingston, before Elfrida
could bring hor ambitious plans to maturity.
The prompt and energetic support thus given by Dunstan to the rightful
heir would entitle him to our unqualified applause, were there not good
and olivious reason to believe that it originated less in a sense of justice
than in anxiety for the interests of his own order. In spite of tiie hoa\ y
blows and great discourr.gement of Edgar, the secular clergy had stiil
many and powerful frie-ids. Amonnf these was the duke of Mcrcia, who
no sooner asoertainoi'. the death of King Edgar than he expelled all the
monks from the religious houses in Mercia.and though they were receiveil
and protected hy the dukes of the East Saxons and the East Angliaus, it
was clear to both Dunstan and the monks that there was a .sulTicient dis-
like U; the new order of ecclesiastics tc render it very im[)ortant tliat they
should have a king entirely favourable to tliem. And as Dunstan had
walclu"! and trained Edward's mind from his early cliildhood, tliey well
knew that he would prove their fittest instrument. Hnt thougii they had
thus sccureil the throne to a king as favourable and docile as tliey could
desre, tlicy left no means untriecl to gain the voices of th(! inultilude. .\t
the occasional synods that were held for the st-ttiemcut of ecclesiastical
disputes, they pretended that miracles were worked in their favour; and,
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
147
in the :norant state of the people, that party who could work or invoke
the must iTiirafies was sure to be the most popular. On one of lliese
occasions a voice that seemed to issue from the great crucifix wiiieh
adorned the place of meeting, proclaimed that ho wiio opposed the esiab-
lishnicnt of the monks opposed the will of Heaven ; on another occasion
the floor of the lialt fell in, killing and maiming a great number of persons,
but tliat portion which supported the chair of Dunstan remained firm ; and
.on another occasion, when the votes of the synod were so unexpectedly
aijainsi him that he was unprovided with a miracle for the occasion, Dim-
sllm rose, and, with an inimitably grave impudence, assured the meeting
ihat he had just been favoured with a direct revelation from Heaven in
favour of the monks. So utterly stultified was the general mind, and the
populace received this impudent falsehood with so much fervent favour,
that the party hostile to the monks actually dared not support any farther
the views of the question upon which they had a clear and acknowledged
majority !
Eihvard's reign deserves little further mention. No great event, good
or evil, marked it; he was, in fact, merely in a state of pupilage during
the four years that it lasted. Having an excellent disposition, it is pro-
bable that had he lived to mature years he would have shaken off the be-
numbing and deluding influenci; of the monkish party. But in the fourth
year of his reign, and while he was yet barely nineteen years of age, he
fell a victim to hi atrocious step mother's cruelly and ambition. Not-
witlislaiiding the i ;stility she had evinced towards him at the death of
his father, young lOdward's mild temper had caused him to show her that
respect and att(Mition which she was very far indeed from deserving. She
resided at Corfe castle, in Dorsetshire ; and as the young prince was one
day hunting in that neighbourhood, he rode away from his company, and,
wholly unattended, paid her a visit. Slie received him with a treacher-
ous appearance of kindness, but just as he had mounted his horse to de-
part, a rullian in her employment stabbed him in the back. The wound
did not prove instantly mortal, but as he fainted from loss of blood (^re he
could disengage his feet from the stirrups, his frightened horse galloped
onward with him, and he was bruised to death. Iiis servants having
traced him, recovered his body, which they privately interred at Wareliam.
By this surpassing crime of his vile mother, who vainly, even in that
superstitious age, endeavoiu'cd to recover the public favour, and expiate
her crime in public opinion, by ostentatious penances and by lavishing
money upon monasteries, Etlielred, son of Edgar and Elfrida, succeeded
to the throne.
The Danrs, who had been kept in awe by the vigour of Edgar, and
who, moreover, had fomul ample employment in conquering and planting
settlements on the northern coast of l"" ranee, a resource which their num-
bers hiid exhausted, were encouraged by the minority of EllK-lred to turn
their attention once more towards England, where they felt secure of re-
ceiving encouragement and aid from the men of their own race, who,
though long settled among the English, were by no moans fully incorpo-
raied with them. In the year 981 the Dalies accordingly made an experi-
mental liesccnt upon iSuuthampton, in seven vessels ; and as they took
the people completely by surprise, they secured considerable plunder,
witii which they escaped uninjured and almost unopposed. This conduct
tlicy repeated in 987, with similar siuh'css, on the western coast.
This success of these two experiments convinced the marauders that
the vigour of an Edgar was no loiig(;r to be dreaded in England, and they
therefore prepared to make a descent upon a larger scale and with more
extensive views. They landed in great numbers on the coast of Essex,
and defeated and slew, at Maldtm, Brithric, tiie (hike of that county, who
liravely attempted to lesist theni with Ins local force; and after their vie-
1 48
THE TREASUKY OF HISTORY.
tory they devastated and plundered all the neighbouring country. So
soon and so easily does a people degenerate when neglected by its rulers,
that Ethelred and his nobles could see no better means of ridding them-
selves of these fierce pirates than that of bribing them to depart. They
demanded and received, as the price of their departure, an enormous sum.
They departed accordingly, but, as might have been anticipated, so large
a sum so easily earned tempted them very speedily to repeat their visit.
By this time a fleet had been prepared at London fully capable of resisting
and beating off the invaders, but it was prevented from doing the service
that was expected from it by the treachery of Alfric duke of Mercia. He
had formerly been banished and deprived of his possessions and dignity,
and though he had now for some time been fully restored, the affront
rankled in his mind, and he conceived the unnatural design of ensuring
his own safety and importance by aiding the foreign enemy to keep his
country in a state of disorder and alarm. He was entrusted with one
squadron of a fleet with which it was intended to surround and destroy
the enemy in tlie harbour in which they had ventured to anchor, and he
basely gave the enemy information in time to enable them to avoid the
danger by putting out to sea again, and then completed his infamous
treachery by joining them with his whole squadron. The behaviour of
the king on this occasion was equally marked by barbarity and weakness.
On hearing of Alfric's traitorous conduct, he had that nobleman's son
Alfgar seized, and caused his eyes to be put out ; yet, after inflicting this
horrid cruelty upon the innocent son, he so far succumbed to the power
and iulluence of the guilty father, as actually to reinstate him in his ofllce
and possessions.
A. D. 993. — The experience the Danes had acquired of the weakness oi
Ethelred and the defenceless condition of his kingdom, encouraged them
to make new and still more formidable descents. Sweyn, king of Den-
mark, and Olave, king of Norway, sailed np the Humber with an immense
fleet, laying waste and plundering in every direction. Those of the Danes,
and they were but few, who refused to join the invaders, were plundered
equally with the Knglish. An army advanced to give battle, and so fierce
was the contest that the Danes were already beginning to give way, when
the tide of fortune was suddenly turned against the English by the
treachery of Frena, Frilhegist, and Godwin, three leaders, who, though of
Danish descent, were entrusted with large and important command.s.
These men withdrew their troops, and the English were in consequence
defeated.
The invaders now entered the Thames with a fleet of upwards of ninety
ships and laid siege to London. Alarmed for their large wealth, the citi-
zens defended themselves with a stoutness strongly contrasted with the
pusillanimity which had been displayed by both the king and the nobles,
and their resistance was so obstinate that the pintes at length gave up
the attempt in despair. But though they abandoned the metropolis of the
kingdom, they did not therefore give up their determination to plunder.
Spreading their bauds over Kssex, Sussex, and Hants, they not only pro-
cured large booty there, but also a sufficient number of horses to enable
them to extend their depredations far inland. It might have been sup-
post'd that, after the noble example set by the traders of London, the king
and his nobles would he prevented by very shame from ever Jtgain resort-
ing to the paltry and impolitic scheme of purchasing the absence of the
invaders: but to that exjiedient they did resort. Messengers were sent
to offer to subsist the invaders if they would preserve peace while they
reni'iiiied in the kingdom, and to pay tribute on condition of their taking
an early departure. The Danes, wdy as they were li.irdy, probably
imagined that they had now so far exhausted the kingdom that the tribute
nlfered to them would be more valuable than the further spoil they would
I
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
149
ninety
the citi-
'ith the
nobles,
fave up
of tlie
)luiKler.
ily pro-
i'n;ihle
nil siip-
ho king
resort-
of the
re sent
ile they
taking
robiibly
tribute
r would
be likely to obtain, and they readily accepted the proposed terms. They
took up their abode at Southampton, and tliere conducted themselves very
peaceably. Olave carried his complaisance so far as to pay a visit to
Kthelrcd, at Andover, and received the right of confirmation. Many rich
gifts were consequently bestowed upon him by the king and the prelates,
and the sum of sixteen thousaud pounds having been paid to him and
Sweyn, they took their departure. Olave, who never returned to England,
was so great a favourite with the churchmen that he was honoured with a
place among the saints in the Roman calendar.
A. D. 997. — The repeated proofs Ethelred had given of his willingness
to purchase the absence of pirates ratlier than battle against them, pro-
duced, as was natural, a new invasion. A large fleet of the Danes this
year entered the Severn. Wales was spoiled for miles, and thence the
pirates proceeded to commit similar atrocities upon the unfortunate people
of Cornwall and Devonshire. Thence the marauders went first to Dor-
setshire, then to Hants, then Kent, where the inhabitants opposed them at
Rochester, but were routed with terrible slaughter, and the whole of their
country was plundered and desolated. Many attempts were made by the
braver and wiser among the English to concert such a united defence aa
would prevail against the enemy; but the weakness of the king and the
nobles paralyzed the best efforts of the nobler spirits, and once more the
old expedient was resorted to, and twenty-four thousand pounds were
now paid as the price of the absence of the Danes, whose demands very
naturally became higher with their increased experience of the certainty
of their being complied with. It was probably with some vague hope that
even an indirect connection with these formidable northmen would cause
them to respect his dominions, tiiat Ethelred, having lost his first wife,
this year espoused Emma, sister of Richard, the second duke of Normandy.
Long as the domestic Danes had now been established in England, they
were still both a distinct and a detested race. The old English historians
accuse them of effeminacy and luxuriousness, hut as they instance as evi-
dence of the truth of these charges, that the D.incs combed their hair daily
and bathed once a week, we mayfni''' vnougii acquit the Danes of all
guilt on this head, and conclude tli , rude and bad as the race was in
many respects, they assuredly wi'ie 5<iiperior to the English of that day
in the very important matter of pi rsKiiHl decency. But a dislike to men's
personal habits, be it well or ill lounil' d, is a very powerful motive in the
increasing and perpetuation of h.itivd founded upon other feelings, and
that hatred the Englisii deeply felt tor the Danes on account of the origin
of their settlement among iIkih, their great propensity to gallantry, and
their great skill in making themselves agreeable to the English women ;
above all, on account of their constant and shamefully faithless habit of
joining their invading fellow-countrymen in their violence and rapine.
Ethelred, like all weak and cowardly [xjrsons, was strongly inclined towards
both cruelty and treachery, and the general detestation in which the Danes
were held by the F^nglish encouraged liim to plan the univers;d massaare
of the former. Orders were secretly dispatched to all the governors and
ciiicf ;r."!'. of t'lf rniintry to make all preparations for this detestable
cruelty, for which the same ua-y, November the l.'lth, beinu St. liritliric's
day, a festival among the Dunes, was appointed for the while kingdom.
The wicked and dastardly orders of the king mc:l' but too agreeable to
the temper of the populace. On the same day, and at the same Hour, liic
unsuspecting Danes were attacked. Youth and age, without distinction
of sex, were alike attacked with indiscriminate fury, and they were the
most fortunate among the unhappy Danes whose butchers were so eager
to destroy them tiiai they omitted first to subject them to tortures terrible
even to read of. So unsparing was the rage against them, and so blind
'o consequences were both high and low among the infuriated and tern-
ISO
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
porarily trmmphiint Knglish, that the princess Gmiilda, sister of the re-
donbtiible king of Dnnniark, was put to death, after seeing her hnsbaiid
and children slaughtered, though her personal charaeter was excellent and
though she had long been a Christian. As she expired, this mifortunate
lady, whose murder was chiefly caused by the advice of Edric, earl of
Wilts (which advice was shamefully acted upon by the king, who ordered
her death), foretold that her death would speedily be avenged by the total
ruin of England. In truth, it needed not the spirit of prophecy to foretel
that such wholesale slaughter could scarcely fail to call down defeat and
ruin upon a people who had so ofien been glad to pundiase the absence ol
the Danes when no such cowardly atrocity had excited them to invasion,
or justified them in inisparing violence. The prophecy, however, was
speedily and fearfully realized. Though the persua.sions and example of
Olave, and his positive determination to fulfil his part of the agreement
made with Ethelred had hitherto saved England from any repetition of
the annoyances of Sweyn, king of Denmark, that fierce and warlike
monarch had constantly felt a strong desire to renew his attack npon a
people who were so much more ready to defend their country with gold
than with steel. The cowardly cruelty of Ethelred now furnished the
Dane wiih a most righteous pretext for invasion, and he liasKMied to avail
himself of it. He appeared off the western coast with a strong fleet, and
Exeter was delivered up to him without resistance; some historians say
by llic incapacity or neglect of Earl Hugh, while others say by his treachery.
1 his last opinion hiis some support in the fact that Earl Hugh was him-
self a Norman, and, being only I'onnected with England by the office to
which he had but recently been appointed throuuh the interest of the
queen, he might, without great breach of charity, be suspected of leaning
rather to the piratical race with which he was connected by birth, than tc
the English. From Exeter, as their head quarters, the Danes traversed
llie (rounlry in all directions, committing all tht; worst atrocities of a win
of retaliation, and loudly proclaiming their determination to have ample
revengf' for the slaughter of their fellow-countrymen. Aware, immedi-
ately after they had perpetrated their inhuman crin>e u[K)n ttie domestic
Danes, how little mercy they could ex|«'ct at the hands of \\\t'. conntfy.
men of their murdered victims, the English had made more than usual
preparations for resistance. A large anil well furnished army was ready
to I' irch against the invaders, hut tlie (command of it was committed to
that duk(' of Mercia whose former tri'ason has been mentioned, and he,
pretending illness, conlrived to delay the niarcdi of the tr(M)ps until they
were thoroughly dispirited and the Danes had done enorm<ms mischief.
He died shortly iifter and was succeeded by Edric, wlio,Yhough son-in-
la* to iIk; king, proved just as treacherous as his pnMleeessor. The con-
st ineu'T was, that the country was riivagcd to such an extent that the
horror.^of famine were soon added to the horrors of war, and the dejiraded
Engh.sh once more sued for peace, and obtained it lit the price of thirty
thousand pounds,
A.o. 1007. — Clearly perceiving that they might now reckon upon Danish
invasion as a periodical nlaguc, the English government and people en-
deavoured lo prepare lor their future defence. Troops were raised anddis-
riplined, and it navy of nearly eight hundred ships wac prepared. Hut a
quarrel which arose between Edric, duke of Mercia, anil Wolfnoll), gov-
trniir of .Sussex, caused the l.iilcr lo desert to the Danes with twenty
vessels. He was pursued liy i'llricVi brother llrighlric, with a fleet o>
eighty vessels; l)Ut this rtect, being driven ashore by a tempest, was at
tacked and burned by Woifiiolh, A hundred vessels were thus lost to lh»i
Enulisli, dissensions spread among other leading men, anil the tteet whiclu
If eonci'iitraieil and aldy direct •(!, might havt^ given safety lo tlie nation,
was dispersed mto vanoim portj and rendered virtually useless
\h
THE TREAtUaV OP HISTOHY.
151
>n liiiiiish
■oplo rn-
il and iIIr
nm il
illl. 1{IIV-
twfiity
t (led ()>
WHS ill
isf lollm
■t wliicli,
' iiaiioiv
Tho Danes did not fail to take advantage of the dissensions and im-
becility of tiie English, and for some time Irom this period the history of
England presents us with nothing' but one melancholy monotony uf un-
sparing cruelly on the part of the nivaders, and unmitigated and hopeless
suffernig on the part of the invaded. Repeated attempts were made to
restore something like unanimity to the English councils, and to form a
settled and unaiumous plan of resistance; but all was still dissension,
and when the utmost wretchedness at length made the disputants agree,
they agreed only in resorting to the old, base, and most impolitic plan of
purchasing the absence of their persecutors. How impolitic lliis plan was
common sense ought to have told the English, even had they not possessed
the additional evidence of the fact, that at each new invasion the Danes in-
creased their demand. From ten thousand pounds, which had purchased
their tirst absence, they had successively raised their demands lo thirty
thousand, and now, when their rapine liad more than ever impoverished
the country, they demanded, and, to the shame of the English people, or
rather of the king and the nobles, were paid the monstrous sum of eight-
and-forty thousand pounds !
This immense sum was even worse expended than the former sums
had been ; for this time the Danes took the money, but did not depart.
On the contrary, they continued their desultory plundering, and at the
same time ma(h; formal dtimands upon (certain distri<:ts for large and speci-
fied sums. Thus, in the county of Kent they levied the sum of eight
thousand pounds; and the arclibishoj) of Canttn'bury venturing lo resist
this most iniquitous deninnd, was coolly murdered. The general state of
the kingdom and the butchery of a pt.'rsonage so eminent alarmed the
king for Ins personal safety; the more (ispecially, as many of his chief
noLility, haviiifr lust all conlidence in his power to redeem his kingdom
from ruin were daily transferring their allegiance to Sweyii. Having first
sent over his queen and her two children to \v'.i brother, the Duke of Nor-
mandy, Edielred himself took an op|)ortuiiity to escape thither, and thu»
the kingdom was virtually delivered over to Sweyn and his Danes.
A.D. 1014. — Sweyn, under all the eircnmstaiices, would have foundiiltle
difliculty in causing liiinself to be crowned king of England; nay, it may
even be donlited if either nobles or piuiple woiilil have been greatly dis-
pleased at receiving a warlike sovereign instead (if the fugitive Eihelred,
to whom they had long been accustomed to apply the scornful epiihet of
the Unready. Hut while Sweyii was preparing to take advantage of the
magnificent opportnuily that olfered itself to hiin, lie was suddenly seized
with u mortal illness, and expired at (iainsliorongii, in Lincolnshire, about
six weeks after the lliglit of Elhelred from the kiii^dom.
This cirt'iiinslance gave the weak Ethelred yet one more chance of re-
deeming \\i> kingly character. The great men of his kiii;[>dom, when
they informed hjm of the event which, soaiis|iicioiisly for him, had occur-
red, invited him to return. They at the same lime plainly, though in a
friendly and respectful tone, intimated their hope that he would profit by
his experience, to avoid for the fulure those errors which had produced so
much evil to both himself and his people.
Ethelred gladly availed himself of the invitation lo resume his throne,
hut tlu! advice that had accompanied that invitatiim Ik; wholly disregarded.
Aniong the most glaring proofs which hi; gave of hiHcoiuiiiucd iiu'apacity
to rule wistdy, lie remsiaicd Ins treacherous son-in-l.iw, Eilric, in all his
former mlhieiice. This p.twer Edric mosl shamefully ahiisi'ii : in iiroof of
tins we iiei'd give but a single instance of his mL-icomliict. 'l'«o .Alciriaii
nobles, by name Morcar and Sigi-licrl, had iinfniiniiali ly given some of-
fence to Eijrii-, who fiirlhwith endeavoured lo p< rsiiadc (lie king lliat lliey
were hostile lo his rule , unit the et|iially cruel and we.ik nioiiarcli not only
uiimved at their murder by Edric, but gave to that criiiiu h i/uusi legal
152
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
I by confiscating the property of the victims as though they had
ivlcted of treason, and lie confined Sigehert's widow in a convent.
sanction
been conv
Here she was accidentally seen by the iiing's son, Kdmund, wlio not only
contrived her escape from the convent, but immediately married her.
A.o. 1014. — Kthelred was not allowed to enjoy his recovered throne in
peace. Canute, the son of Sweyn, was to the full as warlike as his fa-
mous father, and set up his claims to the throne with as much grave earn-
estness as though Ills father had filled it in right of a long ancestral pos.
session. He committed dreadful havoc in Kent, Dorset, Wilts, and Som
ersel; and, not contented wiih slaughter in and plunder after the battle,
he shockingly mutilated his prisoners, and then gave them their lil)erty, in
order that their wretched plight might strike terror into their fellow-coun-
trymen. So much progress did Canute make, that Ethelred would, in all
probability, have been a second time driven from his throne and kingdom,
but for the courage and energy of his sun Edmund- The treacherous
Edric deserted to the Danes with forty ships, after having dispersed a
great part of the English army, and even made an attempt at seizing upon
the person of the brave prince. Undismayed by so many ditHculties,
which were much increased by the general contempt and distrust felt for
the king, Edmund, by great exertions, got together a large force, and pre-
pared to •rive battle to the enemy. Uul the English had been accustomed
to see Ihi'ir kings in the vanguard of the hatile ; and, though Edmund
was universally popnlai, the soldiers loudly demanded that his father
should head tliem in person. Ethelred, however, who suspe<'led his own
subjects fully as much as he feared the enemy, not merely refused to do
this, on the plea of illness, but so completely left his heroic son without
supplies, thai the prince was obliged to allow llie northern part of the
kingdom to fall nito subjection to the Danes. Still delermlned not to sub-
mit, Edmund niarelied his discouraged and weakened army to London, to
make a final stand against the invad<>rs ; but on his arrival he founil the
metropolis in a state of the greatest alarm and confusion, on account of
the death of the king.
A.I). 101'). — Ihlielred tht! I'nready had reigned thirty-five years, and his
inca|iacily had rtMlueed the country to a slate which would have betMi suf-
ficiently pllial)l' anil dilfieult, cv( ii had not the fierce and warlike Danes
been swarming in lis iinrthern provinces. The people wen; dispirited and
disaficcled, and the nobles were far less intent u|)on repelling the common
enemy than upon pursuing (heir own iniseliievoiis and |X'lly (piarrels; and
Edmund had only tmi iniii'h reason to fear that the example of Ins treacii-
eroiis brother-in-law woiihl be fojhuved by other nobles. Rightly jihlging
that oeeiipatldii was the most eireeliial remedy for the (lisemirageinent ol
the peonle, and the best safeguard against the tri'achery of the nobles,
Edinniiii |ii»l no time in allaeking tlie enemy. At (•illiiigham he defe.ited
a detaeliineiit of ihein, tind then inarched igiiiist ('aiiiite in person. The
hostiji- armies met near .'""eoerton, in (ilouiester.+hire, and in the early
part of ilie i)attle llie English prince li.iil so iniu h success that it seemej
probable he would have a deeisive and crowning victory. Hut thai ca-
I. unity of Ins einiiitry, Edrie, having slain Osniiir, who very much resem-
bled the kiii'j in connlenance, had Ins head fi.xed upon ibe jiuiiit of a sp''ur
and displayed to the English. .\ punie imineiliately spreail ilirough the
hitherto vieloriitus army. It was in vain that I'Minuinl, heedless of the
arrows that flew around hnn, rode barehcad( il among Ins troops to assure
them of liic sal'ely. "Save hiiiiself who can," was the universal cry;
a 1 1 though Ediiiiind at lent^th contrived to li'ad his troups from the field
in comparatively good order, the golden moment fir seeiiniig iriimiph
11 I passed. Ivl-mnnd was suliseipieiitly del'eated with gK it loss, at As-
sni'4tiiii. III Efisex. biil with e.xeinpl.iry aeiivily a<.! nil r.iiM'd an army an
IM'eparcd to muke unu more deupcratc ctTorl lu expel the ciiuiuv> Uul tht
THE THEA8URY OF HISTORY.
153
and his
been suf-
DaiR's
itt.'d iiiid
iMiiinoM
U; iiiiU
ircach-
jutlgiiig
incut ut
nolili's,
eff.itfd
1. The
I' curly
SfCilK'J
lli;il Cil-
ICSCIll-
;t s()''ar
ujiU thf
<)( tho
1 assure
^.il crv;
ic fH'ld
iriinnph
tl As-
my iind
Hut Iht
leading men on both sides were by this lime wearied with »i.rife and car-
nage, and a negolialion ensued which led to a division of the kingdom,
Canute taking the northern portion and Edmund the southern.
It might have been supposed that tho infamous SJdric would have been
satisfied with having thus mainly aided ni despoiling his brave but unfor-
tunate brother in-law of a moiety of his kingdom. But as though the very
existence of a man so contrary and so superior to himself in character
were intolerable to him, this arrangement had scarcely been made a month
when he suborned two of the kmg's chamberlains, who murdered their un-
fortunate master at Oxford.
A.D. 1017. It does not clearly appear that Canute was actually privy
to this crime, though his previous conduct and the fact that he was the
person to be benefited by the death of Kdmund may justify us in suspect-
ing him. And this suspicion is still further justified by his immediately
seizing upon Edmund's share of the kingdom, though that prince had left
two sons, Edwin and Edward. It is true that those princes were very
yoiMig, but the most that Canute ought to have assumed on that account
was the guardianship of the children and the protectorate of their heritage.
Indeed, some writers represent that it was in tlie character of guardian
that Canute affected to act ; but a sufficient answer to that pretence is to
be found in Mie fact that Canute reigned as sole king, and left the kingdom
to his son.
SanguiuHi - asping as Iiis whole former course had been, this able,
though unp ; prince was too anxious for the prosperity of the king-
dom of whi.,.1 .11 liiiU possessed liiinst.'lf, not to take all [)ossiblr precaution
to avert opposition. He called a council, at which he caused witnesses
to affirm that it had been agreed, at the treaty of Gloucester, that he should
succeed Kdunnul in the southern portion of tlie kingdom ; or, as the writers
to wliom we ]v.\y alluded afl!irm, that he slioidd have tiie guardianship and
protectorate. ■ evidence, and, perhaps, terror lest the well known
fierceness of (,'a uie should again desolate tlie kingdom, determined the
council in his favour, and the usurper peaceably moimted the throne, while
the despoiled princes werr; sent to Sweden. Not content with tiius seiz-
ing their dominion and exiling them, Canute charged tho king of Sweden
to put them to death ; but that king, more generous than hin ally, sent
them in safety to the court of Hungary, where they were educatctf. Ed-
win, the elder of the princes, married the daugiiter of the king of Hunga-
ry; and Edward, the younger, married Agaliia, sister-in-law of the same
iniinarch, and had by her Edgar Atlieling, Margaret, snhsciquently queen
of Scotland, and C^hristina, wlio took the veil.
The experience which Canute had of tlu^ treachery of tho English no-
liiiity of tins period made him, as a mailer of policy, show the most un-
biiunded liberality to llieni at the commencement of his luuliviiled reign.
To Thnrkill he gave the dukedom of East Analia, to Yric that of Northum-
berland, and to Edric that of Mercia, confining his own direct and personal
rule to Wesscx. Hut this aecming favour was only the croucliiiig of tho
'iger ere he sjirings. When he fcniud himself firmly fixed upon his throne,
and froiH his judicious as well as firm conduct hecoming evcrv day more
popular among his subjects, he found a pretext to deprive 'riiurkill and
S'ric of tlK'ir (hiki'doins, and lo send Iheiii into exile. It would seem that
even while he had profited by the treason of the Enjjlish nobllilv lie had
maiilluess eiiougli lo detest the traitors ; f(U', besidi's expelling I', dukes
of East Aiiulia and Northumlierlaud, he pul several oilier noble tr tors lo
deatli, anil ainon„' lliein that worst of all traitors, Edric, whose ody he
had catt into llie Thames.
Tlioiiirh Cainile showed much disiiosilion to cdnciliale the favourof his
»iibjerts, be was at the commeiicemrul of his rcigii obliged, by the stalt
of the kingdom, to tax them very heavily. From the iiution ut lariie li«
154
THE TREASURY OF iilSTORY.
I 'I-
at one demand obtained the vast sum of seventy-two thousand pounds, and
from the city of London a separato furtiier sum of eleven lliousand. But
Ih li it was evident that much of tiiis money was devoted to the reward
o! ..a own countrymen, and though in the heavy sum levied upon London
there clearly appeared something of angry recollection of the courage the
Londoners had shown in opposing him, tlie jjcople were by this time so
wearied with war, that they imputed his demands to necessity, and prob-
ably thought money better paid for the support of a Danish king than for
the temporary absence of an ever-returning Danish enemy.
To say the truth, usurper thougli Canute was, he liad no sooner made
his rule secure, than he made great efforts to render it not merely toler-
able but valuable, lie illobanded and sent home a great number of his
Danish niercenaries ; he made not the slightest difference between Danish
and Knglish subjects in the ev ?ntion of the laws guarding property and
life, and, still farther to engage the affections of the Knglisii, he formally,
in an assembly of the states, restored the Saxon customs.
In order also to ingratiate himself with the English, as well as to pro-
pitiate the powerful duke of Normandy, who had shown a strong dispo-
sition to disturb him in his usurped power, he married that prince's sister,
Emma, widow of Ethelred. By dint of this conciliatory policy, he so far
succeeded in gaining the affections of the English, that he at length ven-
tured to sail to Denmark, which was attacked by his late ally, the king of
Sweden, against whom he felt additional anger on account of his contu-
macy in refusing to put the exiled I'Jnglish princes to death. He was com-
p.t'iely victorious in this expedition, chiefly owing to the energy and valour
of the afterwards famous, and more than regally powerful, Earl Godwin,
to whom, in reward for his conduct on this occasion, he gave his daughter
in marriage.
In 10v!8 he made another voyage, and expelled Olaus, king of Norway.
Powerfid abroad and at peace at home, he now devoted his attention to
religion; but he did t;o after the grossly superstitious fashion of the agr.
lie did not rccal the <'xil('i! princes, or make restitution of any of the
property which he had unjustly ac(iuired either in Norway or in England,
but he huilt clnirchcs and showered gifts upon churchmen; showed his
sorrow for tiie slaughter of which he still retained the profit, by causnig
masses to l)e said for the souls of the shiughtered, and c(nnponnded f"r
continuing his usurjicd rule of England by obtaining certain privileges for
En;;lishinen at Home, to which city he made an ostentatious pilgrimage.
An anecdote is told of Canute when at the very height of his glory and
power, wlii('li is highly charactc^ristic of the baseness of the English no-
bles of that day, and whi(di at the same time shows him to have jiossessed
a certain <lry humour as well as sound good sense. It seems that while
walking on the seashore with some of these degenerate and unworthy
noliles. they in the excess of their (lattery aitril)uli;d omnipotence to him.
Disgusted by their fulsome eulogy, he ordered a chair to be placed upon
the beach, and sealing hiinself In; commanded the waves to approach no
near<'r to him. The astiniishi.'d ccjurliers looked on with a feeling of con-
tempt for the king's credulity, which was sjieedily to b(! transferred to
their own baseness. The inlr surijed onward and onward to the shore
till it began to wet his feet; when ho calmly rose and relinked li'sfli tterers
for attnliiitiiig lo Inm llie great characlerislic of the Deity, omnipotence!.
The .Scuts III the reign of Ellieired had been taxed one shilling a hifle
on their lii'f of '"iiinberlaiid for I)iiucf:r!t, or money to be applied
protection of the kiiigil(Hn against the Danes. The Scols refused
It, and tliouuh Ellielied allem|ileil force, lie, as tisn d with lilin,
MalciiliM, llie thane of Sciitlaiiil \\ ho had llins failed in lijs vassalage lo
Ethelred, on ilic grimiid ihat lir coiiM defe ui lllln^elf against lli(> Danes,
oow refused to do liomaKu for Cumberland to Canute, on the ground o(
to the
lo nay
tailed.
hi
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
155
that king not having: succeeded to the throne by inheritance. But Canute
speedily broujjht him to his senses; at the first appearance of the Knglish
iiimy Malcolm submitted. This was Canute's last expedition: he died
about four years after, in the year 1035.
(it to the
I.) piiv
in, liiilcd.
hiKc III
DiUH'S,
illllll of
CHAPTER X.
THE REI0N8 OF HAROLD AND HARDICANCTE.
Canute left three sons, Sweyu and Harold by his first wife, Allwcii.
daughter of the earl of Hampshire; and Hardicanute by his second wife,
Emma, the widow of Ethelred.
On the marriage of Canute and Emma the former had formally agreecJ
that his children by her should inherit the throne. But as her brother, tli.3
duke of Normandy, died before Canute, the latter thought fit to depart from
thit> agreement, and to leave the English throne to Harold, his second son
by the first wife, rather than entrust it, with its abounding difliculties, to
the weak hands of so young a prince as Hardicanute, his son by Emma.
By his last will, therefore, Canute left Norway to Sweyn, his eldest son,
and England to Harold, his younger son by the first marriage ; and to Har-
dicanute, liis son by Emma, he left his native Denmark.
The difference between llie arrangement made by the king's will and
that which was agreed upon by his treaty of marriage with Emma, placed
the kingdom in no small danger of a long and sanguinary civil war. Har-
old, it is true, had the express last will of his father in his favour, and be
ing upon the spot at the moment of his father'^ death, he si'izod upon the
r>yal treasures, and thus 'lad the means of supporting his claim either by
open force or corruption. But Hardicanute, though in Denmark, was the
general favourite of the people, and of r.ot a few of the nobility ; being
looked upon, on account of his mo;h.3r, in the light of a native English
prince. To his father's last will, upon which it would have been easy to
throw suspicion, as though weakness of mind had been superinduccif by
bodily suflTering, he could oppose the terms of the grave treaty signed by
his father while in full possession of his vigorous mind, and in full pos-
session, too, of power to resist any article contrary to his wish. And,
above all, Hardicanute had the favour and influence of the potent Earl
Godwii;. With such elements of strife in existence, it was extremely for-
tunate that the most powerful men on both sides were wisely and really
auxioiH to avert from the nation the sad coiise(iueiices inseparalile from
civil strife. Conferences were held at which the jarring claims of the two
princes were discussed with unusual candour and calmness, and it was at
lensfth agreed that, as each had a plea too powerful to be wholly done away
with by his coii^petitor's couuterplea, the kingdom shouhl once more be
divided. liOndon and the country north of the Thames fell to the lot of
Harold, the country south of the Thames to Hardicanute, in whose name
Emma took possession, and fixed her residence at Winchester till he
should reach Englanii to govern for himself.
The two young princes, Alfred and Edward, the sons of Emma by
Ethelred, had hitherto remained at Normandy ; but finding themselves,
from the circi;nistance> of that court, less welcome than they had been,
they resolved to visit their mother, whose high state at Winchester prom-
ised tluMii all possibli! protection and (;omfort, and they accordingly land-
e I in l';ii!ilan(l with a niiinerous and splendid suite. But the appearances
by wliii'ii they had been allured to take this step were exceedingly d(!-
ceitfnl. (lodwin, whose ainliition was resth-ssand insatiable, had been skil-
fully liin|ii'red with by tliecrafiy H,irold, who promised to marry the earl's
daiigtiler. The idea of being father-in law to the soli- king of Enylaiid
pul ixw end to all <iOilwiii's moderate notions, and to all the favour will.
156
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
which he had previously looked upon the expedient of partitioning tn»
kingdom, and he now very readily and zealously promised his support to
Harold in his design to add his brother's possessions to his own, and to
cut off tile iwo English princes, whose coming into England seemed to
inc*- > V determination to claim as heirs of Ethelred. Alfred was,
vi, .iiv ,y hypocritical compliments, invited to court, and had readied
as far as Guildford, in Surrey, on his way thither, when an assemblage of
Gcdwin's people suddenly f-^ll upon the retinue of the unsuspeetin<j
prince, and put upwards of six hundred of them to the sword. Alfred
was himself taken prisoner — but far happier had been his fate had he
died in the battle. His inhuman enemies caused his eyes to be put out,
and he was then thrust into the monastery of Ely, where he perished in
agony and misery. His brother and Queen Emma readily judged, from
this horrible affair, that they would be the next victims* andf they imme-
diately fled from the country, while Harold forthwith added the southern
to the northern division of the kingdom.
Commencing his sole reign over England by an act of such hypocrisy
and sanguinary cruelty, Harold would probably have left fearful traces of
his reign if it had been a lengthened one. Happily, however, it was but
short; he died unregretted, about four years after his accession, leaving
no trace to posterity of his having ever lived, save the one dark deed of
which we have spoken. He was remarkable for only one personal qual-
ity, his exceeding agility, which, according to the almost invariable prac-
tice at that time adopted of designating persons by some trait of char-
acter or pliysical quality for which they were remarkable, procured him
the appellation of Harold Harefoot.
A. D. 10.39. — Although Hardicanute had been deemed by his father too
young to sway the English sceptre, he himself helf'. a different opinion,
and he had occupied himself in his kingdom of Norway in preparing a
i"orce witli which to invade England and expel his brother. Having com-
pleted his preparations, he collected a fleet under the pretence of visiting
Queen Emma, who had taken refuge in Flanders, and was upon the point
of sailing when he received intelligence of Harold's death, upon which
he immediately sailed for London, where he was received with the warm-
est welcome. He commenced his reiiin, however, very inauspiciously,
by the mean and violent act of having }Iarold's body disinterred and
thrown into the Thames. IJeing found by some fishermen, the royal
body was carried to London and again con-.mitted to the earth ; but Har-
dicanute obtaining information of what had occurred, ordered it to be
again disinterred and thrown into the river. It was once more found —
but this time it was buried so secretly that the king had no opportunity
to repeat his unnatural conduct.
Tiu! part which (Jodwin had taken in the murder of the unfortunate
Alfred, led Prince Edward, wlm was invited over to the PjUglish court by
Fiardicanutc, to .iccuse him of that crime, and to demand justice at the
hands of the knig. Uiit Goilwin, who had already exerted all the arts of
K( rvilily to conciiiate the king, made him a present of a magnificent gal-
ley, manned with sixteen handsome and gorgeously appointed rowers,
aild the king was so well pleased with the ()re8ent, that he merely re-
quirt d that Godwin should swear to his own innocence, which that per-
sonage made no rA-rnple of doing.
The reign of Hardicanute was short, yet liis violent temper and cupid-
ity cause i it to be marked by a revolt. He had the injustice and Impru-
di'iu'c to renew the tax known by thi; name of Danrirell, and cliarg<'d a
very heavy sum for the flci^t which had conveyed him from Denmark.
("i)in|il lints and n'sistauce arose in many jiarts, and in Worcester the
ni'Ojilf nut oidy refused to pay the tax, hut actually put two of the col-
leclor« to death, (iodwin, with Siward, duke of Northumberland, and
THE TEEASUKY OP HISTORY.
157
Leo^rio, duke of Mercia, were immediately sent to Worcester with a
powerful force, and with orders to destroy the city. They actually did
set fire to it and gave it up to the pillage of the soldiery, but they saved
the lives of the inhabitants until the king's anger was cooled, and he
gave them a formal pardon.
Though possessed of uncommon bodily strength, Hardicanute was an
iltra Northman in the habit of drinking to excess, and he had scarcely
feigned two years, when, being at the weddinff-feast of a Danish noble-
.nan, he indulged to such an extent that he died on the spot. ,^— '
CHAPTER XI.
THE REION OF EDWARD THE CONFESSOR.
A, D. 1042.— SwEYN, the remaining son of Canute, was in Norway wnen
Hardicanute thus suddenly died, and as there was no one whom the
Danes could set up in his place, or as his representative, the English had
a most favourable opportunity to place upon the throne a prince of their
own race. The real English heir was undonbtedly the elder son of Ed-
mund Ironside ; but that prince and his brother were in Hungary, and
Edward, the son of Ethelrcd, was at the English court, and the necessity
of instant aulion to prevent the Danes from recovering from their sur-
prise was too obvious to allow the Engiis!; Lo affect tipon this occasion a
punctiliousness upon direct succession which thev had not yet learned to
feel.
There was but one apparent obs» j of any magnitude to the peace-
able succession of Edward, and tha. .vas the feud existing between him
and the powerful Earl Godwin relative to the death of Prince Alfred.
So powerful was Godwin at this time, that his opposition would have
been far too great for Edward's means to surmount. But Godwin's
power lay principally iit Wessex, which was almost exclusively inhabited
by English, among whom Edwttrd's claim was very popular; and as Ed-
ward's friends induced him to disavow all rancour against Godwin, and
even to conseii' to marry his daughter Editlia, the powerful and crafty
carl easily consented to insure his daughter a throne. He forthwith
summoned a council, at which he so well maniiged niatters, that while
the majority were Ensjlish, and in fav(uirof Edward, the few Danes were
fairly silenced, and the more easily because whatever warmth might he
in their individual feeUngs towards the absent Sweyn, they had no leader
of influence to unite them, or of eloquence to impress and support theit
wishes.
The joy of the English on finding the government once more in the
hands of a native prince was excessive, and would have been attended
with extensive ill conse(]nonces to the Dant^s. had not the king very equi-
tably interposed on their behalf. A;s it was, they suffered not a little in
property, for one of ihc first acts of the king's reign was to revoke all
the grants of his Danish predecessors, wlio had heaped large possessiims
upon their fnllnw-countrymen. In very many cases il may be assumed
that the grants h.id been made unjustly; but the Englisti made no dis-
tinclion between cases, and heartily rejoiced to see the resinnption of the
grants reducirig many of the hateil Daiu's to their original poverty. To
liis niother, tne iineen ICmma, I'Mward behaved with an unpardonalile
8PV(>rit y ; unparlonable, even admitiing that he was right when ho af-
firmed that, haviny been so much better treated by Canute than bv Ethel-
red, she had always ijiven the prefereni'c to llardicainite, and held hei
children hy Ethelrcd in comparative conieni|it or indifference. Me i\(U
inlv took from her the great riches which she had heaped up, but also
ISO
THE TREA8UR\ OF HISTORY.
committed her to close custody in a nunnery at Wincbester. Some
writers liuve gone so far as to say that he accused her of the absurdly
improbable crime of having connived at the murder of the prince Alfred,
and that Kmnv.i [)urged herself of this guilt by the marvellous ordeal of
walking barefooted over nine red-hot ploughshares; but the monks, to
whom Kmma was profusely liberal, needed not to have added fable to
the unfortunate truth of the king's unnatural treatment of liis twice wid-
owed mother.
Apart from mere feelings of nationality, the desire of the English to
see their throne filled by a man of their own race was, no doubt, greatly
excited by their unwillingness to see lands and lucrative places bestowed
by stranger kings upon stranger courtiers. In this respect, however, the
accession of Edward was by no means f-<, advantageous to the English as
they had anticipated. Edward had lived so much in Normandy that he
had become almost a Frenchman in his tastes and habits, and it was
almost exclusively among Frenchmen that he had formed his friendships,
and now chose his favourites and confidants. In the disposal of civil and
military employments tlie king acted with great fairness towards liie
English, but as the Normans who thronged his courts were both more
polished and more learned, it was among them principally that he dis-
posed of the ecclesiastical dignities, and from them that he ciiiefly select-
ed his advisers and intimate companions. The favour thus shown to ilie
Normans gave great disgust to the English, and especially to the power-
ful Godwin, who was too greedy of power and patronage to look with
complacency upon any rivals in the king's good graces.
He WHS the more offended that tlie excln.>*ivc favour of the king did not
fall upon him and his family, because, independent of the king having
married thr earl's daughter Editha, the mere power of Godwin's own
family was so princely as to givo him high claims, whii^h he was by no
means inclined to underrate. He himself was earl of Wcssex, to which
extensive government the counties of Kent and Sussex wer-' added;
Sweyn, his eldest son, had like authority over the counties of Hereford,
Gloucester, Oxford, and Herks i while Harold, his second son, was duke
of East Anjrlia. with Essex added to his government.
Possessed of such extensive power, still secretly hating Edward on ac
count of II open fcnid about the murder of Prince Alfred, and consid-
ering that to his forbearance alone, or principally, Edward owed his
throne, (Jodwin, who was naturally haughty, was not inclined to bear the
neglect of the king without shiiwiii? his sense of it, and his ill hutnonr
was the more deep and the more bitterly expres::ed, because his daughter
Editha iis well its himself suffered from the king's neglect. The king
had married her, indeed, iti compliance with his solemn protnise, but he
would never live with her- His determination on this head was rightly
attributed by Godwin to his having transferred to the <laiighter a part of
the hatred he entertained for the father, tiiougli the monks, with their
usual ingenuity in finding piety where no one (ilse would think of look-
ing for it, attribute this conduct to his religious feeling; and to this con-
dnit It is that lu; chiefly owed the being lit)noured by the monks with the
respectable surname of The Gonfessor.
A.n 104'^. — {''ntertaining strong feelings of both disappointment and dis-
content, it was not likely that a nobleman of Godwin's great power and
great ill-li'inper too, would fail to find some pretext upon which to break
out into opi'ii quarrel. Politic as he was ill tempered, (Jodwin "eized upon
the favouritism of the king towards the Noiinatif as a cause of (piarrel
upon which he was sure to have the synipatliy of the English, who were
to the full as m,.ch prejudiced as liiins(df a^'ainst Ihe foreigners.
While Gi)i|win was thus anxious to cpiarrel with the king whom he had
done so much to put upon the throne, and only wailing for the occurrence
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
15
ol an occasion suffi(;ieiuly plausible to hide his meaner and more entirel)'
personal motives, it chant-ed that Eustace, count of Boulogne, passed
through Dover on his way back to liis own country after a visit paid to the
English court. An attendant upon '.he count got into a dispute with a man
nt whose house he was quartered and wounded him ; the neighbours in-
terfered, and ihe count's attend-.nt was shiin; a general battle tooit place
between the count's suite and ihe townspeople, and tlie former got so much
the worst of Ihe affray, that the count himself had some difficulty in sav
ing his life by flight. The king was not merely angry, but felt scandal-
ized that forei-guers who had just partaken of his hospitality should be thus
roughly used by his subjects, and he ordered Godwin — to whom, as we
have said, the government of Kent belonged — to make inquiry into the af-
fair, and to punish the guilty. But Godwin, who was delighted at an oc-
currence which furnished him with a pretext at once plau.sihie and popular
for quarrelling with his sovereign and son-in-law, promptly refused to
punish the Dover men, whom hs alledged to have been extremely ill-treated
by the foreigners. Edward had long been aware of the hostile feelings
of Godwin, but as he was also aware of the very great and widely-spread
power of that noble, he hart prudently endeavoured to avoid all occasion
of open disagreement. But this blank refusal of the earl to obey his orders
provoked the king so much, that he threatened Godwin with the full weight
of his displeasure if he dared to persevere in his disobedience.
Aware, and probably not sorry, that an open rupture was now almost
unavoidalile, dodwiii assembled a force and marched towards Glouces-
ter, where the king was then residing with no other guar<l than his or-
dinary reliime. Edward, o!i hearing of the approach and hostile hearing
of his too potent father-in-law, applied for aid to Siward and Leofric, the
powerful dukes of .Northumberland and Mercia, and to give them time to
add to the forces with whii-h they on the instant proceeded to aid him, ho
opened a negotiation with Godwin. Wily as the earl was, he on this oc-
casion fiirgiit the rebel maxim — that he who draws the sword against his
sovereign should throw away the scabbard. He allowed the king to
air.use him with messages and proposals, while the king's friends were
raising a force sufficiently powerful to assure him success should the quar
rc'l procctni to blows. As the descendant of a long line of English kings,
and himself a king remarkable for humane and just conduct, Edward had
a popularitv whi(!h not even his somewhat overweening partiality to for-
eigners coiild abat(! ; and when his subjects learned tliat he was in danger
from the anger and ambition of Godwin, they hastened to his defence in
siirh nnniliers that he was able to summon him to answer for his treason-
ahle cciulnct. Both Godwin and his sons, who had joined in the rebellion,
professci! perfect vvillinyncss to proceed to London to answer for their
conduct, on c(ni(lition that lliey should receive hostages for tlieir personal
safety and fair trial. But the king was now far too powerful to grant
any such terms, and (lodwin and his sons perceiving that in negotiating
with the king while he was but slenderly attended they h'd lost the golden
opportunity of wresting the sovereignity from him, hastily disbanded their
troops and went abroad; Godwin and three of his stms taking refuge with
llalilu in, earl of Flanders, and his other two sons taking shelter in Ireland.
Having thus for the time got rid of enemies so powerful, the king be-
Ftowed their estates and governments upon some of his favonriles; and
&s he no longer Ihonghl himself obliged to keep any terms with his im-
perinns father in-law, he thrust Queen Editha, whom he had never loved,
into a convent at Whcrwell.
But the ruin of the powerful Godwin was more apparent than real ; he
had innnercois friends in I'ngland, nor was he without such foreign alli-
ances as wiHild still enable him to give those friends an opportuinty ol
nerving him. His ally, the carl of Elandcrs, who was the more interested
160
.HE TREASURY OF HISTORY
I'
in his l)Phalf on account of Godwin's son Tosti liaving married llit ^-m s
daughter, gave him tlie use of his iiarbours in wiiieli to assemble a flett,
and assisted him to hire and purcliase vessels; and Godwin, liaving com-
pleted his preparations, made an attempt to surprise Sandwich. But Ed
ward had constantly been informed of the earl's movements, and had a far
superior force ready to meet him. Godwin, who depended fully as much
upon policy as upon force, returned to Fhinders, trusting that his seeming
relinquishment of his design would throw Edward off his guard. It turned
out precisely as Godwin had anticipated. Edward neglected his fleet and
allowed his seamen to disperse, and Godwin, informed of this, suddenly
sailed for the Isle of White, where iie was joined by an Irish force under
Harold. Seizing the vessels in the southern ports, and summoning all
his friends in those parts to aid him in obtaining justice, he was able to
enter the Thames and appear before London with an overwhelming force.
Edward was undismayed by the power of the rebel earl, and as he was
determined to defend himself to the utmost, a civil war of the worst de-
scription would most probably have ensued but for the interference of the
nobles. Many of these were secretly friends of Godwin, and all of them
were very desirous to accommodate matters, and the results of their time-
ly mediation was a treaty, by which it was stipulated on the one hand that
the obnoxious foreigners should be sent from the country, and on the other,
that Godwin should give hostages for his future good behaviour. This lie
did, and Edward sent the hostages over to Normandy, being conscious
that he could not safely keep them at his own court.
Though a civil war was undoubtedly for the present averted by this
treaty between the king and Godwin, yet the ill example thus given of the
necessities of the king (compelling him to treat as upon equal urms with
his vassal, would probably have produced farther and more mischievous
acts of presumption on the part of Godwin, but for his death, which sud-
denly occurred as he was dining with the king shortly after this hollow
reconciliation had been patched up between them.
Godwin was succeeded both in his governments and in the very impor-
tant office of steward of the king's household by his son Harold, who had
all his father's ambition, together with a self-command and seeming hu-
mility far more dangerous, because more diflicult lo be guarded against,
than his father's impetuous violence. Although unavoidably prejudiced
against him on account of his parentage, Edward was won by his seeming
humility and anxiety to please. Bui though Edward could not refuse him
his personal esteem, his jealousy was awakened by the anxiety and suc-
cess with which Harold endeavoured lo make partizans ; and, in order to
curb his ambition, he played off i rival against him in the person of Algar,
son of Leofric duke of Mercia, upon whom was conferred Harold's old
government of East Ana;lia. But this notable expedient of the king whol-
ly failed. Instead of the power of Algar balancing that of Harold, the
disputes between the two rivals proceeded to actual warfare, in wliich, as
usual, the unoffending people were the greatest sufferers. The death oi
both .\lgar and his father put an end to this rivalry, or probably the very
means wliich the king had taken to preserve his authority would have
wholly and fatally subverted it.
A.n. lO.').'). — There was now but one rival from whom Harold could feat
any effectual competition; iSiwaid, (iuk(; of Northumberland; and his
death speedily left Harold without peer ai.d without competitor. Sisvard
liad ffreatly distinguislicd himself in the only foreign expedition of this
reign, which was nnderlaken to restore Malcolm, king of Scotland, who
'lad been chased from that kingdom after the murder of his father. King
Duncan, by a traitorous noble named Macbeth. In this expedition Siward
was fully successful ; hut unfortunately, though he defeated and slew the
usurper,' .Macbeth, he in the same aution lost his eldest son, Osborne, who
THE TREASUHY OF HlSTOllY.
1CI
had iriven liigh promise of both will and power to uphold the glory of hia
family.
Sisviird's character had much of the Spartan resolution. He was con
soled for the death of his gallant son when he learned that his wounds
were all in front ; and when he felt the hand of death upon himself he had
his armour cleaned and a spear placed in his hand, that, as he said, he
might meet death in a guise worthy of a noble and a warrior.
Owing to the health of the king buiiig fast declining, and his having no
children, he grew anxious about the succession; and as he saw iliat Har-
old was sufficiently ambitious to seize upon the crown, he sent to Hunga-
ry for his elder brother's son Edward. That prince died almost immedi-
ately after his arrival in Kngland ; and thi)U]Lih the title of his son Edgar
Atheling would have been fully as good and indisputable as his own, Edgar
did not, to the anxious eyes of the king, seem either by yi^ars or character
a competent authority to curb the soaring ambition of Harold. VV'illing to
see any one rather than Harold secure in the succession, the king turned
his attention to William, duke of Normandy. Tiiis prinite whs the natural
son of William, duke of Normandy, by Harlotta. the daughter of a tanner
of the town of Falaise; but illegitimacy in that age was little regarded.
He had shown great vigour and capacity in pultitig down the opposition
made to his succession to th dukedom, and though he was of very tender
age wiieti his father died, his conduct, both at that diflicnit crisis and in
Ills subsequent government, fully justified the high opinion of him which
had induced his father to bequeath to him the dukedom, to the prejudice
of other branches of the ducal family. He had paid a visit to England and
gained much upon the good opinion of Edward, wiio had actually made
known to him liis intention of making him his heir even before he sent to
Hungary for Prince Edward and his family.
Harold, though by no means ignorant of the king's desire to exclude
hint from all cliHiice of succeeding to the liiroiio, steadfastly pursued his
plan (if conciliating the powerful, and making himself noted as the friend
and protector of tlie weak. In this respect lie was eminently successful,
but tliere was an obstacle in the way of his final triumph from which he
anticipated veiy great difTiculty. Among tiie hostages giviMi by Ins father,
Marl Godwin, were a sou and a gratnlson of that iKibh'inan ; and when
Harold perceived that Duke William, to whose custody the hostages were
committed, had hopes of being left heir to the Fhiglish crown, he natural-
ly became anxious aliout the consequences of his intended rivalry to rela-
tives so near. To g(a them out of the duke's power [irevious to the death
of llie king was of the utmost imporlr.iicc ; and hea[)plied to the king for
tiieir release, dwelling iniicii upon the constant obedience and duiifulnesg
of iiis conduct, U|)on which hi; argued it was in some s(nt an injurious re-
flection longer to keep the hostages. As his conduct really had been
to all appearaiK^es of unbroken faith and undeviating loyalty, the king was
unable to make any solid reply to his arguments, and at length yielded the
point and empowi^red Harold to go to Normandy and release them. Ho
iiastcncd to fulfil this very agreeable commission, but a viideiit tempest
arose while lie was at sea and drove him ashore upon the territory of Guy,
count of Ponlhien, who made liiin prisoner in the hope of extortinu: a very
large sum from him by the way of ransom. Harold sent to the duke of
NorniHiidy for aid in this dilemma, reiiresenting that the duke's honour as
well as his liberty was infringed by this imprisonnu'iit of a ii'diieman
bound to the court of Normandy. Noltiin<i: could have happen 'd more
agieable to iIk; wishes of Willi.im, who. if of a more hasty temperament
than Harold, was no less politic; and he at once clearly perceived that
this unexpected incident would give him the means of practisimr upon his
only formidable eonijietilor for the English thioiic. He i.nmeili.itcly dis-
patched a messenger to demand tfie liberty of Harold; and the count of
I.— 11
ifii;
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
li
Poiuhieu complied on the instant, not daring to irritate so warlike and
powerful a prince as Duke William. Harold then proceeded to William's
court at Rouen, where he was received with every demonstration of the
warmest good will. William professed the greatest willingness to give
up the hostages, and at the same time took the opportunity — as if ignorant
of Harold's own secret intentions — to beg his aid in his pretensions to the
crown of England, assuring him in return of an increase to the grandeur
and power already enjoyed by his own family, and offering him a daughter
of his own in marriage. Though Harold had the least possible desire to
aid in his own defeat, he clearly enough saw that if he were to refuse to
promise it he would be made a prisoner in Normandy for the remainder of
his life. He agreed, therefore to give William his support. But a mere
promise would not serve William's turn, he required an oath, and as oaths
sworn upon reliques were in that age deemed of more than usual sanctity,
he had some reliques of the most venerated martyrs privately hidden be-
neath the altar on which Harold was sworn ; and, to awe him from break-
ing his oath, showed them to him at the conclusion of tlie ceremony.
Harold was both surprised and annoyed at the shrewd precaution of the
duke, but was too politic to allow his concern to appear.
Imagining that he had now fully secured the support of Harold instead
of having to fear his opposition, William allowed him to depart with many
expressions of favour and friendship. But Harold had no sooner
obtained his own liberty and that of his relatives, than he began to exert
ert himself to suggest reasons for breaking the oath which actual though
nominal durance had extorted from him, and the accompaniment of which
had been brought about by an overt fraud. He shut his eyes upon the
fact that, having consented to take the oath, it really mattered little whe-
ther he was aware or not of the presence of the reliques ; had they not
been there his oath would still be in full force, and he could only act
in contravention of it by gross perjury. Determined to have the crown if
possible, even at this fearful price, he now redoubled his efforts at gaining
public favour, hoping that his superior popularity would deter the king
from making any further advances to Duke William, and relying, in the
last resort, upon the armed defence of the nation. In pursuance of this
plan he headed an expedition against the Welsh, and pressed them to sucli
straits that they beheaded tlieir prince, Griffith, and consented to be gov
erned by two noblemen appointed by Kdward.
The popularity he gained in this expedition was greatly enhanced by his
politic and ostentatious disjjlay of rigid partiality in a case in which his
brother, Tosti, duke of Northumberland, was a principal party. Tosti had
conducted himself with such tyrannical violence that the Northumbrians
expelled him ; and the deceased Duke Leofric's grandsons, IMorcar and
Kdward, having sided with the people, the former was by them elected to
be tlieir duke. The king commissoned Harold to put down this insurrcL'-
tion, which it was naturally supposed that he would be all the more zeal-
ous in doing, as the intenists of his own brother were concerned. But Mor-
car, liaving demanded a conference with Harold, gave him such proofs
of the misconduct of Tosti, and appealed so flatteringly to his own very
opposite conduct, that Harold not merely withdrew the army with wliicli
he was about to chastise the Northumbrians, but made such a representa-
tion of the case as induced the king not oidy to pardon the Northumbri-
ans but also to confirm Morcar in Tosti's government. Tosti fled to the
court of Flanders, but subsequently took an opportunity to show the extent
of his dissatisfaction with his brollier's decision.
Shortly after this affair Harold married the sister of IMorcar, a step
svliich plainly intimated how little he held himself bound lo perform the
sworn engagements to William of Normandy. In fact he was now go
very popular, that he made no secret of his pretension to the throne, but
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
163
openly urged that as Edgar Atheling was by all acknowledged to be unfit
to wear the English crown, he was the fittest man in the nation to suc-
ceed Edward ; and though the king was too much opposed to Harold's
succession directly and positively to sanction his pretension, he was too
weak in both mind and body to take any energetic steps for securing the
succession of William.
The king had long been visibly sinking, and yet though conscious of his
approaching end, and really anxious to prevent the accession of Harold,
he could not muster resolution to invite Duke William, but left chance,
policy, or arms to decide the succession at his death, which occured in the
sixty-fifth year of his age and the twenty-fifth of his reign. Tiiough both
Godwin and Harold excited his dislike by the influence they acquired over
lim by superior talent and energy, the peaceableness of his reign was, in
ict, mainly attributable to their power and influence. Edward was natural-
/ weak and superstitious, and if it had chanced that he had fallen into other
inds, it is probable that his reign would have been both troubled and
lortened. The superstitious custom of touching for the king's evil origi-
.jbted with this prince.
CHAPTER Xn.
THE REION OP HAROIiD THE SECOND.
A.D. 1066. — The death of Edward the Confessor had so long been
probable, that Harold had ample time to make his preparations, and in the
mere fact of his being on the spot he had a great and manifest advantage
over his Norman rival. Not only were his partizans numerous and pow-
erful by their wealth and stations, they were also compactly organized.
Neither Duke William nor Edgar Atheling was formally proposed, but it
was taken for granted that the unanimous voice of the people was repre-
sented by that of the lay and clerical nobles who surrounded Harold ; and,
without even waiting for the formal sanction of the states of the kingdom,
he was crowned by tlie archbishop of York on the very day after the de-
cease of Edward. Nor, in fact, was the consent of the nation so mere an
assumption as it sometimes has been ; for Harold was universally popu-
lar, and the Normans were as universally hated as foreigners, and feared
on account of their fierce and warlike character. But popular as Harold
was in England, he was not long allowed to enjoy his elevation in p; •"?
His brother Tosti, who had remained in voluntary banishment at the r^':\r.
of Flanders ever since Harold's memorable decision against him, deeai -J
that his time was now arrived to take revenge. He exerted his utmost in-
fluence with the earl of Flanders, and sent messengers into Norway to
raise forces, and journeyed personally to Normandy to engage Dnke Wil
liani to join him in avenging both their grievances.
This last step Tosti had not the slightest occasion to take, for Duke Wil-
liam was far too much enraged at Flarold's breach of faiih to require any
urging. He had already determined that Harold should at the least have
to fight for the throne ; but as it was obviously important to stand as well
as possible with the English people, he sent ambassadors summoning
Harold to perform the promise he had made under the most solemn form
of an oath. Harold replied at some length and with considerable show
of reason lo the duke's message. As related to his oath, he said, that had
been extorted from him under circumstances of durance and well-grounded
bodily terror, and was consequently null ; and, moreover, he as a private
person could not lawfully swear to forward the duke's pretentions. He
nad himselt, he added, been raised to the throne by the unanimous voice
of his people, and he would indeed be unworthy of tiieir love and trust
Ib4
THE TREASUIIY OF HISTORY.
were he not prepared to defend the liberties they liad entrusted in |ii«
care. Fi; flly, he said, should the duke attempt by force of arms to dis-
turb him and tiis kingdom, he would sooii learn how great is the power
of a united people, led by a prince of its own choice, and one who was
firmly determined that he would only cease to reign when he should cease
to live.
Wdliam expected sueh an answer as this, and even while his messen-
gers were travelling between Normandy and the English court he was
busily engaged in preparations for reiiiforfing his pretensions by arms.
Brave, and posses.sed of a high reputation, he could count not only upon
the zealous aid of his own warlike Norman.s, who would look on tlie in-
vasion of such a country as Kn<!land in the light of an absolute (godsend,
but also of the innnerous martial nobles of the continent, who literally
made a trade of war, and were ever ready to range themselves and their
stalwart men-at-arms under the hainier ol a bold and famous leader, with-
out exjiressing any troublesome curiosity as to the rightfulness of his
cause. Among these unscrupulous sworders the wctalth, fame and a cer-
tain blunt and hearty hospitality of William made him extremely popular;
and in the idea of conquering sueh a kingdom as Kngl.md there was much to
tempt their cupidity as well as toitiflanie their valour. Fortune, too, fa-
voured William by the siulden death of Conati, count of Urittany. Be-
tween this nobleman and William there was an old and very iiiveterate
feud, ami C'oiian lu) sooner learned l)id<e William's di sign upon Kiigland,
than he endeavoured to embarrass and prevent him l)y n'viving his own
claim to the duchy of Normandy, which he recpiired to be settled upon him
in the event of tlie duke succeeding in Knglaiid. This demand would
have caused the duke much iiieonveiiu'iice, but (^onan had scarcely made
it when he died, and ('oniil Hoel, his successor, so far from seeking lu
embarrass William, sent him fi\e thousand men under command of his
son Alain. The earl of Flanders ;iiid the count of Anjou |)ermitted th. ii
subjects to join Williaiu's army, and though the regency of France osten-
sibly counnaiidi'd him to lay aside his enterprise, the earl of Flanders,
who was at till" heail of the regency and who was !iis ('aiherin-law, took
care to let the French nolidity know that no ul)jeclion wotild lie olTered to
tlieir enlisiiii;' under Willliun. S;jll niore important aid and eiicom'airc-
meiit were aliordcil to Wdliam by thr emperor Henry IV., who not only
assisted him in levying men in his <toinimon, but also pronnscil to protect
the (luiiiv of N(n'MiiiM(ly during tlif duke's a!)sencc ; but the most imp(n'taiit
proteclcM' anil enciuirager of William in Ins projec^led enterprise was Pope
Alexander 111., \» liimi the didie, «itli shrewd jiidgnieiU, had completely
won to Ins interests by voluntarily niakini,' him the me liaior between
them. The great anxiety ofllie pupal eoiiils to have an inllneiiee as well
over the leinporiil as over the sjuritnal alViirs of the nation would hive
rendered this one stroke of William's policy ipnte decisive of .Mexamler'i
coiiiluet. Inn the pontilT was still farther interested in the duke's success
by his belief iiial sliiiuld the Normans eiiiiipier lliigland, they would sub-
iect that nation inine coin|)let(dy than it had yet been to ilie papal see,
l''roiu the stales of Ins own duchy William at firht met with some ojipo-
»iti(iii, tlie supplies he reipiired being iinprei'eilently and onerously large.
Hut Olio, bishop of IJ.iyeiix, Willi, im Fii/ovborne, cniiiil of llrctriiil and
constable of Normandy, with the toiiuiof I,i>ngiieville and otiii r .Nor-
man magnates, so eireclu illy aldid liini that this dirtieiilly was gut over,
nii'l the stales aitrced to furaish linn with all the aid, oidy under protest
that their eoin|t|iaiiee should not l)u drawn iiitu u precedence inJnrnMis to
their posterity.
Il\ I'leat aetiv ily, perseverance, and address, William at lenjith foinid
tiimsi If at the heitd of a m.igmfii'ciilly iippuinted force of Ibri'e lliousaiid
vcRMels of variuui raicD, and uj)wariis uf )>i),i)U() men ; uiid bo popular had
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
16S
his purpose now become ainoii^ the warriors of the continent, that he
coiilii probably liuve nearly doubled the number of men hud he thought
it necessary to do so. Nor was it merely by dint of numbers that
his force was imposing. His veteran am' disciplined men-at arms were
led by some of the most famous champion ■ of even that age of knights and
true warriors ; among whom he could reckon Kustace, count of Uoulogne,
William de Warunne, Roger de Beaumont, Hugh d' Estaples, and the far-
famed Charles Mariel.
While William excited the ardour of these and other gallant lead(TS by
promising them rich spoils from the land they were about to conquer for
him, Tosii, the infuriated brother of Harold, was busied by Williain's ii).-
struclioiis in ravaging the coasts of England, and distracting the attention
of Harold and his subjects from their more redoubtable enemy's prepara-
tions. In conjunction with Harold Halfager, king of Norway, Tosli led a
powerful lleet into the Humber, and began to despoil the country. Mor-
car, duke of Northumberland, and Kdwin, duke of Mercia, got together
sucii forces as time would allow, and endeavoured to beat bai-k the marau-
ders, but were put to the rvUt by them. Hut thougii the effort of these noble-
men was in itself disastrously unsuccessful, it gave Harolu time to raise a
compact force and hasten to meet the invaders in person. He met tliein
ut Stanford, in Linconshire, and ti the action that vnsued the invaders
were completely defeated, and both Tostiand the kiii^ of Norway pi^rished
on the field. Prince Olave, smt of the king of Norway, was taken pris-
oner, and the wiiole of the Norwegian fleet was captured; but Harold,
with great generosity, gave the young prince his freedom, and allowed
him to take twenty ships and depart to his own country.
Though this victory and Harold's moderation after it gave the Hnglisb
great reason to be satisfied with the clntice they had made of a king, il
was, in fact, very disastrous to Harold, as it cost him a great number o.
Ills best men and olTicers at the precise time when he most needed their
services; and even his returning the spoils, though he was actuated by a
dcsne to spare his |)eopic as much as possible in the approaching cinitest
Willi Duke William, gave so much disgust to his soldiery, that many ut
tiiem at:tu;illy deserted, and the rest wore discontented. His brother
(jiiirili, a|)prelien(ling some fatal conscquencps from this really uiireasona-
lile (lisccnileiit, endeav(nired to dissuade flarold frmn risking his own |)er-
9011 III tlie field against William. He urged that it would he unwise to
risk all upon one battie, when by retiriin; before the enemy he who could
(lepi lid upon the loyally and afleclion of his subjects for abundant siipplii!!«
could weiiry out the invaders, and starve them into submission or retreat}
and he added, that .is Harold had, however nnwittiiigly, sworn upon the
reliques to support instead of opposing the duke, it would be far belter foi
him to refrain I'roni taking any personal part in the a|)|)roaching contest,
liul Harold would heed no reasoning and no remonstrance ; he was deter-
mined literally to fulfil the terms of his reply to William's summons, and
to cease to reign only in c(!asing to live.
After s(Hne dillicullies from bad weather and contrary winds, in which
the Dukf lost some small vessels, tin? Norman fleet a|ipear(Ml off the coast
of Sussex, and the army landed ut Pevensy without opposition. The duke
in Ins hurry to leap :ishore stmnbled and fidl to the criuind : but he with
great presence of ntind prevented his s<ddiers from nilerpreting this acci*
dent into an evil omen, by loudly exclaiming tha^ he hail now taken pos*
session of the country.
Harold, who had approached with his army, sent a monk to Duke Wil-
liam to oiler to settle their dispute by the payment of a sum of money to
mm. W illiain, who was e(|ually confident of sueee'<H, replied that he
would, if Harold elio^e, put the issue up(Mi a single cimibat, and thus spare
the tUnsion of blood; tint Hiindd declined tins propositi, and s.tid that tlin
od of battles would soon decide between them.
16C
THE TREASURY OF HI8T0KY.
I*
The eve of the momentous day of strife was passed by the Normans m
prayer, and in confessing their sins to the host of monks by whom they
were accompanied ; but the Knglisii, more confident or more reckless, gave
themselves up to wassail and merriment.
Early in the morning the Duke addressed the principal leaders. He rep-
resented to them that tliey had come to conquer a fine country from the
hands of a usurper whose perjury could not fail to call down destruction
uponliis head; that if they fought valiantly their success was certain, but
that if any, from cowardice or treachery, should retreat, they would infal-
libly perish between a furious enemy and the sea towards which ho would
drive them. His address finished, the duke formed his immense force into
three divisions. His choice and heavy-armed infantry was commanded
by Cliarles Martcl, the arciiers and light-armed infantry by Roger de
Montgomery, and the cavalry, winch flanked both those divisions, was
under his own immediate leading.
Harold had chosen his situation with great judgment. His force was dis
posed upon the slope of a rising ground and the flanks were secured against
cavalry, in which lie was but weak, by deep trenches. In this position he
resolved to await the attack of the enemy, and be placed himself on foot,
accompanied by bis brothers (Jurth and Leofwin, at the head of his infan
try. The first attack of the Normans was fierce, but the steadiness with
which Ihey were n)et and the great difhculty of the ground compelled
them to retire, and tlie Knglish pursued and ttirew them into a disorder
which threatened to degenerate into actual rouf. Duke VVilJiam, who
saw that all bis hnpi's were at tliis moment in jeopardy, led on the flower
of his cavalry, and speedily compelled the Knglisii to relinquish their bard-
earned advantage, and retire to their original position. William now or-
dered up additional troops to the attack, but fin-ling the Knglish stand firm
he made a feint of retreat. With far more bravery than judgment, the
Knglish abandoned their advantageous post to pursue the Hying and seem-
ingly terrified enemy, when the Norman infanlry suddenly ludled and faced
the Kiigli,sli, whose flanks were at the saini! instant i'lir'onsly charged
by the Norman cavalry. William was admirably obeyed i • his tronpn.
and the Knglish fell in vast numbers; lint the survivors by i,ieat e.\ertio^
regained the hill, where the aid and example of Harold enabled them to
del'enil themselves with greater advantage. Kxlraonlinary as it may seem,
the ardour of the Knglish enabled William to |)nl the same feint into exe-
cution a second time, and with ei)nal advantage to himself, though the
main body of Harold's army still remained firmly entrenched upon the
hill. lint galled by the incessant play of William's archers, who discharg-
ed their deadly misniles over the heads of the advancing lieavy-ml'inlry,
the Knglish were at length broken by the furious y»'t steady charges ol
these latter, and, Harold and both his brothers being rdaiii, Ihey flf(;
and were |iursn»;d with terrilile slaughter by the victorious Normans.—
Willi:iin did not gain this important victory witlnuit vast toss, the battle
having hi'iMi conMiined with almost unabated fury on both sides from
moriiiiiu iiiiiil eV' iiig. The dead body <iftlie ill-fateil Harold was found,
and, liy tin urdcrs of ihe duke, restored to his mother; and the Noriiianj
having soli'innty returned thanks for their signal triumph, marched on
wanl to pursuit their advantage.
Hail tliu I'liiglish still |)oss>'ssed a royal family of the high courage and
popularity of Harold, Duke \\ illiain, in sjute nf Ins first brilliant snei-esii,
miglil for years have been harassed by the iieci -.siiy of coiiiinnally fight-
ing small and indecisive battles in evcrv provnici' of tin- kiiicilnm. Hut
Kiigiir Ailii'liiiu, the only Saxon heir to ihe i-rowii, leid neither the capaci
ty nor the repiitaiion which would eiial)le liiin to oru:iiii/,i' and direct a re
Histniii (t of this stern ami Rtnliborn desi ri|iliiiii, lliil Ins mere liiieagr
went fur much in the cireumstances of the kingdom, und the dukes .Murcai
cliargL'd
I troi ){)!».
rxiriion
tlieiii to
[iiiiy seem,
into cxo-
li(>ii(;li the
upon the
(iisi'liiirjf-
iiirmtry,
ijirj^cs oj
they (led
rinuiis.—
ic hiittio
I's fniin
i?* fi)iiiiil,
Niiriiiiirij
I'licd on
SIICCCSP,
ly fiKht-
Mil. Milt
';i|i:i('l
reel ii re
liii(M|;p
N MortMi
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
167
anil Kdwin, now the most powerful and popular men left to the En-
ghsh, proclaimed Edgar, and called upon the people to support their Saxon
sovereign against the Norman invader. In this measure the dukes
were zealously assisted by Stigand, archbishop of Canterbury, whose
wp iltli and influence made him of great service to them.
William m the meantime, took possession of Romney and then of Do-
ver, thus securing himself a communication with his duchy in the event
of any adverse turn of fortune. Having given his troops a week's rest at
Dover, the duke availed himself of the time to publish to the people the
pope's bull in favour of his enterprise, it being a document which he well
knew would have a great efl"eet upon the superstitious minds of the multi-
tude, and thus disincline them to aid the resistance planned by their lead-
ers, lie marched towards London. A large body of Londoners attempt-
ed to arrest his course, but they were routed with terrible slaughter by
about five hundred horse of the Norman advance; and this new disaster,
lo'rotlier witli the little confidence and enthusiasm excited by Edgar, so
completely dispirited the people, that even Morcar and Edwin now de-
spiiiicd of success, and retired to their respective governm-uits. All Kent
submitted ; Soutiiwark attempted some resistance, and was set on fire :
unil llie Normans seemed so wholly irresistible that Stigand, archbisliop
of Canterbury, Edgar Atlieling, and other leading men of the kingdom,
tt'iidiTcd William the crown and r'ade their submission to him. With a
degree of hypocrisy, which the vast preparations he had made and tiie
greit toils he had undergone for the purpose of obtaining the crown made
riiiiciilmis, the duke pretended to hav(! scrujilcs about accepting the crowp
v.iihout some more formal consent of the English people. iJut his own
friends, ashamed of his gratuitous 8imulati<tn, or afraid that his affected
scruples might give rise to some adverse turn of events, remonstrated so
plainly with him that hi-. fiMgned reluctance was laid aside, and orders
were given for the necessary preparations for his immediate coronatis)n.
Stigand, archbishop of Canterbury, was, aitcording to etiquette, tin; pro-
per person to have crowned William. Hut the al.icrity thai prelate had
sliiiwii ill defending his country made liini an object of the Comiuerer'a
dislike, who refused to be crowned by him, on the ph-a that his pall iiad
been irregularly obtained ; and the melancholy oflict^ fell upon Aldred.
archbishop of York.
CHAPTER XHI.
TIIK. BK.KiM or WII.MAM I., USUALLY STTLKD "WILLIAM TIIK COtCqUEROR."
TiiR principal I'.ntilish and Norman nobility hejng assembled in West-
minister abbey (Dec. '-.'.'i, lOGG), Aldred asked them if they were willing to
hav<' Willi.im fur their king, and being an.^wered by aflirmative acclama-
lidiis, he admonished him to ujihold the i-liiireli, love justice, and execute
justice with mitrcy ; and then put the crown on his head amid the loud
applause of the spectators of both nations. A strong guaril of Norinana
surriMinded the alibcy, and hearing the shouts within, tliey imagined that
the duke was attacked; upon which they iiiimedialtdy fell u|)oii the popu-
lace and tired the housi's around, and it w.is oi|iy by great e.xertioii and
his peisoiial presence that William was enabled to put an cud to the out-
ruje and disiuibance.
riiongh he had experienced so much good will from the |)rineipa1 En-
glisli, Willi, nil even yet felt doubtful how far he might rely iimiii the peaiu;-
able conduct of his new sulijeets, especially the sturdy l.oiiiloners, and ho
showed the jealousy he felt by eau!*iug strong furtressi s to be erected la
ovurawo tho Knalisn and serve as places uf refuge fur his own poophi.
1(J8
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
r
1 1'
II
•i
int
A. D. 1067. — His jeiiloiisy of his new subjects was still further shown oy
his retiriiiij from London to Biirkinij, in Essex, where he held a court for
the purpose of reeeiving i* ■ homage of those Kiiglisli nobles who had not
been presented at the cu.onalion. Kdric, snrnaincd the Forester, the
brave Earl (Jo.xo, lOdwin an-J Morcar, who had so zealously though iiief
feelually endeavoured to |)ievenl him from enslaving their country, and a
crowd of nobles of smaller ote waited upon him there, made their sub-
mission in form, and w. re confirmed by him in their authority and pos
sessions, and though the new reign had commenced in war and usurpation
there was thus far every appearance of its being both a just and a tran-
quil one.
Having received the submission of all his principal Eniflish subjects,
William now busied liiuis(.'lf in distributing rewards among the Norman
soldiery to whom he owed his new crown. He was enabled to behave
the more liberally towanis them, because, in addition to the large treasure
of the unfortunato Harold which had fallen into his hand.s, he wasenri(;hed
by great presents made to bun by numerous wealthy English who were
desirous of being among the earliest to worship the risinir sun, that they
might enlarge, or :i I I'm least preserve their estates. As the clergy had
greatly assisted Intn In made rich presents to them also; and he ordered
an abbey to be erected near the site of the late battle, and to be called
after it.
An aneedote is related, in connection with this abbey, that William was
informed, after the foundations were laid, that the workmen could not
find ah> spring of water for the supply of the intended edifice. " Let
them work on," replied William, " let them work on, by the blessmg of
God, wine sl'.all be more plentiful in that abbey than water in any other
in Eiig.and."
W .li.tm doubtless built tiiis magnifieeiil abbey partly for the sake of
I 'acii i! there his most zealous friends among the Norman monks, and
lATUy as a splendid and durable monument of his great triumph ; but he
affecKid lo dedieat(! it chielly to 'he saying of masses for the repose o/
that unfortunate prince whom he had dejirived of both kingdom and life.
Though William had obtained his throne strictly by coniiuest and usur-
pation, lie comincnccd his reign in a manner the best ealculaied to recon-
cile his subjccls to their change of sovereigns. 'I'lie pride of comiuesl did
not blind him to the neeessily of eoncilialion, and while Ik; was in reality
the most busy in iilaeiiig all power mxl infiuence m Norman bands, he lost
no opportunity of showing apparent favour lo and confidenci! in the lead-
in({ Saxons. Though he confiscated not only the estates of Harold, but
also those of many of tin leading men who bad sided with that uii'c'u-
nale prince, he in numerous cases availed lnmselfof ^lellder excuses for
restoring iln' propertit's to their rightful owners. Satisfied that the imbe-
cility of Edgar Allielinii secured the jieaceable behavi(Mir of that |)rince,
he confirmed him iii the earldom of Oxford with which he bad been in-
vested by the dcM-eased king; and, by the studied kindness of his de-
meanour towards the Saxon nobles who approached him, he sirove to add
to tlii'ir gratitude for the solid favours he cdiiferrcd ii|)on iliciii, a feeling
of personal kinilness and alfeclioii. Nor did he omit to secure llieirood-
will of the people at large by nuimtaining among Ins troops that strici ihs-
eijiline for which li(> had been remarkable in Nonnamly. N'ictors llioiigh
Ihcy were, and both ordered and encouraged to keep ilic S.ixon popula-
tion III strict olifdieiice to the new uovernincnt, tliey were not allowed to
add insolence lo iiiilhorily, and the sliirhtcHt disorder or invasion of pro-
perlv w.is promptly iiiid strictly puiiisiied. His coueilialing policy ex-
leiulcd III tlie metropolis. Tlml city had been warmly opposed to hiin,
but Ins anger for the p.ist opposition w.is kept dowii by a prudent con-
tiileralion of the iin|iortant part so powerful ii city inii{ht at s(nno luitire
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
169
D siiko of
(inks, and
h ; but he
rupose of
unit life.
Ill U8ur-
I rcciin-
jucsi (li('
1 rc;ility
i, li(< lost
ho Icail-
riild. hut
inilV-'u-
uscs for
le iinl)(!-
l jirnicp,
liiM'ii in-
his (Ic-
' to ailil
I fi'rhni,'
II' triiiiil-
llll-l lIlS-
ihiiu!,'li
|"i|mlii-
Dwi'd to
) of pro.
ilii'y f'X-
to hiin,
lit con-
future
tune lake for or against him ; and lie therefore confirmed its charter and
prlvlk'gf » iis early and with as much apparent good-will us he did those of
the other cities of the kingdom.
These instances of justice and moderation produced the greater efTect
on aci'ouut of the warlike fame and generally stern character of the king,
and while his imposing presence and brilliant reputation caused him to be
looked upon with awe wherever he appeared, as he took care to do in
those parts of which he most suspected the loyally, his studied courtesy
to the high and benignity to the lowly obtained him very general liking.
But at the same time that he was thus coiii!iliatiiig his new subjects by
justice and moderation, which latter, under all the circumstances, might
in soii!!^ cases be called by the stronger name of mercy, be took abundant
care to keep the »»ne thing needful, power, in his own hands. While he
confirmed the privileges of the prospcmus and populous cities, he built
fortresses in many of them and carefully disarmed them all. He thus
commanded all the best military posts in the kingdom, and had them con-
stantly occupied by his veteran soldiers, while by bestowing upon the
leaders, to whose valour and conduct he owed so much, tlie contiscated
possessions of the Siixon nobility and gentry, he created nunutrous minor
despotisms dependant upon his sway,and vitally interested in its prosperity.
His politic mixture of rigour and mildness had all the success he could
have aniici[)atcd or even wished, and the kingdom settled down so calmly
under his authority, and so implicitly obeyed his orders, that he even con-
sidered it safe to pay a visit to France. On this occasion, however, lie
exhibited his usual policy ; while he entrusted the government of Knglaiid
to William Filzosborne and his own half-brother, Odo, bishop of Uayeux,
whom he knew that he could safely trust both as to ability and fidelity, he
mviird ihc principal Saxons to accompany him on his journey, thus making
tlicm hostages while seeming to make them attendants upon his state and
conipaiiions in his pleasure. Among the personages whom lie thus de-
prived of the power, even supposing them to have tlie will, of exciting any
disturbances (luring his absence, were the earls Kdwin and Mun-ar, and
Stigand, archbishopof Canterbury, of whose faith he was somewhai doubt-
ful on account of their opposition to him when he first invaded their coun-
try. He also took with him Kdgar Athcling, whose very name he thought
likely to prove a s|)('li ;.o temjit the Kiiglish to rebellion, and iinmerous
personages, who, tlio ..vn of less luiie, had great influence from wealth or
civil or ecclesiastical station.
Though William (mi arriving in his old dominion played the hospitable
host to his English attendants, and thou;>h they, anxious to fmiiisli liiiii
with every inducement to continue in bis uraciousand just course, wore
joyful and CDiitented coimtenances, and endeavoured to do honour to their
new master iiy displaying before his ancient subjects their utmost wealth
and magnificence, they were in secret much gallcil and irritated by the
insolciil superiority which tlie Norman barons and co'irliers did not fail
to assume.
The complete submission and order to which \\ illiam had reduced the
kinsidoin of Kngland, a submission and order so |ier''"it as to encoiii;ij;p a
monarch naturally so suspicions and ;;olitic to pay a ;iansinarine visit
within 1 (pnrlcr of a year from the date nf his liostilt- laiidi.ig in that kinji-
doni, seiins almost incredible, and can only be accounted for by the pro-
digious powe' and vindiclivencss attributed to him personally. Hut .Nor-
mandy is the 111 .:r neighhdur of Knglaiuj ; and, on the slinhlest iniinialioii
from bilo and Kit/osborne, William ••oiild speedily return in jierson to
exert bis dreaded power in repressing rehellimi, ind to manifest his ter-
rible vindictiveness in punishing ijic revolte(| ; hmv then are we to aeeoiml
for t'le personal absenee of tlit^ king almost immediately prodiicinn revolt
in Kngland ! Are we tu 8UN|icct tli.it. W illiain absenlcd himself jiurpoiielv
170
THE TREi;dURY OP HISTORY.
to encouragt revoit, not d )ii!Hing that the English, deprived of (heir «jcst
and most zealous friends aiil leaders, who were in close atteniiiice -.icior
him, would easily be put do u by his victorious army, and tha: he ^■■'.j\k'
thus, without any risk to h)^ new conquest, acquire a plausibl; right to
make a vast and sv.. eping tmnsfer of the property of ihe king;;' in frtai
Saxon to Norman hands 1 Or shall we raiher suppose Hi it the &' axon pop-
ulation willingly remained qu\?5t while thu personal pri'-uiicu of tli. stern
and strict conqueror preven'ed his officers und soldier? from tru' pling
and oppressing liie conquered, and that the idU'.r were so lU-ircuted duriny
his absence us to be driven into ui utter rfn-kioibness of consequences]
The first siipposition, though anyiluiig but honourable to William, i;iri«8
indifferently well with his dark and deep policy ; the kttter m in tlie very
nature of tilings higidy probable. Perhaps, however, via; In'tl. lies be-
tween. William's wishes and viev s would, no Joubt govern the chir;
ir.en among tlie \orni .ns left in England, as to the greater <<) lt.:s decree
of .severity they shou! i exercise during his absence ii keeping the Ni:r.
mail sol'lii i> in order; and the lat'er would be abundaniiy rf.uiy to av.i,!
iiiemst >"^^ L'f any relaxation in the ^liictness of discipline to whicU they
had beei n <'usa>ined, withom greatly troubling themselves to dive into
the poliiii; niouvc.i j.i which llvd relaxation had its origin. Aiul this view
of the case is ^Ik' nunc r'-asonable, because, while policy obliged William
to conciliate i it, J .xons at the commencement of his reign, i!ie vastness
and liie nuinl>ei ,•!" the Nirman claims upon him must have made him
much in want of more c.>;lendi'd means to satisfy them than his early
ost''nt:i!io,i of lenity had left him; and certainly the Norman k:iights and
leaders, who were so sure to profit by new confiscations of >' ixoii prop-
erty, would not be slow to provoke the Saxon population, by evi ry insult
and injury in tlieir power, to such conduct as would lead to conliscation.
T'ijs view of the case, finally, is much strengthened by the iinprohability
til. It .-^o suspicious and politic a person as William would so early ti, ve ex-
posed his new conquest to danger, however guarded auaiiist by tli.' trusti-
ness o: tlioso left to rule for him, in mere childish nnpatience to dazzle
the ey( s of hi.s ancient subjects with his new splendour, and without some
deei) and important ulterior view.
From whatever cause, however, it is quite certain that very soon after
the coiKiueror's departure from Normandy the English began to exiiibii
symploins of impatience under their yoke. Kent, which had been the first
to submit to him after the great batlle of Hastings, was now also the first
to take advantage of his absence and rebel against his autiiority. Headed
by Eustace, count of Uoulogne, they not only did much damage in the open
,;ou;itry, hut even had the boldness to attempt the capture of Dover castle,
and alinoht at the same lime Edric, the Forester, whose possessions lay
towards llie Wtdch border, leagued him.self with some discontented Welcli
chieftains, being induced to do so by the wanton insolence with which
some of the Norman leaders in the neighliourhood had spoiled his projier-
ty. These atlein|)ts at openly opposing the Normans were too hastily and
loosely made to be su cessfnl, but t'li-y served to fan into a llanie the
smouldering fires of discontent which sccreily, but no less steadily, hnrneil
in the hearts of llie people. Not meridy to rcvtdt against the Noriiiaii rule,
but to rise on \\w same day in every village and town in the natimi aiiu
massacre tlif Normans to a man, was now made the object of .i general
coii8|)ira('y among the Saxon population; ami so general and so deK'rmiiied
was the frenzied desiri! to carry tins object into ellfct, that Karl (-'oxo
having refused to place himself at the head of his numerous serf., was ac
tiially pill to death as an enemy to his country and an ally of the Normar
oppressors,
Inrciriiiation of the 'ebeltions slate of hit) new kingilom was Bjieedilv
conveyed to William, wiio hastened over and a|<|)li('il hinmelf to the tail
TUIC TKEA8URY 01'' HISTORY.
171
01 puiiisliiiig tliose who had openly revolted, and of intimidating those
who, though still in outward appearance 'oyal, might be contemplating
similar course. The estates of the revolted wore, as a matter of course
cinfiscated ; and William thus obtained a large increase of sure means to
gratify the rapacity of his myrmidons and to insure their zeal and fidelity.
I3ut while he thus availed himself to the utmost of a plausible reason for
confiscation or plunder, and at the very moment when he at once insulted
and oppressed the Saxon people by reimposing the tax of danegell, so es
pecially onerous and odious to them, he with consummate art preserved an
i'ppearance of moderation and of strict adherence to justice, by ordering
vhe restoration to their possessions of Saxons who had been violently and
unjustly dispossessed during his absence in Normandy. By this plausible
measure he at once taught his subordinates that he would allow no wrong
to be done but vvith his own sanction, procured a certain popularity among
the Saxons, and obtained a sort of anticipative counter plea against the
complaints that might bo made of his subsequent injustice, even though it
should be displayed towards the very proprietors whom he now restored.
A.D. 1068. — The activity, watchfulness, and severity of William ren-
dered the general rising of the Saxons wholly impracticable; but the de-
sire for it had spread too widely to pass away without some appeals to
arms, however ill-concerted and partial. The inhabitants of Exeter, a city
wliicii had always been among the greatest sufferers from invaders, and
in which great influence was possessed by Githa, mother of the deceased
Harold, ventured openly to brave the resentment of William by refusing
to admit a Norman garrison within its walls ; and when the men of Exeter
armed in support of this determination, they were instantly joined by a
vast number of Devonshire and Cornwall men. But the more prudent
among their leaders, greatly influenced, no doubt, by selfish considerations,
IK) sooner heard that William was approaching them with a vast body of
his disciplined and unsparing troops, than they counselled submission, and
induced their followers to send the king hostages for their good behaviour.
But as it is ever far easier to excite the multitude to revolt than to lay the
spirit of violence when once raised, the people broke out anew even after
the delivery of the hostages. They soon found they had to do with one
who had little inel'nalion to halt at half measunis. He immediately drew
up his force under the walls of the place, and by way of showing the re-
volted people how little mercy they had to expect from him, he barbarous-
ly caused tiii; eyes of one of the hostages to be put out. This stern and
savaye severity had all the efl"ect he expected from it; the people instant-
ly submitted themselves to his mercy, and he contented himself with plac-
ing a strong 'ruard in the city. Gil ha, whose wealth would have furnished
a rich booty for William and his followers, was fortunate enough to escape
to Flanders witli the wlude of her treasures. The submissive example
> f I'lxeter was speedily followed by Cornwall, and William, having strong
ly ganisoimd it, returned with his army to Winchester, where he then
>i(!ld his court, and being now joined by Queen Matilda, who had not pre-
viously thought it safe to visit her new kingdom, he caused her coronation
to be solcimiiz(!d with much pomp. Soon after this ceremony the queen
presciiled her husband with their fourth son, Henry; the three elder
lirothers of this prince, Robert, Richard, and VVilliam, were born and still
rcinaiiied in Normandy. The signal success and ease with which the king
had (piclled the revolt in the west did not prevent disturbances arising in
other parts of the coimtry. In fact, such distiirbaiK'es were almost inevi-
table, for the Norinaii chiefs who were posted in various parts of the king-
dom weri> far too much intere.slcd in causing confiscations, to imitate
even the prclencc!-- made to iiioiler.ttion by their prince, and their exactions
and insolence were such as lo l)e well calcul.ited to excite the discoMteiit
anil resistunce of a far more patient and orderly people than Iho Saxons.
172
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
m
In the north where, being- remote from the king's immediate authority, the
Norman nobles had prolmbiy carried tlieir license to an intolerable extent,
the people were enraged to so bold a temper, that Edwm and Morcar
thought it not impolitic to place themselves at their head; anticipating, it
would seem, an effectual o|iposilion to the hated rule of the invader. Their
cause seemed the more likely to be successful, because, in addition to the
number and resolution of the Saxons in revolt, they had the promise ol
support from Malcolm, king of Scotland, Uletliyn, prince of Wales, who
was related to them, anil Sweyn, king of Denmark, who had a personal
and peculiar inlercsl in the success of the Saxon cause.
The conduct of Mdwin and Morcar on William's first invasion, when
they only withdrew tlieir opposition on perceiving that they could no lon-
ger rely upon the zealous co operation of the people, sufficiently attests
their sincere love of ciMinlry. Hut we must not omit to state that on this
occasion of rising in the north the noblemen in question were to a con-
siderable extent inlhienced by private animosity. How seldom, alas!
is even the purc.t patriotism free from all taint of selfish and personal
feeling!
To high-spirited nobles like Edwin and Morcar, the mere indications of
distrust which William could not, with all his policy, wholly avoid giving,
woiilil have been highly offensive in themselves. Uiit as regarded Kdwni,
the flistrust manifested by the king assumed a deeper tint of oflTence, inas-
much as he inanifest(>d it by an arbitrary and capricious refusal to perform
the [iroinise he had made (ui ascending the throne, to give to that noble-
man the hand of his daiighlerin marriage. This afriont, implying so much
dislrnsi, and certainly giving the rejected suitor and his brothergnod reason
to infer the foregone deiermination of still further and more direct proofs
of the king's ill-will, undiiiibiedly had its iiitluence in causing the brothers
openly to put themselves at the head of the present revolt.
However litth; reason William had to expect a new outbreak so soon
after the exam|)le he had made in the west, he was not, in the military
sense of the word at least, surprised. His troops wvva constantly keptir
marching order, and tliongli from their vast nuinber they were distributed
over a large s|)ace of country, their lines of comiiiunication were so ai
ranged that a vast nninber eonhl on the shortest notice he assembled in
one compact body. The inst; nt, iherefiu'c, that he was informed of this
new revolt, he set (Uit for the north by forced marches, caused Warwick
and Notliiigham castles to be strongly garrisoned under the respective . om-
mand of Henry de lleaim nit and William l*everil, and reached York with
such unexpected c(,'lerity, iliat he apjieared in front of the astonished in-
surgents before they bid received any of the foreign aid upon which ihcy
had so greatly reckoned when forming their [ihiiis. I'Mwin and Morcar,
together with another very powerful noble who had taken part with them,
wisely gave up all thought of making any resistance with their very in-
ferior force, and were received into the king's [leace and pardon. He not
only spared them in person, hut in their possessions also; still confisca-
tions were too esscntiil a part of his means of eimsolidaliiig and perpetu-
Bliiig his power, to he generally dispciiHcd with. While the leading men
were thus allowed to escape impoverishment as well as the more severe
pii'iisliineiit of rebellion, their humbler anil, comparatively, unoffending
followers were mulcted with the most merciless severity. The whole
secret of his clemency to the three powerful leaders whom wt; have named
seems to have been his dmibt whether In; eoiild just then crush them with<
out a ri>k more than proportioned to the gain.
The failure of this rebellion at the iioilli, and the peace made between
William and .Malcolm of Scotland, which seemed to cut off all hopeof fii.
tiirc aid fioiii that iiionarch, iiii|iressed the wliolc iialliui with a hopeless
•ciise uf complete and miriended subjection. The multitude muttered the
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
173
aeepciirses to which they dared not give louder iitteranue, and prepared to toil
oil ill tlieir ordinary routine, and bear more or less oppression as the ca-
price or the polii-y of their tyrants might delermine. But the hopeless-
ness of braver and more passionate spirits was of a less passive kind. Un-
able to free their land from the rule of the oppressor, they at least had
pliiiosophy enough to abandon it and seek freer homes in stranger climes,
whence tliey could return should a brighter day beam upon England.
Among those who thus voluntarily went into e.xile was Edgar Aiheling,
who. with liis sisters Margaret and Christina, sought peace in Scotland.
Malcolm not only showed every kindness to the unfortunate exiles, but
married Margaret ; and partly on account of the connection he thus formed
with the most illustrious of the Saxon families, thouf;li mainly, perhaps,
with the politic view of streiigtheiiiiig his kingdom, he gave ready shelter
to nil Saxons, of whatever rank, who sought it in his dominions.
If many of the English were driven into exile by despair of being able
to free tiieir country, not a few of the Nonnans began to grow weary of
living in a land so frequently disturbed, and among a people to whom they
felt that they were so ttioronglily hateful that their lives as well as pos
sessions would infallibly be forfeited should that people get the upper hand
of them even for a single day. This weariness, moreover, was by no
means exclusively confined to the meaner sort. Many of the higher chief-
tains, and among them Humphrey de Teliol and Hugh de Gratesmil, re-
quested their dismissal and permission to return home. The kiiiif could
scarcely refuse compliance with such a request, but h' ■iked his grants
in the case of all who made il, telling them that the laiit. I its defenders
must go together. And though some of his bravest leaders k-ft him upon
these unfriendly terms, he had liitic oc(;asion to regret them, for his liber-
ality and aiii|)le means of displaying it insurml him abundance of new ad-
vciiliirers. not merely willing l)ut eager to enlist under his baiin">'.
A. D 106!). — The (h-parture of so many malcontents from Ens;laiid had
by no means the cffecl, as il iiiight sei'in certain to have, of Mininishing
the chances of disturiiancrs. The voluntary exiles carried ''.leir grii;f8
and their rancour with tlicm, and i-.st no opportunity of niriiiing friends
for England and foes for England's Norman tyrants. Nor di i ihey want
for a rallying point. When Harold fell, bravely battling ag.«',ist the inva-
ders, his three sons, Godwin, Edmoiid, tind Magnus, sought '-'.lelter in Ire-
land. They were well received by the princes and chief's of that wild
country, and soon became very popular among them. Eoraged at t'-o
cause of their exile from I'^ngland, and consian.ly surrounded by sucii
practical lovers of strife as tlw; Irish [)riiices of that time, they naturally
began to conicmplatn a d('sc( lit upon England, and to calculate what aid
they could rely upon beyoml that which Ireland's own wild chieftains and
strife loving kerns could allbnl them. Deiiuiark they could with tolerable
certainty depend upon; and Ihey hopec' tliat both .Scotland and W'lles
would he induced to aid lliein when the strife sliould once fairly be 'ifoot.
Encoiiri'.Licd by these confideiii expeetalions of aid, they landed wilii a ron-
siulerabh' but disorderly force upon the (uiast of r)evonshire. IJiit instead
of finding the English peasantry llocking aniuiid them, grateful for iheir
coming and eager to join in their enterprise, liiey on the contrary, had
scarcely set foot upon the shore when tlu^y found theinsclves vigorously
assailed hv th.' trai ii'd liireiinu:s of the Norman, under the coininaiid of
Uiiaii, son of the I iiiint of UriHany, who worsteil them in several petty
battles, and at Icngili drove them back, withinuch loss and some disgrace
to their vessels.
I'nsuceessfnl as thif attempt of the sons of Harold was in itself, it ser-
ved as a signal for the niiineKius risings, especiallv in the northern part of
the kingi'otn. Tiie Noith'.ie'.hrians rose, look T'lirham by surprise, a id
^lew upwards of seven hundred iiieii, among whom was the governor
1
f
«'
M
1
i
1 " ■
1
■
lilii
t74
THE TRtSASURY OF HISTOEY.
Robert de Com3'n, to whose negligence the Saxo.is were said to hav«
been mainly indebted for their success. From Duvham the inclinatioii t )
revolt spread to York. There the governor, Robert Fitz-Richard, and
many of his people were slain ; and the second in command, William
Mallet, secured the casile, to which the rebel? Dromplly laid seige.— .
They wore aided in this bold attempt by the Danes who now landed from
three hundred ships, and by the appearance among them of Edgar Alhe-
ling, wh(, was accompanied by several Saxon exiies of rank and some in-
fluentinl Scots, who promised the aid of large numbers of their country-
men. The castle of York was so strong and so well garrisoned, that ii
is probable it might easily have held out against all the rude and unscien-
tific atta(;ks that the revolted Northumbrians and their allies could have
made upon it, but for an accident. William Mallet, the gallant defender
of the castle, perceiving that some houses were situated so near as to
••o -unand a portion of the walls, ordered them to be fired lest they should
serve as works for the besiegers. But fire is a servant as uncertain and
uncontrollable as it is swift. A brisk wind carried the flames beyond the
nouses which were specially devoted to their destroying ministry ; every-
where the flames found abundant fuel, nearly all the buildings being of
wood, and the conflagration, defying the inadequate means by which the
pjople tried to stop it, destroyed nearly the whole of the city, which even
at that time was very populous. The alarm and confusion which were
caused by this event enabled the rebels to carry the castie by storm ; and
scarco'y a man of the garrison, numbering nearly three thousand, was
spared alive. Hereward, an East Anglian nobleman, at the same time
wrought much confusion and diflicul'y lo the Normans ; cutting oflT their
marching parties and retiring with their spoils to llie Isle of •*''■'. somer-
set and Dorset were in arms to a man, and Devon and Cornwall also rose,
with the exception of Exeter, which honourably testified its sense of the
clemency twice shovvn to all its population, save one unfortunate hostage,
and held its gates closed for the king even against its nearest neighbours.
Edric the Forester, who had many causes of quarrel with the Normans,
allied himself with a numerous body of Welsh, and not only maintained
himself against the Norman force under Fitzosborne and Earl Briant, but
also laid seige to the castle of Shrewsbury.
When to tliese instances of open and powerful rebellion we add innu-
merable petty revolts in other parts and the univers.d hostility and rest-
lessness of the Saxons, it will be admittnl that there was enough in the
state of the country to have made the boldest of monarchs anxious. And
William was anxious, but undismayed. To 'lis eagle eye a single glance
revealed where force was absolutiiy requisite, ami where bribery would
still more readily succeed. To the Danes, who were headed by Osliorne,
brother of the king of Denm.irk, iind by Harold and Canute, sons of that
tnonari'li, he well knew that the fici'dom of the e(,tiiitry was a mere pre
text, and that their real iii<-enlive to strife was desire of gain. These he
at one" resolved to buy ofT; and he quickly succeeded in getting them to
retire to Denmark, by p;iyiiig tliein a sum of money and giving them
leave to plunder the coast on their way. Deserted by so (jonsiderable an
ally the native leaders beraine alarmed, aiui Williaiii fmnid no dilliculty
in persuailiiiL^ Wallheof, who had been made governor of York by the
Saxons on tlicir takin;j the castle by storm, to submit on promise of fa-
vour; a |)romise whiidi tli' king sirirlly k(|)t. Co.s[)atrie followed the
examph? and was maiie earl of Northumberl.i'id ; and K(h'i(! tin; Forester
also submitted and was tak(Mi into i ivour. Edi^ar Atheliiig iiad no course
open to him but to hasten back to Scotland, for, while llie loss of all his
allies rendered any stni!r;ile on his part so hopeless that it would have
biM'u ridiculous, he fcartiil, and with great apjiareiit reasmi, that his Saxon
blood royal would incite William to put him to death. The king of Scot-
If
34
m
S
,'«•;
■*f»
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
175
land, to whose tardy coming the confederates in some degree owed their
ill success, seeing that the northern confederBcy was broken up, march-
ed his troops back again. The failure in the north struck terror into the
rebels throughout the kingdom, and William saw all his late opponents
lubject to liim, save Hereward, who still maintained his partizan war
fare— not quite exclusively preying upon the Normans it is to be feared-
owing his protection to the difficulty of access to his swampy retreiit
CHAPTER XIV.
THE RGiON or WILLIAM I. (CONTINUED.)
A. D. 1070 — Havino by force and policy dissipated the confederacy
which had threatened iiim, William now determined to show that what-
ever kindness and favour he might extend to individual Saxons, whether
from genuine good feeling or from deep policy, the great body of the peo-
ple had no mercy to hope from him. And as the north had been espe-
cially troublesome to him, so he selected that part to he the first to feel
how terrible his wrath could be. Between the rivers Humber and Tees,
a vast expanse of sixty miles of country as fertile as it was beautiful
was by his stern order utterly laid waste. The cattle and .such other
property as could be conveyed away became the booty of the Norman
soldiery ; the houses were burned to the ground and the wretched inhabi-
tants left to perish upon their desolated lands, without shelter, without
food and without hope or pity. Vast numbers of them made their way
into the lowlands of Scotland, but many there were who could not do so,
or were so attached to the site of their once happy homes, that they re-
mained in the woods, and perished slowly by hunger or the terrible dis-
eases produced by exposure to the elements. It is calculated that by this
one act of merciless severity not fewer than a hundred thousand Saxons
miserably perished !
Though the north was thus especially marked out for the exlerminat
ing rigour of the Conqueror, the rest of the country was by no means al-
lowed to escape. The unsuccessful revolts had placed nearly all the
great landholders of the nation at his mercy ; for they being especially
interested in throwing ofT his yoke, had nearly to a man been implicated
either by personal appearance in the field or by furnishing supplies.
Hitherto the king, as a matter of policy, had affected something like mod-
eration and mercy in putting the laws of attainder and ferfeiture into ef-
fect. But now he no longer needed to pursue that wily policy ; the un-
successful attempts to shake off his authority had terminated in making
it absolute and even unassailable. The whole nation lay bound hand
and foot at his pleasure, and he proceeded so to dispose of the lands that
he in fact became the one great landlord of the nation. No one knew
better than he did that the property of a nation is its power ; and that
power of the Saxons he now transferred to the Normans in addition to
their terrible power of the sword. No antiquity of family, no excellence
of character, even, could save the Saxon proprietor from being despoiled
of his possessions. The more powerful and popular the family, the more
necessary was its abasement and impoverishment to the completion of
William's purpose ; he who had taken any share in the revolts was mulct-
ed of his property, and assured that he owed it to the king's great lenity
that his life was spared ; and he who had taken no such part, but was con-
victed of the crime of being wealthy, was equally despoiled, lest his
wealth should at some future time lead him into rebellious practices.
Having thus effected the utter spoliation of the noble and wealthy Sax-
Ik
176
THE TRKASUay OF HISTORY.
ons, Williinii'ss next care was to dispose of tlie lands of England in such
wise as to give iiiinself the most absolute power over them ; an ' here he
had no need of any inventive genius; he had merely to apply lo England
the old feudal law of France and his native Normandy. Having largely
added to the already large demesnes of the crown, he divided all the
forfeited lands— which might almost without hyperbole be said lo be
all the hinds of Kngland— into baronies, which baronies he conferred
npon his bravest and most trusty leaders, not in fee simple, hut as
fiefs held upon certain payments or services, for the most |)art military.
The iiidiviilnal grants thus made were infinitely too vast to be aoiiially
held in use by the individual grantees, who, therefore, parcelled tliein
out to knights and vassals, who held of them by the same suit and
service by which they held from their lord paramount, the king. And
that the I'eudiil l.w might universally obtain in Engl md, and that there
might be no exception or qualification lo the paramount lordship of the
king over the wliole laud, even the few Sa.xon proprietors who were
not directly and by attainder deprived of their lands were compelled to
hold them by suit and service from some Norman baron, who in his turn
did suit and service for tli(!in l.) the king.
Consiilcriiig the su[)erstitio:i of the age, it might liave been supposed
that the church would have been exein()te(l from William's tyrannous ar-
rangement liul tlimigh, as wi; sliall presently have an occasion to show,
he was anxious to exalt the power of Rome, he was not thi! less de-
•erinined thai even Rome slioulil be second to him in pow(^r in his own ilo-
minions. lie called up(Ui the bishops and abbots for qnit-ri nts in peu-e,
and for their ipidta of knights and lueii-at arms when he should be at war,
in proporluui to their posMssnms aliaclied lo sees or abbeys, as the case
might be. It was in vain iliai the clergy b<'waih:d the tyranny of the
king, which, now that it afTccied iheuiselves, they discovered lo be (piile
intuli'rabh- ; ami it was eipi. illy in vani that the pope, who had so ^eal.
ously allied and cncoura<{eil U illiain in his invasion, r<'inousirated iipiiii
ills ihiH conl'iiiindiug the clergy wiih the laity. William had the [louci
of tint sworil, and wailinifs and reinoiislrances were alike ineUVctiial In
work any chaiiite n|)oii bis iron will. As by eoni[)clling the nmleprivtcl
lay Saxons lo liiild umler Nonnaii lords he so cuniplctely snbjcctcii thciu
us to render rcvidl impraciic.ilile, 'o he took cart; that luMicclnrih all
ecclesiastical dmiiities sliuuld be I'Xcliisividv confcrrcil upon Nonnaiis,
who, indeed were by their grcit superiority in learniiiy fir more tilled
for ihein.as was shown i)y the greit number of Norman compared lo
Saxoii I'isliiips <'ven before the invasion.
Jiiil there was one Saxmi, Siiyaiid, the archbishop of C'anlerbiiry,
whose aiilbonly was too great nol to be obnoxious to the su^incions and
fears of William, the ninre especially as ■Sngaiid liad b()tli wcalih anil
nowerfiil coniieclioiis in addiiinn to his olfii-ial dignity, and was a man of
both t.ileiil ami courage. 'I'lii se coiisideralions, while they made Wil-
li.im desirous of ruining ilii' prnuale, at the same time made lilin dissemble
his inleiitiiiiis iiiilil he couid securely as well as surely carry them into
cITeei. He cipiisei)Ui mly seemed, by every civility, to endeavour to ef-
face from the piimaie's rrcdliM'tion the alfroiit ofiercd lo hull at Iheeoro-
nation; ami a siipeilieial observer, or one uiiac(piaiilted with the hiig's
wily ax ^^ell as resolute naiiire, Wdiild for a long tiine have Imauined Sli>
anil to have been one of Ins prime fivouriii s — for a .Saxon, lint when
Vllhain had stibilued he rest of the nation so coin|ilelely that hu
had no fear of his atti'i' pt iipim Siigaml eli( iiing any powerrnl (M' perilous
opposilimi, the ruin of Ihe pninaie was at once determined upon and
wroiiiiht. Am! etr-'imst.iiiies inruisiied him with an instrninent by
whose means he w.is imle lo accomplish Ills unjust work with at lean)
•omn a|ipeaiancu of judicial re;jul.u'ily.
?<
THE TRKASUHY OFHISTORY.
177
lliiiil so Teiil-
he powt'i
iioi'l'iirili fill
II Norinaim,
picioiis ;iiiil
wimIiIi ami
lis a mail ol
Iv llicin iiitd
at I lie foro-
(ir nrnUiiii
Pope Alexander II., whose countenance and encouragement had lender-
ed William jj'""' service in iiis invasion, anxious to leave no means un-
tried of increasing the pipal iiilluciice in England, had oiilj' awaited Wil-
liam's seeiiiiiiy perfect esiablishinent upon the throne, and he now sent over
Ermeiifroy, a f tvourite bishop, on his legate. This prelate, who was the
first legale ever sent to Kiigland.and the king served eacli others' ends to
admiration. William, by receiving the legate at once, confirmed the
friendly feeling of the papal court, and secured the services of an authori-
ty competent to deal wilti the primate and oilier prelates in ecclesiastical
form, and nominally upon ecclesiasticval grounds, while in reality merely
wreaking the vengeance of the tcnijioral nionarcli; and the legate, while
serving as an instrument of the king's individual purjioses, exalted both
his own power and that of the pope in the eyes of the people. Having
formed a court of bishop and abbots, with the assistance of the cardinals
John and Peter, he cited Stigaiid to answer to three charges ; viz: of liold-
:!Tthe bi.slio|)ric of Winchester together with the primacy of Canterbiiry ;
I., having officiated in the pall of his piedeces.sor ; and of having received
his own pall from Benedict IX , who was alledgtjd to having intruded him-
self into the papacy. The substance of Ibis last charge the reader will
doubtless recognize as the pretext upon which William refused to be
crowned by Siigand ; and all the charges are so trivial that the mere men
tioii of them must sntricienlly show the animus in which they were made.
Even the most serious (diarge, that of being a pluralist, was then compar-
atively trivial ; the practice being frequent, rarely noticed at all, anil never
visited by any more severe condemnation than of being coui|)elled to re-
sign one of the sees.
When so powerful and wilful a monarch as William had delermined
upon the ruin of a subject, however, it matters but little how trivial may
be tiie charge or how ineimclusive the evideiii'(! ; Siigand was degradi.'d
from his (lignity by the obse<jnii)iis legate, and thus thrown indpl'ss into
the hands of tlie kiiiu. who imt menly confiscated all his possessions,
but also (Committed him to prison, where he lingered in most undeserved
suffering and neglect for the rest of his life.
Having thus easily cmslied the chief and In far tin? most iiii|iortanl
Saxon personage' ol the liierarchy, William |)roceei|ed to besiow the
siuiiehard trealinent upon l)isliops .\15elrie and .\g:h\are, who. being for-
mally de])osed by the obseipiious legate, were imprisoned by the king
llnehvin, bisliii|) of Diirliam, was marked <nit lor ihe same fate, tint ho
hud timely warning and escaped from the kingdom. .VIdred, anlibishop
nfYork, was so grieved that ir. having performed the eeremniiy ■ f VVil-
liain' ciM'onatioii lie had even incidentally aided in raiding np so unspar-
ing an enemy of his brethren of the bierareln-, that his nn nt d siilfeiings
produced a mortal disiu'der, and it is said that with his dying brcitli he
called down Heaven's vengeani'e upon William for his general tyranny,
and for his espeeial misconduct towards the church in direct violation ul
of his coronation oath.
Appareiiily reirardless of the curses of the archbishp or of llio deep
lialred of the Saxoiis in general, William sie idily pursued Ins eiuirse.
lie took care to (ill all ccrlesiastieal vacancies Willi foieiuneis. w ho, while
doing their utmost til proiiiole tlie papal inithoriiy and inteiesis ifi l'".ng-
laiid, were ,il llie same lime /ealocs si'pporters of the anllnoily of the
king, whom ihey esjieeially aided in that Miresi of all mems ol ilestroy-
iiig a I'oiupiered people's nation, ility, the introdiietion of ihe l,iii;.iiage of
till coinpierors in general, '.nit more especi,;lly into legal use.
In the leeeiit general and signally nnsncceHsfnl revidts, the e uls Mor-
car and I'dwin liail taken no nirt. Unt now lli;it the < niKpnror had no
longer any li in|ilation to hypoi ritieal and politic mildness, ilie siiii iii.ni of
tliesc iiobleineii w. is a truly perilous and lillieiili i.ii". Their Very InieaKe
I.-l'J
r7fl
THE TREASUKY OF HISTOHt.
»"-■ T
and the pnpuliirity tlipy enjoyed nmonnr the men of their own race mad«
them liaicl'iil ro ihe kmg, who fell thai they were constantly looked up to
as leaders likely at somo piM'iod 'v'fjid the Saxons in throwing olThisyoke.
Their we:dth, on the oilier hand, exposed them to ihe envy of the needy
and graspiniT among' the Norman noldes. who eagerly longed lo see iliern
engMued ni some eMter()rise which wonid lead lo their aitainder and for-
feit nic. Heiiig <'(invinc<'() I hat their ruin was only deferred and w(tiild he com-
pleted ii|)oii the lirst plansihle occasion that might present itself, they dc-
termiiied openly to brave the worst, and to fall, if fall they imisl, in the
attempt todeliver both themselves and their conntry. Kihvin, therefore,
weni to his possessions in the north to prepare his followers for fme more
stniaale against the Norman power; aii<l Morcar, with snch followers as
he could inimediatidy command, joined the brave Hereward who siill niain-
laiiu'd Ins |i(isiiion among the almost inaccessit)le swamps of the Isle of
Kly. Unt VN illiain was now at leisnre to brinu his gigantic power lo bear
upon this (diicf sheltiT of tlii! com[iaraiively few Saxons wdio still dared to
strive against his tyriumy. He caused a large number of llat-hottomed
piiiils lo be coiislrnctcd, by which be c(mld land upon the island, and hy
aim of vast bilionr he made a praciicable cimseway llironuh the morasses,
and siirrcmnilc'i the revoltr-d with such an <iver\vhcliiiing force, thai a sur-
render at discr<'!ioii was the only <'oiirse that could b(' tak( n. Hereward
however, made his way throimb the enemy, and having gained the sea,
contimii'd upon tli:i| element to be so daring and elTcctive an enemy lo the
Normans, that William, who had enoiiirh generosity rcinaiiiing to value
even in an enemy a spirit so congenial to Ins own, voluntarily foryave
hint all his ,icts of opposition, and resloreii him lo liij estate and to liig
jtandini: in the coimlry. Ilarl Morcar, and Kuelwin, the bishop of Dur-
liam, were taken among tic revoliid, and llirown into prixm, when' the
latter speedily jierished.eitherof grief orof the severities mllictcd upon hmi.
I'Mwiii. (Ml the new success of Ihe king ni capt;i''iiig the Harrison of the
Isle of Kly, set out for Sciitlaiid. where he was certain of a warm wel-
come. Hut some niiscreant who was in the secret (d' his route, divnljjed
it to a party of Normans, w ho overtook him before he ccmid rca( h the
bordi-r, ami in the conll'ct that eiiNiicd he \(as slam. His gallaniry hail
made him admired even by his enemies, ami both Normans and Saxons
Ioiiied in limenlMig Iiim mitiimdy I'lid. 'I'lic king of Si-otland, who had
ent his aid lo the ri'volicd, was eompidled to submil to tin' vicloiioaB
William ; and Mdgar .\llielMig, no longer able to depend upon salViy even
ill Scotland, threw hmisidf upon William's mercy. The ( 'oiKpieror, who
Beenis to have In 1 1 Ihe idiaracter of that prince in the most entire eon.
tempt, not only irave Inm life and liberty, but allo\sed him a pi nsiim In en.
able him to live in i-omfurt as a subject in that land of wliii li he ought to
have been the sovereign.
rpon this occasion, as upon all others, \\ illiatn's policy made clemency
n\u\ seviriiy go hand ,n band. While in the leadmi; men of ihe revolted
he showed eilliei cnmparative or posilivc leiillV. he ViMteil the coniiimii
herd with the most frightful rigour, piitimg out the eyes and ciiliiiii; olT
the bands of nianv ot them, iind sciidmir llieiii forth ill tins horrible con
ditioii as a wnrmiig to iheir fellnw-counlrymeii.
A.n. lOT'l. — l'"roin Kngland William was obliu'i'd to 'iirii bis ;ittenliont(>
Frame. The province of Maine in that eonnirv had lieeii willed to Imii
before he bee one kini; of I'hutlan.l, by ( oiiiii llcrbcil. Ki'ceiilly the pi o-
p|p, eiiciMirai;< d by W illialirw residence in Kiiul iiid, and reiideiad li- ai.
lenteil by the vexation" (ipjiprrssKin of the Normans, lo whom In ■ 'ii-
iru-ieil the go\ernnieiil, rone and expelled Iheni; lo wineli dccimva
course Ihey were I'licinii.iged by Ktllke, I'luml of Alipm, who, bill I'orCo.iiit
HeiherlV « ill. would have suceecdi'd to the province. The complelB
imlijeetion of iMighiiiil furnisheil the kim; wiib leisuie lo rdiastin) 'be pco-
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
179
ace mad€
)ked ii|i to
r Ins yoke,
llie needy
see lliein
r and for-
dil heroin-
r, lliey de-
i'.«t. III tlie
tlieiel'ore,
r one more
dlowers as
still in:un-
llie Isle of
v(>r U) bear
illdari'd to
l-hoUomed
1(1, iiiul liy
I morasses,
lliai a siir-
Mcri'ward
ed the sea,
lemy lotlie
IT to value
•ily foryave
;iiid to his
io|> of Diir-
wlific the
,1 u|ioii liiin.
isoii of llie
warm vvcl-
c. (Iivilljjed
reach the
lllaiiiry had
nd Saxons
, will) had
viclorioas
iifiiy (Veil
oiror. who
( uiire I'lm.
i^mii to eil-
,lii ou^ht 10
(di'tiiency
III' revolted
|ic eoimi'oii
leiittinu olT
irrilde eon
iilteiitioii t(V
lllnl to hull
jllV the peo-
llil ll' Ml.
Ill, . ■ll-
il ll, eixivi!
|i for I o.iiil
eoiii|ilelP
n llie peo-
of Miiinp, and he aceordingly went over with a large force, chiefly
Rd of Kiiglish from the distriets most prone to revolt. With these
pie
coiiii"''«f
troops, who exerted llienis(dves greatly in the hope of winning tlie favour
of ;i iiioiiarcli whose power they had no longer any means of shaking off,
and "1
til a stifficient mmiber of ntitives of Normaiidv to insiiie him
acraiiist any treachery on the part of tlu; English, he entered Maine, aii4
coini)i'll 'dtlie siihinissioii of that province, and the relinquishment by the
earl of Anjou
if all
pi"tensions to it.
_.ri. lOT-l. — While William was thus successful in France. Eiiglanii was
disUirhfd, not by the English, but by tlit; most powerful of the king's own
fiivoiirite Normans. Obedient to their leader in the field, the Norman bn-
toiis were accu-<iomed in civil life to deem themselves perfectly iiidepc^n-
deiit, and these feinhil idiiefs having in their own territory absolute pow-
er, even lo the infliciioii of deatli ujion olfendiTs, were too .'-overeign to
hrook wilhoiil ridnciaiice the arbitrary way in whi'li
Will
lam was accus-
tOIIK'll
to issue and enforce disorders. The consecjuence was a very get
rr.d. thdiifih hitherto a secret, discontent among the Norman barons of
EiiL'I'iiid. The long snioiildering discontent was brought to light by the
arhiii nv interference of the king in the domestic afViiis of Uoirer, sun of
his I'livoiirile Fit/.osboriie. Roger, who had been created earl of Hereford,
Wislii'd to give his sister in marriag(! to Ralph d(^ (iiiader, earl of Norfolk,
and. rather as a respectful formality than in the e.xpcclation that the king
wiMild iiiicrpose any obstacle, had reijucited liis sanelioi
I, w 'n
h \V
iiliain
iirhitroily and wiiliont assigning a reason refused. .Sur|)rise(l, and still
mori' iiidianaiit at the king's refusal, both the earls deteriiiined that the
niiinii'jc siionlil proceed iiutw llhstanding. They accnr(liii|.dy nsseriibled
(lie iVii'iiils of tlieir respective hmiscs, and at the banquet which followed
till' ceriniony they openly and w armly inveighed against the caprice of
the king, and esjiecially against the rigour of the authority wliieli he
jircini d so much delermilieil lo exercise over those nobles to whose gal-
|;inlr\ he owed the richest of his terrilories and the pioiiilest of Ins dis-
lliiciious. The coilip.oiy, after the Norman fasliion, had drunk deeply;
,111(1 til men warmed with wine any arunmenls will seem cogent. And
ciilMinly many of the argnmeiils w liicdi were now im'i\ to induce some of
llie MKisi powerful of the .Norman nobility to rcbi I iigMinst the kin,' re
<{iiircil ;dl llie ai(
I'lirc I
lof
wine and wiissmiI to enable them to pass iiiu^ei
be-
ven the most siiinrCiiial jinlixes. Tliougli cv( ly Norman pceseiit
'd all that he had of English wealth or Eiiulisli rank to the rinii of the
[rhilul Saxon owners, the crui Ily of the kiiiir low ards the Saxoes was
viiMlinl iiuaiiisl with the most hypocritnal and loathsome cant, men ly
^ von
tii'c.iiise Waltheof, e.n I cd" Norlliiliiilieilaiiil, n h
IS pri'sent, w
hv liirlli and well known lo be still S.ixini in In an, liiongh be w,i i prime
fiiMMinle of the king, who had given liim his niece .liiihth ill marriaffo.
\i;:iin, the Icgitim i(\ of Williinn's birtli was iKm It upon as ,t rca'' n for
"I'Viiliintr ;ig.iiiist In- authority, thmiuli it bad from hiv very cliildhood been
lliil the viighti'Sl bar to 111." snccessuni to Ins father's diikeiloiii, llion;'h it
was considered no dislinnoiii "i aiiv ei.untry III lairope, and thiMigb Wil-
li;Mn liiinsi If made no lii'.li' secret ol Ins irngnlar birth, that he very coin-
(mpiilv . as duke of Niuanandv, >ii;ni'i
nsi If (lull- linns IliistiirJii
Tlie ni,ih'onieiil .Vcrmins, as il liinieil oi,;, li.id fur belter l,a\c left
W.illhcof 'Mil id' their . .ilcillilion. The cnllniMasin of a festive neeting,
/iciii'j,' upon Ins strong th luu'li deeply eimccah d ••\iiipalliy with Ins mifor-
tiliiate I'ellow-conntrMiU'i , caused him to enter ve'v reiidily into the coil-
ipra "V that was now formed .igainsl the anthonty of Williiin. Ilul with
niidir iniimeiits cmiik oilier feelimjs. Tyrant Jhiiiuh William was to
iillicrs, lo hull III' bad been a most (jraeioiis inon.irch >'id 'literal friend j
there ,Viis i!an::cr, loo, that ;-.ny conspir.iey ai hhI n king so w.ilidifiri
»iid so |),'wjri'.ii H 4ld bo rinitoiis only lo the consinralurH thuin»elvL"«
•il
%
IRO
THE THEA8URY OF HISTORY.
I'
'V,
and finally, setting asitle both personal gratitnde and personal fears, was
it not proliable that in aiding to overthrow William, he would, in fa<"t, be
aiding to overthrow a single and not invariably cruel tyrant, only to set
up a multitude of despots to spoil and trample the unhappy people 1 Which-
ever way his reflections turned he was perplexed and alarmed ; and hav-
ing confidence equally in tlie afTection and in the judgment of his wife,
he entrusted her with the secret of the conspiracy, aiid consulted her as
to the course that it wouhl best befit him to take. But Judith, whose
marriage had been brought about with less reference to her inclinjition
than to the king's will, had suffered her aflTections to be seduced from iter
husband, and in the abominable hope of ridding herself of him by cxpo^ino
him to the fatal anger of the king, f>h(^ sent VVilliam all the particulars
which she had thus confidently acquired of tiio cons[)iracy. Walthcof In
the nx'aniinie, growing daily more and more perplexed and alarmed, con-
fided Ins secret and his consequent perplexities to Lanfranc, whom, from
being an Italian monk, the Conqueror liad raised to the archbishopric of
Cainerbnry, on the degradation and iiii|)risoiimeiit uf {\w uiifortunale Sti-
gaud. Laiifranc advised iiiin faithfully and well, pointing out to him how
paramount his duly to the king and his own family was to any considera-
tion he could hav<! for the conspirators, and how likely it was that even
by some one of them the cf)nspiracy would be revi^aied to the king, if he
did not by speedy informatiiMi at once secure himself from punishineiit,
and obtain whatever merit William might attacli to the earliest informa-
tion upon so important a snlijcct. 'I'liese arguments coincided so exactly
with Walthcof's own fi'eling,-, that be no longer liesitutcd how to act, hut
at once went over to Normandy and confessed everything to the king.
With his usual p<ditic tact, William gave the repentant conspirator a gra-
cious reception, and professed to feel greatly obliged by his care in giving
him the information ; hut knowim: it all already by means of Wallheof's
treacherous wife, William inwardly determined that Walthcof, especially
as he was an Kiiglisliman. should eventually profit but little by his tardy
repentance.
Mi'aiiwhile, Waltheors sudden journey to the king in iV'irmaiidy alarmed
the conspirators ; not doiihtiiiii that they were betrayed, yc| imwijlinir to
fall unresisting victims to the king's raire, they binke into open revolt f.tr
irore prematurely tlinn olherwiwc they would Krotn the lirst dawn ny
of the conspiracy it bad beni a lc;idiiig point of their tgreemeiit that tlic-
■boiild make no open dcmonsiration of liosiility to the king until the a<
rival of a large lb c| of tlic Dani-s, with wIkhii ibey had secretly .illieii
themselves, ami whose aid was (jniic iiidispnisible to their i'<iint)atiag,
with any reasonable cliance of success, the yrf-at majoriiy of the noliility,
who, from real attaehowiit to trie kini; or from rtinre silfish ihdIivcs, woiilil
be sure lo defend the:f absent sovereicn. But now that they wrrf. ag
they risjhtly ennjeetiired, lietrayed by Wallhe<^. they could no lonijer lei;.
ulaie their rondiict by ilie jiiriei mnxiins (<f prndeni-e. The earl of Here
ford, as he wa>! the first of the conKpiralorw. no also was lue first openly
to raise Ins m nidard iig;nnst thi' kmg I Fe, however, was li(>mmed in, and
prevented from passing the Severn to c'.rry r»hetiion m^o tlie heart of the
klli'_"loni, by \Uf- biohop of Worcester and ihe mitrerl alilxi' "f Kve»h;un iii
that e.)nnty, ai'VI by V.'alter de I.ary. n powerful NoriniKi baron. Tie'
Piirl f)f Ni'rfolk •*« d«'feati'd at Trai(j^iii« in rHuihridgeMhirf, by Odo, tliu
kiin!'« half iir'Hticf, who was left as n-gent of th. kingdom, ind Uirliard
de Mienfaite mid William de Wareiine, the lords pistieiiiri** The f »rl nf
Norfolk was fortunate eiioujh to esciipe to Norfolk, bin tbowof hisfmiteil
followers who Were ko uiifortiiiiate as to be made prismieri' ^tid not ulam
iimnedi ilely after the irtion. were li:rlmroiisly '■omli-mn'-d i«» hme ili«»ir
rij" III feel When news id" ib'!i nffoiir reacli'M the earl iM hw iJanifti rw-
treal, he i;ave up all ho|)e of tx'iftg able, nn rt would Mem he had Mtiil m
li
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
181
lynluriiipd
illin<r to
n-voli fir
(lawiiii;
tli;il the-
il the V
•tly allied
iinhatnig,
iKil'ility,
CS, Wdlllll
iii"i'r rt'u-
if H<n
St iipi'iiiy
■i| lii.:iMii
ail (iCtllP
iHham M\
m Til''
Olio, tliu
I Itirliard
he • il-l -if
Ins roiilt'il
iKil «l:iil\
)aiil«i" "»•
li Hllll III
ended, to raise any niither disturbance in England; he therefore pro-
jeeded to his large possessions in Brittany.
A.D. 1075. — When the news reac led William of the conspiracy h.iving
actually broken out into open revoU he hastened over to Kiipland, where,
however, so speedily was the preniiture and ill-managed outbreak put an
end to, he only arrived in time ta si,Tiialize his severity once more by the
punishments which he inflicted upon (he common herdof tlie rebels. Many
of these unhafipy wretches had iheii eyes put out, and still more were de-
prived oftiieir right hands or feet, vt\d thus made a perpetual and terrific
warning against arousing tlie terrible anger of the king. The earl of Here-
ford, wlio was taken prisoner, and upon whom, as the primary cause of the
revolt and the consequent misery and sulTering, il might have been antic-
ipated that the king's wrath would have fallen with deadly severity, es-
caped far better than the wretched peasants whom his imprudence had led
into ruin. He was deprived of bis estate and condemned to imprisonnumt
during the king's pleasure. But the king gave evident signs of an inten-
tion to release the prisoner, whom he, in that case, would most probably
have restored to his estate and to favour, but the impolitic and peculiarly
ill-timed hauteur of the earl gave fresh oirenee to the fiery-tempered mon-
urcli, and the senleiice of imprisontnent was made perpetual.
'I'lnis far VValtheof had felt no fear for himself. He had been guilty of
no overt act of treason, and he had not only repented of the crime of con-
spiracy ahnost as soon as he had committed it, but bad hastened to warn
the king, who had received his information with gr. at apparent thankful-
ness. Hut Waltheof left out of his calculation one very im[)orlant point;
lie forgot 10 take into consideraiion the fatal fact of his being an Kiiglish-
nian. Moreover, lie had the |)le, dings against bini of his infamous wife
Juililh. TIk! influence she bad over her uncle would scarcely, perhaps,
have sufficed to save her husband, unUiss powerfully backed by some other
cirriiinstanccs ; but it was ijuite |iowerful enough, when addeil to hat oi
the miincrims eonrti.'rs who looked with greedy eyes upon the great prop-
erty of Waltheof, to dose the king','', ears to the voice of mercy, and I he
unhappy Waltheof was tried ami executed. We have not said that he
was condemned ; having said that he was tried, his eoiideinnatioii need
not lie ineutioued; for who, when the king wished his ruin, could in that
age In; tried and not coudemiied !
Waltheof, beinir universally considered the last F.nulisbmHii of rank from
whose exertions his uiiha|)py fellow-countrymen could have hoped for any
ainclioralion of their suflVrings, was greatly lamented ; nay, to sui'h an
extent was the popular grief earrii'd. .iiid so much was il mixed up with
tlie siipersiitioii of the ige. that his remains were siippiited to lie endued
with the power of working miraeli'S, and of thus imlireclly, at least, bear-
ing ti'stimiMiy to bis sanelily and to the injustice of Ins execution. In pro-
[lortiim to the ri');ret felt f(>r the deceaseij earl was the public detestation
of Ins widow. To that delestaiioii retributive fortune soon added the loss
of the king's favour, ami the whole remainder of Iter life wad spent in ub
sciire and nnpiticd misery.
Having completely |nit an end to all disturbance in Kiiirlmd. William
now hastened over to Normandy to prepare lo invade the possesMons of
Ffilph lie (iander, earl of Norfolk. Um that nobleman was so well sup-
purled liy the I'arl of liriltany and the kiii^r of I'raiiee, tlia> be was able to
niaintain himself m the fortress of Did a>>ainst all the fince that William
ciMilil array against him. Il wa-4 no part of Willi.mi's policy lo have any
periiianenior serious cpiarrel with the king of France; .iiid (iiKliiiL' that
bolli il',,it iiiiHiaicli and the earl of Itnltany were residutely bent iipon sup-
piirtiii<{ lialpli de (iauder, at whatever conseijueaceN, lie wisely made h
peace with all three.
A.tt. 107G.~Luufr»iic, raised by William to tli« archbishopric of Oaiite»
;j
182
THE THEASURY OF HISTORY.
bury, waf3 at oiicc an ambitious man and a faithful and zealous servant ol
the pajjacy. Though he had been raised to iiis high st;iiioii by the favour
of tlie king, to whom he was really and gralefully attached, he woiilii not
allow the rights of the elunch to be in any wise inl'rin^^ed upon. On ilie
death of Aldred, by whom it will be rcmenibered th.il William had chosen
to be crowned, 'riionias, a Norman monk, was appointed to sueceed him
in the archbishopric of York. The new archbishop, probably presimniig
upon the king's favour, pretended that the arcliiepiscopal see of York liad
precedence and superiority to that of Canterbury. 'I'he fact of Aldred,
his predecessor, having been called upon lo crown the king, most prob-
ably weighed with the prelate of York; in which case he must have for-
gotten or wilfully neglected the circumstances of that case. Lanfrauc did
neither one nor the other; and, heedless of what the kmg might think or
wish ujion the subject, he boldly commenced a procej^^'on to the papal
court, which, after the dcliiy for which Rome was alreimv proverbial, uas
terminatt'fi most Iriiiniphantly for Laiifranc. It will riaiiiiy be suj)posed
that under such a prelate the people of England were not allowed to lose
any portion of their exorhiianl respect for the papacy. William, indeed,
was not a monarch to allow even the church, potent as it was, lo i.i.ister
him. \''ery early in his reign he expressly forbade his subjects frmii ac-
knowledging any one as pope until autlioriztHl to do so by tin king; he
required all canons of the synods to be submitted for his apjiroval ; and
though even he did not deem it safe to dispute the rigi I of the diurcli to
excommunicate evil-doers, he very etfectually curbed that right, na applied
to his own subjects, by ruling f'ai no papal bull or letter siioiild be held
to lie an authoritative ur even an antheiitiit docuinent, until it should have
received his sanction, it was rather, therefore, in iinbiMug the minds uf
the people with a solenui awe and n /erence of the pojie and the clnncli,
that Lanl'ranc was engaged during Ibis reign; and in this he was so suc-
cessful, that siibse(|ucnt monarclis of less ability and firmness than Wil-
liam were grievously inc'immuded.
(ueuory VII. probal)ly pushed the powerof the papacy over the tempo-
ral concerns of the kinyjdoins of Europe further than any previous pope.
He excominunicatcd .\ii'c|ih(n'us, the emperor of the c;ist, iiiid HnlnTl
(uiiscard, the Norman conqueror of Naples ; betook away from I'tdaiid
her very rank !i« a kiiigdoin ; ;inil lie pretended to the right of parci-lliiig out
till! territory of .'^()aiii among those adventurers who should conquer it
from the Moors. Though he was boldly and ahly op[X)sed by the eiii|)e-
ror Henry IV., he was not a whit detert'cd in his iiinhitious course ; and
even the warlike, able, and somewlnit fierce character of Wiljr.nn did not
»l:ii'ld liim from being ass;iiled by the extravagant (jemiinds (if Koine.
(J.M'gory wrote to lijni to demand the payment of Peter's pence, wlich
koine had convened into a riylilful trilinte, thmigli ;i .Saxon prince had
oiiizinally given the coniribinioii. so calleil, merely as a voluntary doiiii-
timi ; and he h:;d ;it the same tune averred that William had promised to
do homage to Koine, for his kingdom of England. William sent the
money, but he phr ily and smnewliat tartly lidd the pojie at the saiiii
Inne, that he had neiiher iiromiscMl nor i 'er intended to do hi/iiiagc
lo Home. The po[)e wisely forbore lo press the; subject; lint tlioiii;!)
in aildiiiiiii i(» tins plain refusal to eoinpiy with an unreasonable de-
maud, William still further showed his nulipeiidence by forbidding ttifi
Knglish lo ailend a council winch (iregmy li.id sniiimoned, he had ii&
means, even had he Inniself been more free from supeistiiion lh;iii be ap
pears to li.ive been, of prevenlini/ llie progress of \\\f chrtfy in sulijee.l
mg the mil. Is of the people. The greatevl efforts were made to leiidei
the eehbacy of tlie eleriry gent-ral, and to t;ive llie iippear.im'c of aihlitioii.;>
ianetiinomini-iiies* to ilieir outward life, in order the more deeply t(
impress the [leojije with ilunioiionof the jjeiiume saiictiiy of their tliaraclet
THE TREAaO-RY OF HISTORY.
183
Prosperous as WJUiiiin was in his public affairs, lio had iiiiich domestic
troublo. He was obligiid to remain for some years in Nor.nan'iy, iliou^h
as a residi'tice he greatly preferred Kiigland. Uiit his eldest sun Uobert,
«in'n;iined (>)iirthose, on ai-eoniii of llui shortness of Ids hiirs, made his
l.iiher fear for tlie safely of Normandy. It appear that wuen Maine
suliinitlt'd to William, he promised the people of that province that they
slioiiM hav(! Robert f<ir their prinee ; and when he st^t out to conquer
Kiiirlaud, Ins in complianee with the wish of the French kimj, wliom i!
was jii^i theji his es[)ecial interest and desire to satisfy, nam vl Uobert
;is his Mircessor in the dm-hy of Normandy. He was well aware Ihat
(luiiiij this was his sol(! means of reeoniMliusi; Fr.inee to his eoiiijuest o
KiiLtlaii I, but he had not the slii,'lnest iiileiitioii of performing his promise
Iiiileo I, wlieii h(! was su!)se(i;i ;iitly askel by his sou to put hi n in |)i)S
3(^ssion of Normandy, he riilictuled the yoiiiig man's credulity by reply
inj;, in the vulgar proverb, that lu did not intend to undress till \u'. went
tohcd. 'rhedisappoinlmenleuraiied the nalurally liad temper of Robert;
uoiiic t]narr(ds with his brothers William and Henry, whom he liatcil for
till' superior favour they enjoyed with the^r father, inlliiiued him still far
(her, ami he factiously did all that he could to thwart his father's wishes
iiiil interest in Normandy; nay, he was more than suspected of having,
by Ins intrinui's, confirmed the kiiiij iif France and the earl of IJrittany in
tlicir support of his rebellious vassal, the earl of Norfolk.
So thoroughly bent was Robert upon undiitifid opposition to his father,
that he seized upon the i>|)porinuity affordcil by an e.vireinidy childish
(|ii;urel between himsidf and his brothers, in wdiich he accused his father
of partiidly sidiiig airaiiisl him, an 1 hastened to itonen, w'lfr ■ hi^ en leav-
to surprise ami seize the citad(
11
e was previMited from siiccee
,1-
iiij ill this treason by the suspicion and activity of the goviiriior, Roj er
itr Ivcry. 'Still bent upon this uiniitnral opp()sitiou, iiob Tt retired to vhe
(Msilc of Hii^h de Ncnchatel, who not only gave him a hospitable recep-
tion, bill assisteil iind encouraged him to make open war upon his sove-
rcisjii ana father. TIk; liery but ueiierous character of Robert made him
a very ureat favonriti! among the chivalrous Normans, .-iiid espccinlly
aiiioug the younger nobles of Niirmandy and the neighbouring provinces;
tiid as Robert was supposed to be privately favoured by his mother, he
hail no didicnlty in raising forces sniUcient to throw his father's heredit*-
ry dmniiiious into Ironlile and eonfusioii for several years.
So tronblcsonie (li<l Robert and Ins adhineiits ai Iciigih become, tliat
William, growing seriously alarmed lest !\e sliunid actually hav(> the mor-
tificaiioii and disgrace of seeing Norinaiidy forcibly wrested from him by
his own son, sent over to F.ngl.tiid for forces. They arrived under some
of th(! veteran chii'fs who had helped to coiKiuer I'higlaud; and the iinduti-
I'lii lioberl was driven from tin' posts he had conquered, and coinpcll(;i| to
lake refuge in (he castle of (ierlieniy, whiidi refuge tlu' king of France,
who had secretly connscllcil and abetted his misconduct, had proviiled for
him. He was folhnved ilnther by his failier in person, ^ut the garrison
being strong and well provided, the resisiaiice was obstinate in propor-
liiiii. Fretjnenl sallies were made, and on one of these occasions Robert
was personiilly opposcil to his f.ither, whom, from the king's \isor being
dow n, he did not recognize. The fight was l'ier<'e on both sides ; an 1 Uob-
ert, having the advantaue of Kuperim' agiliiv, wonnded and uniiorsed Ins
father. The king shouted lo one of his oiVicers for aid to ri inoiiiit : and
Robert recoLrnizmg his pirent's voice, was so struck with l.orrin' at th«
larrow escape he hail had ol sl.iying the author of Ins beliefs ih it he threw
liiinsi If upon his kiiei's and eiitrciiled foruiveuess fm- his miscoudu -t Hut
the kins; was toodee|ilv olVcnded lo be reconciled on the iiwlani to his er-
ring and iM'inieiii son, ami. nnmnliiig Uohert's horse, he rode t • his own
canii). 'I'he sw^a was sliurll) afterwards ruined; and (Jiiueii .Matilda hav
■hi
184
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
iug siiccfpdcd ill briiigiiirr about :i r('conri!i;ition. the kincr not only rI-
lowed IfobLTl to iiccoiiipiiny liiin to Kiiirl.iiul, l>iil also eiii rusted him with
an army to chastist; the Scotch for some incursions they liad made upon
tlie northern parts of Kughind. 'I'tie Welsh who, as well as the Scotch,
had taken advai tage of the king's ahseuce to make incursions, «'ere now
also eli.istiscd and hrought into submiss >n.
A.D. 1081, — Flaviiig both his Norman and Knglibb dotninions now in a
state of profound quiet, Willi;)' rnrn(^d liis attenlion lo the important ob-
ject of a survey and valna'ic.i o' the lands of Knp;lanii. Takmg for his
model the survey wblcb had Ixfen made by onler of Alfre(l, and which
was deposiced at W'nicboster, he iiad tli.- extent, lenuie, value, and kmd
of the land in each district carefully noted down, togellier with the names
of the proprietors, and, in some eases, the names of the tcu;iiiis, with the
number, age, and sex of the cottagers and slaV(!S. lly gooil arrangement
this important work, in despite of its great extent, was completed within
six years, and, under the name of the Domesday Book, It to this day re-
mains to give us the most accurate account of Knaiand at that time, with
the exception of the northern [iidvinces, whiidi the ravages of war and
William's own tyranny had reilnced to such a wretched condition, that an
account of them was not considered worth '. ikiiig.
The king's acts wen? not always of so praiseworthy a character. At
tached. like all Normans, to the pleasures o' ilie chase, lie allowed that
pleasure to seduc(; him Into cruellies in(n'e el ar.M'teristic of a demon than
a man. The iraine in the royal forests was pn-ti^eted by laws far more
severe than those that protei^icd the lives of luiman beings. He who kil-
led a man could atom' to the law by the payment of a pecuniary fine; but
he who was so unhappy as to be (N-iecled in killing a deer, a boar, or
><ar
■!'Ji M : li
form one. Houses, whoU; villaues, churches, nay, even <'onvents, were
destroyed for this pur|iose; and a multitude of wretched [jeople were
thus without any coinpiMisation deprived of their homes and propeity
and cast upon the world, in many eases, to perish of want.
Uesides the trouble which Wiiliain bad been caused by (be petulance
of Ills sou Uoberi, hi! towards tin! eiul of his reign had two very grt^al
trials; the ungrateliil conduct of bis half brotluT Odo, bislii)p of IJayenx, and
the death of Qnei^n MaliMa, to whom througlioni be was most IVrvenily at-
tacheil. The presii nptiou of Odo had led him not oidv to aim at the pa-
pal throne, but also to attempt to seduce some of W illiain's nobles from
their alleijiance and a(rcom|)auy him to Italy. William ordered the proud
prelate to be arrested ; and liiidiiig that Ins ollicers, deterred by their feat
of the clinrch. were afraid to seize the bishop, he went in person to arri'Sl
him; and when Odo, inistakmgly imagimiiL' that the king shared the pop-
ular prejudice, plea led his sacred character. William drily replied, "I do
not arrest the Hislmp of Hayi'ux, Init the earl (d" Ki'iit" — which title
Willuiii had hesiowecl n|)on him. He iheii sent him to Normandy, and
ther^ kept him in coiitinemeiit. William's end, liowcvei noiv approached.
Some iu'-tirsioiis made u|ion Normandv bv Krciich kiiighis, ami a coarse
joke parsed upon bis corpulence by the l''ieiicli king, so itnicli provoked
iiim. that he proceedr 1 lo 1 iv w.iste the tosvii of M.iules, with the avowed
intention of carrynig Ins rrige still I'lirther. Hut wliiU he watched the
buriiiuir of the iown bis bor.-^e -ii irled, and the kinu was so seven ly
bruiHed that he died a few day iltervvanld at the tiKUiastery of St. (Jer-
V itMriiiir )iJH muriiil tUnesf he niinie grcit grants lo cUurulteti tuid
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
185
pptulaiice
very great
iiyciix, ami
rvenily at-
at the pa-
>l)l('^s from
I lie proud
their feat
II to arrest
ij llie |)()p-
ied, "! do
liich title
niidy. and
[iroached.
a eoarse
provoked
11 avowed
Itched ihe
severely
St. (ier-
iieheH and
monasteries, by way of atonement for tho hideous cruelties of whic.i he
hid lieen ffiiil'yi mit, vvitti the usual incoi.sjstency of superstition, he
coiiidliar.il he pcoiia'' d to accompany '.iis istentatious branch of pen-
itence by 'I" lory'veuess ind release of Ins half-brother Odo. He at
length, h(^' ^ er, ihougli with a reluctance that did him no eredit, consent-
ed to -f le;!^:^■ Hiifl foriiive Odo, and he at the same time gave orders for
the release oi Morcar and other eminent English prisoners. He had
scarcely give,' liese orders; when he died, on the 9th of September, 1087,
ill the tweiity-i.'si year of his usurped reign over England.
Now that we have arrived at the close of William the Conqueror's reign,
it ina he as well before we proceed further with our narrative, to make
a sli'-rt di;"'es.-ii()n relative to the genealogical right by which the future
monarchs of England successively claimed the throne. The Norman coii-
qiiest, as we have seen, introduced an entire char.gi, in the laws, lan-
guai;'-', manners, air! customs. England began to make :• more consider-
able figure among the nations of Europe than it had assui. ed previous to
this important event ; and it received a new race of sovereigns, which
either by tht male or female line has continued down to the present day.
These monarchs were of several '"houses" or families, according to the
persons who espnused the princesses of England, and from such mar-
riages gave to th« nation its kings or queens, or accordi.ig to the ditTer-
ent biau(!hcs into which the royal family was divided. Thus the Nor-
mans began with William the Conqueror, the head of the whole race,
v.u<i ended with Henry I., in whom the male line failed. Steplien (gener-
ally included in the Norman line) was the only one of the house of
Blois, from the marriage of Adela, the Conqueror's fourth daughter, with
Stephen, earl of Hlois. The Plantaoenets, or House of Anjou, began
with Henry U., from the marriage of Matilda or Maud, daugh'er of Henry
I , with (xeofFrey Plantageiiet, earl of Anjou; and continued undivided to
Richard U., inclusive. These were afterwards divided into the houses
of Lancaster and York; the former beginning with Henry IV., son of
John of (Taunt, duke of Lancaster, fourth son of Edward HL, and ending
with Henry VL The latter began with Edward IV., son of Richard,
duke of York, who on the father's side was grandson to Edmund de
Liiiigley, fifth son of Edward III., and by his mother descended "rom Li-
onel, third son of the said king; and ended in Riidiarci III. 'I'lit: family
of Ihe TunoRS began with Henry VII., from Ihe marriage of A!argaret,
great grandiiaugliterof .lotin of (Jaunt, with Edmund Tudor, eai , of Rich-
mond ; aihl ended with Queen Elizabeth. The house of Stcakt began
with James I., son of Henry Stuart, Lord Dariiley, and Mary, Queen of
Scots, whose grandmother was Margaret, daughter to Henry VH., and
ended with Queen Anne. William HI. was the only one of tie' house
ofOiiANOE, whose mother was Mary, daughter of Charles I. And the
house of URUNSwirK, now reigning, began with George I., whose grand-
mother was the princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I.
CHAPTER XV.
THE HEION OV WILLIAM II.
AD. 1087. — Richard, one of the Conqueror's sons, died before his fa
titer. To Uobert his eldest son he left Normandy and Maine ; to lienry he
:eft only his mother's possessions, hut consoled him for this by p •■ ;)hesy-
ing that hr would in the end be both richer ;ind iiKuc pow. rlul than
either of his brothers; and to William was left the most splenilnl of all his
father's possessions, the crown of England, which the ("oncpieror, in a
letter wrillen on his deathbed, (Uijoiiied Lanfranc, arehhisho)) of Canter
hury, to iil.iec upon his Lead. The young Pnncc William, wlio. from thb
166
THE TREASURY OF HfSTORY
I
tii
;ll
^
ii : h
eolour of liis hair, was siiriiiimed Ri'fus, was so anxious to avail himsell
of this letter, that he did not even wait at the monastery of St. CJervas
long enough to receive his father's last breath, but hastened to Kngiand
before the danger of the Conqueror was generally known, and obtained
ossession of the royal treasure at Winchester, amounting to jC()0,000
-a large sum at that lime. He also possessed himself of tlie important
fortresses of Pevensey, Hastings, and Dover, which from their situation
could not fail to be of'great service to him in the event of his right to the
crown being disputed. Such dispute he, in fact, had all possible roaso«
to expect. The manner in which Robert's right of primogeniture was
completely set aside by an informal letter written upon a deathbed, when
even the strongest minds may reasonably be supposed to be unsettled,
was in itself sufficient to lead to soine discontent, even had that prince
been of a less fiery and fierce temper than his disputes with his father and
brothers had already proved him tn be. Lanfranc, who had edui-ated the
new king; and was much attached to him, took the best means to render
opposition of no effect. He called together some of the chief nobles and
prelates, and performed the ceremony of the coronation in the most im-
plicit obedience to the deceased (Conqueror's letter. This promptitude had
the desired efTect. The partizans of Robert, if absence from England
had left him any. made not the slightest attempt to urge his hereditary
right; and he seemed to give his own sanction to the will of his father,
by peaceably, and as a matter of course, assuming the government of
Maine and Normandy which it conferred upon him.
But thiuigh no opposition was made to the accession of William Rufus
at the time when, if ever, such ojiposition could reasonably have been
made, namely, previous to his coronation, he was not long seated upon
his throne ' ! >i > he experienced the opposition of some of the most pow-
erful Nor'Kiiii ill'. lies. Hatred of Lanfranc, and envy of his great power,
actuatpi' s,(ii.;v • f them ; and many of them possessing properly both in
Englaie'; u. I \.."mandy, were anxious that both countries should be uni-
ted iiu-i-i Kobf-it, foreseeing danger to their property in one (.'r the other
couniry vuM'nr'oever the separate sovereigns should disagree. They held
that Robert ;!■■ eldest S(ni, was entitled to both Kngiand and Normandy;
and they were the more anxious for his success, because his careless
and excessively gcMierous temper promised them that freiulom from inter-
ference upon which they set so high a value, and which the haughty and
hard character of William Rufus threatened to deprive them of Odo,
bishop of Hayeux, and Robert, earl of Mortaigne, another half-brother ol
the Conqueror, urged these argunieuts upon some of the most eminent oi
the Norman nobility. Eustace, count of Boulogne, Roger Bigod. Hugh
de Greatsinil, W'illiam, bishop of Durham. Robert de Moubray, and other
magnates, joined in the conspiracy to ilcthrone William ; and they sev-
erally put their castles into a state of defence. William felt the full value
of pronifititude. Even the doinesi'c cmispiriitors were powerful enough to
warrant consideralde alarm and anxiety, but the king's danger would be
increased trnl'old by the arrival of reinfor(!enients to them fitnti Nor-
mandy. The king tlierefore ra[)idly got together as strong a force as he
could and inarched into Kent, where Rochester and Pevensey were seized
and garrisoiK'd by his uncles Odo and Robert. He starved the conspira-
tors at both placen into submission, and he was strongly inclined to put
the leadcu's to deaih : but tlip more humane counsel of William de War-
enne and Robert Fitzhammond, who had j'^nefl him. prevailed upon liim
to content himself with confiscating the property ol the ofTenders and ban-
ishing them from the kingdom. His success over the foremost men ol
the rebel party de"ided the striiugle in his favour. His powerful fieel had
by this lime stationed itself upon the coast, so that Robert no longer had
aiiy opportunity to land the reinforcements his indolence had, so fatally
THE IMIEASURY OF HISTORY.
187
for his cau^l^ delayed. Tlie earl of Shrewsbury, upon wliom the conspi-
rators liad greatly depended, was skilfully won over by the king ; and tne
rest of tin; leaders became hopeless of success, and either fled from the
country or made their submission. Some were pardoned, and others
were very lightly punished; the majority were attaimed, an.) their -states
were bestowed upon those barons who liad sided with the king wli e his
crown was yet in danger.
As soon as he had completely broken up the confcderaoy v 'licli had so
early threatened his throne, Rufus began to exhilut himsc true
natiMR to'.vards his Knglish subjects. As long as his ca'i at'
douliiiid, he had promised the utmost kindness and considr
especi lily won tlie support and the good wishes of his Kn
hy proiiusing a great relaxation of the odious forest laws ol
sor. Now that he was secure, he not merely failed to miti^ iv
ranny under which the people groaned, but he increased it. VVIiili^ La'n-
franc lived, the zeal and ability of that prelate, added to the superstition
of the age, rendered the property of the church sacred. Uiit Lanfranc
died soon after the accession of William Rufus, who made his own will
the sole law for all orders of his subjects, whether lay or clerical. On
the death of a bishop or abbot he either set the see or abbey up for open
sale, as '.le would any other kind of property, or he delayed the appoint-
m(;nt of a new bishop or abbot, and .so kept the temporalities in hand for
his own use. Such conduct produced much discontent and murmuring ;
but the power of the kin^ was too great, and his cruel and violent temper
was too well known, to allow the general discontent to assume a more tan-
gible and dangerous form. So confident, indeed, did the king feel of his
power in England, that he even thought it not unsafe to disturb the peace
of his brother Robert in Normandy, where the licentious barons were al-
ready in a most disorderly state, owing to the imprudent indulgence and
lenity of their generous and facile duke. Availing himself of this state
of tlnna;s, William bribed the governors of Albemarle and St. Valori, and
thus obtained possession of those impcn'tant fortresses.
He was also near obtaining possession of Rouen, but was defeated in
that object by the singular fidelity of his brotner Henry to Robert, under
circunistances of no small provocation to very different conduct.
Henry, though he had inherited only some money out of all the vast
possessions of ills fatli(!r, had lent Duke Robert three thousand marks to
aid him in his attempt to wrest the crown of I'lngland from William.
13y way of security for this money, Henry was put in possession of con-
siderabli! territory in Normandy : yet upon some real or pretended sus-
picion Robert not only deprived him of this, but also threw him into prison.
Though he was well aware that Robert only at last liberated him in
conseqiKMKje of requiring his aid on the threatened invasion of Knp^kmd,
Henry behaved most loyally. Having learnt that Conaii, a very power-
ful and intluential citizen of Rouen, had traitorously bargained to give
up the city to King William, the prince took him to the top of a lofty
tower, and with his own hand threw him over the battlements.
The king at length landed a numerous tinny in Normandy, and the
state of things became serious and threatening indeed as regarded tho
duke, llul ilie intimate! connection and mutual interests of the leading
men on both sides favoured him, and a treaty was made, by which the
l']n'ilisli king on one hand obtained the territory of Ku, and some other
territorial advantages, while, on the other hand, he engageil to restore
those barons who were banished from I'yiigland for espousing the cause
of Ilobert in the laic revolt, and to assist his brother against the people
of Maine who had revolti;d. It was further agreed, under the witness and
guarantee! of twelve of the chief barons on either side, that whoever o(
the two brothers should survive should inherit the possessions of the other
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188
THB TKEA3I;RY OF HISTORY.
I
In all tills treaty not a word was inserted in favour of Prince Henrjr
who naturally felt indignant at being so much neglected by his brothei
Robert, from whom he certainly had merited belter treatment. With-
drawing from Rouen, he fortified himself at Si. Michael's Mount, on tha
Norman coast, and sent out plundering parties, wlio greatly annoyed the
whole neighbourhood. Robert and VViiliam besieged iiim here, and
during tiie siege an incident occurred which goes tu show that Hobert'i
neglect to hr^ brother was owing rather to carelessness than to any real
want of generous feeling. Henry and his garrison were so tnuch (hstres-
sed for water that they must have speedily submitted. When this was
told to Robert, he not only allowed his brother to supply himself with
water but also sent him a considerable quantity of wine. William, who
could nu! sympathize with this chivalrous feeling, reproached Robert with
being imprudent. "What!" replied the generous duke, "should I suffer
our brother to die of thirst 1 Where shall we find another when he is
gone ?" But this temporary kindness of Robert did not prevent the un-
fortunate Henry from being pressed so severely that he was obliged to
capitulate, and was driven forth, with his handful of attendants, almost
destitute of money and resources.
A. D. 1091. — Robert, who was now in strict alliance with the king and
brother who had so lately invaded his duchy with the most hostile inten-
tions, was entrusted with the chief command of an English army, which
was sent over the border to compel Malcolm to do homage to the crown
of England. In this enterprise Robert was completely successful.
A.D. 1093. — But both peace and war were easily and quickly terminated
in this age. Scarcely two years had elnpsed from Malcolm's submissioii
and withdrawal of the English troops, when he invaded England. Having
plundered and wasted a great portion of Norihumberland, he laid siege to
Alnwick castle, where he was surprised by a party of English under the
earl de Moubray, and in the action which followed Malcolm perished.
A.D. 1094. — William constantly kept his attention fixed upon Normandy
The ciireless and generous temper of his brother Robert, and the liceiiiiou3
nature of the Norman Larons, kept that duchy in constant uneasiness
and William took up his temporary abode there, to encourage his own
parliz:iiis and be ready to avail himself of any thing that inieht seem to fa-
vour his designs upon his brother's inheritance. While in Normandy the
king raised the large sum of ten thousand pounds by a roguish turn of in-
genuity. Being, from the nature of the circumstances in which he was
placed, far more in want of money than in the want of men, he sent or-
ders to his minister. lialph Flambard, to raise an army of twenty thousand
men, and march it to the coast, as if for iiiRtunt embarkation. It is to be
supposed that not a few of these men thus suddenly levied for foreign
service were far more desirous of staying at home ; and when the army
reached the coast, these were gratified by the information that on the pay-
ment of ten shillings to the king, each man was at liberty to return to his
home. With the money thus obtained, William bribed the king ot
France and some ttf those who had hitheito sided with Robert, but before
he could gain any decisive advantage from his Machiavclian polii.y, he
was obliged to hasten over to England to repel the Welsh, who had made
an incursioi' duriiiu; his absence.
A.I). 1095. — WhiTc William had been so discreditably busy in prontoting
discord in tlio ducliy of his brother, his owi; kingdom had not het-ii free
from inirigucs. Robert de Moiihray, earl of Norlliumbcrlaud, the (,'ount
D'Eii, Roger de Lacey, and many otlicr powerful harons, who had been
ueeply ■>l1'eiiiled by the king's haughty and despoiic temper, were this
year ucicctcd in a coiif piracy whirh had for itsohifciihe (h'lhroiiiMiicnt of
the king in favour of Nlephcn, count of Auinalc, and ncpi.ew of Williaui
the (^nqueror. With his usual promptitude, Williunii n> gaining inlellr
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
189
gence of the conspiracy, took measures to defeat it. De Moubray was
surprised before he had coinpltted his preparations, and though he resist-
ed gallantly he was overpawered and thrown into prison. Attainder and
forfeiture followed as a matter of course, and for the long period of thirty
years the unfortunate noble lingered in prison, where he died. The Count
D'Eu, who also was surprised, firmly denied his participation in the
conspiracy, and challenged Geoffrey Baynard, by whom he had been ac-
cused. 10 mortal combat. The count was defeated, and the brutal sen-
tence upon him was castration and deprivation of sight. The historians
speak of William de Alderi, another of the conspirators, who was hanged,
as having been more severely dealt with ; but we think most people would
consider that death was among the most merciful of the sentences of this
cruel and semi-barbarous age.
A war, or rather a series of wars, now commenced, to which all the
skirmishes of Scotland, and Wales, and Normandy, were to prove as
mere child's play in comparison. We allude to the first crusade, or holy
war, the most prominent events of which we have given in our brief
"Outline of General History." Priest and layman, soldier and trader,
noble and peasant, all were suddenly seized with an enthusiasm little
short of madness. Men of all ranks and almost of all ages took to arms.
A holy war, a crusade of the Christians against the infidels ; a warfare at
once righteous and perilous, where valour fought under the sacred sym-
bol of the cross, so dear to the Christian and so hateful to the infidel!
Nothing could have more precisely and completely suited the spirit of an
age in which it was difficult to say whether courage or superstition were
the master-passion of all orders of men.
The temper of Robert, duke of Normandy, was not such as to allow him
to remain unmoved by the fierce enthusiasm of all around him. Brave
even to rashness, and easily led by his energetic but ill-disciplined feelings
to fall into the general delusion, which combined all the attractions of chiv-
alry with all the urgings of a mistaken and almost savage piety, he very
early added his name to that of the Christian leaders who were to go forth
to the rescue of the holy sepulchre and the chastisement of heathenism.
But when, in the language of that book which laymen of his period but
little read, he "sat down to count the cost," he speedily discovered that
his life-long carelessness and profusion had left him destitute of journey-
ing to the east in the slyh^ or with the force wliich would become liis rank.
It was now th;it the cooler and more sordid temper of '.Viliiam of Kng-
land gave that monarch the fullest advantage over tiis improvident and
headstrong brother, who recklessly mortgaged his duchy to William for
the comparatively insignificant sum of l(>n thou'sand marks. William
raised the moi^ey by means of the most nnblushing and tyrannous imposts
upon his subjects, and was forthwith put in possession of Normandy and
and Maine ; while Robert, expending his money in a noble outfit, proceed-
ed to the east, full of dreams of temporal glory to bo obtained by the self-
same slaughter of pao^ans which would insure his eternal salvation.
Though William was tlius rcudy, with a view to his own advantage, to
expedite the departure of his brother to the Holy Land, he was himself
not only too free from the general cntliusiasm to go thither himself, but
he also, and very wisely, discouragc-d his subjects from doing so. He
seems, indeed, thougli auffl;'iently suiierstiiious to be easily worked upon
by the clergy when he deemed his life in danger, to have been care-
less about reliiiion even to the verge of iinpiety. More than one unbe-
comi'ig jest upon religion is on record against him; hut we m a }', per-
haps, safely bcdieve that the clergy, the sole historians of the times,
with whom his arbitrary and ungovernable iialure made him no favourite,
have palmed him in this respect somewhat wiirse than he was.
It was in one of his fits of superstition thai, believing himself on the
m
THE THEASURY OP HISTORY.
point of (Inatli, lie was at length induced to fill up the archbishopric ol
(/uutcrhury, which he had kept unfilled from the death of Lanfranc.
Ill terror of hin supposed approaching death he conferred this dignity
upon Anselni, a pious and learned Norman abbot. Anselm at first re-
fuMud the promotion, even in tears; but when he at length accepted it,
h« nhuiKhintly proved that he was not inirlined to allow the interests of
tilt) ehui'cli to lack any defence or watchfulness. His severity of demean-
our mid life, and his unsparing sternness towards every thing that either
rontioii or sniierslition pointed out as profane and of evil report were re-
niurknbiu. He spared not in censure even the king himself, and as William,
on rrcoveri'ii; from the illness which caused him to promote Anselm,
very plauily allowed that he was not a jot more pious or just than before,
(liHputi'H vi.'ry soon grew high between the king and the archbishop whom
ill! had taken 80 much trouble to persuade into acceptance of dignity and
power. 'I'lie church was at this time much agitated by a dispute be-
tween Urban and Clement. Each maintained himself to be the true, and
liiti opponent the anii-pope. While yet only an abbot in Normandy, An-
fiehll had acknowledged the authority of Urban; and he now in his higher
dignity and wider influence, still espoused his cause, and resolved to
OMtabliMh his authority in England. As the law of the Conqueror was
ntlll ill I'oree that no pope should be acknowledged in Fhiglaiid until his
auihority idiould have received the sanction of thn king, William deter-
mined to make this disobedience the pretext upon which to endeavour to
deprive the archbishop of his high ecclesiastical dignity. The king ac-
eordiiiKly sinninoned a synod at Rockingham, and called upon it to depose
AtiHelm. Ihit the assembled suffragans declined to pass the required sen-
UMlce, <lerlarnig that ihey knew of no auth(n-ity by which they could do so
without the eoiiiinaiid of the pope, who alone could release them from the
re»i)eet anil obedience which they owed to their primate. While the
euNe wuN in this state of incertitude and pause, some circumstances arose
whii'li rendered it expedient for ^Villiam to acknowledge llie legitimacy
of |Irlt;m's election to the paj' ';e, but the apparent reconciliation
which llii« pniiliiced between ll and Anselm was but of short dura-
lioii. Till' main cause of >,nie\.. . , though itself removed by the recon-
eilialion of Wdham and the pofie, left behind an angry feeling which re-
(inired only a pretext to liiir-<t forth, and liuit pretext the haugliiy state
ileitpoliHm of William and the no less haughty clinrch zeal of Anselm
vpeedily I'linilHlied.
Wii ineiilinni"! .iiiioiig the numerous despotic arrangements of tlieCon-
qiiei'or, liift liavii.g req'ii red from bisiliopri''s and aliiieys the same feudal
Nerviee in the lielil us IVinn kiy banniies of like value. William Rufus
ill lliiH, im in all despotisin, followed cioM'iy upon the track left by his
father ( and having rewidved upon an expet'ition into Wales, he calli-d upon
AiiNelin I'lir his regulated quota of men. Aiiscliii, in common with all the
ehnri liiiii'ii, deemed lliis hjiecies of serviiuile very grievous and imbecom-
ing III I'liiii'i'limeii ; hnl the (les|iotlc nature of William, and that feeinig ot
fetiiliil MiiliiniMsioii wliieli, next to snbmitisioii to tlie eluiri-li, seems to have
been the iiiiikI powerful and irresistible frcling in lliiisi; days, prevented
him from t;iviiigan absolute refusal. lie iherefore look a middle course ;
he Ni'iil III ipiota of men, imleeil, but so iiisiiiruiently accoutred ami pro-
vidi'd tli.il tliey were utterly useless and a ilisuriec to the well-ap|iiiiiiied
force of wliii'li iliey were inti iided to fiPiiii apart. The king threatened
AliNelni Willi a proseeiilion for this olivii>nsly inienlional and iiisiilliiig
evaHioii ol' the Kpirti of his duty whilt< coinplyiii<i wiili it.s mere letter, and
the prel lie retorteil by a deniainl for the restur ilimi uf ihe reveiiui! ol
which Ins see liail I ii arbitrarily anil unfairly deprived by the kiii'i, ap-
|iealiiiu to the p'lpe at the sanii! time for pMiieetion and n jnsi ilecinion.
The king's violent temper was m inueh inlhuiied by the prelate's opposi
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
lUl
lion, that the friends of Ansehn became alarmed for his peroonal safety,
and application was made to the king for permission for the prelate to
leave the country, a permission which lie readily gave, as the hest way
at once to riil himself of an opponent whose virtuous and religi lus char-
acter made him holh troublesome and dangerous, and to obtain possession
temporarily, at the very least, of the whole of the rich temporalities of the
see of Canterbury. Upon these he seized accordingly, but Anselin, whom
the papal court looked upon as a martyr in the cause of the church, met
with such a splendid reception at Rome as left him littls to regret in a
worldly point of view.
A. n. 10!)7. — Though freed from the vexatious opposition of the indom-
itable and upriglit churchman, William was not even now to enjoy re-
pose ; if, indeed, repose would have been a source of enjoyment to a tem-
per so fierce and tnrlmlent. Though his (fooler judgment had enabled
liini 10 oliiain Normandy and Maine from his thoughtless and prodigal
brotiier, it did not enable him to keep in subjection the turbulent and al-
most independent barons of those provinces. They were perpetually in
a stale of disorder, eitiier from personal quarrels or as the result of the
ariful iiisiigations of the king of France, wiio lost no opportunity of in-
citing llieni to revolt against the king of England. Among the most
Irouljlesoi'.K! of these barons was Helie, lord of La Fleche, n c((inparative-
ly small tnwn and territory in the province of Anjou. He was very pop-
ular among the people of Maine; and iliouyh William sev(;ral tini(!s went
from England for the express purpose of putting him down, llelie as
constantly returned to his old courses tiie moment the niiniareh had re-
turned home. William at Icniith took Helie jirisoner, but at the interces-
sion of the king of France and the earl of Anjou he gave him his liberty.
Untamed either by the narrow est ape he had had from death in being re-
leased from toe hands of so passionate ami resolute a prince as Wdliam,
Helie again commenced his plundering and d(!stroying course, ttiok posses-
sion, with tiie connivance of the citizens, nf the town of Mans, -.nid laid
siege to the garrison which remained faithfid to the king of England.
VViiliiim was engaged in his favourite pursuit of hunting in the Ni'w For-
est wiien he rcciuved this intelligence, and he was so transported with
fury tliat he galloped 'mniedialely to Dartmouth and hurried on hoard a
vessel. The weather was so stormy and threatening that the sadors were
iinwiiling to venture from port; but tin; king, with u good-huuKMireil reck-
lessness and scorn, assur(;d th(mi th.it kings were never drowned, and
conip(dled them to set sail, Tliis p"omplitude enahled him to arrive in
time to raise the siege of Mans, and he pursued Helie to Majol ; hnt he
had scariMdy commence^] the siege of that place when he received so
severe a wound that it rendered it necessary for him to return to Eng-
land.
A. n. 1100 — The cusading mania was still as strong as ever. Wil-
liam, duke of I'oictiers and earl of Cuienne, einnloiis of the fame of the
earlier (.■rnsaMers and wholly untaught by their misfortunes, raised an im-
nii'iise force — some historians say as in^iiiy as sixty thousand cavalry
and a much larger number of infantry. To convey such a force to the
Holy [.and reLpiired no small sum of money, and Count William offered
to mortgage his dominions to William of l']nglaiid, to whom alone of all
liu! lay sovereigns of Europe, the crusades promised to lie truly profita-
ble. Till! king gladly agreed to advance the money, in tin; confulent bo
lief that it would never he in the power of the mortgager to redeem his
province*, and was in the very act of preparing tin; necessary fttice to es-
cort the money, and to take possession of the provinces, when an acci-
dent, famous in history, caused his dealli.
The .New Forest, jilanted by the most inicinitous cruelty, was very fatal
to tl'.e C oiiijueror's family ; so much so, as to leave us little reason to
192
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
wonder that, in so superstitious an age, it was deemed that there was a
special and retributive fate in the royal deaths which occurred there.
Richard, elder brother of King William Rufus, was killed there, as was
Richard, a natural son of Duke Robert of Normandy. William Rufus was
now a lliird royal victim. He was himling there when an arrow shot by
Walter Tyrrel, a Norman favourite of the monarch, struck a tree and, glan-
cing off, pierced the breast of the king, who died on the spot. The uiiiti-
tenlional homicide dreading tiie violent justice which the slayer of a king
was likely to experience, no sooner saw the result of his luckless shot,
than he galloped off lo the sea shore and crossed over to France, wiience
he with all speed departed for the Holy land. His alarm and flight,
though perfectly natural, were, in fact, quite needless. William was little
beloved even by his immediate attendants and courtiers ; and his body
when found was hastily and carelessly interred in Winchester, without
any of the gorgeous and expensive ceremony which usually marks the
obsequies of a powerful monarch.
London Bridge — taken down only a very few years since, and Westmin-
ster Hail, were built by this monarch. ' For the last-named structure,
which has the largest roof in the world unsupported by pillars, he obtain-
ed the timber from Ireland, which at that time was very celebrated for
its timber of all kmds, but especially for the very durable and beautiful
sort known by the name of bog oak.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE REION OF HENRV I-
WiLLiAM Rufus, who died on the second of Augn'it, 1100, in the forti-
eth year of his age and the tliiitieth of his reign, left no legitimate issue,
and was succeeded by his brother Henry, who wa". of the hunting party at
which the king lost his life.
Robert, dnke of Normandy, who as the elder brother of the deceased
king had a preferable claim to that of Henry, was, as has already been
related, one of 'he chief and most zealous leaders of the crusaders. Af-
ter slaughter tt ible merely to think of, and sufferings from famine and
disease such as ^e pen of even a Thucydides would but imperfectly de-
scribe, the crusai. 's had obiaitu-d possession of Jerusalem. Solynian,
the Turkish empe. r, was thoroughly defeated in two tremendous bat-
tles, and Nice, the fr- 'xl of his government, was captured after an obsti-
nate siege. The soi. 'n of H<jypt, however, succeeded the Turkisli em-
peror in the poss(^ssio•l of Jerusalem, and he offered to allow free ingress
and egress to all Ciiristian pilgrims who chose to visit the holy sepulchre
unarmed. But the religious Zeal of the champions of the cross was fir
too highly inflanie<l by their recent triumphs over the crescent to allow
of their acxepting this compromise; they haughtily demanded the cession
of the -lity altogether, and, on his refusal, siege was laid lo it. For five
weeks the soldan defended himself with the utmost coolness and valoui
against the assaults of higlily-disciplined and veteran troops, whose mill
tary ardour was now exciied to the utmost by fanaticism. But at the eiu'
of that time the zeal and fury of the (Jhri^tians prevailed ; Jerusalem was
carried by assault, and a scene of carnagf? and suffering ensued whieli
might almost bear coiii|)arisoii with that earlier and dread scene in the
lame city, of which we owe the undying narrative to Josephus. Nor wan
the carnage contiiied even to iIk; furious and maddened first hours of suc-
cess. Long after the streets of the holy city were strewed with carcasses,
and upon every lieartli lay ihi; dead forms of those who had vainly en-
deavoured tu liefend them — long after the pulses of the warrior had ceaseH
THE TRBASUEY OP HISTOEY.
IM
to be quickened by the perilous assault, and his better natnre to be stifled
by tlie irritation of resistance — an unarmed rabble of ten thousand people,
of both sexes and all ages, to whom quarter had been promised as the
reward of submission, were treacherously and brutally murdered in cold
blood by ruffians who soon after knelt in tearful rapture at the sepulchre
of him who died, lamb-like, for the salvation of all ! Awful indeed, the
contrast between the professed motive of this holy war and the conduct
of the w:irriors!
The city of Jerusalem was taken just about twelve months previous to
the death of William llufus, and the crusaders, having elected Godfrey of
Boul<i<,'iie king of Jerusalem, and settled other nobles and knights in the
Holy Land, returned to Europe. Had Robert, duke of Normandy, has-
tened home direct, he probably would have been able to prevent the usur-
pation of Kugland by his younger brother. His knowledge of the charac-
ter of William Rtifus might naturally have been expected to hurry him
home by anxiety about Normandy; but Robert was to the full as careless
as he was brave. Passing through Italy he fell in love with and married
a noble lady, Sibylla, daughter of the Count of Conversana, and remained
a whole year in her native clime, abandoning himself to the delights of
love am) that most delicious country, while his friends in England — and
his niiimal character, as well as the fame of his achievments in the east,
made them very numerous — were in vain hoping that he would arrive to
defeat the unjust ambitiou of Henry. The latter prince was as alert as
his brother was iudolent. The instant that he ascertained the death of
his brother, he galloped into Winchester and seized upon the royal trea-
sure. De Breteuil, the keeper, endeavoured to secure it, and remonstra-
ted with the prince on the absolute treason of seizing the treasure and
crown, which belonged of right to his elder brother, who was no less his
sovereign for being absent. But Henry, whose friends hastened to sup-
port him, threatened to put De Breteuil to death if he attempted any resist-
ance to his will, and, hastening to London with the money, he made so
judi(!ioiisly prodigal a use of it, alike among friends in fact and foes by
inclination, that he easily obtained himself to be elected king by acclama-
tion, and he was crowned by Maurice, bishop of London, within three
days of Ins brother's sudden and violent death. Title to the throne it is
quite plain that Henry had none. But he now had possession ; and as his
judicious bribery had procured him, at the least, the ostensible support of
all the most eminent and powerful barons, even the most sincere and zeal-
ous friends of the absent Robert were obliged to confess, however sor-
rowriiily, that his own indolence had deprived him of all possibility of
obtaining the throne from his more active and enterprising brother, unless
at the fearful expense of a civil war.
Politic as he was resolute, Henry felt that, obtained as his crown had
been by tHe most flagrant and unqualified usurpation, he would, at the
outset of his reign at least, be best secured against any attempts which
in mere desperation his brothel" might make to dethrone him, by the alTcc
tion of the great body of the people as well as of the nobles. To obtain
this, the tyrannies of his immediate predecessors afforded an ample and
easy scope.
"Besides," says Hume, "taking the usual coronation oath to maintain
the laws and execute justice, ho passed a Chartrb which was calinilated
to remedy many of the grievous oppression! which had been complaineil
of during the reigns of his father aiul brother. He there promised that ut
the death of any bishop or abbot ho never would seize the revenues of the
lee or ablx ; during the vacancy, but would leave the whole to be reaped
by the successor, and that he would never let to farm any ecclesiastical
benefice, nor dispose of it for money. Kdet this concesssion to the church
whose favour was of so great importance to him, he proceeded to cnumor
»— 13
194
THE TEEASURY OF HI8T0EY.
ate tbe uivil grievances which he purposed to redress. He promised thai
upon the death of any earl, baron, or military tenant, his heir should be
admitted to the possession of his estate on paying a just and lawful relief,
without being exposed to sucn violent exactions as had been usual during
the late reigns — he remitted the wardship of minors, and allowed guar-
dians to be appointed who should be answerable for the trust — he prom-
ised not to dispose of any heiress in marriage but by the advice of all the
barons, and if any baron intended to give his daughter, sister, niece, ot
other kinswoman in marriage, it should only be necessary for him to con-
sult the king, who promised to take no money for his consent, nor even
to refuse permission, unless the person to whom it was purposed to mnrry
her should be his enemy. He granted his barons and military tenants the
power of bequeathing by will their money or personal estates, and if they
neglected to make a will, he promised that their heirs should succeed to
thcin. He renounced the right of imposing moneyage and of levying taxes
at pleasure on the farms which the barons retained in their own hands,
and he made some general professions of moderating fines, offered a par-
don for all offences, and remitted all the debts due to the crown. He re-
quired that the vassals of the barons should enjoy the same privileges
which he granted to his own barons ; and he promised a general confirma-
tion and observance of the laws of King Edward. This is the substance
of the chief articles contained in that famous charter."
Though, to impress the people with the notion of his great anxioty foi
the full publicity and exact performance of these gracious promises, Henry
caused a copy of this charter to be placed in an abbey in every county,
his subsequent conduct shows that he never intended it for anything hut a
lure, by which to win the support of the barons and people, while that sup-
port as yet appeared desirable to his cause. The grievances which lie so
ostentatiously promised to redress were continued during his whole reiirn;
and as regards the charter itself, so completely neglected was it, that when
in their disputes with the tyrant John, the English barons were desirous
to make it the standard by which to express their demands, scarcely a
copy of it could be found.
The popularity of the king at the commencement of his reign owed not
a little of its warmth to his just and politic dismissal and imprisonnient of
Ralph Flamhard, bishop of Durham, who, as principal minister and fuvour-
ite of William Rufus, had been gtiilty of great oppression and cruelty, es-
pecially in raising money. The Dudley and Enipson of a later reign were
scarcely more detested than this man was, and nothing could bi more
agreeable to the people than his degradation and punishment. I3ut the
king, apart from his politic desire to gratify the public reseniinent ug:iinst
Ills brother's chief and most unscrupulous instrument of oppression, seems
to have had his own pecuniary advantage chiefly in view. Instead of im-
mediately appointing a successor to the bishopric, he kept it vacmit 'or
five years, and during all that time he, in open contempt of the positive
promise of his charter, applied the revenues of the see to his own use.
This shameful invasion of the rigiits of the church, however, dul not
prevent him from otherwise seeking its favour. Well aware of the high
rank which Anselm held in the affections of both the clergy and tlii' peo-
ple, he strongly invited him to leave Lyons— where he now lived in gieiit
state— and resume his dignity in England. Rut the king accompanied this
invitation with a demand that Anselm should renew to him the hnmago
he had formerly paid to his brother. Anselm, however, by his residence
at Rome, had learned to look with a very different eye now upon thiit ho-
mage which formerly he had (considered as so mere and innocuous n form,
and he returned for answer, that he not only would not pay homiigc him-
■elf, but he would not even communicate with any of the clergy who should
do ao, or who would accept of lav investiture. However much mortified
THE TREA8UHY OF HISTORY.
x9B
Henry was at finding the exiled prelate thus resolute, he was too anxious
for the support and countenance of Anselni — which if thrown nito the
scale for Robert might at some future lime prove so formidable — to insist
upuM ills own proposal. He therefore agreed that all controversy on the
lulijeets should be referred to Rome ; and Aiiselm was restored to his dig*
nity, and, undoubtedly, all the more powerful both from the circumstanct^s
which led to his exile and those which accompanied his return. His au-
llionty Wcis scarcely re-established when it was Hppualed to upon a sub-
ject of the highest interest to the king himself. Matilda, daughter of Mal-
colm HI., king of S(;otland and niece of Edgar Atheling, had been educa-
ted in the nunnery of Ramsay. Well knowing how dear the royal Saxon
liiieiige of this lady made her to the Eiijflish nation, Henry proposed to
espouse her. It is a striking instance of the extent to which the piihjiu
mind was enslaved by R(Hne, that the mere residence and education of this
princess in a convent, the mere wearing of the veil without ever having
taken or intended to lake the vows, seemed to make it doubtful whether
she could lawfully contract matrimony! So it, however, was; mid a sol-
emn council of prelates and nobles was held at Lambeth to determine the
piiiiit. This council was held so soon after the restoration of Anselin to
his dignity, that we may, without great breach of charity, suspect that a
desire to secure the support of Aiiselm upon this very subject was at least
one of the motives, if not the idiief one, by which the king was actuated
ill recalling him. Before this council Matilda stated that she had never
contemplated takinp; the vows, and that she had only worn the veil, as it
was quite commonly worn by the English ladies, as a 8afc<juard fmm tlie
violence of the Norman soldiery. .\s it whs well known that against such
violence even an Knglish princess really had no other secure guard, the
council determined that ihe wearing of the veil by Matilda had in no wise
pledged her to or connected her with any religions sisterhood, and that
she was as free to marry as though she had never worn it. Henry and
.Matilda were married. The ceremony was performed by Aiiselm, anil was
accompanied with great and gorgeous rejoicing. Tins marriage more
lliaii any other of his politic arrangements attached the English people to
him. Married to a Saxon princess, he seemed to them to have acquired
a greater right to the throne than any Norman prince, without that recom-
meiutaticHi, could draw from any other circMiiistaiices.
AD. 1101. — It soon appeared, that, great as Henry's cat ' rjd been to
fortify himself in the general heart of the people, it had iieen • "iihcr un-
necessary nor excessive. Robert, who had wasted so much time in Italy,
returned to Normandy about a month after the death of Ins brother Riifus.
Henry had given no orders acd made no pr^'paraiioiis to oppose Holieri's
resumption of ihe duchy of Normandy. Possessed of iliat point d'nppni,
and being much endeared to the warlike Norman banms by his acliii've-
meiits in the Holy Land, Robert immediately coiiniienced prc^paralioiis for
invading England, nnd wresting his birihriglil from the usurping hands of
liis brother. Nor were the wishes for his success confiiied to those bar-
ons who chiefly or wholly lived in Normandy. On the contrary, many of
the great barons of England decidedly preferred Robert to Henry; and
feeling the same dislike to holding their English and Noriiian pos.sessions
under two sovereigns which had been so stroiittly expressed at tiie ai-itcs-
sion of William, they secretly encouraged Robert, and sent him assiiran-
cci that they would join him with their levies as soon as he should land
in England. Among these nobles were Robert de Belesnie, earl of
Shrewsbury, William de Waremie, earl of Surrey, Hugh de Grciitniesuil,
Uobcrl de Mallet, and others of the very highest and most powerful men
in England. The enlhnsiasni in his favour extended to the navy ; and
when Henry had, with great expense and exertion, made a fleet ready to
oppose his brother's landing, tl.c seamen deserted with the greater iiumboT
199
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
of the ships, and put themselves and their vessels at the disposal of Robert.
This incident gave the king great alarm, lest the army, too, should desert
him, in which case not only his crown but his life would be in the most
imminent danger. Henry, notwithstanding this peril, preserved his cool-
ness, and did not allow, as men too frequently do, the greatness of the
danger to turn away his attention from the best means of meeting and
overcoming it. Well knowing the superstition of the people, he consid-
ered nothing lost while he could command the immense Mifluence which
Anselm had over the public mind. Accordingly he redoubled his court to
that prelate, and succeeded in making him believe in the sincerity of his
professed design and desire to rule justly and mildly. What he himseli
firmly believed, Anselm diligently and eloquently inculcated upon the
minds of others ; and as his influence and exertions were seconded by
those of Roger Bigod, Robert Fitzhammond, the earl of Warwick, and other
powerful nobles who remained faithful to Henry, the army was kept in
good humour, and marched in good order, and with apparent zeal as will
aa cheerfulness, to Portsmouth, where Robert had landed.
Though the two armies were in face of each other for several days, not
a blow was struck ; both sides seeming to feel reluctant to commence a
civil war. Anselm and other influential men on either side took advantage
of this pause to bring about a treaty between the brothers ; and, after niucli
argument and some delay, it was agreed that Henry should retain the
crown of England, and pay an annual pension of three thousand marks to
Robert ; that the survivor should succeed to the deceased brother's pos-
sessions ; that they should mutually abstain from encouraging or harbour-
ing each others enemies ; and that the adherents of both in the present
quarrel should be undisturbed in their possessions and borne harmless foi
all that had passed.
A. D. 1102.— Though Henry agreed with seeming cheerfulness to this
treaty, which in most points of view was so advantageous to him, he signed
it with a full determination to break through at least one of its provisions.
The power of his nobles had been too fully manifested to him in their en-
couragement of Robert to admit of his being otherwise than anxious to
break it. The earl of Shrewsbury, as one of the most powerful and also
the most active of those who had given their adhesion to Robert, was first
fixed upon by Henry to be made an example of the danger of offendinj;
kings. Spies were set upon his every word and action, and his bold anu
haughty character left them but little difllculty in finding matter of oflencc.
No fewer than five-and-forty articles were exhibited against him. He wiis
too well aware both of the truth of some of the charges, and of the rigid
severity with which he would be judged, to deem it safe to risk a triiil
He summoned all the friends and adherents he could command, and threw
himself upon the chances of war. But these were unfavourable to him
In the influence which Anselm possessed, and which he zealously exerteil
or, behalf of the king, Henry had a most potent means of defence, and h>'
with little difficulty reduced the carl to such straits, that he was glad lo
leave the kingdom with his life. All his great possessions were of coursi'
confiscated, and they aflbrdcd the king welcome means of purchasin;^
new friends, and securing the fidelity of those who were his friends al
ready.
A. D. 1103. — The ruin of the earl of Shrewsbury produced that of his
brothers, Roger, earl of Lancaster, and Arnulf de Montgomery. But the
vengeance or the policy of the king required yet more victims. Robert
de Pontefract, Robert de Mallet, and William de Warenne were prose-
cuted, and the king's power secured their condemnation; and William,
carl of Cornwall, though son of the king's uncle, was deprived of all hia
large property in England. The charges against these noblemen weru
artfully made, not upon their conduct towards the king in his dispute with
THE THEASUay OF HISTORY.
197
(lis brother, but upon their misconduct towards their vassals. In this re-
spect, indeed, they were guilty enough, as all the Norman barons were;
but it was not this guilt, which was equally chargeable upon the king's
firmest and most powerful defenders, for which they were prosecuted
and ruined. Robert of Normandy, with his characteristic generosity and
imprudence, was so indignant at the persecution of his friends, whose
chief crime in the king's eyes he well knew to be the friendship they had
shown to himself, that he crossed over to England and sharply rebuked
his brother with the shameful und ill-veiled breach of a principal part of
their treaty. Confident in his kingly power, Henry was but little aifected
by the just and eloquent reproaches of his brother. On the contrary, he
so clearly gave him to understand how far his imprudent rashness in
venturing to England had compromised his own safety, that Robert was
glad to get liberty to return to Normandy at the expense of making a
forinHl resignation of his pension.
The time soon came for Henry to complete the ruin of the brother
whom he had already despoiled of the fairest and most precious portion
of his inheritance. The imprudent thoughtlessness and levity of Robert
not merely affected his conduct as far as he himself was concerned ; it
made him wholly unfit to rule, and opened the widest possible doors 16
the needy and the profligate, the avaricious and the tyrannical among his
turbulent and unprincipled barons to plunder him, as well as to rob and
then ill-treat his unfortunate subjects. A monarch who was so utterly
careless that his domestic servants plundered him, not merely of the little
money which his prodigal habits left to him, but even of his clothes and
furniture, was but ill fitted tu preserve his subjects from the ill-treatment
of the most licentious nobility in all Europe. And it was very natural,
that when the more thoughtful and observant among the Normans con-
trasted the loose government of Robert — if indeed it deserved the name
of ii government at all — with the steady, firm, and orderly rule of Henry
over K much larger and more important state, they sliould begin to think,
and to whisper, too, that even a usurper, such as Henry, was far better
for the welfare of his subjects, than such a legitimate, but utterly inca-
pable, ruler as the good-natured and generous, but extravagant and de
bauched Robert. Disorders at length rose to such a height in Normandy,
as to give Henry a pretext for going over, nominally to mediate between
the opposing parties, but, in reality, personally to observe how far affairs
were in train to admit of his depriving his brother of the duchy alto-
getlior. Skilled in every art of intrigue, and having both the means and
the will to bribe most piofi'soly, Henry soon formed a strong party ; and
having returned to Eit^und and raised the necessary force by the most
shimieless and unsparing extortion, he, in 1105, landed again in Nor-
mandy, no longer under the hypocritical pretence of mediating, but with
the avowed purpose of conquering, if possible. He laid siege to Bayeux,
and, although obstinately and bravely resisted, at length took that place
by storm. Caen he prepared to besiege, but it was surrendered to him
by the inhabitants. He then laid siege to Falaise, but here he was suc-
cessfully opposed until the setting in of the winter compelled him to raise
the siege.
A. D. 1106. — With the return of favourable weather Henry returned to
Mormandy and recommenced his operations, opening the campuign with
the siege of 'rinchchray with a force so mighty that it was quite evident
lie contemplated nothing short of the entire subjugation of Normandy.
It required all the success that Henry had as yet achieved, and all the
persuasions of his own friends, to arouse Robert from his lethargy of
natural indolence and sensual pleasure. But once roused, he showed that
the warrior had slumbered, indeed, in his heart, but was not dead. Aided
by R(»bert de Bch^sme, aud by the earl of Mortaigne, the king's uncle
108
THE TaEASURY OP HISTORY.
who was iiivetcralftly opposed to Henry on aceonnt of his ireatmenl of
RIoriaiRne's son, William, earl of Cornwall, Robert speedily raised a
piiwurlul Torce and marched against his brother, in the hope of putting an
end to their i-oniroverMies in a single battle. Animated at being led by
the viiiiant prince wliose feats on the plains of Palestine had struck terror
into Pagan hearts, and won the applause of Christian Europe, Knbert'g
tnuips charged so boldly and so well, that the English were thrown into
CiuifuNion. Had the Nornnin success been well followed up by the whule
o( llicir force, nothing could have saved the Enttlish army from defeat
i.nd de.>truciion. But the troops of Roger de Belesine were suddenly niid
uiosi unaccountably seized with a panic, which c(mmiunteatcd itself to
the rest of the Normans. Henry and his friends skilfully and promptly
av lilcd tliemselves of this sudden turn in the state of affairs, charged the
enemy again and again, and entirely routed them, killing vast numbers and
iiakiiig ten thousand prisimers, among wh(mi was Robert himself.
Tins yreat victory gained by Henry was soon after crowned by the
B.ii'iender of Rouen and Falalse ; and Henry now became completely
niiister of Normandy, having also got into his power Robert's son, the
young prince William, who was unfortunately in Fulaise when thai im>
ponant post snrrt-iidered. As though there had been nothing of violence
or unfairness in his con(hu:t, Henry nowcimvoked the states of Normandy
and received their homage as though he had been righifuMy their d<ike;
after which, having dismantled su(di fortresses as he deemed dangrrouft
to Ins interests, and revoked the grants which R4>bert*s foolish facility had
iixlnccd him to make, he returned to England, taking his unfortunate
brother with hlin as a prisoner, and eoinmilting yining William to the
custody of Helie de St. Laen, who had married Robert's natural daugh-
ter, and who treated the captive /r.ri-te with a tenderness and respect
which do him the highest honour ' Robert himself was committed to the
custody of the governor of Cardiff castle in Wales, where for twenty,
eiglil years, the whole remainder of his life, he remained a melancholy
spectacle of fallen greatness, and a striking example of the uselessness
of courage without conduct, and of the danger of generosity if unregu-
latt'd liy prudence.
At the bailie nf Tinchebray, so fatal to Duke Robert, his friend Edgar
Atlieling was taken prisoner. Though on more than one occasion this
prince gave siirnal proofs of bravery, both his friends and his enemies
seem to have held his intellect in considerable contempt. The two Wil-
lianis and Henry I., princes 4)f such different qualities, yet so perfectly
agreeing in despotic and jealous tempers, equally held his powers of ex-
citing the English to revolt in the utmost scorn. 'I'hough his Saxon de-
aceni could not but endear him to the Eiiolish people, and though both at
home and in the Holy Land he had proven himself to possess very high
courasfe, there was so general and apparently go well founded an opinion
of his deficiency in the higher imelleclual qualities, that neither did the
Sax(ms look up to him, as otherwise they gladly would have done, as a
a rallying point, nor did the Normans houour him with their suspicious
fear. Even now when Henry, whose treatment of his own brother suf-
ficiently proves how inexorable he could be where he saw cause to fear
injury to Ins interests, had so fair an excuse for committing Edgar to safe
custody, he showed his entire disbelief of that prince's capacity, by al-
lowing h:in to enjoy his full liberty in England, and even granting him a
pension.
A. D. 1107. — Henry's politic character and hia judgment were both em-
inently displayed in managing his very delicate dispute with the nope on
the subject of ecclesiastical investitures. While showing the most pro-
found external respect, and even affection, to both the pope and Arch-
oishop Anselin, Henry proceeded to fill the vacant sees concerning whitl
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
199
there was dispute. But Ansclni, though \\o. had been on many importiint
occasions a staunch and useful friend tu thi; king, was far too gooil a
churchman to brooic disobedience to the papal authority, even when that
disobedience was veiled by smiles, and couched in gentle and holiday
terms. He refused to communicate with, far less to consecrate, the bishops
invested by the king; and those prelates saw themselves exposed to so
much obloquy by their opposition to so revered a personage as Anseim,
tliat they resigned their dignities into the king's hands. The complete
defeat of a scheme which he had prosecuted with such dexterous and
painful art, deprived the king of his usual command of temper, and he let
fall sucli signilicant threats towards all opponents of his authority, that
Anseim became alarmed for his personal safety, and demanded permis-
sion to travel to Rome to consult the pope. Well knowing the popularity
of Anseim, Henry was very well pleased to be thus peaceably rid of his
presence. Anseim departed, and was attended to the ship by hosts of
both clergy and laity, who, by the cordial respect with which they took
their leave of him, tacitly, but no less plainly, testified their sense of the
justice of his quarrel with their sovereign.
As soon as Anseim had left England the king seized upon all the tem
poralities of his see ; and, fearful lest the presence of Anseim at Romr-
should prejudice him and his kingdom, he sent William de Warehvast as
ambassador extraordinary to Pascal, the pope. In the course of the ar-
gument between the pope and the king of England's envoy, the latter
warmly exclaimed that his sovereign would rather part with his crown
than wiih the right of investiture ; to which Pascal as warmly replied,
that he would rather part with his head than allow the king to retain that
right. Anseim retired to Lyons, and thence to his old monastery of
Bee. The king restored him the revenues of his sees, and great anxiety
was expressed by all ranks of men for his return to England, where his
absence was affirmed to be the cause of all imaginable impiety, and of
the most gross and disgusting immorality. The disputes, meantime, be-
tween Henry and the pope grew warmer and warmer. The emperor,
Henry V., and the pope were at feud on the same subject, and the pope
being made an actual prisonoi'. was compelled by a formal treaty to grant
the emperor the right of investiture. The king of England was less ad-
vantageously situated than the emperor. He could not, by getting the
pope into his power, cut the Gordian knot of the controversy between
them. The earl of Mellent and other ministers of Henry were already
Bulfering under the pains of excommunication : Henry himsrlf was in
daily expectation of hearing the like dreadful sentence pronounctcd on
himself, and he well knew that he had numerous and powerful enemies
among his nobles who would both gladly and promptly avail themselves
of it to throw off their uneasy allegiance. He and the pope were mu-
tually afraid, and a compromise was at length entered into, by which the
piipe had the right of ecclesiastical investiture, while Henry had the right
of demanding homage from the prelates for their temporalities. Tlic
main difference being thus settled, minor points presented no difficultu;.-*,
and Henry now had leisure to turn his attention to Normandy.
In committing the natural son of his brother Robert to the careofHelic,
Henry was probably desirous to show the world, by the unblemished char-
acter of the man to whom he entrusted the infant prince, then only six
years old, that he meant fairly by him. But as the young prince grew up,
and became remarkable for talent and gracefidness of person, he acquired
a popularity which gave so much uneasiness to Henry, that he ordered
nis guardian to give up his young ward. Helie. probably doubtful of the
king's intentions, yet feeling himself unable to shelter him should the king
resort to force, immediately placed young William under the protection
Jf Fulke, count of Anjou. The protection of this gallant and eminent no-
8 T
1
11
1
1
«00
THE TREA8UEY OF HISTORY.
We and his own singular graces, enabled William to create great inteiest
on iiis behalf, and at every court which he visited he was able to excite
the greatest indignation against the injustice with which his uncle had treat,
ed him. Louis Ic (iros, king of Fran(;e, joined with Fulke, count of An-
jou, and the count of Flanders, in disturbing Henry in his unjust posses-
sion of Normandy, and many skirmishes took place upon the frontiers.
But before the war could produce any decisive results, Henry, with his
cnstinnary artful policy, deiached Fulke from the league by marrying his
son William to that prince's daughter. The peace consequent upon this
witiidrawal of Fulke did not last long. Henry's nephew was again taken
in hiuid by the galhint Baldwin of Flanders, who induced the kin? ol
France to join in renewing the attack upon Normandy. In the action
near V.u Baldwin was slain ; and the king of France, despairing, after the
loss of so capital an ally, of liberating Normandy from the power of
Henry by force of arms, resolved to try another method, of which, proba-
bly, he did not perceive all the remote and possible consequences.
The papal court had always manifested a more than sufficient inclina-
tion to interfere in the temporal concerns of the nations of Christendom;
and Louis now most unwisely gave sanction and force to that amb.tious
and inisidions assumption, by appealing to Rome on behalf of young >Vil.
liain. A general ciuncil having been assembled by the pope at Rheiins,
Louis took his proteg6 there, represented the tyranny of Henry's conduct
towards both the young prince and his father, and strongly and eloquent-
ly dwelt upon the impropriety of the church and the Christian powers al-
lowing so trusty and gallant a champion of the cross to linger on in his
melaniiholy imprisonmont. Whatever might be the personal feelings oi
(.ilixtiis II., the then pope, he showed himself strongly inclined to inter-
fere on behalf of both vViliiam and his father. But Henry was now, as
ev- r, alert and skilful in the defence of his own interest. The I']iigli8h
bishiips were allowed by him to attend this couu<:il; but he gave them
fair iioiicc at their departure, that whatever might bo the demands or de-
cisimis of the council, he was fully determined to in.iintain the laws and
cusionis of England and his own prerogative- "Go," said he, as they
look leave of him, " salute the pope in my name, and listen to his apostuU
icnl prei'cpts ; but be mindful that ye bring back none of his new inven-
tuiiKs into my kingdom." But while hi! thus outwardly manifested his
detirmin.ition to Kupporl himself even against the hostility of the church,
he took the most etrectual means to prevent that hostility from beingex-
hibited. The most liberal presents and promises were distributed ; and
so ('(Tectually did hi! cinieiliate the pope, that having shortly afterwards
had an in'.ervii!w with Henry, he pronounced him to be beyond compari-
son tlin mo^tt elixpient and persuasive man he had ever spoken with.
I'jHin this hi^h eulogy of the sovereign |)oiitiff, Iluine, with dry eauslicily,
reiniiiks, that Henry at this interview "had probably renewed his prc^siMils."
Louis, finding that he was out-maii(Puvred by HiMiry in the way of in-
triune, renewed his attempts njion Normandy" in the way of arms. He
m;iile an atli'inpt to surprisi! Noyen, but Henry's ()rofuse liberality caused
him to be well served by his spies, and he suddenly fell upon the French
troo|)». A severe action ensued, and Prince! VViliiam, who was present,
heli!tve(l with great distinclion. Henry also was present, aiKl, penetrating
with his enstoiiniy yallantry into tlu! vi!ry thickest of the tight w.is se-
verely womided by Crispin, a Norman ollirer in the French army. Hen-
ry, who [tossessed great personal streiiglli, struck Crispin to llie enrih,
and led his troops onward in a ehmge so lierceand heavy, that the Fi'enrh
w«'re ullerly routed, and Louis himself only escaped with great iliirunlty
fnmi liiiiig inaile prisoner. The result of this action so diseoiiriigi'd Loins
that he shortly ai'tcrw.irds entered into u treaty with Henry, in which lU*
Dkaih ur I'liiNcc VViLLUM and HII SllTBR.
■ 1 .■ ■)?K,S?3
m
^
TUB TbEASUHY OF HISTOaV
SOI
nterests of William and the liberty of Robert were wholly left out of
the question.
Thus far the career of king Henry had been one unbroken series of
prosperity; he was now, under circumstances the least to have been
feared, doomed to suffer a very terrible misfortune. Judging from the fa-
cility with which lie had usurped the crown of England and the duchy ol
Normandy, that similar wrong — as he chose to call it, though wrong it
would surely not have been — might easily be done to his own son, unless
proper precautions were taken, he accompanied his son William to Nor-
Miandy, and caused him to be recognized as his successor by the states,
and to receive in that character the homage of the barons. This impor-
liint step being taken, the king and the prince embarked at Barfleur on
their return to England. The weather was fair, and the vessel which
coDveyed the king and his immediate attendants left the coast in safety,
lomething caused the prince to remain on shore after his father had de-
jaried; mid the captain and sailors of the ship, being greatly intoxicated,
jailed, in their anxiety to overtake the king, with so much more haste
than skill, that they ran the ship upon a rock, and she immediately be-
gan to sink. William was safely got in the long boat, and had even been
lowed some distance from the ship when the screams of his natural sis-
ter, the countess of Perche, who in the hurry had been left behind, com-
pelled his boat's crew to return and endeavour to save her. The instant
that the boat approached the ship's side, so many persons leaped in, that
the boat also foundered, and William and all his attendants perished ; a
fearful loss, there being on board the ill-fated ship nofewerthan a hundred
and forty English and Norman gentlemen of the host families. Filzste-
|)lien, the captain, to whose intemperance this sad calamity was mainly
uitributable, and a butcher of liouen clung to the mast ; but the former
voluntarily loosed his hold and sank on hearing that the prince had perished.
The butcher, free from cause of remorse, resolutely kept his grasp,
»nd was fortunate enough to be picked up by some fishermen on the fol-
lowing morning.
When news reached Henry of the loss of the vessel, ho for a few days
buoyed himself up with the hope that his son had been saved ; but when
the full extent of the calatniiy had been ascertained he fainted ; and so
violent was his grief, that he wiis never afterwards known to smile. So
deeply could he suffer under his own calamity, though so stern and un-
l)lcnt.hing in the infliction of calamity upon others.
The death of Prince William, the only legitimate male issue of Henry,
WH8, n» will be perceived in the history of the next reign, not merely an indi-
ilivldii'jl calamity, but also a most serious national one, in so far as it gave
rise to much civil strife. But it was probable that William would have
been a very severe king, for ho was known to threaten that wnenever ha
raine to the throne ho would work the Kiii{lish like mere beasts of burden.
The early Norman rulers, in fact, however policy might occasionally in
dure them to disguise it, detested and scorned their English subjects.
Prince William, son of the wroimed and imprisoned duke of Normandy,
itill enjoyed the friendship and protection of the French king, though
nircuinstanccs had induced that moiinreh apparently to abandon (he
piiiiee's interest, in makiiiij a treaty with Henry. The death of Ui'iiry's
BOM, too, broke off the connection between Henry and the count of An-
Oii, who luiw again took up the cause of Prince William, and jxave him
Is daughter in marriage. Even this connection, however, between
Fulke anil William did not prevent the artful policy of Henry from again
ti'ciiriiig the frieiidship of the former. Matilda, Henry's daughter, who
was innrried to the emperor Henry V .was left a widow ; ami the kinp
HOW gave her in niarriiige to (ieoffrey Plaiiiagenet, earl of Aiijou, and ho
Ht the same tunc ciiiised her to receive, as his Nuccessor, the honiiigp of
the nobles and clergy of both Normandy and Enulund.
i
209
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
Ill tlio meantime Prince WilliHm of Normandy was greatly strengthened.
ChiirtoH, earl of Flandnrs, was assassinated, and iiis dignity and posses-
aioiii wore immediately bestowed by the king of France upon Prince
William. Dut this piece of seeming good fortune, though it undoubtedly
Bavo greater strength to William's party and rendered his recovery of
Normandy more probable, led in the result, to his destruction ; so blind
arc wo in all that relates to our future! The landgrave of Alsace, deeming
hi» own claim upon Flanders superior to that of William, who claimed
only from the wife of the Conqueror, and who moreover was illegitiniHte,
attt'iiipted to possess himself of it by force of arms, and almost in the first
tkiniiiith that took place William was killed.
Many disputes during all this time had taken place between Henry
and the pope ; chiefly upon the right to which the latter pretended of
havinjK a legate resident in England. As legates possessed in tlieir re-
•ncutive provinces the full powers of the pope, and, in their anxiety tu
ploaso that great giver and source of their power, were ever disposed to
putli the papal authority to the utmost, the king constantly showed a great
iiitd wise anxiety to prevent this manifestly dangerous encroachment of
Home. After much manoeuvring on both sides, an arrangement whs made
by which the legate power was conferred upon the archbishop of Canter-
bury : and thus while Rome kept, nominally at least, a control over that
Kowcr, Henry prevented it being committed to any use disagreeable to
Im, and had, moreover, asecurity for the legate's moderation in the kingly
power over ihe archbishop's temporalities.
A perfect peace reij^ning in all parts of England, Henry spent pan of
tini and 1I3'.3 in Normandy with his daughter Matilda, of whom he wag
pnnsionately fond. While he was there Matilda was delivered of a son,
who was (ihrislened by the name of Henry. In the midst of the rejoicing
thiN event caused to the king, he was summoned to England by an incur-
■inn mad(! by the Welsh ; and he was just about to return when lie was
■oizi'd, at Nt. Dennis le Forment, by a fatal illness, attritiuted to his
having eaten lampreys to excess, and he expired Dec. 1, 1135, in the
tliirly-nflh year of his reign and sixty-seventh of his age.
'riiou|(h a usurper, and though somewhat prone to a tyrannous extrtion
of liiH UNUrped authority, Henry at least deserves the praise of having
been an able monarch. He preserved the peace of his dominions under
elrcnnislances o( great difBcnlty, and protected its interest ajiaiiist at-
teini)lH under which a less firm and politic, prince would have been crushed.
He nad no fewer than thirteen illegitimate children. Other vices he was
toleriibly free from in his private capacity; but in protecting his resources
for the ithaKC, of which, like all the Norman princes, he was passionately
oiiamoiiri'd, he was guilty of every unjustifiable cruelty. In the gciienil
HdniiniNtrallMn of justice he was very severe. Coining was piini^'hed l)y
liiin with dentil or the most terrible mntilaiion, and on one occasion fifty
persons charged with that offence were subjected to this horrible inixleoi
torinre, It was in this reign that w.irdmotes, common-halls, a court of
IliiNliiiKK, the liberty of hunting in MiddlcHcx and Surrey — a great and
lioiioitritlile privilege at that time — the right to elect its own sheriff and
Jiisliriary, iiiiil to hold pleas of the crown, trials by combat, and lodging
i)t the kinu's retinue, were granted to the city of London.
CHAPTER .XVH.
TMC KKUIN (IK STEIMIKN.
A. n. Il.lft,— The will of Henry I. left tliekinedom of Eni;land and Hie
Jtichy of Normandy to his daughter Matilda, liy the precuutiuns which
I'Hlfi TREASURY OF HISTORY.
'203
mil Hw\ Hie
tioiiH wliicli
ne li;iil (aKcii it wiis very evident th«t he feared lest any one shnuUI imi
t;iii! liie inegiilariiy liy which he himself had mounted to power. Strangely
eiiuugli, however, the attempt he anticipated, and so (tarefuilv provided
again."*', was made hy one wh((to Henry's own patronage and liberality
owed his chief jiower to oppose Henry's daugliter. A new proof, if sni'li
were wanting, of the blindness un particular points of even the most poli-
tic and prudent men.
Ailela, danifhier of William the Conqueror, was married to Steplien,
couat of Blois. Two of her sons, HcMiry and Stephen, were invited to
Ku!;laiiil by Henry I., who behaved to them with the profuse iibeiality
which he was ever prone to show lo tho.->e whom he look into his favour.
Iltiny was luade abbot of Glastonbury and bishop of Winchester, and
Sie|iheii was even more highly favoured by the king, who married him to
Manilla, daughtc^r and lieiress of Kustacje, eomit of Boulogne, by which
laaiii.ige he acquired both the feudal sovereignly of Boulogne as well as
eiiiiinious landed property in Kiigland. Subsequently the king still far-
ther enriched Stephen by conferring upon him the forfeited possessions
of ilie earl of Moriaigne, in Normandy, and of Robert de Mallet in Kng-
raiul. The king fondly imagined that by thus honouring and aggrandiz-
ing .Stephen he was raising up a f.ist and powerful friend for his daughter
wlieiK'ver she should come to the throne, and the conduct of Stephen was
so v\ily and skilful, that lo the very hour of Henry's death he contrived
tocoiiiiriu him in this delusion. Brave, active, generous and affaliic, he
was a very general I'avonriie; but while he exerted himself to the utmost
to retain and increase his popularity, especially among the Londoners,
of whiiin In; anticipated making great use in the ultimate scheme he had in
view, he took good care to keep those eflTorls from the king's knowledue.
He professed himself the fast friend ami ready chainpion of the princess
Matilda, and when the barons were re()uircd by the king to do homage to
licr, as the succ-essor lo the crown, Stephen actually had ii violent dis-
pute with Ridiert. earl of (Jloucester, who was a natural son of the king,
n:i to which of them should first take the oath!
But with all this lip loyalty to the kiiiL' and seeming devotion to the
princess, Stephen seems all along lo have harboured the most ungrateful
and faithless intentions. The moment the king had ceased to live he
hurried ovtir to Kngland to seize upon the crown. Elis designs having
bi'iMi made known at Dover and ('antftrbury, the citizens of both those
places honourably refused to admit him. Nothing daunted by this honest
rebuke of Ins ungrateful design, he hurried on to London, where he hud
emissaries in Ins pay, who caused him to be hailed as king by a multi-
lude of the common sort.
The first step being thus made, he next busied himself in obtaining the
sanction and suffrage of the clergy. So much weight was in that age
attached to Ihe ceremony of unction in the coronaliini, that he considered
it hut little likely that Matilda woulil ever be able to dethrone him if he
could so far secure the clergy as to have his coronation performed in due
Older and with the usual formalities. In this important part of his daring
scheme good service was done to him by his brother Henry, bishop of
Winchester, who caused the bishop of Salisbury to join him in persuad-
ing William, aii hbishop of Canterbury, to uive Stephen the royal unction.
The primate having, in common with all the nobility, taken Ihe oath of
Blii'gi/iiKte to Matilda, was unwilling to comply with so startling a step;
Imi his reluclHiice, whether real or assumed, gave way when Roger
lligod, who held tlii! important ofllce of steward of the household, made
)ath that Henry on his death-bed Ind oviiii;od his displeasure with Matilda,
Hiid expressed his deliberate preference of Stephen as his successor.
it is not easy to believe that so shrewd a person us Ihe archbishop really
favc any crudciice tu this shullow tale, but he uflfected to do so, and upon
ilil
304
THE TREASUtty OF HISTOEY.
its authority crowned Stephen. The coronation was but meagrely atter«
ded by the nobles ; yet, as none of them made any open opposition, Ste-
phen proceeded to exercise the royal authority as coolly as though hi
had ascended the throne by the double right of consent of the people am
heirship.
Having seized upon the royal treasure, which amounted to upwards 0/
a hundred thousand pounds, Stephen was able to surround his usurped
throne with an immense number of foreign mercenaries. While he thus
provided against open force, he also took the precaution to endeavour, by
the apparent justice of his intentions, to obliterate from the general mem-
ory, and especially from the minds of the clergy, all thought of the
shameful irregularity and ingratitude by which he had obtained the throne.
He published a charter calculated to interest all ranks of men, promising
to aoolish Danegelt, generally to restore the laws of King Kdward,to cor-
rect all abuses of the forest laws, and — with an especial view to concili-
ating the clergy— to fill all benefices as they should become vacant, and
to levy no rents upon them while vacant. He at the same time applied
for the sanction of the pope, who, well knowing what advantage posses-
sion must give Stephen over the absent Matilda, and being, besides, well
pleased to be called upon to interfere in the temporal affairs of England,
very readily gave it in a bull, which Stephen took great care to make
public throughout England.
In Normandy the same success attended Stephen^ who had his eldest
son, Eustace, put in possession of the duchy on doing homage to the king
of France; and Geoflfrey, Matilda's husband, found himself reduced to
such straits that he was fain to enter into a truce with Stephen, the latter
consenting to pay, during the two years for which it was made, a pen-
sion of five thousand marks. Though Stephen was thus far so success*
ful, there were several circumstances which were calculated to cause
him considerable apprehension and perplexity. Robert, a natural son of
the late king, by whom he had been created earl of Gloucester, possessed
considerable ability and influence, and was very much attached to Ma-
tilda, in whose wrongs he could not fail to take a great interest. Tliia
nobleman, who was in Normandy when Stephen usurped the throne ol
England, was looked upon both by the friends and the enemies of Stephen
as the most likely person to head any open opposition to the usurper.
In truth, the earl was placed in a»very delicate and trying situation. On
the one hand, he was exceedingly zealous in the cause of Matilda; on the
other hand to refuse when required to take the oath of allegiance to Ste-
phen, was inevitably to bring ruin upon his fortunes, as far as England
was concerned. In this perplexing dilemma he resolved to take a middle
course, and, by avoiding an open rupture with Stephen, secure to himself
the liberty and means otacting according to the dictates of his coiisclenec,
should circumstances become more favourable to Matilda. Ho therefore
consented to take the oath of allegiance to Stephen, on condition liial the
king should duly perform all that he had promised, and that he should in
no wise curtail or infringe the rights or dignities of the earl. This singu-
lar and very unusual reservation clearly enough proved to Stephen that
he was to look upon the earl as his good and loyal subject just so long as
there seemed to be no chance of a successful revolt, and no longer; but
the earl was so powerful and popular that he did not think it safe to re-
fuse his oath of fealty, even on these unusual terms.
Though we correctly call these terms unusual, we do so only with rr f-
erence to former reigns ; Stephen was obliged to consent to them In still
more important cases than that of the earl of Gloucester. The clergy,
finding tlie king willing to sacrifice to expediency, and well knowing how
inexpedient he would find it to quarrel with their powerful body, would
only give him their oath of allegiance with the reservation that theii
THE TREASURY OV HISTORY.
205
a1Ie<riance shouj 1 endure so long as the king should support the discipline
of the church and defend the ecclesiastical liberties. To how much dis-
pute, quibble, and assumption were not those undefined terms capable of
leading under the management of the possessors of nearly all the learning
of the age; men, too, especially addicted to and skilled in that subtle
warfare which renders tlie crafty and well-schooled logomachist abso-
lutely invulnerable by ar.y other weapon than a precise definition of terms!
To the reservations of the earl of Gloucester and the clergy succeeded
the still more ominous demands of the barons. In the anxiety of StephcMi
to procure their submission and sanction to his usurpation the barons saw
an admirable opportunity for aggrandizing their already great power
at the expense of the security of both the people and the crown. They
demanded that each baron should have the right to fortify his castle and
put himself in a state of defence ; in other words, that each baron should
turn his possessions into an itnperium in imperio, dangerous to the author-
ity of the crown on occasions of especial dispute, and injurious to the
peace and welfare upon all occasions, as making the chances of wrong
and oppressions more numerous, and making redress, already difficult, for
the future wholly hopeless. A legitimate king, confident in his right and
conscientiously mindful of his high trust, would have periled both crown
and life ere he would have consented to such terms; but in the case of
Stephen, the high heart of the valiant soldier was quelled and spell-bound
by the conscience of the usurper, and to uphold his tottering throne in
present circumstances of difllculty, he was fain to consent to terms which
would both inevitably and speedily increase those difficulties tenfold.
The barons were not slow to avail themselves of the consent thus ex-
torted from the king. In every direction castles sprang up, or were
newly and more strongly fortified. Even those barons who had at the
outset no care for any such privilege, were soon in their self-defence
obliged to follow the example of their neighbours. Jealous of each
other, the barons now carried their feuds to the extent of absolute petty
wars; and the inferior gentry and peasantry could only hope to escape
from being plundered and ill used by one party, at the expense of siding
with the other, in quarrels for neither side of which they had the slight-
est real care.
The barons having thus far proceeded in establishing their quasi sove-
reignly and independence of the crown, it is not to be wondered at that
they soon proceeded still farther, and arrogated to themselves within their
mimic royalties all the privileges of actual sovereignty, even including
that of coining money.
Though Stephen, as a matter of policy, had granted the privilege of
fortific.ition, out of which he must, as a shrewd and sensible man, have
anticipated that these abuses would issue, he was by no means inclined
to submit to the abuses themselves without a trial how far it was prac-
ticable to lake liack by his present force what had been extorted from iiis
former weakness. And thus, as the nobles abused the privileges he had
granted, he now by his mercenary force set himself not merely to anni-
hilate those extorted privileges, but also to make very ser'ous encroach-
ments upon the more ancient and legitimate rights of iht subject. The
pHrpetual contests that thus existed between the king and the barons, and
among (ho barons themselves, and the perpetual insult and despoiling to
whicli the great body of the people were in consequence subjected, caused
BO general a disconyjiit, that the earl of Gloucester, deeming that the
favourable and long-wished-for time had at length arrived for the o\}e^^
advocacy of ttie claims of Matilda, suddenly departed from England. As
•oon as no arrived safely abroad, ho forwarded to Stephen a solemn ile
Qaiice and renunciation of fealty, and reproached him in detail, and in the
i
S06
THE TKEA8URY OF HISTORY.
strongcfit liingURge, with his breaches of the promises and conditioin
upon which that realty had been sworn.
A. D. 1138. — Just as Stephen was thus doubly perplexed, a new enemy
arose to threaten him, in the person of David, king of Scotland, who,
being uncle to Matilda, now crossed the borders with a large army to
assert and defend her title. So little was Stephen beloved by the tur-
bulent barons, with not a few of whom he was even then at personal
feud, that had David now added a wise policy to his sincere zeal in the
cause of his niece, there seems little reason to doubt that Matilda would
have ousted Stephen utmost without difUculty or bloodshed ; for he h»d
by this time so nearly expended his once large treasure, that the foreign
nieri-enaries, on whom he chiefly depemled for defence, actually, for the
most part, subsisted by plunder. But David, un-:)ble or unwilling to enter
into points of policy and expediency, inHrked his path from the border to
the fertile plains of Yorkshire by such cruel bloodshed and deslruclion,
that all sympathy with his intention was forgotten in dis<;ust and iiuliiriia-
tion at his conduct. The northern nobles, whom he might easily Have
wtin to his support, were thus aroused and unitfd against him. William
Albemarle, Robert de Ferres, William Percy, Robert de Bruce, Roirei
de Mowbray, Ilbert Lacy, Walter I'Epee, and numerous other nohlcs
in the north of England, joined their large forces into one great army
and encountered the Scots at Northallerton. A battle, called the battle
of the Standard, from an immense crucifix which was carried on a
car in front of the English army, was fnught on the 22d of Ai!<fiist,
1138, and ended in so total a defeat of the Scottish army that David 7iim-
self, together with his s >ii Henry, very nearly fell iiit(» the hands of tlie
English. The defeat of the king of Scotland greatly tended to daunt
the enemies of Stephen, and to give a Impe of stability to his rule; hut
he had scarcely escaped the ruin that this one enemy intended for lijui,
when he was engaged in a hitler controversy with an enemy still more
zealous and more powerful — the clergy.
A. n- 113i). — The bishops, as tliey had been rated for military service in
common with the barons, so they ailded all the slate and privilcgi-s of
lay barons to those proper to their own character and rank. And when
the cust(nn of ereciing fortresses and keeping strong garrisons in pay
becatne general ainimg the lay barons, several of the bishops followeil
their example. The bishops of S;ilislinry and Lincoln had done so; the
former had completed (uie at Sherborne and another at Devizes, nn:l iiad
even cmnmenced a third at Malineshury ; and the lait(T, who wa» his
nej)h(!w, had erected an exceedingly strong and stately one at Newark.
Unwisely deeming it safer to begin by attacking llie fortresses of the
clergy than those of the lay barons, Stephen, availinsr himself of some
dislurbuii(;es at court between the armed followers of the bishop of Sal-
isbury and those of the earl of Uriliany, threw both the liishop of Salis-
bury and his nephew of Liiicidn into prison, and compelled them, hy
threats of still worse ireatiiK'iil, to surrender their fortresses into his
hands. This act of power called up an opponeiii to Sti'plien, in a person
from whom, of the whole of the clergy, he had the least reason to fear
any opposition.
Tiie king's brother, Henry, bishop of Winchester, to whom he owcrt
80 much in accomplishing his usurpation of ih<: crown, was at this tluie
ariiKid with tlie leganiine commissiou in Eiigl:in<l; ami diicming his duly
to the church p.ir.unount to the lies of bloo I, he a^scMnbled a synod at
Westmiiisler, which he opened willi a formal coniplainl of what he termed
the imuiety of the king. The syiiol was well inclined to acquiesce in
Henry s view of the case, and a Ibrmil sn ninons was sent to the kiinr to
account to the synod for the coiiilncl of wliiidi it c(nnplaiiicd. With a
strange neglect of what would have been his true policy — a peremptory
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
207
denial of the right of the synod to sit in judgment upon the sovereign on
a question which really related, and related only, to the police of his
kingdom — Stephen virtually put the judgment of his case into the hands
of a coiirl, that, by the very charge made against him by Its head, avowed
itself iaimiiial, partial, and prejudiced, by sending Aubrey de Vere to
plead liis cause. De Vere set out by charging the two bishops with se-
ditions conduct and treasonable designs ; but the synod refused to enter-
tain that charge until the fortresses, of which, be it observed, the bishops
hail been deprived upon lliat charge, should be restored by the king.
The clergy did not fail to make this quarrel the occasion of exasper-
ating tiie minds of the always credulous mullilu(ic against the king. So
general was the discontent, that the earl of Gloucester, constantly on the
watcli fur an opportunity of advocating the cause of Matilda, brought
tliat princess to England, with a retinue of a hundred and forty knights
and llieir followers. She fixed her residence first at Bristol, but thence
removed to Gloucester, where she was joined by several of the must
powerful barons, who openly declared in her favour, and exerted every
enerjjy to increase her already considerable force. A civil war speedily
raged in every part of the kingdom ; both parties were guilty of the
must atro ions excesses, and, as is usual, or rather universal, in such
cases, whichever party was temporarily triumphant, the unhappy peas-
anlry were massacred and plundered, to the sound of watchwords which
they si^arcely comprehended.
A. D. 1140. — While the kingdom was thus torn, and the people thus tor-
mented, the varying success of the equally selfish opposing parties led
to frequent discussions, which led to no agreement, and frequent treaties
made only to be broken.
An action at length took place which promised to be decisive md to
restore the kingdom to peace. The castle of Lincoln was captured and
garrisoned by the partlzans of Matilda, under Ralph, earl of ("lieste.-, and
\Villi mi de Iloumard. The citizens of Lincoln, however, remained faith-
ful to the cause of Stephen, who immediately proceeded to lay siege to
tiiB casile. The earl of Gloucester hastened to the support of the be-
leaguered garrison, and on tiie 2(1 of February, 1141, an action took
place, in which Stephen was defeated, and taken prisoner while fighting
desperately at the head of his troops. He was taken in triumph to
Gloucester, and though he was at first treated with great external respect,
gome real or pretended suspicions of his friends having formed a plan for
his rescue caused him to be loaded with irons and thrown into prison.
'I'he capture of Stephen caused a great accession of men of all ranks
to the party of Matilda; and she, under the politic guidance of the (Nirl
of GImieester, now exerted herself to gain the good-will of the clergy,
without which, in the then state of the public mind, there could be but
hitle prospect of permanent prosperity to her cause, just as it doubtless
was.
She invited Henry, bishop of Winchester and papal legate, to a con-
ference, at which she promise<l everything that either his individual ain-
liitldii or his zeal for the church could lead him to desire ; and us all tiie
principal men of her parly had oflered to become responsible for her due
fulfilment of her promises, which slie made wilh the ac(;ompanyiiig sol-
enuiity of an oath, Henry conducted her with great pomp and form to
Winchester cathedral, and there at the high aliar solemnly denoimcetl
curses upon all who should curse her, and invoked blessings upon all who
should bless her. To give still greater triumph and security to her cause,
Theobald, archbishop of Canterbury, also swore allegiance to her.
Subseijneinly the crown was forn'ially adjudged to Matilda, in a speech
made by Henry to the assembled clergy and a few of the cliief men of
'london ; and Henry, with an assurance perfectly marvellous after having
SOS
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
been so powerful an instnimeut of liis brotlier's usurpation, now spake of
him as having merely filled the throne in the absence of the rightful
owner, and dwelt with great force and bilterneos upon the breach by Ste-
phen of the promises he had made of respect and protection to tlie church.
Matilda to a masculine daring added a very harsh and imperious spirit,
and she had scarcely placed her cause in apparently permanent prosper-
ity when she most unwisely disgusted some of those whose favour wai
the most important to her.
The Londoners, though circumstances had compelled them to submit to
Matilda, were still very partial to Stephen. They joined his wife in pe.
titioiiiiig that he might'be released on condition of retiring to a convent
A stern and laconic refusal was Matilda's answer both to this peiition and
a subsequent one presented by them for the establishmeut of King Ed-
ward's laws instead of those of Henry. An equally harsh, and still more
impolitic refusal was given to the ungate who requested that his nephew
Eustace, should inherit Boulogne anu the other patrimonial possessions
of Stephen; a refusal which gives one as low an opinion of Matilda's
sense of justice as of her temper and policy.
Her mistaken conduct was not long in' producing its appropriate ill
effects to her cause. The legate, whose very contradictory conduct Kt
different times can only be satisfactorily explained upon the supposition
that to his thoroughly selfish ambition that cause ever seemed the best
which promised the greatest immediate advantages to himself or to the
church, marked the mischief which Matilda's harshness did to her cause,
and promptly availed himself of it to excite the Londoners to revoli
against her government. An attempt was made to seize upon her person,
and so violent was the rage that was manifested by her enemies, that even
her masculine and scornful spirit took alarm, aitd she fled to Oxford.
Not conceiving herself safe even there, and being unaware of the under-
hand conduct of the crafty legate, she next flew for safety to him at Win-
chester. But he, deeming her cause now so far lost as to warrant him in
openly declaring his real feelings towards her, joined his forces to the
Londoners and other friends of Stephen, and besieged her in the castle ol
that city. Here, though stoutly supported by her friends and followers,
she was unable long to remain, from lack of provisions. Accompanied
by the earl of Gloucester and a handful of friends, she made her escape,
but her party was pursued, and the earl of Gloucester, in the skirmisli,
was taken prisoner. This capture led to the release of Stephen, for
whom Matilda was glad to exchange the earl, whose courage and judg-
ment were the chief support of her hopes and tlic main bond of her party;
and with the release of Stephen rame a renewal of the civil war, in all
its violence and mischief, (a. d. 1143). Sieges, battles, skirmishes, and
their ghastly and revolting accompaniments, followed with varying suc-
cess; but the balance of fortune at length inclined so decidedly to tlie
side of Sippiien, that Matilda, broken in health by such long-continued
exertion, both bodily and mental, at length departed from the kingdom
and took refuge in Normandy.
A.n. 1147. — The retirement of Matilda and the death of the earlof Glou
cester, which occurred about the same time, seemed to give to Stephen
all the opportunity he could desire firmly to establish himself in the pos-
sessiiin of the kingdom. But he kindled animosities among his nobles by
demanding the surrender of their fortresses, which he justly deemed dan-
gerous to lioth himself and his subjects ; and he offended the pope by re-
fusing to allow the attendance of five bishops, who had been selected by
the p(Mitiff to attend a council at Rlieims, the usual practice being for the
English church to elect its own deputies. In revenge for this affront, as
he deemed it, the pope laid all Stephen's party under his interdict ; a meas-
ure which he well knew could not fail to tell with fearful effect against
THE a'KEASUXlY OP HISTORY.
ana
tlie interests or a prince who was seated not only upon a usurped, bui also
a disputed throne.
A.D. 1153. — Prince Henry, son of Matilda, who had already given signal
proofs of talent and bravery, was now encouraged by the divided stale of
the public mind to invade England. He defeated Stephen at Malmesbury
and they again met before Wallingford, when a negotiation was entered
into, by which Henry ceded his claim during the life of Stephen on con-
dition of being secured of the succession, Boulogne and the other patrimo-
nial possessions of Stephen being equally secured to his son William — his
eldest son Eustace being dead. This treaty having been executed in due
form, Prince Henry returned to Normandy ; whence he was recalled by
the death of Stephen on the 25lh of October, 1154.
CHAPTER XVIII.
fHB REIGN OP HENRY 11. — PRECEDED BV OBSERVATIONS ON THE RIGHT OP THE
ENGLISH TO TERKITORY IN FRANCE.
Methodtcal reading, always desirable, is especially so in reading History ;
and before we commence the narrative of the eventful and, in many re-
spects, importnnt reign of Henry '!., we deem that we shall be doings the
reader good service in directing his attention to the origin of the earlier
wars between England and France; a point upon which all our historians
have rather too confidently assumed the intuitive knowledge of their read-
ers, whom they have thus left to read of results without ac^ouaintance with
processes, and to indulge their iinaginalions in the details of warlike enter-
prises without any data upon which to judge of the justice or injustice
with which those enterprises were undertaken.
Even with the invasion of William the Conqueror, England, by its new
sovereign, became interested in no small or insignificant portion of France.
Up to that period England's connexion with foreigners arose only from
the invasions of the Northmen, but with William's invasion quite a new
relation sprang up between England and the continent. From this moment
the connections of Normandy, and its feuds, whether with the French king
or with any of his powerful vassals, entered largely into the concerns of
Ilnglaiid. With Henry II., this connection of England with the affairs of
the continent was vastly increased. In right of his father that monarch
possessed Touraine and Anjou; in right of his mother he possessed Maine
and Normandy ; and in right of his wife, Guicnne, Poictou, Xaintogne,
Anvergne, Perigord, Angournois, and the Limousin; and he subsequently
became really, as he was already nominally, possessed of the sovereignty
of Brittany, If the reader now (tast his eyes over the map of that vast
and populous territory which is cnlied France, he will perceive that Henry
thus possessed a third of it, and the third of greatest fertility and value.
Left unexplained as this usually is by our historians, the impression upon
the minds of even readers not wholly deserving of the censm-e implied in
llie term superficial, must almost necessarily be, that the wars of which
hy-and-by we shall have to speak between Fran(;c ami England, originat-
ed in the mere greediness and ambition of kings of the latter country, who,
dissatisfied with their insular possessions, desired to usurp territory in
Trance; whereas the direct contrary is the case, and they in these wars
made use of theii English C(mqucsts to retain possession of, or to extend
hy V. ay of reprisal their eiirlicr-conqucreil or fairly-inherited French ter-
ritory. The kings of France, in point of f.ict, at this early period of French
history, were nni kings of France in the present acceptation of tliat title.
They had n nominnl rather than a real feudal superiority over the whole
country : there were six great eclesiastical peerages, besides the six la>
I.— 14
310
THE TBEA30IIY OF HISTORY.
pfterages of Burgundy, Normandy, Guienne, Flanders, Toulouse, and
Chani|uigne. Each of these pteragos, though nominally subject to Ihe
French crown, was, in reality, an independent sovereignty. If it chanced
that the warlike designs of the king coincided with the views and interest
of his great vassals, he could lead an immense and splendid force mto tlio
field ; but if, as far more frequently happened, any or all of his great vas-
sals chanced to be opposed to him, it at once became evident that he was
only nominally their master. That in becoming masters of our insnl
land, the Norman race should sooner or later see their French terr'ory
mending itself into that of the French king and adding to his po'vtr v as
inevitable, as we can now perceive; but in the time of ourscco'id Hmrv.
the king of France feared — and the aspect of things then w .rrantej hi.
fear — the precisely opposite process. By bearing thi<3 briuf f".;nlanatioii
carefully in mind, the reader will find himself greatly asslMoil m under
standing the feelings and views of^the sovereigns of Knglaiul auA France,
in those wars which cost each country rivers of its best blood.
Previous to the death of Stephen Henry married Eleanor, the divorced
wife of Louis VII. of France. She had accompanied that monarch to the
Holy Land, and her conduct there partook so much of the levity and im-
morality wliich marked that of too many of her sex in the same scene,
that Louis felt bound in honour to divorce her, and he at the same time
restored to her those rich provinces to which we have already alluded as
her dower. Undeterred by her reported immorality, Henry, after six
weeks' courtship, made her his wife, in defiance of the disparity in their
years ; having an eye, probably, to the advantage which her wealth could
not fail to give him, should he have to make a struggle to obtain the En-
glish crown.
A.D. n ;,5. — So secure, however, was Henry in the succession to Eng.
land III Stephen's, death that not the slightest attempt was made to set up any
coiinter-cl:iinis on the part of Stephen's surviving son, William ; and Henry
himself, being perfectly acquainted with the state of the public mind, did
not even hasten to England immediately on receiving news of Stephen's
death, but deferred doing so until he had completed the subjection of a
castle that he was besieging on the frontier of Normandy. This done, he
proceeded to England, and he was received with the greatest cordiality by
all ranks and conditions of men. The popularity that he already enjoyed
was greatly increased by the first act of his reign, which was the equally
wise and just dismissal of the hordes of foreign mercenaries whom Ste-
phen had introduced into England, and who, however serviceable to the
usurper in question, had been both in peace and in war a burden and a
curse to the English people. Sensible that his popularity was such as to
enable him to dispense with these fierce prajtorians, who, while mischiev-
ous and offV-nsive to the subject ui^'er 'ill circumstances, might by pecu
liar ciivumstanccs bo rendered .ni:;( h'i vkih ,ind even fatal to the sovui-
cign, iu" sent them all out of the ooim'''', ai..'' with then; ^" «;ent Wiliiuin
of Ypres, their commander, vm' v '.-s x,!' mely unpo[. .: from having
been the friend and adviser o; ■ ' i.;i. ;i, m.iiiv of whose worst measures,
perhaps untruly, for Stephen was not of a temper requiring to be prompt-
ed to arbitrary courses, were attributed to his councils.
In the necessities caused by civil war, both Stephen and Matilda had
made many large grants which — however politic or even inevitable at the
time — were extremely injurious to the interests of the crown ; and Henry's
great object was to resume these grants, not even excepting those of Ma-
jlda herself.
His n«^xt measure was as dangerous as it was necessary. The country
was ill a perfectly dreadful state of demoralization; Ihe highways and
by-ways alike were infested by troops of daring and vi(dent robbers, and
«hese obtained encouragement and opportunity from the wars carried on
lii.-piited
beloiige(
rated b\
secured
^v belru
'"((htL
IK'UtlC s
Henry n
THE i IIKA3liHY OK lllriTOEY.
Sll
ny the nobles against each other. The troop of soldiers f(»llowing the
baron's pennon, or keeping watch an^! ward upon thf balllenieniH of his
strong castle, became, whenever his nt ed for their servi<!es ceast-d, the
banditti of the roads and forests. In such a state of tiutig^ it would have
been hopeless to have attempted to reduce the country warder, without
first dismantling those fortresses to which the disorder was mainly owing.
A weak or unpopular sovereign would most probably have been ruined had
he made any attempt upon this valued and most mischievous privilege of
the nobles ; and even Henry, young, firm, and popular, did it at no incon-
siderable risk. The earl of Albemarle and one or two other proud an. 1 pow-
erful nobles prepared to resist the king ; but his force was so compact,
and his object was so popular with the great body of the people, that tlie
factious nobles submitted at the approach of their sovereign.
A.D. 1156. — Having by an admirable mixture of prudence and firmness
reduced all parts of Kngland to complete peace and security, Henry went
to France to oppose in person the attempts his brother GeortVoy was mak-
ing upon the valuable provinces of Maine and Anjoii, of some port <)ns of
which that prince had already possessed himself. The mere apptirance
of Henry had the eflfectof causing the instant submission of the (iisii;'"(;ted
and Geoffrey consented to resign his claim in consideration of a ;. early
pension of a thousand pounds.
A. u. 1157. — Just as Henry had completed his prudent regulation- for
preventing future disturbances in his French possessions, he was (billed
over to England by the turbulent conduct of the Welsh, who had veniured
to make incursions upon his territory. They were beaten back bei >re
his arrival ; but he was resolved to chastise them still farther, and for that
purpose he followed them into their mountain fastnesses. The dillicult
nature of the country was so unfavourable to his operations, that he was
more than once in great danger. On one occasion his vanguard w:is so
beset in a rocky pass, that its discipline and valour could not prevent it
from being put to complete rout ; Hc^iry de Kssex, who held the high
office of hereditary standard bearer, actually threw down his standard and
joined the flying soldiery, whose panic he increased by loudly exclaiming
that the king was killed. The king, who fortunately was on the spot, gal-
loped from post to post, re-assured his main body, and led it on so gal-
lantly, that he saved it from the ruin with which it was for a time threat-
ened by this foolish and disgraceful panic.
Henry de Essex, whose behaviour had been so remarkably unknightly
on this occasion, was on its account charged with felony by Robert de
Montford, and lists were appointed for the trial by battle. De Essex was
vanquished, and condenmed to pass the remainder di his life in a convent
and to fi-rfeit all his property.
A. D. . lo8. — The war with the Welsh ended in the submission of that
people, and Henry's attention was again called to the continent. VViien
liis hrtiilier Geoflrey gave up his pretensions to Anjou and Maine tiiat
prince took possession of the county of Nantes, with the consent of its
inhabitants, who liad chased away their legitimate prince. Geoffrey died
soon after he had assumed his new dignity ; and Henry now claimed to
suiHCcd as heir to the command and possessions which Geoffrey had him-
self owed only to the voluntary submission of the people. His claim was
disputed by Conan, earl of Brittany, who asserted that Nantes properly
belonged to his dominions, whence it had, as he alledged, only been sepa-
rated by rebellion, and he accordingly took possession of it. Henry
seeured himself against any interference on the part of Louis of France
by belrithini; his son and heir, Henry, then only five years old, to Louis's
' ii«hter Maryaret, who was nearly four years younger. Having by this
piMiiic siroke rendered it hopeless for Conan to seek any aid from Louis,
Henry now marched into Urittany, and Conan, seeing the impossibility of
212
THE TllfcASUHY OK IlISTUHY.
successful resistance, at oi\ce airreeil to give up Nantes. Soon after, Co.
nan, anxious to secure llie powerful supuoil of Kenry, gave his only
daug;hter and lieircss to tliat jirince's son Geoffrey. Conan died in a few
years after this betrothal, and Henry immediately took possession of Biii.
tany m right of his son and daughter-in-law.
A. D. 1159. — Henry, through his wife, had a claim upon the comUry o|
Toulous(s and he now urged that claim against Raymond, the relgnjiio
count, who solicited the protection of the king of France; and the l.aicr
both as Raymond's feudal superior, and as the prince more ilian all olliei
prin(!e.s interested in putting a check on the vast aggrandizement of Henry
immediatc'ly granted Raymond his protection, in spite of the slartliiig fact
that Louis himself had formerly, while Kleanor was his wife, cluimed
Toulouse in her right, as Hiiiry now did. So little, alas! are the plainest
princi|)les of honesty and consistency regarded in the strife of politics.
Henry advanced upon Toulouse with a very tonsiderable army, chiefly
of mercenaries. Assi.-5ted by Trincaral, count of Nismes, and Ucrengor,
count of Harcelona, he was at the outset very suc:cessful, taking Verdun
and several other places of lesser note. He then laid siege to the ciipiial
of the county, and Louis threw himself into it wiih a rcinforcentent.
Henry w;is now strongly urged by his friends to t:ike the place by assiuilt,
as he probably might have done, and by thus making the Fremh king
prisoner, obtain whatever terms he pleased from that prince. But Henrj's
prudence never forsook him, even amid the excitement of war and the
flush of success. Louis was his foidal lord ; to make him prisoner wmild
be to holdout encouragement to his own great and Im'bulent vassnls to
break through their feudal bonds, and instead of prosecuting the sipnre
more vigorously, in order to make Louis prisoner, Henry immediately
raised it, saying that he coultl not think of fighting against a place that
was defended by his superior lord in pers(m, and departed to defend Nor-
mandy ag;iinst the count de Drenx, brother of Louis.
The chivalrous delicacy which hart led IL'ury to depart from before
Toulouse did not immediately terminate the war between him Louis; but
the operations were feebly conducted on both sides, and ended first in a
cessniiou of arms, and then in a formal peace.
A new cause of bitter feeling now sprmig up between them. When
Prince Henry, the king's eldest son, was afTianced to Margaret of France,
it was slipulaled that part o( the princess's dowry should be the iinpnrliuii
fortress of (tisors, which was to be delivered into the baiiils of the king on
the celcliralion of the marriage, and in the meaniime (o remain in the ens-
tody of the knights templars. Henry, as was suspected, bribed the pr;ind
master of the tem|)Iars to deliver the fortress to him, furnishing lilni wiili
a prelexi fur so doing by ordering the immediate celebration of the niiir
riage, ihough the afTianced prince and princess were mere children. I.oui^
was naturally much ofTcnded at this sharp practice on the part of Henry,
and was on the point of recommencing war again, when Pope AleNanilrr
ML, whmn the trunnph of the anti-pope, Victor IV., compelled to resiijr
ill France, sncccssfnlly interposed his mediation,
A. n. 11(1.;, — Friendship lieing, at least nnnimally and externally, eslah
lishcd between Louis and Ilenry, the latter moiuircli rcinrncd to Kngl.ind,
and devoted his alti'iition to the dilicale and dilTlcult task of restraiiiini}
th(' aiiilinrily of the clergy wilhiii reasonable Innils. That he iiiijihl (lie
rnore safely and rcailily do this, lie took Ihe o[ip(irlnniiv now afTurded turn
by the (lentil of Theobnld, arcliliisho() of Canlerbui y. to place that dl!,'iiil)
ill Ihe hands of a man whom he dermed entirely drvdieil to liiinseH'. bin
wliri, in the resiill, proved the irre.ilest enemy to the authority of ihe
crown, and the sioii'est and li.iugiiliesi elininpoii of the elnirch, niid tiiiiLih
Menry the danger of trusting to a|ipcnraiiceH, by imbilterin({iind perplex
THK TREASURY OP HISTORY.
213
llv, cstnh-
I'lliylilUll,
slriiiiiiiig
tniulil the
ronlril liMTi
r.il (liijnil)
iii'ii'ir. tnii
II y (if llio
ml liin^h
(I prr)ilt'M
jiir whole 3'ears of his hfe. This man, in whose character and temper the
liiiic iiiiiiii' so grievous a mistaiie, was the celebrated Thomas :\ Becket.
Bom of respectable pirenlage in London, and having a good educaiion,
lie was fortunate enough to attract the attention and ohiaiu the favour ol
aiclibisliop Theobald, who bestowed some oiRces upon him, the einolu-
nieiils of which enabled him to go to Italy, where he studied Ihe civil and
cauoii law wiih so much success that on his return archbishop Theobald
iravc him the lucrative and important appoinltnenl of archdeacon of Can-
terbury, a;id subsequently entrusted him with a mission to Rome, in
whicii he acquitted himself with his usual ability. On the accession of
Huiiry, ibe archbishop strongly recommended Becket to his notice ; and
(leiiry, (imling him remarkably rich in the lighter accomplishments of the
cDurlicr, as well as in the graver qualities of the statesman, g,'<vc him the
hjirh office of chancellor, which in that age included, besides its peculiar
duties, nearly all those of a modern prime minister. Kings often take a
deliglit in overwhelming with wealth and honours those whom they have
oiicu raised above the struggling herd. It was so even with the prudent
Henry, who proceeded to confer upon his favourite chancellor the pro-
lostsliip of Beverley, the deanery of Hastings, and the constableship of
llie Tower; made him tutor to Prince Henry, and gave him the honours
of Kye and Berkham, valuable new baronies which had escheated to the
crown. Beckel's style of living was proporiioned to the vast wealth thus
heaped upon him ; his suinptuousness of style and the numerous attend-
ance paid to his levees exceeded all tiiat had ever been seen in the case
of ii mere subject; the proudest nobles were his guests, and gladly placed
liieir sons in his house as that in which they would best become accom-
plislii'd gentlemen; he had a great number of knights actually retained in
(lis service, and he attended the king in the war of Toulouse with seven
iiuiulred knights at his own charge ; on another occasion he mainlained
twelve hundred knights and twelve hundred of their followers during the
furiy days of their stipulated service; and when sent to France on an
embassy, ho completely astonished that court by his magnificiMit aitend-
aiice. With all this splendour Becket was a gay companion. Having
taken only deacon's or'iers, he did not hesitate to join in the sports of lay-
men, or even lo take his share of warlike adventure. He wis conse-
quently the favourite companion of the king in his leisure hours. It is
said that Henry, riding one day with Bei;ket, and me(!tiiig a poor wretch
wli(is(! rags shook in the wind, seized the chiincellor's scarlet and (Tiiiine-
liiicil coal and gav(( it to the poor man, who, it may well be sujjpos ;d,
was much surprised at such a gift.
living thus in both the official and private intimacy of the king, Beeket
was well ariiuaiiited with all his views and designs towards the church;
anil ;is \w hail always profcised to agree with tlicm, and was manifestly
piis'.i'sscd of all tlie fulrnts and resolution which would make him valuable
ill the stri:i<i{l(-, the king made him archbishop at the death of his old
patron TlnMbald.
Having lliiis (il)tained the second place in the kin3:dom, Thomas :\ Becket
at once cast oflT all the gay haliils and light huniour which lie had inado
till' iiistruini'iits of obtaining ami fixing the personal favour of the king.
Ills fust slip on being coiisecriti'd archbishop of Canterbury was to re-
^v^n his i'liaiu-cllorshi|) into the hands of the king, on III, signincant plea
that his spiiilual fiim'timi woiihl lieiiccforih demand all his eMergi<'s and
jillt'iitjiin, to tli>' entire cxcliiMioii of all secular afTairs. In his household
am! i'ipii|):igi'S he n-tained all his (dd magninceiice, but in his own person
lie now aHsiiiniil a rigid austerity biTilliiig an anchorite. He wore a hiir
clutli next bis skill, wliicli was torn and raw with the merciless disci|)lina
ilia; lie inllicteil u|)on liimself ; bread was almost his only diet, and his
only beverage was water, which he rendered uiipalatablo by an infuiioa o
214
TlIK TREASURY OF HISTORY.
i* '
disagreeable herbs. He daily had thirteen beggars into hu palace ana
washed their feet ; after which ceremony they were supplied with refresh-
ments, and dismissed with a pceimiary present. While thus exciting ili«j
wonder and admiration of the laity, he was no less assiduous in aimjiia
at the favour of the clergy, tp whom he was studiously accessible and
affable, and whom he still further gratified by his liberal gifts to hospital
and convents ; and all who were admitted to his presence were at once
edified and surprised by the grave and devotional aspect and rigid life of
one who had but recently been foremost among the gayest and giddiest of
the courtiers. Far less penetration than was possessed by Henry might
have enabled him to see in all this sudden and sanctimonious austerity a
sure indication that he would find a powerful foe in Uecket whenever he
should atteiTipt to infringe upon the real or assumed rights of the church,
But, in truth, Dccket was too eager to show his ecclesiastical zeal, even
to wait until the measures of the king should afford him opportunity, and
himself commenced the strife between the mitre and the crown by calling
upon the earl of Clare to surrender the barony of Tunbridge to the eeo
of Canterbury, to which it had formerly belonged, and from which Becket
affirmed that the canons prevented his predecessors from legally separat-
ing it. The earl of Clare was a noble of great wealth and power, and
allied to some of the first families, and his sister was supposed to have
gained the affections of the king; and as the barony of Tunbridge had
been in his family from the con(]ucsl, it seems probable that Becket was
inilncedto select him for this demand of restitution of church property, in
order the more emphatically to show his determination to prefer the inter-
ests of the church to all personal considerations, whether of fear or favour.
William D'Kynsford, one of the military tenants of the (irown, was the
patron of a living in a manor held of the archbi.'^hop of Canterbury. To
this living Becket presented an incinnbent named Laurence, thereby in-
fringing the riglit of D'Kynsf'^:;'. who instantly ejected Laurence vi el
urints. Becket forthwith cited l)"l''ynsfonl, and, acting at once accuser
and judge, passed sentence of excommunication upon bin. D'Kynsford
applied for the interference of the king, on the ground that it was illegal
that such a sentence should be passed on one who held m cajnie from llio
crown, wiilnnit the royal assent first obtained. Hcin-y accordingly, act-
ing upon the [iractiee established from the coiKiuest. wrote to Beek( t, with
wliorn he no longer had any personal intercourse, and desired him to absolve
D'Kynsford. It was only reluctantly, and after some delay, that Iteckpl
complied at all ; and even when he did so he coupled his compliance with
a message, to the eirect that it was not for the king to instruct him as to
whom he shoidd exeotnniiinicate and whom alisolvi? t Tli(>iii,'li this cini-
diiet abundantly showed Henry the sort of opposition he had to ex|)icl
from the man whom his kindness had fiiriiisheil with the means of hi'iiii
nntrnitefnl. there were many considerations, apart (Voiii the boldness ami
dci'ision of the king's temper, wlneh made Henry rt solute in not losini;
any time m cniieavouriug to |iut sometliinu like a curl) upon the licentioiii*
nisolenee to which long impunity iunl gross superstition of the great binl)
:if the people had eiieonriiged the clergy. The papacy was just now cnii
siderably weakened by its own schismatieal ilivisioii, while Htniry, wealthy
in territory, wasfortiinatcMn having the kiiigiloin of Kiii^laml thoroui.'lily in
Rubniission, with the sole exception of the clerical disorders and assinn|)-
lions t<i which lie li;id now (e'termined to put a slo|). t>i) the oilier liami
those (lisnrders were so seaiidalous, and those assuin|ilions in many
rases were so starlliuijly unjust, that Henry eonlil could scarcely fail to
have the best wimies ot Ins subjects in general for the siici'ess of Ins
project. The praeiiee of ordiiiimig the sous of villains had not merely
caused an inonliiiiite increase in tin- nuinlper of the clergy, but had also
caused an even more than correspotulmy (lelenuraliua of liie clerical cliur
THE TREASURY JF HISTORY.
216
ter in England. The incontinence, gluttony, and roystering habits, at-
tributed to tiie lower order of tiic clerfjy by the writer of a nnich later
day, were liglit and comparatively venial olTences compared totliose which
seem but too truly to be attributed to that order in the reign of Henry II.
Robbery, adulterous seduction, and even rape and murder, were attrib-
uted to them ; and the returns made to an inquiry which Henry ordered,
showed that, only counting from the conunencement of his reign, ». e., a
period of somewhat less than two years, a hundred murders had been
committed by men in holy orders who had never been called to account.
Henry resolved to take steps for putting a stop to this impunity of crim-
iiials whose sacred professions only made their criminality the greater
and more detestable. An opportunity of bringing the point of the clerical
impunity to issue was afforded by a horrible crime that was just now
committed in Worcestershire, where a priest, on being discovered in car-
rying on an illicit intercourse with a gentleman's daughter, put her father
to death. The king demanded that the offender should be delivered over
to the civil power, but liecket confmed the clerkly culprit in the bishop's
prison to prevent his being apprehended by the king's oHicers, and main-
tained that the highest punishment that could be indicted upon the priest
was degredation. The king acutely cauglit at this, and demanded that,
after degredation, when he would have become a layman again, the cul-
prit should be delivered to the civil power to be further dealt witii as it
might deem fit ; but liecket deninrred even to this, on the plea that it
would be unjust to try an accused man a second time upon the same
charge.
.Angered by the arrogance of Uecket, and yet not wholly sorry to iiave
puch a really sound pretext for putting some order into the pretensions of
ilie church, Henry summoned an assembly of tlie |)relates of England, for
the avowe(i purpose of putting a teimination to the frequent and increasing
controversies between the ecclesiastical and the civil Jurisdiction.
Henry himself commenced the business of the assembly by asking the
iiisiiops, plainly and categorically, whetlier they were willing or unwilling
to submit to the ancient laws and customs of the kingdom. To this plain
(jiit'stion, the bishops, in a more Jesuitical spirit, replied that they were
willing so to submit, " saviii;^ their own order ;" a mental reservation by
which they clearly meant that they would so submit — until resistance
sjioiild bi^ safe and easy ! ^o shallow and palpable an artifice could not
impose upon so shrewd a prince as Henry, whom it greatly piovoked. He
vlcparied from the assembly in an evident rage, and immediately stint to
require from Itecktit the surrender of the castles and honours of Kye and
lli'i'kham. This dtMnand, and tin; anger which it indicated, greatly alarm-
ed the i)ishops ; but Uecket was undismayed ; and it was not without much
dilliculty, that I'htlip, the pope's legate and almoner, prevailed upon him
to consent to the retraction of thi; oiti'iisivi! saving clause, and give an ab-
'iohite and utiqualilied promise of submission to the ancient laws. But
Henry was now determined to have a more precise understanding ; a for-
mal and definite decision of the limits of the eci-lcsiastical and the civil au-
(liority ; and thus in some measure to destroy the undue asccndani-y which,
as effectually as insidiously, the former hail for aloiigtimi! past iiet-n oh-
taiiiing. He therefori; collated and reihict'd to writing those ancient cus-
toms of the realm which had been the most egregioiisly (•ontravciictl by
by the cli-rgy. and having called a great couiicii of the banms and prelates
at (Uaniiiloi), in Derkshire, he submitted this digest In tlieiii in a form of
a series of artieli-s, which are known in history under the title of the
'('onstitntions of Claremloii;" which are lliiis briefly simimedup ; "It
was enacted by these ecmstitutions that all suits coiu'ernmg the advowson
and preNentaliiin of churches should lie determined in tlit! eivil courts'
liiut lu future tho churches belonging; to the kind's see should nut begruntCL
^
i
i! IS
. :^LM
; .^♦•(ir-
214
THE TaEASURV OF HISTORY
ill pi.rpptiiity without his cDnsent ; that clerks accused of any crhne should
Ih) Irittil ill ilic civil courts ; that no one, particularly no clerirymaii of sny
rank mIiouUI depart the kingdom without the king's license: that excoin.
niuiiictiitod pcr(<ons should not be bound to give security for their coiuimi.
ili^ ill their present place of abode ; that laics should not be accused in
•piriluiil courts, except by legal and reputable promoters and witnesses;
timl no chief-tfiiant of the crown should be excomnuinicatcd, nor his
IiiikIh he put under an interdict, except with the king's consent; that all
nppealH In Hpirilual causes should be carried from the archdeacon to tin
bmhiij), from the bishop to the primate, and from the primate to the king,
ttiid HJiould proceed no farther but with the king's consent ; that should
any liiw-snit arise between a layman and aclergyman concerning a tenant
tiliil it bo (ii-piiled wln^ther the land be a lay or an ecclesiastical fee, it
Hliould he (irrit determined by the verdict of twelve lawful men to what
cliiHN it hclongcil, and if the laud be found to be a lay fee, then the cause
ihonid fliiaily be determined in the civil courts; that no inhabitant in a
liiy (IcmcHni' should be excommunicated for non-nppearance in a spiritual
court until the chief oiTicer of the place where he resides be consulted,
lliiit he may c(»mpe! him by the civil authority to give satisfaction to the
uhlircli; dial the nrchbifhops.iiishopsandotlierspiritualdignitaries should
b(i rcKiirdcd as barons of the r(^alm, should possess the privileges and be
suliJiK'ti'il to the burdens belonging that rank, and should be bound to at
tend the king in his great councils, and assist in all trials, till the sentence
cither of dealh or of loss of nK.'iiibers be given against the criminal; that
the revenue of vacant sees should belong to the king, the chapter, or such
of iheiii as he chooses to summon should sit in the king's chapel till tlio)
made the new (dcciion with his consent, and that the bishop elect should
do honiiige to the crown ; that if any baron or tenant in cnpite should rc-
fuhi! to siiinnit lu the spiritual courts, the king should employ his authority
ill obliging him lo make such suhmissions ; that if any one thrr '. olF his
Mllegiaiit'e lo the king, the prelates slunild assist the king witli ;!i('irccu
i»ure» in rcMluciiig him; that goods forreit('d to the king slKuihl lot he pro-
tected ill churclieH or chnrchyar.ls ; that the clergy should in ■ longer pre-
tend to the right of enforcing payment of debts (;ontraciei! by oath oi
primiiHc, but should leave these law-suits, equally with others, to the de-
lerminatioii of thi> civil courts ; and that the s(m;'> of villians shouUl not l)<>
urdaiiied clerks without the consent of their lord."
The haions present at this great council were all on thoking's sid ^eilhci
fnmi actual participation of his sentiments towards tlie clergy or from awe
of his |)ower and temper ; and the prelates, perciving that they had
both the king and the lay peerage against them, were fain lo coiisrnl
to llu'se iirtii'lcH, which accordingly were voted without o|)posilion. Ihit
Henry, imsdoiilitiug that the bishops, though they round it useless to
oppime the united will of the crown and jieerage, wimid whenever
circmnHlauies should be favomabli! to lliem deny the authority of tlie
comnIiIuIioiis, as being enacted by an authority in ilsidf incompleti',
would ind ii(! I'ontenled with the mere verhial iissent of the prelates,
hill deiiiaiided llial each of them shimld set his hand an<l seal to the
coimliiuiions, and to their solemn promise to observe them. To this
(lemainl, Ihough the rest of the prelates complied with it, Deckel gave
II h(dd and Hal refusal. The earls of Cornwall and Leicester, the ineM
powerful nieii in the lay peerage, stront^iy urged him, as it matter of
jioliey Hi uell as obedieie'c, U> comply with the king's demand. IIi
wiiH no well aware of Henry's drift, and so far from being desirous (ji
leciirmg lli<' pern.anent ohs(>rvani'e of tlie ciiiistiliitions of ClaiendDii,
lliiil III' eiilrealicH could induce him to vield assent, until Hichard ilc
llaNiing'*, Diiglish graml prior of the kingiits teniplirs, Knelt to him, ami
III leara imiilured liim, if iiol for lu« uwii sake, ul least for Uie Bake u>
THE TREASURY OK HISTOttV.
217
the thnrcli, not to continue an opposition which must be nnsuncessful
and would only excite the ruinous opposition of a monarch equally reso-
lute ami powerful. Stern and resolved as Becket had shown himself
as re^nuded the nnportunity of laymen, this evident proof that up(»n this
point, at least, he no longer had the sympathy of even churchmen,
caused Becket to give way ; and he therefore, though with evident re-
luctance, took an oath " legally, though with gooil fuiih, and without
fraud or reserve, to observe the constitutions of Clarendon."
But the king, though he had thus far triumphed even over the firm and
haughty temper of the primate, was by no means so near to complete suc-
cess as he deemed himself. Pope Alexander, who stdl remained in
Friuice, and to whom in his contests with the anti-pope Hcm-y had done
no unimportant service, no sooner had the constiiutidus presented to him
for ratification, than he perceived how completely they were calculated
to make the king of England independent of his (dergy, and the kingdom
Itself of the papacy; and he was so far from ratifying, tliat he condemned
and annulled them. When Becket found liis own former opposition thus
sanctioned by the present feelings and conduct of the pope, he regretted
that he had allowed any considerations to indiu;e him to give his signature
and assent. He immediately increased his already great and painful aus-
terities of life and severity of dis<!ipline, and would not even e.\ercise any
of the functions of his dignity milil he received the absolution of the pope
for what he deemed his offence against the ecclesiastical privileges. Nor
did lie ciMifine himself to mere veil)al repentance or his own personal dis-
cipline, hut used all bis eloquence to induce the English prelates to engage
with him in a fixed and firm confederacy to regain and maintain their
foniuion rights. Henry, hoping to beat Becket at his own weapons, now
applied to Alexander to grant the legatine connnission to the archbishop
of York, whom he obviously only wished to arm with that inordinate and
dangerous authority, in order that he might make him the instrument of
Bi'cket's ruin. But the design was too obvious to escape so keen an ob-
server as Alexander, who granted the connnission of legate, as desired,
hut carefully added a clause iniiibiting the legate from executing any act
lo the prejudice of the ar(dibisho|) of Canterbury. On finding himself thus
h.idlcd upon the very point on which alone he was solicitous, Henry so
cnniplelcly lost his temper, that he sent back the doinnneut by the very
mc'»>seng(T who brought it over, thibi giving to Alex.inder the (Minpliment
ofdisceriinient, and the satisfaction of haviugcomplctely baffled his plan.
The anger which the king now exhibit<'d threatening extreme measures,
Becket •wice endeavoured to leave the kingdom, but was detained on both
oci^asinns by contrary winds; and Henry was thus enabled to cause him
irreat expense and annoyance, by inciting J(»iin, mareschal of the ex-
clicquer, to sue tin; archbishop in his own court for some lands belonging
In the manor of Pag<diam, arid thence to appeal to the king's court. When
the day arrived for trying the cause on the appeal, the archbishop did not
personally appear, but sent four knights to apologize for his absence on
the si'orc of illness, and to make certain teciinical objections to the form
of John's appeal. 'I'lie king treated the absence of Btcket as a wilful and
offensiv(! contempt, and the kniy lis who b(U'e his apolngy narrowly
cs(M|)('d being committed to prison for its alledged falsehood. Being rc-
siilveil that neither absence! nor tecdinical ty should save Becket from suf-
feriui;, tlie king now summoned a great council of barons and jirehites at
\(irthan)pton. Before this court Be( ket, with an air of great uioih'ralion,
urijed that the mareschal's cause was proceeding in the archiepiscopal
oiMiri Willi all possilile reyulariiy, tliougb ll..t testimony id' the sheriflf
Would show that cause lo lie iiiiipiitous and unjust ; that he, Becket, far
fioui sliiiwiiig any I'ontempt of the king's court, had most explicitly ac-
Liiuwledged and submitted tu his uuthou'-v bv sending four of iin> kuiglitB
ft?!''
m
i ■
r f
r
a ~r '" ' .
, 1 >»♦«»«'*■
2I«
THK THKAStlHY OP HISTOEY.
to appear for him; that even if their appearance should not be accepted
as being tantamount to his own, and he should be technically made guilty
of an offence of which he was virtually innocent, yet the penalty attaciied
10 that crime was but a small one, and as he was an inhabitant of Kent
lie was entitled by law to an abatement even of that ; and that he was
now, in loyal obedience to the king's summons, present in the great
(iouncil. and ready before it to justify himself against the charges of the
marcschal. Whatever may be thought of the general arrogance of the
prmiate and of his ambition, both as man and churchman, it is impossible
not to perceive that his reasonings were here very just, and that the king's
whole conduct was far more indicative of the monarch who was intent on
crushing a too powerful subject, than of one who was sincerely and right-
eously desirous of " doing justice and loving mercy ;" and it is equally im.
possible not to feel some sympathy with the haughty and courageous pri-
mate, who, when pressed down by a foe so powerful and so vnidictive,
was aV.and()ncd by the dignitaries of that very church for wliose sake,
pnncipally at least, he had so courageously combatted. In the present
case, as in the case of the constitutions of Clarendon, the bishops were
induced to coincide with the lay barons, who had from the first determined
to side with the king, and notwithstanding the convincing logic of his de-
fence, he was pronounced guilty of contempt of the king's court and of
neglect of the fealty which he had sworn to his sovereign ; and Henry,
bishop of \V inchester, the once powerful brother of the late king Stephen,
was, in spite of all his remonstrances, compelled to sentence the primate
to confiscation of all his goods and chattels.
Even this severe sentence, upon what we cannot but consider a most
iniquitous judgment, did not sufliciently satisfy the vengeance of the k.ng,
who on the very next day demanded from becket the sum of three hun-
dred pounds, which had been received by him from the manors of Eye and
Berkham. To this demand Becket replied, that as this suit was not men-
tioned in his summons to the council, he ought not be called upon to
answer it ; that, in point of fact, he had expended more than that sum
upon Kye and Uerklnim castles and the royal palace in London; but that
rather than a dispute about money should make any difference between
his sovereign and himself, he would at once consent to pay the sum, for
which he innnediately gave the necessary sureties. Even this submission
could not soften the king's determination ; he demanded five hundred
marks which he had lent Becket in the war of Toulouse — during which
war he had done tlie king much zealous and good service ! — and a similar
sum for wliich the king alleged that he had become Bucket's surety to a
Jew; and tlien, as if to leave him without the slightest hope of eseape, lie
called upon him to furnish an account of his administration as chancellor,
and to pay in the balance due from him on account of all the baronies
prelacies, and abbeys which had been under his management during his
chancellorship. To this demand Becket replied, that it was so suddenly
and unexpectedly made that he nuist require some delay ere he could
answer to it. The king then demanded sureties, and Becket difsired leave
to consult his suffragans upon that point. They agreed with him that it
would be utterly impossible for him lo procure satisfactory security for
the enormous amount of '14,000 marks, at which the king chose to esti-
mate a (l(!inand which nnisl in its very nature be uncertain; and Henry,
bishop of VVinchcslcr, advised him at once to make the king anotlVrof
two tiiousand marks, by way of payment in full of all demands, certain oi
uiKM rlain. This he a(;cordinKly offiired, but the king refused it, as lie
might liave been ('X|)(!ct(Ml to do ; for in the first place he desired money
far less than the torment and ruin of Becket, and in the itext place, tli-
sum of two thousand marks, though large in itself, was small ii'dcR* '•
comparison to the sum demanded by the king, and could hardi < U^
THE TREASUKY OF HISTORY
219
pected to satisfy him if money really were his object. Some oi Beckel's
suffra'faiis, now plainly perceiving that his ruin was the king's object,
advised him to resign his see by way of terminating all the king's charges
and demands ; while others advised that he should plainly submit to the
kinif's mercy. But Becket seemed to gather courage trom the very cir-
cumstances which would have plunged men of a more timid spirit into
despair, and resolved to brave the utmost that the king could inflict.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE REION OF IIE.NKT M. (CONTINUED).
Having spent a few days in retirement and meditation upon the trymg
and difficult circumstances in which lie was placed, Becket at length went
10 church and performed mass ; having the communion service com-
menced with the words " Princes sat and spake against me," by the
selection of which passage he appeared to desire to liken himself to the
persecuted and martyred St. Stephen. From church Becket proceeded to
the royal palace. On arriving at tlie gate he took the cross from the hands
of the bearer, and, holding it before him, marched to the royal apartments
as though in some danger which made the presence of the sacred symbol
necessary for his protection. The king, who from an inner apartment
perceived the extraordinary demeanour of Becket, sent some of tiie
bishops to reason with him upon its impropriety. They reminded him
that he, by subscribing to the constitutions of Clarendon, had agreed with
them that it was necessary to do so ; and they complained lliat he ap-
peared to wish to induce them now, by his example, to revolt against the
civil power, when it was too hite for either of them to do so without the
jiiilt of offending against laws to wliich they had consented and sworn to
support. To this Becket replied, tiiat if he and they had done wrong in
swearing to support laws destructive of tlie ecclesiastical privileges, the
best atonement they now could make would be to submit themselves to
the auiiiority of the pope, who had solemnly nullified the constitutions of
Clarendon, and had absolved them from the oatii taken to secure those
constitutions; that, for his own part, tiic heavy penalty to whicii he had
been condemned for an offence which would be but slight even had he
been guilty of it, which he was not, and the preposterous demands sub-
sequently made upon him by the king, very clearly showed that it was
intended utterly to ruin him, and thus prepare a way for the destruction
of all spiritual immunities ; that to the pope he should appeal against what-
ever iniquitous sentence should be passed upon him ; and that, terrible as
the vengeance of so powerful a king as Henry most undoubtedly was, it
had power only to slay the body, while the sword of the church could
slay tile soul.
In thus speaking of appealing to the pope, Becket not only opposed the
express provision of ttio constitutions of Clarendon, by whicli appeals
were done away with even in ecclesiastical cases, but opposed even <!om-
inon custom, such appeals never having lain in civil cases. Whatever
excuse Henry's violence might furnish for appealing to Rome, in the eyo
of reason, to do so was an offence both by tlie letter and the spirit of the
law; Becket, however, waited not for any further proof of the king's vin-
diciivcncss, but departed secretly for Northampton, and after wandering
abiiiit f(M' some time in disguise, and undergoing much difliculty, at Ic ith
procured a ship and arrived safely at Gravelines.
In France the persecuted churchman was sure to find warm friends, if
not actually from their conviction of his having the right in tiie quarrel
between himself and the king, at least because it was their interest to up-
220
THE TREASURY Of HISTORY.
hold all who were likely in any degree to check the proud prosperity ol
Henry. In this both the king of France and his powerful vassal iheearlof
Flanders had an interest ; and in that particular interest they forgot their
infinitely greater concern in the obedience of subjects to their sovereign,
and gave the self-exiled prelate a warm reception, the king of France
even going so far as to pay him a personal visit at Soissoiis, where he
had fixed the prelate's residence. Henry sent a magnificent embassy to
Lyons to justify his conduct to the pope ; but he, who was so deeply in-
terested in the success of Becket, gave the envoys of Henry a very cool
recepiion, while upon Becket, who also attended to justify his conduct,
he lavished his kindness and distinction. The king, doubly annoyed iha't
Becket's person was beyond his power and that he had obtained so marked
a welooine abroad, not only put all the revenues of Canterbury under
sequestration, but even proceeded to the meanly malignant length of ban-
ishing the whole of the archbishop's family and dependants, to the number
of four hundred. In order that there might be no doubt that his intent
in this measure was to embarrass Becket, by throwing upon him the sup-
port of this host of helpless people, a burden the more ruinous from tlie
simultaneous sequestration of his revenue, he compelled them before their
departure to swear that they would immediately join the archbishop. In
this part of his vindictive design, however, Henry was defeated by the
pope ; for as soon as these exiles arrived in France, Alexander absolved
them from their involuntary oath, and distributed them among the con-
vents of Flanders and France ; and to Becket himself the convent of Pon-
tigny was given for a residence, his income being furnished by the reve-
nues of that convent and a very liberal pension allov/ed to him by the king
of France ; and here Becket remained in great esteem and magnificence
for some years.
A.D. 1165. — Though far removed from Henry's presence, Thomas h
Becket had lost neither the will nor the power to annoy him. Both
with that end and for the purpose of confirming the favourable opinion of
the pope towards himself, he now resigned into Alexander's hands his
see of Canterbury, on the alledged ground that he had been uncanoiiically
presented to it by the king; appparently quite unaware or careless of the
fact, that that plea made the whole of his conduct illegal and gratuitous by
his own showing. Alexander well pleased at the deference thus shown
to him, accepted his resignation, but inmiediately reinvested him and
granted him a bull by which he pretended to free Decket from the sentence
passed on him at Northampton by the great council. Another glaring in-
consistency; this sentence being fully authorized as to jurisdiction, ty-
rannical as it was, in fact, by the constitutions of Clarendon, which
Becket himself had signed and sanctioned. But, in truth, this whole
quarrel was a series of inconsistencies, absurdity, and wilfulness, both
on the one side and on the other. Being unable to obtain an interview
with Alexander, the favourable stale of whose aflTairs enabled him to re-
turn to Rome, Henry now made earnest and wise preparations for pre-
serving his kingdom and himself from the worst consequences of the open
quarrel with the pope which now seemed to bo inevitable. He issued the
strictest orders to his justicaries neither to forward nor to allow of any
appeals from their courts either to Becket or the pope, or in anywise to
appeal to or obey their authority. He at the same time made it a trcii-
sonablo offence to bring any interdict into the kingdom from oitlier of
these dignitaries, and denouncing upon all such ofTences the punislinipnt,
m case of clerks, of castration and deprivation of sight, and in the case
of laics, of deatli ; while sequestration and banishment were to be the
puuishmeiit not only ofall persons who should obey such interdict, but
also of :ill their relations; and to give the more solemn effect to tlipse
stern orders, he obliged all his subjects to swear obedience to them
THK TKEA3URY OP HISTOUY.
n\
Some notion maybe formed of the tremendous power Henry possessed,
wliei) it is (considered tiiat orders so sweeping as these, wliieii in some
sort severed the kingdom from its dependance on the papiil court, were
made not by the great council of the nation, but by the king's will alone.
As Beckct still possesed vast influence over the clergy, who in that age
iiad an ahnost absolute power over the minds of the great mass of the peo-
ple, Henry did not deem himself sufficiently armed by these orders, but
oiilcred into a close engagement with the celebrated emperor, Frederic
Barbarossa, who was at open war with the pope Alexander; and still far-
ther to alarm the pope, Henry showed some inclination to acknowledge
liie aiui-pope, Pascal, 111.
A.D. una. — Nothing daunted by the prudent arrangement of Henry, oi
by the effect they undoubtedly had upon the mind of Alexander, Beckct
now issued a censure which excommunicated the king's chief advisers by
name and generally all persons who should favour or even obey the con-
stitutions of Clarendon. Thus placed in the dilemma of being unable to
release liis friends from the terrible effects of excommunication, without
undoing all ihat he had done, and making a formal and complete acknowl-
edgement of the pope's power to absolve and tiierefore to exconnnunicate,
Henry listened to tiie advice of John of Oxford, his agent wiihtlie pope,
and consented to admit the mediation of the legates Otho and William of
Pavia. When these personages proceeded to examine into the affair, the
king reqiitred that all the constitutions of Clarendom should be fully ratified;
Becket, on the other hand, insisted that before any su(di agreement were
made, holh himself and his adherents should be restored to their posses-
sions and position. The legate William, who was greatly interested for
Henry, took care to protract the negotiation as far as possible, and to rep-
resent Henry's disposition in the most favourable light to the pope. But
the pretensions and demands of the opponent parties were far too much
opposed at the very outset to admit of any good result and the negotiation
soon fell to the ground; Henry, however, profited by its duration and the
partial restoration of the pope's good opinion, to procure a dispensation
for the marriage of his third son, Geoffrey, to the heiress of Brittany, a
favour to wlii('h he attached ail the more importance because it very deep-
ly mortified both Becket and the king of France.
A. D. llfi?. — The count of Auvergne, a vassal of the Duchy of Guienne,
having offended Henry, that iiumarch entered his vassal's domain; and
the count appealing to the kingof France as superior lord, a war ensued
between the two kings ; but it was conducted with no vigour on eithei
side, and peace was soon made on terms sufficiently unfavourable to
Henry to show that his quarrel with Rome had lost him not a little of that
superiority which he had previously enjoyed over the king of France.
Both the pope and Henry began to tire of their disputes which lliey at
lengili perceived to be mutually iiurtful, and still more darigerous as to
the future than presently injurious. This c((nsideralion ii\(;lined both par-
ties to a reconciliation, but was not sufficient to put an end to their jeal-
ousies and suspicions. Several attempts at coming to a good understand-
ing were frustrated by petty doubts or petty punctilio on either side ; but
at length the nuncios Gralian and Vivian w(Me commissioned by the pope
to bring about an accommodation, ami for that purpose they had a meet-
ing with Henry in Normandy. After much tedious discussions all difli-
enliies seemed happily brouglit to an I'ud. Henry offered to sign a treaty
ill the terms projiosed by the pope, only with a salvo to his royal dignity,
lint liecket, who, however much wronged at one time seems at length to
have learned lo love strife for its own sake, took fire at this limitation,
and the excommnnicatioii of the king's ministers was immediately renew-
Hil. No fewer than four more treaties were broke' ..n i)\ a similar petti-
ness of temper on either side: and it is quite clear from all accounts, that
53 "^HK
8S9 THE TKEASUEY OP HISTORY.
the fajlt lay chiefly with Becket, who, certainly, whatever other qualities
of a Christian prelate he was endowed with was sadly deficient in meek-
ness.
A. D. 1169. — Henry, who perceived this fault of Becket, did not fail to
point it out to the attention of King Louis. " There have been," said
Henry, witii great force and shrewdness, "many kings of England, some
of greater, some of less authority than myself; there have also been many
archbishops of Canterbury, holy and good men, and entitled to every kind
of respect ; let Becket but act towards me with the same submission
which the greatest of his predecessors have paid to the least of mine,
and there shall be no more controversy between us." This view of the
case was so reasonable that it induced Louis for a time to withdraw lijg
friendship and support; but bigotry and interest proved an overmatch for
reason, and the prelate soon regained the Frsiieh king's favour.
A. D. 1170. — At length, to the great joy of a) sensible men and well-
wishers to England, all difficulties were doiiP ;:ivay with, and Becket re-
turned to England. By this treaty he wps noi required to yield any
of the original points in dispute ; he and his adherents were restored
to their possessions, and in cases where vacancies in the see of Canter-
bury had been filled up by the king, the incumbents he had appointed were
now expelled, and their places filled by men of Becket's own choice. On
the king's side the only advantages derived from this reconciliation were
the removal of the terrible sentence of excommunication from his friends
and ministers, and the terminaiion of the dread in which he had so long
).ived of seeing an interdict laid upon his whole dominions. But that was
an advantage the preciousn^ss of whicli it is scarcely possible for our
generation, so happily free IV'^;^ terrors which Rome could then strike into
the hearts of the mightiest niuiuns, adequately to appreciate. That Henry
set no ordinary value upon the peai e tlius procured may be judged from
the fact, that this proud and powerful king, among the many servile flat-
teries with which he wooed the good-Iiuniour of the man whose greatness
was his own creation, actually on one occasion stooped so low as to hold
the stirrup of Becket while the haughty churchman mounted ! In a king
this excessive and unseemly condescension passes for policy and astute-
ness ; in a meaner man it would scarcely escape being called by the plainer
and less complimentary names of hypocrisy and servility.
But the peace secured by so niuch sacrifice of dignity did not last
long. Henry during Becket's absence iiad associated his heir, Prince
Heniy, with him in the sovereignty, and had caused liie unction to be be-
stowed upon him by Hoger, archbisiiop of York. This had not been done
so sc(;relly hut that the exiled prelate had been informed of it, and both
he and tlie king of France demanded that the archbishop of Canterbury,
who alone could regularly bestow the unction, should renew the cere-
mony both upon Prince Henry and his youthful bride, Margaret of France
To this reasonable demand, which indeed was of the utmost importance to
the prince and princess, the king readily and frankly acceded ; but not
contented with this tacit confession that in a case of urgency the king
trenched upon his iirivilegc and he was now ready to make the best repa-
ration in his power. Deckel had scarcely landed in England ere he sus-
pended the archbishop of York and exconiniunicated the bishops of Lon-
don and Salisbury, by authority with which the pope had armed him. De
Warenne and Gervase, two of the king's ministers, astonished and dis-
gusted at this wanton and gratuitous breach of the peace so lately made
up, indignantly demanded whether the archbishop really desired to return
to his native land only to bring fire and sword with him.
Entirely unmindful of the construction which sensible and just men
might put upon his litigious and vainglorious airs and conduct, lie pro-
ceeded to make a triumphal entry into his see ; and he was received bv
m *
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
SS3
the multitude with a rapturous joy and applause well fitted to confirm him
in his uncompromising humour. Stimulated by his evident popularity,
he now published sentence of excommunication against Nigel de Sack-
ville, Robert de Broc, and others, on the ground of their liaving either
assisted at the coronation of Prince Henry, or joined in the king's perse-
cution of the exiled clergy.
When the archbishop of York and the bishops of London and Salisbury
arrived at Uayeux, where Henry then was, and informed him of Becket's
new violence, the king's indignation that all his careful pohcy, and the
coiulescension which could not but have been most painful to so proud a
prince, were thus completely thrown away, was tremendous. He broke
out into the most violent invectives upon the arrogance and ingratitude of
Becket, and unfortunately allowed himself, in reply to the archbishop of
York, who remarked that peace was hopeless while Becket lived, to say
that it was the want of zeal on the part of his friends and servants that
had caused him so long to be exposed to so much insolence and annoy-
ance. Such words could not in that age fall innocuously from the lips of
a monarch far less powerful and far less beloved by his courtiers than
Henry was. Reginald Fitzurse, William de Tracey, Hugh de Moreville,
and Richard Brito, four gentlemen of the king's household, taking a mere
e.xpression of very natural peevishness for an actual wish for the death of
Becket, immediately agreed to cross over to England and put their mas-
ter's enemy to death. They were missed by Henry, who, fearing their
desperate purpose, dispatched a message charging them on their allegi-
ance to do no personal injury to Becket. Unhappily they were not over-
taken in time to arrest tlieni in their ruthless design. Becket, proud of
the power he had displayed, was residing at Canterbury in all the haughty
security of one who felt' the peace and safety of the whole nation to be in
some sort hostages for his safety ; of one, in fact, whose person the most
daring of his enemies must look upon as something sacred and inviolable.
This lii;(h opinion of his value in llie eyes of mankind was fatal to him.
When the four resolved assassins reached Canterbury the archbishop was
hut slenderly guar<ied, an<l tliey saw him go without fear or suspicion to
hear vespers in the chureh of St. Benedict, whitlier tliey followed and
butchered him ; unopposed equally in the connnission of their foul and
cowardly crime and in their subsequent departure.
To Henry the news of this detestable and no less impolitic crime came
like a thunderbolt. Confident that even the pope would see the impro-
priety of Becket's conduct, he had already contemplated the arrest and
regular punishment of the proud prelate, not doubting that by dexterous
miuiagcment he could induce ihe pope not merely to a[)prove, but even to
aid his measures. But now his position was completely altered ; instead of
proceeding as an injured and insulted king, he would have to defend him-
self against Ihe odious charge of assassination. He could not but see
that, even in the judgment of the most disinterested and unprejudiced men
tiiere would be but too many circumstances of shrewd suspicion at hiast;
while the pope, whose policy it was to seize upon every circumstance
that could tend to increase the subjection of so powerful a king to Rome,
would not fail publicly to attribute this crime to him, whatever mirrht be
his private judgment; and for himself and his devoted kingdom lir could
now anticipate notiiing but excommunication and interdict !
So compUitely was 'he king unmanned by his fears, that he shut him-
self up in Ins own apartments for three days, allowing no light i' enter
them, wholly abstaining from food, and not permitting even llif most
favoured of his subjects to approach him. Alarmed lest this conduct
should actually be carried to the extent of self-destruction, his friends at
length forced their way to him, and prevailed upon him to emerge from
■■ ,!
jiliiif
t ■■
224
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
his solitude nnrt resume tlic cares of government which now more tnan
ever demamlud tlie fnllest possible exertion of his fine laleuls.
A. D. 1171.— It must be evident that the main difiicnlty of Henry's situ-
ation originalfd in the uiiwillingnei;y which the pope would feel to admit
even the most cogent reasonings against the king's parlieipation of the
trnilt of Ik'cket'.s murderers. Rlen do not easily yield credence to argu-
ments—and Henry conld only offer arguments, not proofs — that militate
again.st ti'eir own dear and cherished interests. But this calamity buih
to the king and kingdom was too terrible and too instant to allow of any-
thing beinu left unattempted which promised even the probability of suc-
cess, and Henry immediately sent the archbishopof Roaen, together with
tlie bishops of Worcester and Evreux, and live other men of talent and
station, to make, in the king's name, tlie most humble submission to the
pope. 'I'here was some difficulty in gaining admission to his holiness,
who was at the very lime that his forbearance was thus abjectly sought by
the potent and prond Henry, almost a prisoner in his own palace; so sur-
rounded and pressed was he by his enemies. It was now nearly EiLster,
and it was expected that the name of Henry would be included in the list
of those who at that season received the solemn and terrible curses of the
church. Happily, however, Richard Barre, one of Henry's envoys, and
others, contrived so far to mollify the anger of the pope, that his fearful
anathema was bestowed only in general terms upon Becket's murderers
and their instigators or abettors. Two legates were appointed to inquire
into the alTair; and thus, after all his fears, Henry escaped the worst con-
sequences of a crime of which he seems really to have been innocent, but
of which circumstances would as certainly have enabled the pope to icm
to think him gudty — if, indeed, it had not been, just then, rather more to
the papal interest to obtain a stron|f hold upon Kngland, by accepting the
king's submission and allowing his assertions to pass for proof, than
har.shly to drive both king and nation to despair. Thus happily delivered
from a peril so imminent, Henry directed his attention to Ireland.
A. D. IIT."}. — All men's eyes had of late been anxiously turned upon tho
king's heir, the young prince Henry. He had given many proofs that he
possessed in no ordinary degree the princely qualities of courage, liberal-
ity, and a kindly disposition; but those who looked beneatli the surface
perceived that bis very kindness, unless ruled by a severe and unconnnon
discretion, was likely to give him a fatal facility in listening to the advice
of any friends who should unduly minister to his other chief characteris-
tic—an excessive ambition. At the time when, during Becket's absence,
he irregularly niceived the royal unction, he made a remark wiiich was
much commented upon, and which mat\y did not fail to interpret into
proof of a haughty and aspiring turn. His father waited upon him at table,
and good-hnmouredly observed that never was king more royally attended;
tipon which the prince remarked to one of his favourites, that it surely was
nothing so very remarkable that the son of a count should wait upon the
son of a king.
Agreeable to the promise made by the king at the period of the return
of Bucket, young Henry and the princess Margaret were now crowned
and anointed by the archbishop of Rouen, and in the subsequent visit which
the prince paid to his father-in-law it Is thought that the latter persuaded
him that the fact of his being crowned during the life-time of his fatlicr,
instead of being a mere ceremony to secure his future succession, gave
liim an instant claim upon a part, if not upon the whole, of his father's
domini(nis, and tlu^ prince was unfortunately but too well inclined to give
credit to the arguments by w liich this view of the case was supported.
Eager to enjny the power, of wliirli he probably but little understood the
pains, he formally demanded that his father sliould resign either England
or Normandy to liim. The king very properly refused to comply with so
THE TREABURY OF HISTORT.
235
return
jwned
IvhiL'h
liacJed
jitlipr,
Hier's
J give
pi'ted.
tlic
land
Ith so
sxiraordiiiary a request, and after upbraiding his father in undutiful terms,
he hastened to Paris and put himself under the protection of the king of
France.
Nor was this the only domestic vexation that assailed the king just as
his pnblii; affairs looked so hopeful. Queen Kieaiior. who as queen of
FraiKie had been remarkable for her levity, was in her second marriage
no less remarkable for her jealously. Being just now labouring undei a
new afcessdf that feeling, her anger with her husband led her to the most
uiijuslifiable length of exciting their children against him. Acting upon
the ifiint afforded by the demand of Prince Henry, she persuaded the
princes Geoffrey and Richard that they too were unkindly and unjustly
used by their father who, she affirmed, ought no longer to wilhold from
them possession of the portions he had formally assigned to them. Offer-
ing them aid in the undutiful v,onrse which she reciommended to them, she
actually disguised herself in male attire, and was on the pomt of departing
for the French court, there to carry on intrigues contrary to her duty
alike as wife, mother, and subject, when the king obtained information of
her designs, and placed her in confinement. Tliis, however, did not put
anend to the misconduct she had mainly originated, and there were princes
who were sufficiently envious of the power and prosperity of Henry to
lend their aid and countenance to this unnatural coaliiinn of sons against
their father, and of subjects against their sovereign, .hidging by his own
■experience of the terror in which even the proudest and boldest men held
the censure and interdictof Rome, Henry in Ibis must distressing situation
did not hesitate to apply to the pope. But he had to learn that to arm the
papal interdict with all its terrors it was necessary that the clergy should
have some strong interest in the question.
Tiie pope issued his bulls, excommuniitating the enemies of Henry; but
as the interests of the church were in no wise concerned the clergy cared
not to e.\ert themselves and the bulls fell to tlie groinid a mere brulern
fulmen. Disappointed and disgusted at finding thai weapon so powerless
for him which was so formidable against him, Henry now had recourse to
the sword ; and, as he had prudently amassed great treasin-es, he was able
lolake ink) his pay large bodies of the banditii-likc soldiery with whom
the continent swarmed, and who were always ready to fight zealously
and bravely too in any cause that afforded regular pay and promised large
plunder. His sons, on the otiier hand, were not wiiliont the means or tlie
Inclination to imitate this part of their father's condii.-t, and most of the
barons of Normandy, Gaseony, and Hrittany willii'.gly look part with the
young princes, who they knew must in the c(nirse of nature hec'oint^ their
righilul sovereigns, their several territories being already irrevocably set-
tled upon Ihein in the usual forms. Nor, to tlu; distrraec! of the English
chivalry, did the disaffection to the injured king and [larent slop even here ;
several powerful Knglish barons, and amniio tlierii the cirls of Chester
and Leicester, openly declared against the king. That no sane man could
have been led into tliis opposition to the king by any diniht as to tlie jus-
tice of his cause is morally certain, and to all the oilier foulness of treason,
these at the least laid themselves open to the low and disgraceful charge
of basely deserting from what they knew to be the more just side, but
deemed to be also the weaker one. And the weaker one, to all human
judgment, it doubtless appeared to be. But few comparatively of his
barons brought their retainers to the aid of the king, whose chief dis-
posable force was an army of about twenty thnnsaud of tliose foreign
niirceiiaries of whom we just made mention, and some well-disciplined
English whom he withdrew from Ireland. On the other hand the combi
nation was potent and threatening indeed. In addition to the numerous
wealthy and warlike barons already alluded to as having given in their
adhesion to the voung princes, the four counts of Ku, Blois, Flanders and
1—15
'■*• U It'
f.,,^f5fl^»'
226
THE TREASUttY OF HISTORY.
3gne and Flanders besfan the unnatural war by lay.
1 the frontier of Normandy. The Count d'Aumale
Boulogne, followed their example, and William, king of Scotland, tlie
natural enemy of England, gladly joined this most unholy alliance.
Louis of Kranee summoned the ciiief vassals of the crown to Paris, and
solemnly bound them by oath to adhere with him to the cause, and Prince
Henry on his part swore to be faithful to his allies among whom he dis-
tributed large gifts of territory — to be conquered from his king and pa-
rent — under the seal of state which he treasonably caused to be made for
that purpose.
The counts of Boulog
ing siege to Aumale on mc nuimci ui iiuiiimiiujr. xuc \^uiiiii u -■vuniaie
who seems to have been only withheld by some prudential and increlv
selfish motive from openly and in form allying himself with his master's
enemies, made a mere show of defence and then surrendered the place.
Being thus apparently a prisoner in the hands of those whose confederate
he seems really to have been, he had a specious ground for committing
still further treason, without exposing himself to any very deadly peril in
the event of the king being ultimately triumphant over the formidable and
unscrupulous confederacy against him.
The king of France, in the meantime, was not idle; with seven thou-
sand knights and their follower.s and a proportionate force of infantry, he,
accompanied by the young Prince H(;nry, laid seige to Verneuil. The
place was bravely defended by Hugh de IJeaucliamp, but the garrison at
the end of a month became so short of provisions, that de Heauclianip wag
obliged to consent to a surrender should he not bo relieved in the course
of three days. lOre the expiration of this time King flenry and his army
appeared on the neighbouring heights, iind the French monarch then de-
manded a conference, for th(! [)urpose, as be alleged, of putting an end to
the differences between Henry and hi.s sons — (lilFerences, it should never
be forgotten, which Louis had himself done his utmost to fan into ullanu'.
Henry, not for a moment suspecting Louis of any treacherous intention,
agreed to this proposal; and Louis liaving thus beguiled him into abstiiiu-
ing from foreihie interference on behalf of the brave garrison until the
term agreed upon for thi! truce had completely exjiircd, called upon Ueiiu-
(diaiiip to make good his promise of snrremler, on pain of being held man
sworn; and then, having set Ctiv. to Verneuil, set his army on the rciicHt
from before it, and Henry fell upon the r»!ar, which lost many both in
killed and prisoners.
The har-)ns of Brittany, headed by R:il|)li de Fougeres and the earl ol
Chester, were encountered by the king's tnjops near Did, and defcatwl
with the loss of fifteen hundred in kdled, besides an imiUiMise number of
wounded and prisoners. Tlu; leaders with llif'ir diminished forces took
shelter in I)ol, but Henry besieged the place so vi;,'orously, that they weri
speedily compelled to surreiuler.
Instead of neing scduired by his successes into any invelerney of pur-
pose against bis enemies, Henry once more agrccil to treat with the cliief
of them, Louis of France, A meeting accordingly took plact- between
the two monaridis, the three young [irinccN, to their infiiute (list redit, prom-
inently ajjpi'aring in the retiinn? of ihiir father's enemy. As their <Milra-
geous demands were in fact the minii cause of dispute between the two
moiiarcbs, Henry i.i'dressed himself to those deinaiids, ;md made his soni
offers far nutre liberal than became hiin to offeror lliv'm to accept ; but ili»
peaci'able purpose of this memorable meeliiig was wholly fruslralcd by
the earl of Liecester, who, prohaldy at the si rret inslitjalioii of Ltuns, he
haved with such open iiisolenci< to Henry, that the meeliug was brokcu
up without any emudusion being arrived at.
Thniigb Henry hail been so successful on the continent in repressing lii§
enetnicH and m upimliliiig bis auibonty, it was in no snial' dang(>riii Fug
iHiid; fur, Prmee Henry having agreed to resign Hover and the utiiti
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
ii7
strongholds of Ke U into the hands of the earl of Flanders, there was so
little of pure public spirit among the English, that a most extensive con-
federacy was formed to aid in this scheme, which would have deserved no
milder name than that of a national suicide. But fortunately for both
Henry and his kingdom, while the lay nobles and their dependants were
thus hostile or indifferent, he was in good odour with the clergy just at
this period, to which, probably, he mainly owed it that he was not utterly
ruined.
Kicliard de Lacy, whom Henry had entrusted with the high and impor-
tant office of guardian of the realm, greatly distinguisheil himself at this
period, both by his loyalty and his conduct. He repelled and obtained the
submission of the king of Scotland, who had led his ravaging troops into
Northumberland ; and immediately after having done this good service.
led Ills victorious troops southward to oppose a far superior force of Flem-
ings who had landed on the coast of Suffolk, and thence marched into the
very heart of the kingdom. In the action which ensued the Flemisli force,
consisting for the most part of hastily-raised and ill-disciplined artizans.
were routed almost at the first charge of De Ijacy's disciplined followers,
and nearly ten thousand were slain or made prisoners, the earl of Leices-
ter liimsclf being among the latter.
Tliis defeat of the Flemings delivered the kingdom from that particular
Janp'r, indeed, but in no wise abated the evil determination of the king's
heartless sons and their allies. The earl of Ferrers and several powerful
friends of the earls of Leicester and Chester were openly in arms against
lliiirking; the earls of Clare and Gloucester were strongly suspected of
benig prepared to take the same course ; and the king of Scotland scarce-
ly allowed the term to expire during which he had engaged to keep the
jieaee, ere he invaded the northern counties of Kngland with a force of
eighty thousand men, who comniitt(!d the most wanton and cxieusivi'
spoliation. In tlii.s state of things, Henry, having put his continental ter-
ritories into a state of comparative security, hastened over to England to
try the effect upon his enemies of his personal presence.
Well knowing tli(! effect of all superstitious observances upon the prin-
cipal part of his sui>j(;cts, he had no sooner landed at Southampton than
lie hastenc^d to the city of Canterbury, distant as it was, and, arriving tlicre.
(luilicd his horse and walked barefooted to the shrine of that now-sainted
Thomas ii lieckct, who in life had caused him so much annoyance and
daintcr. Having prostrated himsi-lf before the shrine, lie m^xt caused tli»'
monks of the place fo he assembled, and, stripping off his giirinents, sub-
niillcd his bare shoulders to the scourge. How liutnilialiii<; an idea docs
It not give us of that age to rellcct that this (lc!,'radiiiR conduct was, pcr-
hips, the most politic that Honry could have chosen to forward the great
oliject he then had in view — the conciliation of the zealous good-will of all
ranks of his subjects — for among all ranks, not excepting the very hii;licst,
sn|H'rslition then had a mysterious and a inii;lity jxiwer. Having com-
pleii'd all the degrading ceremonials that the monks chose to consider es-
snilial to the liiial and complete reconciliation of llu^ king to the saint.
al)s(dntion was solemnly given to Henry, ami he departed for Ijondon.
News shortly after arrived of a great victory that Henry's troops had ob-
lamcd over the? .'^cots ; and the monks, ever iiiclinc<l to the pa.ii Iwr, prc/irr
hoc. principle, did not fail to attribute that victory to tlic pious means by
wliiili Henry had appeased Saint 'I'homas a llecket, who had thus sigiiai-
lied his forgiveness.
William of .Scotland, though repulsed by Henry's generalfi, still showed
liitnHclf unwilling to dcprivi; his troops of the agreealde einployment of
wasting the northern nrovinces of England ; and like a half-gorgeil vulture
(liHliirhcd ill Its ravening feast, he still lingereil near. II ivin;i foriiii'd a
samp ut Alnwick, in Northumberland, he sent out numeroiiH detachmunlM
226
THE TllEASIJKY OF HISTOllY.
in quest of spoil. However favoiinibli! this course might be to his ciipid
ity, it greatly weiikeiied him in a miiiiiiry point of view ; and Glanville
the celebrated lawyer, who at this time was a very principal leader and
support of the English army, having obtained exact information of Wij.
liam's situation, resolved to make a bold attempt to surprise him. After
a fatiguing march tc Newcastle, he barely allowed his troops time for hasty
refreshment, of which both man and horse stood in dire need, and tlien
set out on a forced night-man-li to Alnwick, a distance of upwards of thirt)
miles, where he arrived very early in the morning of the ]5ih of July,
and, fortunately, under cover of a genuine Scotch mist, so dense as to
prev( nt his approach from being observed. Though, after making all al-
lowance for the detachments which William had sent out, Glanville felt
that he was far inferior in force to the Scots, he gallantly gave his troops
the order to charge. So completely secure had William fell from any such
atta(!k, that it was not until English banners (lew and English blades flashed
in his very camp, that he dreamed of any hostile force being within many
miles of him. In the furious scence that ensued he behaved with great
personal gallantry, boldly charging upon the serried ranks of tlie English
with only a hundred of his immediate followers. But his negligence as a
connnander had produced a stale of disadvantage which was not to be
remedied by any valour, however great. This little band was speedily
dispersed, and he, being fairly ridden down, was made prisoner. The news
of his capture speedily spread among his troops, whose confusion was
thus rendered too complete to allow of their leaders rallying them ; and
they hasiily retreated over the borders, fighting among themselves co fn-
riouhly during th-ir retreat, that they arc said to have actually lost nioro
in killed and wounded by Scottish than by English swords.
This defeat of the Scotch, and Ilic capture of William, upon whom
the English rebels had so mainly depcixied for diversion of tiieir kind's
streiiglh, as well as for mon; direct assistance, left these latter no safe
course but submission ; and that course, accordingly, was speedily followed
by all ranks among them. The clergy with their usual self-comphicenev
attriiiuted all this success to the sulimission whi'h they had indiicrd the
king lo make to Uccket ; and llenrv, well knowing how much more power
superstition had over the minds of liis siibjccls than any political or even
moral consideralions. however clear or iinportaiit, astutely alfected to he-
lieve all that ihiy afTirincd, and by every means endeavoured to propagate
the like belief among his siihjccls.
Mcaniinu' the serpent of revolt was on the continent, "scotched not kil-
led ;" the yi>uiig piince llciiiy- with a perscver.iiicc worthy of a belli r
ciUM", having in s|iile of all his father's iriiiinphs persisteii in carrying iin
Ills r' hellions (le.«igns. lie and llie earl of Fl;iiiilers had assembled a l,M|;e
army, with winch lliey were pre|);irini; U> enihaik at (Jravclini's ; bill w lien
they heard of th<' signal defeat which King llciny's troops had iiiflieied
upon the I'lcinings llieylaid aside llieir intention of invading Eii^laiel, and
proceeded to join Iheir force to thai "f the king <if Fr.ince, wlio wa^ be-
sieging Itoncn, in N'<irma;uly.
The [leoph^ of F.iiiicii. who were milch atlacheil to King Henry, and
proportionallv fearful of falling under tin; rule <if Ijniiis, defended the' place
with so much coiirag<' and sncccs>', lliat Lmiis deemed it necessary to
ha*e recourse to a siralagem that did far mori- crciiil to his ingcmijiy IIkui
to Ins honour. The festival of .S|. I.,inreiiec occurring jiisi al lliiil nine,
he pniclaiined, niidcr preleiice of a piniis desire lo keep it with due sideiiiii
ity, .1 eess.ilion of arms. This was agreed lo on llie pari of llie niisiis-
pecling citizens ; and I miis, hopiiiy to surprise them, iiiimcdinlclv maile
prep.iralioiis for the aliaik. li cliancnl thai «liile all in the Freneli camp
Were III niolicill, i.oiiic priests of Itmieii had inoiniled lo a steeple lo over-
look It, merely fuMii curiosity. SIruck willi a degree of hnsile llial seemed
THE TttEASUBY OP HISTORY.
229
to inapproprirtte to the solemn truce that had been proclaimed, tliey (caused
the diann bell of tlie city to be ruii^, and ilie soldiers and cltizuns iinnie-
iliattHy hastened to their appointed stations, and were but just in lime to
repiiUe the enemy, many of whom had already succeeded in mountinj} the
walls- Tiie French lost many im-n in this assault, and on the following
day, before they could renew it. King Henry marched into the place in full
view of the enemy, and, ordering the gates lobe thrown open, dared them
10 ilie renewal of their attack. Louis, who now saw Rouen completely
safe at the very moment when he fancied it almost wiihin his grasp
hail no thought left but how he should best release himself from the dan-
ger of a decisive defeat. Trusting to the desire wiilch Henry had ail
aliiiis; manifested to come to peaceable terms, Louis proposed a confer-
eiice" Henry readily fell into the snare, and Louis profited by the interval
whii'ii he thus gained, and marched his army into Frai e.
Having thus secured his army, however, Louis, who by this lime was
nearly as anxious as Henry for a termination of their disputes, agreed to
a meeting, which accordingly look place near the ancient city of Tours,
ami peace was concluded on terms far more favourable to Henry than
lliose ho had offered at the memorable conference which was abruptly ter-
minated by the insolent misconduct of the earl of Leicester.
CHAPTER XX.
THE REIGN OF IIEMIT II. (cOxVCLUDED).
A. D. 1175. — Firm in adversity, Henry had the still further and more un-
I'nnnnon merit of being inoileratc in prosperity. He had in various ac-
tions taken nearly a Ihonsanil kinghts prisoners, and these he now liberated
wiihnut ransom, thong'i the customs of the age would have warranted
contrary conduct without the slightest impeachment of either his honour
iir Ills generosity. To William of Scotland, as the repeated enmity of
that nionnrch fully warranted, he behaved with more rigour. As the price
of ills release William was obligeil to agree to do homage for his terri-
tories to Henry, to engage that the prelates and barons of his kingdom
shonid also do homage, and that llie^ should swear to side with the king
of Kngland even against their native prince ; and that as security for the
lurfiirin nice of this agreement, the five principal Scoiiisli fortresses,
iianirly, Kdinburgh, Stirling, Dcrwiek, Roxburgh, and Jedburgh, should
he placed in the hands of iving tlenry. Even when the terms of the
agrecincnt had been duly complied with by the Scotch, Henry showed
III) inclination to relax from his severity upon a people who had caused
lilni so much annoyance by their inveterate enmity. Contrariwise, he now
nqnlrcd that Uorwiek an I Roxburgh should be given up to him aliogether,
ami that he shonId for a g'ven time retain the casth; of F<dinburgh. 'I'hus
(he enger.ie»<8 with which A'llliam lent his aid in the endeavour to crush
Henry, ended in the latter prince obtaining the first triumph over thai
kiii<<iliiin which was ever obtained by an English monarch.
AM. 117(1.— Henry wisely emploved the peace which his victories had
nroeiii'cd him in remedying those disi>rders which had sprung up among
Ins (uvii siilijects. He made or restored laws against those crimes which
had the inoNt liagrantlv increased, such as counterfeiting coin, ars(Hi, rob-
hery, and murder. K; wlicn we read of his enacting such severe punisli-
iiients fur thoxe ofTenrea as amputation of the right hand and foot, we feel
iiirliiied to censure the king, we must hear in mind that lu; had to deal
will) an age little heller ihaii semi-barliiimus, and was probal>ly obliged
ausiiisl his will lo legislate Jnwn to the public intelligence. We are the
mure in dined to iiiaku Una allowance for him in soint! cases, because in
1 =
^ ,4,i*it>k*
.'30
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
I k
I
Otlinrs lio giivp very plain proofs that he possessed both uiiderstanrlina and
({00(1 feeliii)^ far in advance of his age. In the case, for instance, of the
ilbmird trial by battle, which disgraced the statute-book even so lately as
iho mg» of George III., Henry, though the time was not ripe for its com-
pli.'le abolition, enacted that either of the parties might challenge iu its
moiid II trial by a jury of twelve freeholders.
To ninke the administration of justice more certain, with a view both to
rcpri'SNing crime and to protect the community against the oppressions ol
tilt! nobles, llcnry divided England into four great circuits, to be traveised
by itinerant justices selected from among those prelates and lay noblej
inoNt remarkable for learning and their love of justice. He also made
»onio very useful regulations with a view to a defeni-e of the kingdom,
each man bring obliged to arm himself according to his rank.
While the king was thus wisely employing his leisure, bis sons were
nirditaling further annoyance to him. Prince Henry renewed his demand
for the conipletc resignation of Normandy, and on receiving a refusal pro-
ceeded 10 the court of France with bis queen with the evident design of
renewinji; his hostilities against his too indulgent father. Bui Philip, who
hail jiiKl succeeded to Louis on the throne of France, was not just now
|)repared for war against so powerful a king as Henry, aiul the young
|irince was tluM-i-fore once more obliged to make his submission to his
miii'h-rndiiriug sovereign and parent. Princi; Henry and Gcoftrey now
became engaged in a feudal strife with their brother, Prince Richard.
The king, with bis usual anxiety for the welfare of these most tnriailfiii
imd imdiitifiil princes, interfered to restore peace among them, but li;iij
»(!iircely succeeded in doing so when !ic once more found Prince Henry
urrayeil ai;ainst liim.
A f). IIH.I.— To what end the shameful conspiracies of this incorrigible
mid ungrateful prince would at length have arrived it is difficult to jmlj>c.
lliough we may but too reasonably presume that his real aim was the
actual deposition of his father. But the career of the prince now drew to
III! end. He had retired to the castle of Martel, near Turenne, to niiiture
Ills schemes, and was there seized with a fever. Finding himself in
danger, he iietit to entreat that his father would visit him and personally
assure him of forgiveness. But the king, though in)t less afTectionato
tliiiii of yore, hud received so many proofs of his son's perfidy, that he
feared to trust himself in his hands. The prince died on the lltn of Jniii';
and the king, who fainted on hearing the news, bitterly, but surely most
imjiisily, reproached himself with hardhcartedncss in having refused to
visit him.
Prince Henry, who died in the twenty-eighth year of his age, thoiiirji
married, left no children. The Princt; Richard, therefore, now filled liie
imporlimt situation of heir to the Knglish throne; and the king propeNiil
that, in this altered state of things, Prince John, who was his fa-
voiirile son, should inherit (>uiemie. But Hichard, unmindful of the grief
whirli his father was already enduring, not merely refused to consent to
this iirraiigemeiit, but |>i'oceede(I lo put that duchy into a condilioii to
make war agiiinst his brother GeolTrey, who was in possession of Brittany,
and lo resist, if needful, the king himsidf. Well knowing how much niori'
influence F.leauor had over their sons than he had. tin; king sent for licr,
mid as she was the actual heiress of (tiiieniie, Bichard, so undutifiil to-
wards his father, at once delivered the duchy up to her.
A. n. llH.'i.— Si arcely had Richard become reconciled to his father,
when (JeoiTrey, being refused Anjou, of which he had (lemaiided ilie an-
nexation to |iis duehy of Brittany, levied tniojis and declared war ai;aiust
his father; bnl before this unnatural prince could do any considerable
piirtiiiM iif the mischief which he obviously intended, he wis siain acci-
li'iiiiiily by imeof his o|)ponents at ii touriiimietit. His posthimious soil
'^ i
THE TREASURY OF UISTOllY.
231
^.I'O was christenpii Arthur, was invested with the ihichy of Urittany by
King Henry, wiio also constituted himself guardian of the youthful prince.
Tiie attention of both Henry and his rival, Philip of France, was soon
called from their personal diffeiences to a new crusade, which Rome was
now anxious that the European sovereigns should engage in. Saladin, a
gallant and generous-spirited prince, but no less a determined opponent of
ilie cross, having seated himself on the throne of Egypt, boldly undertook
the task of expelling the Christians from the Holy Land. His object was
greatly favoured by the folly of the Christian leaders, who, instead of
uiiiiing to oppose the Infidels, were perpetually at enmity among them-
selves. To this general folly treason was added, and the count of Tripoli,
who had the command of the Christian forces on the frontier, perfidiously
allowed Saladin to advance, and deserted to him at Tiberiad, where the
soldan was completely victorious, the long tottering kingdom of Jerusa-
lem being completely overturned, and the holy city itself captured. The
kingdnm of Anlioch was also subdued ; and of all that the Christians had
possessed in the Holy Land nothing now remained to them but a few
pptty towns upon the coast. So soon and so easily was that territory
lost which it had coit the warrior-hosts of Christendom so much blood,
treasure and time to conquer from the infidels of an earlier generation.
A. n. 1188. — The intelligence of this triumph of the crescent produced a
general and profound grief in Europe. Pope Urban HL actually sinkened
and (lied from sorrow at the calamity, and his successor, Gregory VIII ,
bestowed nearly all his attention during his short reign upon the necea
sary preparations for attempting, at the least, the re-conquest of tht
holv city.
Henry of England and Philip of France, as by far the most powerfm
nionarchs in Europe, were naturally appealed to by Rome, and William
archbishop of Tyre, caused them to have a meeting at Gisors. His des-
cription of the sufferings of the Christians in the East, and his eloquent
appenl to the love of military glory, which, after superstition, was tha
most powerful passion of both monarchs and private men in that age, so
wrought upon both princes, that they at onct assumed the cross and com-
menced the necessary preparations.
A. D. 1189. — As the clergy, notwithstanding the zeal of the papal court,
did not show their usual alacrity in aiding the new enterprize either with
money or eloquence, some delay and difficulty were experienced by both
kinijs in obtaining the necessary supplies, and in the meantime new quar-
rels sprang up between them. Philip, always jealous of Henry's supe-
riority, found that kitig's son. Prince Richard, fully as credulous and as
prone to disloyal and unduliful conduct as his deceased brother Henry had
been; and he had no difRculty in persuading him that he was more inter-
ested in the welfare of France than in that of the kingdom over which he
was one day to rule. In a few words, Richard was the credulous and
liotheaclcd dupe, and Philip the resolved and wily deceiver. Philip, de-
sirous of a cause for quarrel with Henry, and yet unwilling to incur the
disgrace which could not but attach to one crusader who should without
strong provocation make war upon aiu)ther whih- Palestine yet groaned
beneath the yoke of the proud and bigoted pagan, persuaded Richard to
furnish him with a pretext for war by making an inroad upon Toulouse.
As I'liilip had foreseen, Raymond, count of Toulouse, appcah'd to him foi
support as superior bird ; and with as much gravity as though he had then
first heard of Richard's achievement, Philip complanu-d to the king of
England of his son's infringement upon the rights anil property of a vassal
of the crown of France. Hut Richard, if wicked or Ihougliilcss enough
to unilertake the evil measures against his own sovereign anil father, was
not piuilent enough to keep his own coimsel : and Henry was able to
reply ty the hypocritical comjjlaiut of Philip, that Prince Uichard had con-
^ "
Inijm
83a
THE TKEA8UHY OF HISTORY.
I
eased to the archbishop of Dublin that it was at the express desire and
personal suggestion of Philip himself that he had made his unprovoked
attack upon the county of Toulouse. Far from being either ashamed or
dismayed by this discovery of his treacherous designs, Pl-.ilip, on receiv-
ing Henry's reply, innnediat'j!y invaded Berri and Auvergne, and did so
under the pretence of retaliating the injury to the count of 'roulouse, which
it was so well known that he had himself caused to be done. Henry,
now thoroughly provoked as Philip himself could have desired him In be,'
crossed the French froniit^r, and, besides doing much other damiige,
burned the town and fortress of Dreux, After much mutual injury and a
futile attempt at treaty, the two kings were at length induced once more
but in vain, to attempt to come to terms ; chiefly, howuver, as far as
Philip was concerned, by the refusal of some of his most powerful vassals
to serve any longer against Henry, whom, as well as their own sovereign,
they desired to see combating for the redemption of Palestine. On
Henry's side the feeling was as much more sincere as it was less com-
pulsory ; but the terms proposed by Philip were so insidiously calculated
to work future evil to Knglaiid, that Henry had no choice but to refuse
them. For, well aware as he was of the mischief whi(;h had accrued to
Henry in consequence of his having consented to the coronation of his
former heir, he demanded that the same honour should now he bestowed
upon Richard, and with this aggravation, that whereas Richard in the very
act which had produced this war had shown how ready he was lo do
pught that would injure and annoy his father, Philip demanded his being
pu> into immediate possession o." all the French possessions of his father,
and that his nuptials slnjuld fort with be celebrated with Alice. Philip's
sister. In full expectation, as it should seem, that Henry's good sense
would dictate this refusal, Philip had caused Richard to agree that on re-
ceiving such a refusal he would immediately disclaim further allcgimee,
and do homage to Philip for all the Anglo-French possessions, as though
he had already and lawfully been invested with them.
The war accordingly recommenced as furiously as ever between the
two kiiins; and Cardinal Albano, the Pope's legate, despairing of ever
seeing the two powerful monandis arrayed side by side against the In-
fidels while these (jnarrcls existed between them, and looking upon the
unnatural conduct of Richard as a chief cause of them, pronounced sen-
tence of excomnnmication against him. 'I'he srntcnce fell iniiociionsly
on his head, owing to the liikewarmness of the clergy, and Kicliard hav-
ing formally received from Philip the investiture of Guieinie, Normandy,
and Anjou, the nobles of those provinces sided with him in spite of the
declared wili of Rome, and overran the territories of all who still main,
tained tl:e cause of tin; king of Kngland.
At Henry's request. Cardinal Adagiii, who had succeeded Albano us
legate, threateneii Philip with an interdict upon his dominions; but Philip
scornfully replied, that it was no part of the papal duty to interfere in
the temjioral quarrels of princes; and Richard, who was present at the
interview, went so far as to draw his sword upon the cardinal, and wiis
not without dilTiculty withheld from proceeding lo still more outrageous
and criminal lengths.
Mans, Amboise, Chateau de Loire, and several otlicr places were sue
cessively taken by Philip and Richard, or treacherously dijiveicd to tlieni
by their governors. In this state of the war, when everything seemed
lo threaten Henry with ruin, the urchbishop of Rlieiins, the duke o(
Huigmidy, and the earl of Flanders st('n|)ed forward as mediators. In-
lelligcnce at the same time reached Henry that Tours, long menaci'd,
wiis at length taken; and, hard as wen; the terms proimsed, he
!faw nothing left for him but to agree to them. And hard those terms
<ndi-ed wer(! to a prince who hitherto had been so much ui^custoincd to
THE TREA3l/a\ OP HISTORY.
233
dictate terms to others. He consented to the immediate marriage of
Richar.l am! Alice — liiough some historians relate liiat lie was himself
enamiiured of that princess— and should receive hoinaire and fealty, not
only for the Anglo-French doniinioiis, hul also fur England itself; that
the king of France should receive twenty thousand marks to defray his
expeiisi's in this war; that the barons ol Kngland should be security for
I'eiiry's due performance of his part in this treaty, and should undertake
to join their forces with those of Richard and the king of France in the
event (if his breaking his engagement, and that all and sundry his vassals
who hail sided with his son should be held harmless.
If tlie last-mentioned idause was in itself calculated to wound the feel-
Inifs of so proud a prince as Henry, it led to his being wounded in a feel-
ing fnr deeper than pride; for, on his demanding a list of those whom he
was thus engaged to pardon, the very first name that met his eye was
that of his favourite son. Prince John, on whom he had conferred kind-
ness even to the extent of arousing the anger and jealousy of the passion-
aio Richard.
Tliough proud and bold, Henry was a singularly afTectinnate parent; he
had already suffered much sorrow from the unnatural conduct of his sons,
and lliis new proof of the utter callousness of heart of the best beloved
and niiLst trusted of tliem was a blow loo severe for his declining strength.
He sickened on the instant, and bestowed upon his ingrate and heartless
children a solemn curse, which no entreaties of the friends who were
about liiin could induce him to recal. As he refleiMed upon the barbarity
of his children, his chagrin increased instead of diminishing, and a low
nervous fever soon after deprived him of life, which happened on the 6th
of July, in ihe fifty-eighth year of his age and thirty-fifth of his reign.
His corpse was conveyed to Fontevraud by his natural son Geoffrey,
who iiad ever behaved to him with the tenderness and duty so fearfully
wauling in the conduct of his legitimate children. While the royal
corpse lay in slate at Fontevraud, Prince Richard visited the sad scene,
and e.xlilliiied a sorrow sincere and passionate as it was tardy and useless.
Taken altogether, the reign of Henry U. was both a prosperous and a
brililam one ; and it seems probable that had not the cruel misconduct of
his sons engaged him in war when he fain wouhl have been at peace, he
would have done still more than he did towards providing for the internal
welfare of his kingdom. What he did towards that end, if it appear of too
stern hiuI cruel a nature to us who live in times so much milder and more
civilized, si-cins to be but too completely justified by what the historians
tell us of the gross and evil daring of the popnla(;e of those early days.
In the cities especially, where the congregating of numliers had given in-
I'reased daring to off^enders, but had not as yet led to any safe and sound
arrangements of police, the insolent violence of the populace attained to
a iiiMglil of which we can form but a very faint notion. Street brawls
and street robberies, attended with violence always and not unfrequenlly
with actual murder, were every-day occurrences. IJnrglary was not then
as i: ivv confined to the darkness and security of the nigtil-hours, but
even the wealthiest traders, though their shops were situated in the most
public streets, had constant reason to fear assault and robbery even at
noonday, so bold and strong were the gangs of thieves. A single speci-
men (if the doings of the street robbers of those times may not be unac-
ceptable. The house of a citizen of known and large wealth wa." at-
tacked by a band of robbers who actually plied their wedges and axes so
efTectiially as to make a breach in a sulistantiat stone wall. Just as,
Bword in hand, they were making good their entrance, the citizen led on
hiH servants to resist them, and so stoutly defendeil his preinis(!s that his
neiiihbours had time to arm and assist him- In the course of the fight,
ivlitcli, though short, seem to have been severe, one of the robbers had
,'.mm
^
? • ^4>4'*M*
234
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
his light hand nut off. This man was subsequently taken prisaner, anu
as the loss lie had sustained rendered all denial of his identity perfecllv
idle, he agreed, in order to save his own life, to give full information of
ail who were concerned with him. Among the accomplices thus named
was a very wealthy citizen, who up to that time had been looked upon as
a person "of the greatest probity. Denying the charge, he was tried by
the ordeal and convicted. He then offered tiie large sum of five hundred
marks in commutation of his offence ; but the king, rightly judging that
tlie rank and wealth of the offender only made the offence the more
shameful and unpardonable, sternly refused the money and ordered the
citizen felon to be hanged.
Unlike the other Norman princes, Henry II. was not so attached to
Ills game as to hold the lives of his subjects in utter contempt on its ac-
count. He greatly moderated the forest laws, which under his predenes-
sors had been so fruitful a source of mis(!ry to the people, and punished
infringements upon them, not by death or mutilation, but by fine or im-
prisonment.
Though generally of a grave and dignified habit, this king was not des-
titute of a certain dry humour. Thus Giraldus Cambrensis relates that
the prior and monks of the monastery of St. Swithin made grievous com-
plaint to Henry of the rigour with which, as they alledged, they had
been treated by the bishop of Wmchester in the ordering of their diet.
" We have but ten dishes allowed us now !" they exclaimed. " But ten!"
said the king, "I have but three! 'Tis the fitter number, rely upon it,
and I desire that you be confined to it henceforth."
Henry was survived by two legitimate sons, Richard and John, and
three legitimate daughters, Maud, Eleanor, and Joan. He also left two
illegitimate sons, Richard, surnamed Longsword, and Geoffrey, who be
came archbishop of York. These sons were born to him by Rosamond
daughter of Lord Clifford. Of all that romance, whether in its own
guise or in th.<t of history, has said of this lady, nothing seems to be true
save that she was both fair and frail. Her bower at Woodstock, and the
pleasant choice offered to her by the jealous Queen Eleanor, between the
dag^rer and the poisoned chalice, are mere inventions.
;
CHAPTER XXI.
THE RKIGIf OF RICHARD I.
A. D. 1189. — The partiality with which, even down to the present time,
the character of Richard I. has been looked upon, is a striking proofliow
far men can go in dispensing with other good qualities, in favr.tir of him
who is abundantly endowed with the mere animal quality of courage.
The shameful ingratitude, amounting to actual barbarity, witt. which this
prince treated his only too-indulgent father, and even the hot-headed self-
ishness with which he preferred warring abroad to beneficially and usefully
ruling at home, and made his realm a mere depot for the men and muni-
tions requisite to the prosecution of his schemes of military ambition, are
overlooked in consideration of his reckless daring and great exploits in
the battle-field. Until men are much better taught than they have ever
yet been as to the real value of courage and the precise limits within which
Its exercise is deserving of the homage now so indiscriminately paid to it,
grave and thoughtful writers will, we fear, labour but vj-inly towards
causing the reality of Richard's character to become visible tlirougli the
false but gorgeous halo with which the error of long centuries has sur-
rounded it. With this brief caution against too implicit a fiith in the nu-
existencc of virtue and courage, we proceed to the reign of the most war
THE TREASUHY OF HISTORY.
235
ijfceofall of even England's kings, wliose equiilly impetuous and enduring
bravery obtained for him from tlie most warl Ite men of a warlike age the
title of " Cceur de Lion," " the lion hearted."
Tlie first act of Richard's reign gave some promise of a wise and just
Qiie. ; itead of taking into favour and employment those who had so
shamefully aided him in his undutiful and disloyal conduct, he treated
hem wiih marked disfavour, and contrariwise retained in their employ-
ments those ministers who had been the faithful and zealous advisers of
his father. He released his mother, Queen Eleanor, from the confinement
,11 which she remained at the death of Henry, and committed the regency
of Knglaiid to her till he should arrive to govern it in person. To his
brother John, too, he showed the beginning of that favour which he con-
tinued to him throughout his reign, and uf which John continually and
flaiTiiiiily proved his unworthiness. The day of Richard's coronation was
marked by an event which showed the intolerance of the age to be fully
equal to and every way worthy of its superstition. The Jews, every-
where a proscribed people, were, iiowever, everywhere an industrious
mid of course a prosperous and wealthy people. Being the largest pos-
sessors of ready money, they naturally engrossed the invidious, though
often important, trade of money-lending; and when we consider the
usage which the Jews too commonly received at the hands of Christians,
and add to that the frequent losses they sustained, we need scarcely be
surprised that they sometimes charged enormous interest, and treated
iheir insolvent debtors with a rigour that almost frees Shakspeare from
the charge of caricaturing in his terribly graphic character of Sliylock.
The necessities that ever wait upon unthrift made too many of the high-
born and the powerful personally acquainted with the usurious propen-
sities of the Israelites ; and thus added personal feelings of animosity to
the hate borne by the zealous CAm^ian*— alas ! what a Christianity was
theirs !— against the Jews. During the reign of Henry H. the animositiej
which were nourished against the Jews were not openly expressed ; but
Rit'h'ird, who combined in his own person much of the evil as well as of
the good that distinguished his stirring and bigoted time, had an especial
hatred to Jews, and he gave orders that on the day of his coronation they
should on no account make their appearance at the scene of that cere-
mony. Some of them, judging that their gold, at least, would obtain them
exception from this rule, ventured to wait upon him with presents of great
value. Having approached the banqueting hall of the king, they were
soon discovered by the crowd and of course insulted. From words the
rabhie proceeded to blows ; the Jews became terrified, fled, and were pur-
sued ; and, either in error or malignity, a report was spread that the king
had ordered the general destruction of the .lows. Orders so agreeable at
once to the bigotry and the licentiousness of such a populace as that of
London, were believed without much scruple and executed without any
remorse. Not contented with murdering all the Jews who were to be
found in the streets, the rabble broke into and first plundered and then
burned the houses of the wealthy individuals of that persecuted sect, who,
driven to desperation, defended themselves bravely but iiiefrcctiially.
From London the fierce cry against the Jews, and the false cry that llio
king had authorized their destruction, spread to the other great to»'ns,
^vhi'ie the unhappy people were equally plundered and slaughtered us in
Loudon. At York, in addition to the miKders committed by the popu-
liieis a truly horrible tragedy took place. Upwards of five liun-
dred of the Jews shut themselves up in the castle with their fairilies.
Finding that thoy could not much longer dcfiMid themselves against the
iurin'int('(l and blood-staiiuHl rabble without, the men of this unhappy and
persecuted band acluully killed their own wives :<.nd children and threw
Iheir corpses ovtr the walls, and then, setting fire to the place, chose
336
THE TKEASURY OP HISTORY
rather to perish in the tortures of the flames than in thosfl which ttny
knuw would be adjiidgeil to ihein by their enrnged Hnd bi/roled enemiea.
As though tills hoiribie triisjedy liad not sufficiently disgraced the nation
the geniry of Yor]<, most of whom were deeply indeblfd to the unhappy
Jews>, added a characteristic trait of sordid dishonesty to the general horror,
by makitig before the altar of the cathedral a solemn burnt sacrifice of the
bonds ill which they were confessed debtors. The detestation with which
we are inspired by this whole affair almost makes us add without reifret
or pity, that long after the Jews were all either massacred or escapeil,"the
plundering of tlie rabble went on with equal zeal in the houses of men
who were not Jews, and who indignantly impressed that fact npoii the
minds of the plunderers. Thougli the known hatred which the king bore
to the Jews was doubtless influential in encouraging the rabble to excess
on this occasion, it is certain that he gave no direct orders or encoiif'
agenient to them. On the contrary, as soon as actual force had restored
comparative order in the country, Richard commissioned his chief justi-
ciary, the celebrated Glanville, to make the necessary inquiries and to
punish as many as could be discovered of the original instigators of these
detestable enormities. Dut even partial inquiry showed that the rabble
were, with all their violence and grossness, by no means the most blame-
worthy party upon this occasion, and so many powerful and wealthy men
were found to be deeply implicated, that, after the punishment of a very
few persons, to vindicate the laws from the reproach of complete ineffi-
ciency, the inquiry was wholly laid pside.
Scarcely had Richard finished the ceremony of his coronation ere he
commenced his preparations for an expedition to Palestine. Thedistanie
of that country made it impossible for him to rely upon England to furnish
him from time to time with the requisite supplies; his first care, therefore,
was to provide himself with such an amtmiit of money as would place
him above any danger from want of means to provision his followers.
His father had left him above a hundred thousand marks— a very large
sum in thut age— and, to add to that important treasure, the king resorted
to the sale not only of the manors and revenues of the crown, but even of
many offices, the nature of which rendered it especially important that
they should be held by pure hands. The office of sheiif, whi(;h con-
cerned both the administration of justice and the crown revenue, was tlms
sold, as was the scarce less important office of forester; and at length, as
if to show that all considerations were trivial, in his judgment, when
compared to that of forwarding his favourite scheme, Richard openly and
shamefully sold the high office of chief justiciary — that office upon which
the liberties and properties of the whole nation were to a very considerable
extent dependant, to Hugh de Puzas, bishop of Durham, for a thousand
marks, this prelate being also, "for a consideration, invested for his ovn
life with the earldom of Northumberland." Completely reckless how he
obtained money, and really seeming to have no single thought to bestow
upon Ilia country, except as a source of money, he next sold hack to the
king of Scotland the Scottish fortresses which his wiser father had so
carefully guarded, and released William from all sig-' of vassalage beyond
the ordinary homage for lands held by him in Kii,,iand, the price of all
this advanlage on the one side and disgraceful sacrifice on the other being
ten thousand marks.
Besides selling in this reckless way much in which he justly and le-
plly held only a mere life-interest, he wearied all ranks of his subjects
or loans or gifts; the distiiiclion in words being, it will easily be believed,
the only distinction between the two ways of parting with th'-r money!
The utmost having been done to raise money in tli(;se discreditable ways,
Richard next applied himself to selling peirmission to remain at home to
those who, after having taken the cross had, from whatever cause, be-
fc
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
937
rome less enamoured of the task of combining the Iiifidnls. To dwell no
longer upo»i this disgraceful passage in our history, Richard, in his anxiety
to raise money to aid him in his merely selfish pursuit of fame, showed
himself so reckless a salesman that his ministers ventured to remonstrate
vith him, and he, shamelessly exulting in his own want of principle and
>rue pride, replied, that he would gladly sell his good city of London,
could he but find a purchaser.
While Richard was thus making such great sacrifices, nominally for the
sake of the Christian cause in Palestine, but really for the sake of his
owii fierce vanity, of that peculiar quality to which men have slavishly
agreed to give the more sounding name of love of glory, his life and con-
versiition were by no means of the most Christian paitern, and gave great
uffence to those crusaders whose piety was sincere and practical, though
occasionally carried to the extreme of bigotry in feeling and of grimace
ill manifestation. Fulke of Neuilly, a zealous and eloquent preacher of
the crusade, preaching before Richard, boidly assured him that he had
three favourite most dangerous daugliters of whom it behoved him speedily
to rid himself, namely, pride, avarice, and voluptuousness. '• You are
quite right," replied Richard, " and I hereby give the first of them to the
Templars, the second to the Denediclines, ami the third to my prelates."
Previous to departing for the east, Richard committed the administra-
tion of the government in England to Hui;h, bishop of Durham, and Long-
'hamp, bishop of Ely ; but though he at first swore both his brother Prince
ihii and his natural brother UeoflTrey, archbishop of York, not even to
enter the kingdom during his absence, he siilisequently withdrew that
politic prohibition. Longchamp, the bishop of Ely, though of mean birth,
was a man of considerable talent and energy ; and the better to enable
him to govern with effect, Richard, who had already made him chaiicelloi
of the kingdom, also procured him to be invested with the authority of
papal legate.
While Richard and Philip had been engaged in preparin? for their
eastern expedition, the Emperor Frederic had already led from Oermany
and the neighbouring countries of the north, an army of 150,000 men, and
though the force of the Infidels and il.e intrigues of the court of the east-
ern empire — which feared the western Christians nearly as much as it
did the Infidels themselves — caused him both great delay and a consider-
able loss of men, he had already reached the frontiers of Syria, when,
bathinpf in the Cydnus, he was caused so violent an illness by the exces-
sive coldness of the water, that he very shortly afterwards died. His son
Conrad assumed the command of the army, which, however, reached
Palestine reduced to about eight thousand men, and even of these many
were in a state of pitiable weakness from the diseases iniMdent to the cli-
mate and season under which so many of their comrades had pcrisiied.
Philip and Henry perceiving how mucii mischief accrued from the
cutting off of such immense bodies of men from all cliance of sncconi
from Europe, resolved to equip tleets, not only for the purpose of c irrying
over their armies and such stores of provisions as w(»uld inevitably be re-
quisite, but also to form, as it were, a line of communication with Europe
wlieil ■'' for supply or retreat.
A-D. 1190. — And, indeed, when the forces of Richard and Philip met on
the plains of Vezelay, on the frontiers of Uurgunily, men the jiMst san-
gnine in trusting to human prowess might have been pardoned for deem-
ing that that mighty host must be inviiUMble by any power that the Infidids
could muster against it. After all the necessary and cautious weeding by
which the minor leaders had taken care, as far as possible, to have none
enrolled among their troops save those who were strong of body and
masters of their weapons, this force amounted to more than a hundred
thousand men, well armed, abundantly provided for, and animated to the
f • r a;:
1 .N|,«WI)
238
THE TRKASUllV OF H18T0UY.
Ui\
! it:
Mini
highest possible pitch of zeal by the double feeling of religious ardour ans
military ambition. Richard and Philip pledged both themselves aiul the
other leaders of this mighty host to mutual faith and friendship in the
field ; and the two monarehs engaged their barons and prelates who re-
mained at home, on oath, to refrain from any infringement of the rcspec-
live kingdoms, and called down interdict and excommunication upon who-
soever should break this solemn engagement. This done, Philip marched
towards Genoa, and Richard towards Marseilles, where, respectively, they
had rendezvoused their fleets. Though they sailed from different ports,
they were both, and nearly at the same time, tempest-driven into the
harbour of Messina, in which port they were detained during the whole
remainder of the year.
The adage which represents a long confinement on board ship as a pe
culiar test of temper and touchstone of friendship, applies equally to all
cases of very close companionship. Brought thus lonjT into daily con-
tact, these young princes, who were so well fitted to i.c..e been friends
under almost any other circumstances, were the more certain to disagree,
from their mutual possession, in a very high degree, of a haughty deter-
mination, ambition, courage, and obstinacy; and as Philip was as cool
and reserved as Richard was passionate to the verge of frenzy, and can-
did to the verge of absolute folly, their disagreements were pretty sure to
tend chiefly to the advantage of Philip.
While residing at Messina, and settling some difference which both
kings, in some sort, had with Tancred, the reigning usurper of Sicily,
Richard, extremely jealous of the intentions of both prince and people,
established himself in a fort which commanded the harbour. A quarrel
was the consequence, and Richard's troops having chastised the Messinest
for an attack which he rather guessed than had any proof that they medi-
tated, Richard had the English flag displayed in triumph on the walls ot
the city. Philip, who had previously done all that he could to accommo
date matters, justly enough considered this display as being insulting to
him, and gave orders to some of his people to pull the standard down.
Richard, on the other hand, chose to treat this order as a personal insult
to him, and immediately sent word to Philip that he had no objection to
removing the standard himself, but that no one else should touch it, suve
at mortal risk. Philip, who was too anxious for the aid of Richard when
they should arrive in the Holy Land to be willing to drive him to extrem-
ities, accepted the proposal with some cordiality ; but the quarrel, petty as
it was, left the seeds of dislike in the hearts of both princes.
A. D. 1191. — Tancr»'d, the Sicilian usurper, deeming that his own safety
would be promoted by whatever sowed discord between these two power-
ful princes, was gvidty of a deception which in their mutual temper of
suspicion might have led even to fatal consequences. He showed to
Richard a letter which he stated he had received from the hands of tne
duke of Burgundy. This letter, which purpoucd to be written by Philip,
required Tancred to cause his troops suddenly to fall upon liic !!?"j;lish
troops, and promised that the French should aid him in the destruction ul
the cdinmon enemy. Richard, with his usual fiery and unreflecting tem-
per, believed this clumsy fiction without examination, and being wholly
unable to dissemble his feelings, he at once told Philip what he was
charg(?d withal. Philip flatly denied the charge, branded the Sicilian
nsurpcr with his falsehood, and challenged him to support the atrocious
charge he had made ; and as Tancred was, of course, wholly unable to do
so, Richard professed to be completely satisfied. As this attempt of Tan-
cj-ed and its near approach to success had warned each Philip and Uichard
of till! danger to wiiich their friendship, so important to both their king-
doms and to the great cause in which they were each engaged, was per-
petually liable from the arts of the enemies of either, they agreed to have u
ill
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
239
loiemn treaty, in which every possible point of difference should be so
arranged that no future difficulty could arise. But this very attempt at
formalizing friendship was itself the cause of a dispute, which at the outset
threatened to be a fatal one, inasmuch as the family honour of Philip was
fery much concerned in the matter.
It will be remembered that, in his shameful opposition to his father,
Richard had constantly expressed the utmost possible anxiety for
permission to espouse Alice, daughter of Louis, the late king of
France, and the sister of that Philip who was now Richard's fellow-
crusader. Alice, who long resided in England, was confidently, though
perhaps only scandalously, reported to have been engaged in a criminal
amour witli Richard's own father; and Richard, well knowing the cur-
eiit report on that head, was far indeed from desiring the alliance which,
iS a sure means of annoying his father, he was thus perpetually de-
manding. Now that he was king, he not only had no longer any inten-
lion of marrying Alice, but had; in fact, made proposals for the hand of
Berengaria, daughter of the king of Navarre, and was expecting that
princess to follow him under the protection of his mother. Queen Eleanor.
Philip, probably suspecting or knowing this new passion, formally re-
quired that Richard should espouse Alice, now that there was no lunger
any hostile father to oppose him. But Richard on this occasion gave
proof that he was not actuated merely by his constitutional levity, by
bringing forward proof so clear that it carried conviction even to the un-
Hilling mind of Philip, that Alice had actually born a child to Richard's
father, the late king of England. To such a reason for breaking off the
engagement no valid reply could be made ; and Philip departed for the
Holy Land, while Richard remained at Messina to await the arrival oi
his mother and the princess Berengaria. They soon nfter arrived, and
Richard, attended by his bride and his sister, the dowager queen of Sicily,
departed for the Holy Land ; Queen Eleanor returning to England.
Richard's fleet was n\et by s heavy storm, which drove part of it upon
the isle of Cyprus !ic- princo of which, Isaac, a despot whose limited
means and power >ad not prevent him from assuming all the state and
tyrannous bearing of an emperor, threw the wrecked crews into prison,
instead of hospiiaNy administering to their wants, and even carried his
barbarity so far as lio prevent the princesses, on their peril, from being
sheltered in his port of Limisso. But the triumph of this ill-conditioned
tyrant was only brief. Richard, who soon after arrived, landed his troops,
beat the tynnt before Limisso, took that place by storm, threw Isaac
himself into prison, and established new governors in all the principal
places of the island. A singular favour was in the midst of this severity
conferred by Richard upon the defeated and imprisoned tyrant. Isaac
complained bitterly of the degradation of being loaded, like a vulgar mal-
efactor, with chains of iron ; his sense of degradation '"iiig apparently
limited to the material of his fetters, and not extendiii • the fact of his
being fettered at all. With an indescribably droll courtesy, Richard not
«.,ly;;;i"iittod the justice of the complaint, but actually liad a set of very
substantial silver feiters made for Isaac's es|)ecial use !
The nuptials of Ricli.ird and Berengaria were celebrated with great
pnmp at Cyprus, and they again sti sail to.var;!s P-.<'««tiiif>. taking with
lliem Isaac's daughter, a beautiful woman, who was reported to have iiiiule
"onquest of Richard's heart. A strange companion to be given to his
newly-married wife by a prince professing the most cliivalric feelings ol
old knighthood, and especially bound, too, on the service of religion!
Richard and his troops arrived in time to take a distinguised part in the
long-heleagured A(!re.
At first the English and French troops and their kingly leaders acted
most amicably together, alternately taking the duty of guarding the
940
THE TREASURY OF HiaTORY.
trenches and mounting to the a'^sHtilt of the place. But this good ritiim
between the two princes would probably not have endured very lonir
even had there been no other cause for their disagreements but the warlike
snperiority of Kichard, whose; headlong courage and great personal strength
made him conspicuous in every attack. But to this latent and ever-rank,
ling cause of quarrel oiijers were speedily added.
The first dis|)ute that arose between the two kings to call into open
ight the real feelings which pnlicy or eouriesy had previously enabled
them to veil, originated in the claims of Guy de Lusignan, and C'liMrnde
marquis of Moniterrat, to the Mioresiiowy tiuin profitable title of king of
Jerusalem. De Ln^ignau sought and olitained the advocraey of Kicliard
and Philip i/wo/uc/ii was induced toifiveihe most strenuous support to Con-
rade. Nordid the evil rest vviili giving the two monarchs a causcdf open
and zealous o|)posiiion to each other. Their example was naturally foj.
lowed by the other (Christian leaders. The knights of the hospital of St.
.lohii, the I'isaiis, and Fiemiuiis, gave their voices and support to ilie side
embra(;e(l by Richard, while the Templars, the (>(!rinans, and the (ieiKiese,
gav(! theirs to I'liilip; and thus, while every circumstance of iiiteresl luid
duty demanded the most contial and unwavering unanimity among the
(Christian princes and leaders, their camp was dividi^d into two fierce parties,
almost as ready to turn their arms up>oi each other as upon the iiiridels.
The distressed condition to which the infidels were already rcdiieeil,
However, did not allowofiheir profiling, as they otherwise might havediiiie,
by the Christian dissensions; and they surrendered the long-contested
city, stipulating for the spiring of their lives, and agreeing, in return, to
give up all the Christian prisoners, and the Irne (^ross. The joy of the
Christian powers of Kiiroiie at tins long-desired trinmpli was so ra|iiiir(insi
as to make them unmindful of the fact, that, setting almost iiiCrtl'Mi-
labh; treasure wholly out of consideration, this result had in the cinirse
of a few years cost Christendom at least three hundred thousand of lier
bravest lives.
After the surrender of Acre, Philip, disgusted |)robal)ly at fiiiiling liim-
self (Mst so mindi in the shade in a scene in which, and in wliicli onlv,
Richard was so well calculated to outshine him, tlepai1e<l for Kurope (in
the ground that the safely of his domiiiimis would not allow of his reiniiiii-
iiig to lake a part in what promised to be tin; very slow and dilficiilt re-
ca[itiire of Jerusalem, which n was only rcasoiiaiile lo suppose would he
still more obstinatidy defended and more de.irly pnrcdiased than Acre hiui
been. Hut though on ilie plea that the weal of his kingdom and llie stale
of his own health would not allow of his own loJiirer presence, he yn irded
liimstdr against the imputation id' being wholly indilVcrcnl to the t'hrisii;iii
cause, by leaving ten llioiisand of Ins best troops lo Richard, under Ilie
eominaiidof ilicdukeof Hiirciiiidy. And in order to allay the v.'ry iiaiiiral
suspicions of Richard, |es| Ii(> shonld make use of his presence in l'lni()|.i'
to do any wrong to the l'',iiglish power, he sidemiily made oalli lliat lie
would, (Ml no pretence, make any alleiiipl on tlie l''iigli>'h domiiilinis ihiriii!;
Ri( hard's alisence. Hut, so bglilly were oallis held even by the liiglily
born nil I the eiiliLditeiied (d' tli it day, that sc.ircely had Pli.lp landed iii
Italy ere he had the iniiiglcl hardihood and meanness to ajiply lo Pope
('(destine V. til absolve Imn from Ins o.ilh. Tin' pope, more jiisl, refused
to griinl It . but though Philip was iliiis prevenled I'roin liie open luHlility
whiidl h ' liaii most dishmionr tb \ pi inned, lie ilnl not iiesilate lo avail linil-
*e|f to the III iMKl of every means to work evil lo Richard, and opjinr-
tuiiity WIS abiindanlly allordi'd hini by the condiiel i>( the iingralifiil and
disloyal .loiiii. and Ihe discord thai rciifiicd aininig the Knglisli iiohihiy,
iilmosi wiHioiii anexceplion of any iioii'
It has .dready been iin'iiMone I that Richard on Ins deparinrc for tlit!
floly Land had deleg.ited the chief authority in Knghuid to ilu^li, bishop
THE THKA8U11Y OF HISTORV.
Ml
flf Durham and earl of Northuniberland, and Longchamp, bishop of Ely.
riie latter was not only far superior to liis colleague in point of capacity
and experience in the arts of intrigue, but was also possessed of an auda-
cious and violent spirit little becoming the chnrchman. The king had not
long left Knsiland ere the domineering spirit of Longchamp began to man-
ifest itself, not only towards the nobility in general, but also towards his
milder colleague in the goveriuiienl. Having, in addition to his equality
of civil authority, the legatine power, thei. so very tremeutlous as not easily
to be resisted even by a powerful and wise king in his own proper person,
Longchamp could not endure to treat the meeker biisluip of l)urham as
anything more than his first suhjeri. At first he manifested his feeling ol
Buppriority by petty means, which were rather annoying thai' positively
hostile or injurious; but finding himself unresisted, he grew more and
more violent, and at length went to the glaringly inconsistent length of
throwing his colleague in the goverimient into coiirmemeiu, and demand-
ing of him the surrender of the earldom of Northumberland which he had
p;iid for in solid cash. This took place befm-e the king had departed from
Miirsrilles on his way to the east; and though immediately on Kichard
lifaring of the dissension between the two prelates upon whose wisdom
and pcrl'ecl accord he so mainly depended for the peace and safety of his
dominions, he sent peremptory orders for the earl-bishop's release. Long-
champ had tlie consummate assurance to refuse to obey the king's oom-
nwnd, assuring the astounded nobles that he knew that the king's secret
wishes wer(> directly opposed to his public orders !
This niiscoiKluct was followed up by so much insolence towards the
iinhilily in general, and so many compliiinls were in consequeiijc made to
Richard, that he appointed a numerous council of nobles wiilumt whose
concurrences I.onucliainp for the future was strictly fornuuien to transact
any important public business. Hut his vast authority as legale, added to
hjsihiriiig and peremptory temper, deterred even those named as his conn
cilkirs from venturing to produce their c(Mnmission to him, and he ('ontin-
iicd to display the magnificence and to exercise the power of an absolute
govcreigii of the reiilm.
The great ahliols of the wealthy monasteries complained that when he
made a progress in iheir iieigliboiirliood. Ins train in a single day's residence
dcvcMirecl ilieir revenue for yuars le come : the liigli-borii and martial barons
cnniplaiiied of the more than kingly hauteur of this low-liorn man; the
whole nation, in short, was diNCiii'iented, hut the lirsl open and ellieient
oppiisjtion was made by one whoe jiersoiial characlerislic was certainly
not 1(10 great courage — the [irmce .John.
That the bishop and legate niis.ised his authority, to the insulting of
the hdlality ami the inipoverisment of the naiion, would not ;i jot have
moved .John, but lit; could not einliir" that /ir too, should be thrown into
shade and contempt by this overhearing prelate. The latter, wilh a want
of policy straiijiely at variance with bis luidouhied ahilily, imprudently
allnwed liiniM'lf to hr guilty of personally ilisobligjug John, \\ ho, upon
that HiVroiit, conceived an indignnlion w hieh all the disobedience shown to
Ins hi'olher, anil all the injury iiitticied upon his brother's best ^iiid most
f.iMliful sub{eels, liiiil lieeii insullieienl to iii'oUKe. lie suuinioned a cotm-
I'll (if prelaies nnd nobles to meet Inm at Keadiiig. in Herksliin', ami cited
liOliirciiaiiip to ;ip|ieiir ihere to aeeoiiiit lor Ins comhli't. A w;ire w hen it was
toil Idle (il the iliintiei'olis enemies he had provoked by the waiiliui abuse
of his aiitlioriiv. the prelate, instead of appi'annir belore the eouiieil, en-
trriii'lir,! himself in the Tower of Liuiihui. Hut the manner in which he
had wielded his authority had lilt hiiii >o lew and such liikewaiin Irieiids,
that he soon louint that he was not s.ife even in that sUonu lorlieus, and,
ilmiliiiHiiig liim>eir in female Mppaiil, he contrived to esr:i|ie to France
»li)ic he was .lUre to find u cordial reieption at the hanilH of l'|iili|), |ia
-16
34S
THE TEKASUHY OF HISTORY.
was now in form deprived of the high civil offices which by his flight he
had virtually surrendered, and the archbishop of Rouen, who had a high
reputation for both talent and prudence, was made chancellor and justicia-
ry in his stead. As Longchamp, however, held the legatine power, o(
which no civil authorities could deprive him, he still had abundant means,
which he lost no opportunity of using, to aid the insidious endeavours of
Philip to disturb the peace of I'jigland and injure the absent Richard.
A. D. 1192. — Philip's neighbourhood to Richard's French dominions held
out an opportunity far too templing to be resisted for invading tlutn,
which he was on the point of openly doing when he found himself pre-
vented in his treacherous schemes by the almost, gencrid refusal of hif
nobles to aid him in so unjust an entfrprise agiinst the territories of 3
prince who was gloriously — though anything but prudently— periling life
and limb in the distant wars of the cross. I'hilip was discouraged, more-
over, in this part of his dishonorable plan by the pope, who, especially
constituting himself the guardian of the rights of all princes engaged in
the crusade, threatened IMiilip with the terrors of an iiUerdict, should he
venture to persist in attacking the territority of hia far worthier brother-
sovereign and fellow crusader.
But though obstacles so formidable rendered it impossible for him to
fiersist in this open course.of injustice, save at the hazard of destriiclioiito
liniself, he resolved to work secretly to the same end. Thoroughly im.
dcrstanding the dishonourable character of John, he made overtures to tl, it
base and weak prince ; offered him in marriage that princess Alice whose
blotted character had caused her to be refused by the usually imprudent
and facile Richard, and gave him assurance of investiture in all the French
possessions of Richard, ui)un condition of his taking the risk of invnilaiir
them. John, whose whole conduct through life showed him to be des°
titute of all feelings of faith or gratitude, was in no wise startled by ihe
atrocity that was proposed to iiim. and was in the act of commeiiclng
preparations for [lutting it into e.\eeution when Queen Kleanor, more jeal-
ous of till! kingly riylits of her absent son than she had formerly slniwed
herself of those of her husliuiut, interposed her own authority, and caused
the council and nobles of Mnglaiid to iiiterfiose theirs, so eflcctiially, tlini
John's fears overcame even Ins cupidity, and he abandoned a project which
none bill a wholly debased mind would ever have entertained.
Willie these things were passing in Kiirope, the high-spirited but unwise
Piehard was gathering laurels in Asia, and iincoiiMciou^ly aecuiniihiliiiir
upon his head a terrilde load of future suffering ; and an oeeurence
wliieli just now took |ilace in that distant seeiie was, with an exeera-
bl(^ ingenuity, seized njxiii by Philip to calumniate in Kinope the aliscnt
rival, each new exidoil of whom added to the pangs of his i ver-aelmn; envy.
There was 111 Asia a mountain luiiiee, known to Puropeaiis by the iiilc
of tlie ''Old Man of the Mountain, who had olitained so alisoliile a |Miwir
over the excessively sii[)erslllious miiidn of his siilijeeis, that, at a wcinlor
H sign from him, any 0111.' of them would ]iiit himself to death wiili ihe
iinnuirmiinng and even eheerriil complianeeof a man in llie perforiiiaiice
of some high and inilefeiisihle religious duty. To die at the order of llicir
desfiotie |irinei' was, in the belief of thes(,' unlettered and eredulons liem^n,
to secure a certain anil instant introduction to the inefbdile ileli|i|its iii
par.idise ; and to die thus was eonseijiiently not sluiiined or dre;ideil us an
evil, but eoiirled as the sii|irenie;U possible ^ood fortune. It will readily
lie Uliilerslood that a race of men ediicited to comiiiit suicide at the wnril
of eoniniaiid, wotilil be found no less docile !o their despot's orders in the
niatterof murder. The care with which they were instrueleil in the art
of iliHuuisiiii; their designs, and the conleinpt in \\hieli they held the
mmt.ii I oiiseipiences of tlieir being discoveri il, rendered it certain iliaili
lu give such ollcnce tu this terrible potentate of a petty territory ax iiii^ht
mauce him toe
raJ, marquis 01
genius for quar
Old .Man of the
mai hut most d
siihjects, kiiowi
have caused to
rounded by his
About the aul
jlighiest differti
tain was only tc
of -Moniferrat b
wliicli lie refuse
old man's subjet
to put the cause
lake, the two asi
cruel tortures, b
perforinanee of 1
teiulcd wholly I
truinpiU-tongued
nnirder of Conrai
poiiciit of the I
' Miier of attack
uiioiiiid(>d himsi
to he believed by
convert it into an
ilie most valiant i
The valour and
nd hi'illianl as th
,'rang up among
vaii(|iiislied, neat
of battle; Ascali
the victorious CI
dissensions to w
Saladiii, just as I.
ihike of iinrgundy
ly and obstinate,
rope; the (lerma
Ml; and Richard
hut exert himself
till' as possible to
I'oiicliKled for tin
three days, and tl
lo he held by tin
JTiisalem witlKui
iifarly thi! last m
• viiiied at Dainas
iinioiiiit to lie iljst
"f rejiifioii, and I
""reels, a erier tin
iifllie mighty .Sa.
_ 'I'akiiig advaiila
'■"iililand, to (ippcis
"I'-'I'llcflll Im'oIIii
3'* lie that he u,,
IVaMce, he nailed
III' took the disMiii
iliscoveieil to pass
THK TllEASUllY OF HISTORY.
ti43
inauce him to dispatch his emissaries upon tlieir sanguinary errand. Con-
rad, marquis of Montferral, who seems to have possessed a considerable
genius for quarrelhnar, was unfortunate enough to give deep offence to the
Okl Man uf ^''6 Mountain, who immediately issued against him liis infor-
mal I'l't 'f's' decisive sentence of death. Two of the old man's devoted
subjects, known by the name of assassins — which name tiieir practices
have caused to be applied to murderers — rushed upon Conrad, while sur-
ruuiuled by his guards, and mortally wounded him.
About the author of this crime tiiere was not, and there could not be, the
(li^liiest differtnce of opinion. The practice of the Old Man of tlie Moun-
tain was only too well known; it was equally notorious that the marquis
of Moiitfcrrat had given iiim deep ofl'ence by the contemptuous style iti
which lie refused to make any satisfaction for the death of certain of the
old man's subjects who had been put to death by the citizens of Tyre ; and
to put the cause of Conrad's death beyond all seeming possibility of mis-
take, the two assassins, who were seized and put to death with the most
criii4 tortures, boasted during their dying agonies that they died in the
performance of their duly to their prmce. Hut the king of France pre-
leiuied wholly to disregard all the circumstances which thus spoke
trumpi't-tongued to the truth, and loudly protested his belief in the foul
murder of Conrad having been committed by order of Richard, the former
'^ poncnt of the marquis ; and aflfecting to imagine that his person was in
' pirer of attack by assassins, this accomplished hypociite ostent iliously
..jrauiuiiHl himself with a body-guard. This calumny was far too gross
to be believed by any one ; but it was easy to secMn to believe it, and to
(•(invert it into an excuse for violating both the rights and the liberties of
ilie most valiant of all the crusaders.
The valour and conduct of Richnrd and the other Christian leaders, vast
ml bnlliaut as they were, could not counterbalance the dissensions which
iirani; u|) among them. An immense host of Infldels under Saladin was
vaiKjuished, nearly forty thousand of them remaining dead upon the field
of battle; Ascalon was speedily afterwards tak(!n ; and Richard bad led
llie victorious Christians within sight of .Jerusalem, when the impolitic
(lis:<eiisluMS to which we havt^ alluded coniiielled hitn to maki; a truce with
Sala(hii, just as the perfect iriuuinh of the cross seemed inevitable. The
duke of iturgmidy, whom I'Inlip liad left in connnand of the French, open-
ly and obsiMiately declared his intention of immediately reluming to Ku-
rojie; llie (icrmaii and Italian companies followed the evil e.\'iini)le thus
set; anil Richard, compelled to tre.it by this unworthy d(>f(Ttion, could
but exert himself to obtain from the chivalrous Saladin, terms as favoura-
ble as possible to \\w C^hrisiians. Hy the terms of this treaty, which was
(•(incliiiicd for the f luciful period of three ye irs. tlir(!e months, three weeks,
tliice (lavf, and three hours, .\ere, .Io|)pa, and nlher parts of I'alestiiie were
to he held by the Clirisliaiis, and Christian pilgrims were to proceed to
Ji-nisalem without let or molestation. The coiichiiliiig of this treaty was
nearly the last important piiiilic act of Naladin, who shortly al'terwards
iX|)ired at Damaacus. On Ins death-bed he ordered legacies to a large
aiiKiiint to be distributed aminig the poor of Damascus, without distinction
of religion, and he ordered his winding-Hlieet to be exposed in the public
atreets, a crier thi' while making proclamation, "This is all that remains
ofihe mighty Saladin, the coiupieror of the Fasi "
Taking advantage of the truce, Hichard no .• letermined to return to
i')iililaiiil, to iip[ioHe hill own iiower and authori' to the intrigues of hig
iiniri.itcfiil hriitber .lnhn and the unprincipled ing of Franee, lleiiig
avvari' that he would be exposed to great danger rIiduIiI he venture through
rraiiee, he sailed for the Adriatic, and being shipwrecked near Aipiileia,
ill' toiik the disguise of a |iilgriin, in the hiipe thai it wntibi enable bun un-
discuveied to {tasit through (m rinany. Driven out of his direct road bf
n
i<. >;. iFiH' :i 1
I 1 1%:., ,, ,:lll
iU
THE TttEASURY OF HWTOKY.
Konio suspicions of the governor of Istria, he was so imprudently lavish o(
hia money during his short slay at Vienna that his real rank was discov-
ered, and ho was thrown into prison by Leopold, duke of Austria, wliohad
•orved under and been grievously atfronted by him at the siege of Acre.
The emperor Henry VI.. whom liichard by iiis friendship with Taucred
of Sicily had also made his enemy, not only approved of Richard's arrest
but required the charge of his person, and oiTered the duke of Austria a
considi^ralile sum of money as a reward for it.
A.D. 1 105. — The gref of Richard's friends and the triumph of his enemies
were alike excited wlien the news of his capture reached England; the
poNitible consequencs being obvious to both parties. Queen Eleanor spir-
itedly .' nianded the interference of the pope, whose duty she very justly
averred it to be to wield the thunders of the church in protection of the
chnrch's bravest and most zealous champion. The pope, probably influ-
ent;<'d by some occult and crafty motive of policy, showed himself any-
ftiinu riither than eager to meet the urgent wishes of Queen Eleanor; but
iu< foes are usually far more zealous than friends, so Philip seized upon
tliiN as a favourable opportunity to exert his utmost power against the hi-
lun but still formidable Richard, and he exerted himself to this end with
an ai'tivity worthy of a better cause. To those of ais own batons who
had formtaly refused to join him in attacking the territories of the absent
Hii'hard, he now urged the alledged atrocity of that prince in causing the
iiHMMMsinatiun of the marquis of Montferrat; to the emperor Henry VI., he
nnidi^ large offers either for yielding up Richard to French custotly, or for
solemnly engaging for his perpetual nnprisonment; and having made a
nniiritnonial alliance with Denmark, he applied for permission and a i.ect
to I'liforre the Danish claim to the English crown. Nor did Philip fail to
apply hiui«iclf to Prince John, whom he well knew for the most willing
and eager of all the enemies of his absent brother. John had an interview
with the kin(^ of France, at which, on condition of being invested with his
brolhcr's French territory, he consented to yield a great portion of Nor-
maiiily to Philip; ana it is with no little appearance of probability afTirined,
that he even did homage to Philip for the P^ngiish crown. Thus niucli is
certain, Phili|) invaded Normandy and was well served by John, whose
onlers enabled him to take Neufchatel, Gisors, and several other forts,
without Blriking a blow. The counties of F,u and Auinalc were speedily
overrun by Philip, and he then marched against Rouen, loudly thrcatriiing
that he would put the inhabitants to the sword without mercy, in the event
of liiH experiencing any resistance. Ihit here Philip was at length des-
tiiied to receive a check. The earl of Leicester, who had shared Richard's
perilH and toils in Palestine, w.is fortunately at Rouen, and he took the
foinmand of the garrison, to wlioin his examph! and his renown gave new
eonraiie ; and they fought so steadily and so well, that Philip, after many
Hcvere repulseH, consented to a truce; the English regency engaging to
pay him twenty marks, and placing four fortresses in his hands by way of
■(!( iirilv.
While Philip was exerting liimself in Normandy .folin was trying tiie
effect of a most audacious lalsehood in England. Well knowing thai few
indi'i'd among the barons would for his sake conrent to set aside the hero
of PiileNtine, John biddly tried how far their credulity would go, and, pre
lei ding that he had rei'cived undoulitinl news of the death of his binlher,
deiMHiiiled the crown as his heir. He poHsessed himself of the iniporiiiiit
(MiMileN of VVinilsor and Walliiigford ; but the lords jiistici;iries were so
well coiivinceil that Ridiard still lived, that they ami the barons by wiiuin
they were supported opposed \\u\ would-bi^ usiiriier so gallantly and so ef-
feeliiiilly, iha' lie was fain to s'le for a Iriice, and befure the term of it h:id
»Kjiired he took refiiue al tlie court of Pliili|i of IViiiiee.
It in ■carcely possible to conceive u case more hopeless than that of h(
THE TttEASOHY OF HISTOKY.
245
loyal prisoner. His own brother plotting ngainst him ; the papal court
lukewarm in his cause, if not even possessed by a still worse feeling; al-
ready in the power of an enemy, and hourly expecting to be handed over
10 tlie custody of an enemy still more imbiltered ; the proud Richard was
it tiie same time subjected to every petty hardship and gallii.? indignity
which might be supposed likely to exasperate his spirit and i idine him
to uffpf the higher ransom for his release. Philip caused his ambassadors
to renounce all protection to Richard as liis vassal; and w'len it was
hoped lliat the captive's spirit was greatly broken by continued ill-usage,
he was produced before the imperial diet at the city of Worms, and there
accused by the emperor of having made alliance with Tancred, the usurper
of Sicily ; of having at Cyprus turned the arms of the crusaders against
a Ciirisiian prince, those arm« which were especially and solely devoted
to tlie chastisement and quelling of the Infidels; of having grievously
wronged and insulted Leopold, duke of Austria, while that prince was
figliting for the cross before Acre ; of having by his quarrels with the king
of France injured the Christian cause m the East ; of having plainied and
caused the murder of Conrad, marquis of Moutferrat ; and, finally, of hav-
ing concluded a truce with the inridel Saladin, and left Jerusalem in his
hiiiids. If Richard's enemies calculated upon his suflerings having tamed
his spirit, tli^y were soon undeceived ; if those sufferings were severe, so
was his spirit high. His speech, as s'linnied up by Hume, is c model of
that best kind of eloquence, which springs from a sense of riglit, and is
clothed in the brief and bitii.g sentences of keen and shrewd coninion-
scnsc. "After premising tiiat his dignity might exempt him from answer
ing before any jurisdiction except that of heaven, he yet condescended,
for tlie sake of Ins reputation, to justify his conduct before that great as-
sembly. He obs"' ved that he had no liand in Trancred's elevation, and
only concluded a treaty with a prince whom he found in possession of the
throne; that the king, or rather the tyrant, of Cyprus, had provoked his
indignation by ihc most ungenerous and unjust proceedings, and though
he had chastised this aggrc.'ssor, he had not for a moment retarded the
progress of his chief enterprise ; that if he had at any time been wanting in
civility to the duke of Austria, he had already been sufWciently punished for
tiial sally of passion, and it better became men who were embarked to
gctlier in so holy a cause to forgive each others infirmities, than to pursue
a slight ofTcnce with such unrelenting vengeance; that it had sufli.^iently
appeared by the event whether the king of France or he were the more
zealous for the conquest of the Holy Land, and were more likely to sacri-
fice private passions and animosities to the great object; that if the whole
tenor of his life had not shown him incapable of a base assassination, and
justified him from that imputation even in the eyes of his very enemieSi
It \\:\d in vain for him at present to make his apology or to plead the many
irrefragable arguments which he could produce in his own favour ; and,
finally, however he might regret the necessity, he was so far from being
ashamed of his truce with Saladin, that he rather gloried in that event, and
thoufiht it extremely honourable that, though abandoned by rll the world,
Bupimrled only by his own courage and by the small rcmai.is of his na-
tional troo|)«, he could yet obtain such conditions from the most powerful
and most, warlike emperor that the east liad ever yet prodiK'pd. After
thus deigninii to apologize for his conduct, he burst out into indignation at
llie cruel treatment which he had met with ; that he, the champion of Iht;
'TOSS, Biill wearing that hoiunirable badge, should, after expending the
lilood and treasure' of his subjects in the common cause of ("hrisiciidom,
()e intercepted by Christian princes on his return to his own comiiry, he
Ihrowii into a (hingeon, be loaded witli irons, be obliged to plead Ins cause
IsIIioiibIi h<- were a subject and a malefactor, and, what he still more re-
gretted, be thereby prevented from making preparations for u new crusade
m
240
THE TnEASUUY OF HISTOllY.
which he liad projected, iiftcrlhe expiration of ttie truce, and from redeem-
ing the sepulchre of Christ which had so long been profaned by the do-
minion of the Infidels."
The force of Richard's reas Miing and the obvious justice of his coin
plaints won nearly all present to his side ; the German princes tliemselves
cried shame upon the conduct of the emperor, whom the pope even threat-
ened with excommunication. The emperor, therefore, perceived ihat it
would be impossible for him to complete his ineffably base purpose ol ;;iv-
ing up to Philip of France and the false and cruel Prince John the person
of Richard in exchange for sordid gold ; and as it seemed unsafe even to
continue to confine him, thr- emperor consented to his relief at a ransom
of 150,000 marks ; two-thirds to be paid previous to Richard's release, and
sixty-seven hostages to be at the same time delivered to secure the faith-
ful payment of the remainder. Henry at the same time made over to
Richard certain old but ill-ascertained claims of the empire upon the i«ing-
dom of Aries, including Provence, Dauphiny, Narbonne, and some other
territory.
A hundred thousand marks, equivalent to above two hundred thousand
pounds of our money, was a sum to raise which required no small exer-
tion on the part of Richard's friends. The king's ransom was one of the
cases for which the feudal law made express provisiop. But as it was
found that the sum of twenty shillings which was levied upon each
knight's fee did not make up the money with the rapidity which friendly
and patriotic zeal required, !:reat individual exertions were made, the
clergy and nobility glvitig larjjf sums beyond what could have fairly been
demanded of them, and the churches and religious houses actually melt-
ing down their plate to the amount of 30,000 marks. As soon as the
money by these extraordinary exertions was got together. Queen Kleaiior,
accompanied by the archbishop of Rouen, went to Mentz and there paid
it to ihe emperor, to whom she at iIk^ same time delivered the hostages
for the payment of the remainder. There was something: perfectly prov-
idential in the haste made by the friends of Richard ; for had there been
the least delay, he would have been siicrificed to the treacherous policy
of the emperor, who, anxious to obtain the support of the king of France
against the threatening discontent of the German princes, was induced to
determine upon perpetuating tlie captivity of Richard, even after the re-
lease of that prince <mi the payment of the inone^ and the delivery of the
specified number of hostages. The emperor had so fully deternnned
ui)C:; ''I'o flagitious breach of faith, that he actually sent messentfcrs to
arresi Richard, who, however, had sailed and was out of sight of land
ere they reached Antwerp. Richard was received most rapturously by
his faithful subjects, and, as if atixious to wipe away the staiti of incar-
ceration, he revived the custinn which his fatiier had allowed to fall into
neglect, of renewing the ccremotiy of coronation. " Take care of your-
self," wrote Philip to John, " the devil has broken loose." The barons
in council assembled, however, were far inon; terrible to the uiiHratefnl
John than his fiery yet placable brother, for they conliscated the whole of
John's Etiglish properly, and took pos.iessiou of all the fortresses that
were in the hands of his partizans.
Having made some stay in Knglind to rest himself after his many
fatigues, and having found his popularity proof even against the some-
what perilous test to which he put it by an arbitrary resumption of all
the L'riiiits uf land which, previous to going to the Kast, he had inaii'' with
an improvidence as remarkable as his |)reseiit waul of honesty, Uii'hard
now turned his attention to pnni.'shing ili(< wanton and per.severiiig enmity
of Philip of France. A war ensued, but it was weakly coiidncli'd on
both sid<'s, and a truce was at length inaiie between tliein for ii year. A'
the con.niencemenl of XUia war John was on thr aide uf Philip; lu, v
1
THE TREASUIIY OF HISTORY.
947
f incap.ibie of beiiio; faithful even in wickedness, he took an opportunity
,0 dese'rt, and having secured the powerful intercession of Queen Elea-
nor, he ventured to throw himself at tiie feet of Richard and entreat his
pardon, *' May I as easily forget his injuries as he will my forgiveness !"
was the shrewd remark of Richard on forgiving his unnatural brother.
Tlie truce between England and France being at an end, the emperor
of Germany solicited Richard's offensive alliance against France, and
though circumstances occurred to prevent the treaty with the emperor
from being ratified, the mere proposal sufficed to renew the war between
Richard and Philip; but on this occasion, as before, the operations were
conducted most weakly and on a very insignificant scale, (a. d. 1196.)
After some petty losses on each side a peace was made; but the kings
were too inimical to each other to remain long at rest, and in about two
months hostilities were recommenced.
On this occasion Richard was joined by the counts of Flanders, Bou-
logne, Champagne, and 'I'oulouse, and by some other of his fellow-vaL<sals
of the crown of Friince; but the alliance was thus productive of far less
benefit than Richard had anticipated.
Tlie prelates of that day were more frequently than became them
found on the battle-field. On one occasion during this war the bishop of
Beanvais, a relative of the French king, was taken prisoner in battle, and
Richard loaded him with irons and threw him into prison, as though he
had been the vilest of maViactors. The pope, at the instance of the
king of France manded ihe release of the valiant bishop, of whom he
spoke as bein- nis son." Richard, with a dry and bitter humour, of
which he senns to have possessed no inconsiderable share, sent to the
pope the blood-stained armour which the prelate had worn in the battle,
and quoted the words of Jacob's sons, "this have we found; know now
wtieilier it be thy son's coat or no." How long the alternation of weak
war and ill-kept peace would have ''ontinued it is impossible to judge, for
the great cruelty which both kings exercised upon their prisoners indi-
cated a feeling of malignity too deep to be destroyed by the efforts of
negotiators; but while such efforts were being made by the cardinal St.
Mary, the pope's legate, Richard, who had escaped in so many furious
conllicts boll) in the East and Europe, perished front the effect of a
wound received in a petty quarrel.
A. D. 11!);). — Vidomar, vis(;ount of Limoges, who was a vassal of Ri-
chard's, found some treasure and sent a consider.ible share as a present
to him; Richard demanded that all should be given up to him as superior
lord, and, on receiving a refusal, led some troops to the siege of the castle
of Clialus, in which the visc'onnt was staying. On the approach of
Richard at the head of a niunerous force of Drabaneons, the garrison
offered to su-render on terms, but Richard cruelly replied that he would
first take the place and tln-n hang up every man of the garrison. After
making this reply, which, unha|)pily. was only too charactisristic of his
temper, Richard, attendcil by one of his captains, approached the walls to
rci'onnoitrc, and I'.ad an arrow lodged in his shoulder by an archer named
Bertraud de Courdon. AltnoNt at the same moment Ricnanl gave the
order for the assault, and on the place being taken he literally put his
threat ii\to execution upon Ihe garrison, with the sole exception of de
(lourdou, who was only tein|)orarily spared that he niisihl hav(> the cruel
distinction of a slower imd more painful death. Richard was so innidi
mangled by the awkwardness with which the barbed arrow was drawn
from his wound, that niortificatjon rapidly set in, and the nu)iiari'li felt
that his last hour a|.,ir(tai'litMl. (Causing de (Jonnlon to be broui.lit irto
his presence, he demandcil liow he had ever iiijurcd him. " With your
own hand," firmly replied the prisoni^r, "you slew luy father and my two
brothers. Von also threatened to hang me in cuninion with my fellow
mm i
£48
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
Boldiers. 1 am now in your power, but I shall be consoled under the
worst tortures that you can cause to be niflicted upon me while I can re
fleet that I have been able to rid the earth of such a nuisance." Kichard
softened by puin and the near approach of death, ordered that the bold
archer should be set at liberty and presented with a considerable sum oi
money ; but Marcadee, the leader of the Brabangons in whose company
Kichard was wounded, brutally had de Gourdou flayed alive and then
hanged. Richard's wound defied the rude science of his surgeons, and
after considerable suffering he died on the filh of April, 1199, in the forty,
second year of his age and the tenth of his reign — a reign very brilliant
as regards his warlike feats, but in all the high and really admirable qual-
ities of a monarch very sadly deficient. His conduct wa? in some par-
ticular cases !.ot merely oppressive, as regarded his ways of raising
money, but absolutely dishonest. As, for instance, he twice in his rejun
gave orders that all charters should be resealed, the parlies in each case
having, of course, to pay the fees; and in many cases taxes were inflicted
upon particular parties without any other authority than the king's mere
will. But it was chiefly in the re-enactment of all the worst parts of the
forest laws, those parts which inflicted the most cruel and disgusting mu-
tilations upon the ofl'enders. But while this particular braiudi of law was
shamefully severe, the police of London and other great towns-was in an
equally lax state. Robbery and violence itt the streets were very com-
mon ; and at one time, in 1196, a lawyer named Fitzosbert, surnamed
Longbeard, had acquired a vast and dangerous power over the worst rab-
ble of London, numbering nearly fifty thousand, who under his orders for
some time set the ill-consolidated authorities at defiance. When called
upon by the chief justiciary to give an account of his conduct, he attend-
ed with so numerous a rabble, that the justiciary deemed it unsafe to do
more with him at that time than merely call upon him to give hostages
for liis future good behaviour. But the justiciary took measures for keep-
ing a watchful eye upon Fitzosbert, and at length attempted to take him
into custody, on which he, with his concubine and some attendants, took
refuge in Bow Church, where he defended himself very resolutely, but
was at length taken and hanged. So infatuated were the populace, liow-
ever, that the very gibbet upon which this man was executed was stolen,
and it was pretended that pieces of it could work miracles in curing the
diseased. Though so fiery in temper, and so excessively addicted to
bloodshed, Richard was by no means destitute of a certain vein of ten-
derness and romance. He prided himself pretty nearly as much upon his
skill as a troubadour as upon his feats as a warrior, and there are even
some of his compositions extant. On the whole, however, we fear that
the popularity of Richard does little credit either to his contemporaries
or his posterity as far as good judgment is concerned. Brilliant qualities
he undoubtedly had ; but his cruelty and his dogged self-will threw s
blemish over them all.
CHAPTER XXn.
THE R K I G N OF JOHN.
A. D. 1199. — When Richard went to Palestine he by a formal will sei
aside the claim of John to be his successor, in favour of Arthur of Ihit-
iany, the sim of their brother (leofl'rey. But during Richard's absence
John caused lh(' pndates and nobles to swear fealty to hini in despite ol
that deed ; an<l Richard, on his return to Kiigland, so far from showing
any desire to disturb that arrangement, actually m his last will con.ili-
tuttid John his successor, in direct contradiction to his own former mid
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
S49
(nrmnl dee^. But though John was thus authoritatively named as his
Droilier's sucnessor, many of tiie harons of Normandy thought the right
of voiiiifr Arthur wholly mdefensible by even tiie will of his uircle ; and
PliHIp, who was glad of any opportunity to injure the peace of the En-
glish territories in France, cheerfully agreed to aid them in the support
of llie yoinig prince, whom he sent to Paris to be pducated with bis own
son. Ji'lin acted with unusual alertness and good judgment on this occa-
sion. Sending his mother, Eleanor, to secure the provinces of Guienne
and Poictou, where she was greatly beloved, he himself proceeded tc>
Rouen, and having made all the arrangements necessary to keep peace in
Normiuuly, he proceeded thence to England. Here he found little or no
difficulty in causing his claim to be preferred to that of a mere boy ; a'ld
haviiiEr received the homage of all the most powerful barons, he hastened
to France to prepare the necessary opposition to whatever exertions
Philip might make on behalf of young Arthur.
A. D. 1200. — The actions between John and Philipwere of but little impor-
tance ; and the latter having inspired young Arthur's mother with the no-
tion that he sought to benefit himself rather than her son, seized an oppor-
liinity to withdraw Arthur from the French court, and placed him under
the protection of John. Finding their mutual want of power to obtain any
great and permanent advantage by war, the two kings now made a treaty
ill which the limits of their several territories were laid down with great
exactitude; nine barons of each nation swore respectively to niuinlain the
treaty in good faith, even should it be necessary to make war upon their
own sovereign, and still farther to insure its due and faithful observance
John gave his niece, Blanche of Castile, with certain fiefs of her dower,
to Prince Louis, eldest son of the Frencli king. Being thus relieved from
all apparent danger on the side of France, John, though he had a wife
livinir, determined to gratify bis passion for Isabella, heiress uf the count
of Aiijouleme, though she was already married to the Count de la Marche,
her youth alone having hitherto prevented the consummation of the union.
Jiihn, reckless of the double difficulty, persuaded Isabella's father to give
him his daughter, whom he espoused after having unceremoniously di-
vorced his lawful wife.
A. D. l.'Ol. — The Count de la Marche, in the highest degree provoked at
this ll.iijranl and insolent wrong that thus was done him, found it no difli-
cult task to e.\cite commotion in Poictou and Normandy ; the barons there,
as elisewlicre in John's dominion, being already offended and disgusted by
the mixture of weakness and insolence in which, probal)l y, John has never
been equalled. Alarmed as well as enraged by the disobedience of his
French barons, John determined to punish them ; but on summoning the
chivalry of I'^igland to cross the sea with him for that purpose, he was
met with a demand that, before they crossed over to restore his authority
in his transmarine dominions, they should have their privileges restored
and placed upon a secure footing. Their demand was not attended to on
ihe present occasion, but this union of the barons led, as we shall hereafter
eee, tuthe most important consetiueiices. On the present occasion John
contrived to break up the coalition of the barons, some of whom agreed to
accompany him on his expedition, while the rest wen^ mulcted two marks
on cai.'h knight's fee as a substitute for their personal attendance.
The addition of the force he carried from England to that which re-
mained faithful to him in Normandy gave John an ascendancy which,
rii,'hily used, might have 8[)ared him many a subseiiucnt hour of care.
Hut it was contrary to John's nature to make a right use of pov. ei ; and
the inoinent he found himself safe from the inlliction of injustice he was
Seized with an nngovc'rnable desire to inflict it upon t)tliers. He advanced
liaiins which III! knew to bo unjust; atu' as disputes of the feudal kind
were chiefly to be settled by the duel, he coHstuntly kept abcut liini skil-
m
B''
H
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IfapE'H
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ii P'i-
|4i^:
III
BH
'.* 1'....
; ^^!«
250
THE THEASUIIY 01'' HISTORY.
and desperate bravos whose business it was to act as his champiou
cases of iippeal of duel. The Count de la Marche and oilier hjoh
ful ;
in cases oi' appeal of duel. The Count de la Marche and oilier hjoii
spirited barons complained of t!n; indignity offered to them in thus opposing
to them, as fitting antagonists, men whose low birth and infamous char-
acter made them unworthy of the notice of warriors of good birlli and
gentle breeding, appealed to Philip as their superior lord, and called upon
him to protect them against the wantonness of John's tyranny. Philip
who saw all the advantages which might possibly accrue to himself, af!
feeled the part of a just lord ; and John, who could not disavow Philip's
authority without at the same time striking at his own, promised thai by
grantni^ his barons an equitable judgment in his own court he would de-
prive tliem both of the right and the necessity of appealing to the superior
court of Philip. Again and again his promises were renewed, but only to
be broken ; Philip, finding that his sense of honour alone was no seeuriiy,
demanded that liie castle of Boutavant and Tilleries should be placed in
his hands as security for justice being done to the barons. John was too
weak to resist this demand ; but he was also too faithless to keep his
promise, which was broken just as it would have been had he given no se-
curity whatever.
A. D. 1203. — Young Arthurof Brittany, who was now springinginto man-
hood and who had a very decided taste for warfare, had by this time seen
enough of the cruel and lyrannous character of his uncle to feel that he
was not in safety while living with him ; he therefore made his escape to
Philip, who received him wilh the utmost distinction, knighted him, ^'ave
him his daughter Mary in marriage, and invested him not only in his he-
reditary Brittany, but also with Anjou and Maine. The French army was
for a time successful in every attempt ; Tilleries and Boutavant, Moriimar
and Lyons, were taken almost without difficulty ; and Gournay, complete-
ly flooded by a stratagem of Philip, was abandoned to him by liie as-
tounded garrison. At each new loss, John, timid in adversity as he was
despotic and unsparing in prosperity, made new endeavours to obtain
peace ; but the sole condition upon which Philip would now consent to
even listen to his proposals, was his full resignation of all his territory on
the continent to Prince Arihur. An accident at length occurred which
changed the prospects ofiliat young prince, wilh fearful rapidity, from the
utmost success to the most complete ruin. Well knowing how much his
grandmotiier. Queen Eleanor, had ever been opposed to his welfare, and
hearing that she was in the fortress of Mirabeau, in Poicliers, and but
slenderly attended, it occurred to him that if he could obtain possession o(
her person he would obtain the means of exercising considerable influence
upon his uncle's mind, and he accordingly sat down to besiege tiie place,
the fortification of which promised no very long resistance. John, tiiough
at some distance when informed of his mother's danger, hastened to her
assistance with a speed very unusual for him, surprized young Artiiur's
camp, dispersed his forces, and took Arthur, together with Count de la
Marche and other distinguished leaders of the revolted barons, prisoners.
Most of the prisoners were for greater security shipped off to England;
but Arthur was confined in the castle of Falaise, where he was speedily
admitted to the dangerous honour of an interciew with his uncle. John
reproached Arthur less wilh the injustice of his cause in general, than wilh
the folly of hii expecting to derive any permanent advantage from the
French alliance, which would keep him at variance with his own fiimily,
merely to make him a tool ; a view of the case which was none llie less
correct because taken by a prince of whose general cliarai;ter a just man
finds it impo;.<sil)le to approve. Arihur, brave and sanguiiu!, asserted that
his claim was superior to that of his uncle, and that not only as regarded
the French territories, but as regarded Kngland also; and he called iipoD
John to listen to the voice of justice and restore him to his rights.
THE TRUASUHY OP HISTORY.
251
Historians differ as to the way in which John freed himselt from a com-
pplilor whose early boldness promised at no distant day to give him much
irimble- We have always donbted the exact accuracy of all the accounts,
for ilie timidity and distrust which formed so principal a part of John's
uiiHiiiiable character would surely never have deserted him so far on so
terribly serious an occasion, as would be implied by his proceeding being
linowii with circumstantial accuracy.
All that seems to us to be certain upon the very painful subject is, that
after a stormy interview with his uncle young Arthur was seen no more
for some time. A report got into very general circulation that he had
been unfairly dealt with. Such, it seems, was not the case as yet. The
liiiig, it is affirmed, had applied to William de la Bray to put the young
prince to death, but he nobly replied that he was a gentleman, not an as-
sassin or a hangman. A less scrupulous person was at length found and
sent to the cast[e of Falaise ; but he was sent away by Hubert de Uurgh,
the goveniorof the fortress, with the assurance that he would himself do
what was necessary ; — which humane deception he followed up by spread-
ing a report of the prince's deatli, and even going through the form of his
funeral. But when the death of the young prince was thus auihoritative-
Iv asserted, the general ill character of John caused him to be universally
pointed at as the murderer; and Hubert de Burgh, fearing that all Brittany
would breax out into revolt confessed the innocent deception he had prac-
tised. John no sooner learned that his unfortunate nephew still lived,
iliiin he ordered his removal from the custody of the faithful and humane
De Burgh, and had him taken to the castle of Rouen. Here John visited
Arthur in the dead of night, and, though the young prince is said to have
knell to him and prayed for his life, stabbed him with his own hand.
That John was capable of this extreme atrocity we have unfortunately
100 much reason to gather from tlie miiversal detestation in which he was
held by his contemporaries. But though there is little reason to doubt that
Arthur perished by the order, at least, if not by the very hand, of his
uncle, we would again direct the attention of the reader to the too great
particularity of this account, in the first place, and to a discrepancy be-
tween the natural character of Arthur and that part of the story wliich
represents him as kneeling in terror to his uncle. The story savours
siiniewliat more than it should of a scene from Shakspeare, whose dramatic
genius it would be idle to question, but whose historic authority we should
be loth to pin our faith upon.
But though it is scarcely probable that so wily a person as John would
allow the details of his tyrannous cruelty to be thus brought before the
world, and though his personal timidity rendereil him as unlikely to have
undertaken with his own hand the murder of Arthur, as it was that this
high-hearted young prince would show any terror, even in the death hour,
the iniiversal belief of John's contemporaries was that he, whether with his
own hand or not, caused Arthur's death ; and loud and terrible was the out-
cry of the people of Brittany, to whom Arthur was as dear as his wily and
crnel uncle was hateful. Eleanor, Arthur's sister, was in the power of
John, who kept her closely confined in Kngland ; but the Breons, resolved
todo anything rather than willingly acknowledge the sway of John, chose
for their sovereign young Alice the daughter of Constance by her second
husband, Guy de Thonars, to whom they committed the affairs of the
(liichy as guardian of his dauhhter, and they at the same time appealed to
Philip as superior lord to do justice upon John for his violence to Arthur,
who was feudatory to France. Philip summoned John to a[)pear before
him. and, in default of his doing so, he was declared a felon and sentenced
to forfeit all scignory and fief in France to his superior lord, Philip.
No one who has accurately read wlnit has already been related of the
shrewd, grasping, and somewhat cunning character of Philip, can d(ml»<
mm
:^f>.,»##W
252
TIIK TIllCA^URY OF IlISTOllY.
that, from the first, he took up the caiisoofjoiiiig Arthur loss with a view
to the iKMiefit of that young prince, than in the hope that the chapter of ;i(.
cidcnts vvoiihl enahle him. sooner or hiter, to deprive the Knghsh crown
of some portion, if not all, of its French appanages. And tlie appeal of
his Bretons to hisjustice, the unwise advantage afforded to him liy .(olm's
default of appearance, and the unanimous sentence of tlie French ppei-j
now seemed to give liim something like a substantial and judicial right as
against John.
Tlio exertions and sagaciouspolicy of Henry would have evoked French
opposition to any such attempt; that skilful politician would have found
but lillle difficulty iii leading the French barons to abstain from eiideavonr-
ing to add to the authority of their superior lord, lest in so doing ihey
should insure their own ruin. Neither would it have been safeloiry
sudi a plan while the lion-hearted Richard lived to shout his fierce battle
cry in iliat popular voice which would have been heard in hall and tower
and which would nowhere have been unheeded where chivalry siill abode!
But John, destitute alike of courage, popularity, and of true policy, wiis
little likely to unravel or defeat a dexterous policy or long to withstand
actual force, hated as he was even by his own barons. The opportunnv
was the more templing to Philip, because those of his great vassals who
would have been the most likely to oppose his aggrandizement were either
absent or so much enraged agll'inst John, that their desire to annoy hint
and abridge the power he had so shamefully abused, overcame in their
minds all tendency to a cooler and more selfish style of reasoning.
Philip took several of the fortresses situated beyond the Loire, some of
which he garrisoned for himself, while others he wholly destroyed; and
his early successes were followed up by the surrender to him, by the count
d'Alenson, of all the places which he had been entrusted to hold for John.
Elotcd by this success, and desirous to rest his troojis, Philip disembodied
them for the season. John, enraged by all that had passed in this brief
campaign, took advantage of this too-confident movement of Philip, and
sat down before AlenQon with a strong army. But if Philip was capable
of committing a military error, he was equally capable of seizing upon
the readiest means of repairing it. To delay while he was re-collecting
his scattered troops would be to expose the count to the whole force, and,
in the case of defeat, to the whole vengeance, too, of John. But it fortu
nately happened that the most einiiient nobles, not only of France but
also of Italy and (Jermany, were at this very time assembled at a splendid
tournament at Moret. Hither Philip directed his course, gave a vivid
description of the evil character of John, of his own disinterested desire
to punish the craven felonry of that prince, and of the danger in which
the coimt de'Alengon was placed by his devotion to truth and chivalry,
which had led him to dare the vengeance of one who was well knowi to
be unsparing after the stricken field, as craven while the tide of battle still
rolled ; and he called upon the assembled chivalry, as they valued their
noble and ancient names, to follow him to the worthy task of aiding a
gallant and honourable noble against a dastardly and adjudged felon.
Such an appeal, made to such hearts, conld receive but one answer. Like
one man, the assembled knights followed Philip to the plains of Alenson,
resolved, at whatever cost, to raise the siege. But John saved them all
trouble on that score. His conscience told him that there were men in
that brave host who, if he should chance to be niade prisoner, would be
likely to take fearful vengeance for the untimely death of /oung Artliur;
and he would not even await their apporach, but raised the siege in such
haste that he actually left all his tents and baggage of every description
behind to be ca;)ture(l by the enemy.
For some time John ki^pt his court at Rouen, showing ix other ferlin?
than a must ludicrous confidence in his own resources whene'er he slioulJ
jW:
m
icr ft'('liM2
le slioulJ
rm»t0'.
determine to
of some new
them go oil ;
spent years ii
Such coiidu
English provi
seemed so ob
(liough he ha
would have bi
of Hhieh Joli
pressingly apf
aiiliat anibiti
make peace w
leiritory. Bii
which he him
which their o\
ofthci. kinof, 1
support aijains
pope to the ici
cise. Encoiir;
(;i)inplyin(f wii
chateau tiailla
left to defend I
A. n. ]-'04.-
Built partly up
neither labour
il was held by
jiable of Chest
Philip, think
famine than by
posted a part o
undertook its b
person whom J
sand foot and I
Philip's camp, '
manned, was i^
sinlllius throw
his part of tliii
aJvaiitagi^ over
passage, its ass
was already dc
ni);hl, according
as It was, Phili
llicin both ()(T w
scd by dt'fcal, w
lie could not lie
laiit fortress, ||
hull to do .so by
Iniiii'd to (h'fciii
turn. Ill' vMis i
whole (j;irris()n
sense ol ihc cm
HTve his iiiiisic
fur lim pbii r
It II d.llii'iilt
"oiihl indiiccliil
• il'lv of \\\n w
cuiiKI not bu i|{ii
THE TREASURY OF H.8TORY
253
detprmine to make use of ihem. When informalion was brought to him
of some new success on the part of tlie French, he would reply "Ah ! let
them go on ; by and by I will just retake in a single day what they have
spent years in taking."
Sucli c()iulu(;t naturally disgusted the brave barons of England and the
English provinces, and weakened their desire to combat for a prince who
seemed so obstinately bent upon their disgrace and his own ruin. But
thouifh he had neglected those means of defence of which his brother
would have been even too eager to avail himself, there was one resource
of wliieli Joim had not neglected to avail himself; l.e had humbly and
nressingly appealed to Rome. Such appeals were always gladly received
atlluit anibilioiis court, and Philip received a peremptory command to
make peace with John, and abstain from trenching any farther upon his
teiritory' But Philip had inspired his barons wiili a haired equal to that
which he himself felt for John; and, regardless of any possible injury
wliicli tlieir own authority might suffer from the undue aggrandizement
oftlici. king, they loudly assured him I'lat he should have their cordial
support against all foes whosoever, and .is loudly denied tlie right of the
pope 10 the temporal authority whiirh he thus took upon himself to exer-
cise. Encouraged by this _;isposition of his barons, Philip, instead ot
idiiiplying with the orders of the pope, proceeiled to lay siege to the
cliiiieau (jiiillard, which was the most important fortress that was now
Iffi tu defend the Norman frontier.
A. n. l'J04.— This place was admirably strong both by nature and by art.
Built partly upon an islet of the Seine and partly upon an opposite crag,
neither labour nor expense had been sjiared upon it, and at this very time
ilHiis held by a numerous garrison commanded by Roger de Lacy, eon-
jlable of Chester, a leader of determined courage as well as of great skill.
Philip, thinking it mon? facile to takt; such a place, ao garrisoned, by
famine tlian by mam for(;e, threw a bridge across the Seine, where he
posted a part of his force, and he himself at the head of the remainder
undertook its blockade by land. The earl of Pembroke, by far the ablest
person whom John then had about him, assembled a force of four thou-
sand foot and three thousand horse, with which he pm-posed to attack
Philip's camp, while a fleet of sev(>nty tlit-bottonjed craft, luimeronsly
manned, was simultaneously to sail up the Sein(! and attack the bridge,
and thus throw relief into the fortress. The earl was exact in performing
his part of the attack, anil (!ven at the outset obtained some considerable
siivaiitiige over Philip; but the weather chancing to rtMard the [Icct on its
pass.ige, its assistance arrived too late for the sup|)ort of the earl, who
was already ilel'eatiid. Had tin; attack l)een made simultaneously and by
ni){lil,acc(M'iiing to the earl's plan, it had most prob.ibly been suc(!esHful;
as It Has, Pliilip was enabled to deal with his assailants in detaM, and beat
Ihem liotli off with very considerable loss. John, who was easily depres-
»eJ liy defeat, was so much discouraged by the dl success of the earl, that
he ciinid not be indnce<l to inak<' any farther attempt to relieve this impor-
tant fortress, though ample opmirtiiinty and iniluccmenis were olTered to
liimlddoso by the gallant con<luct (if l)c Lacy, wlm for a whole year con-
tinued to di'fciiil himself, in sjiiie of great snlfeniiij from want of |)rovj-
»iiin. He was at length overpowered In a niglilattack, and he and liis
wliule g,irri»(Ui made prisoner... To iIk; credit of Phili|), he sliowei; his
M'ibeiil the courage and ridclity with which l)c Lacy iiiid c(Mitiiiueil to
Jirve liis master even after In- had been abandoned by liim, by giving him
for Ins place of coiilinement the whole extent of the city of Paris.
Il n dilliciilt full;' to uiiderstiuid the iiiilo|eiic(> and incapacilv which
■inild induce John to iieyleci the relief of chateau (iailliard, upon wliicli the
• ifi'lv of his whole i\(n'in:iii territory depemleil. Tliis depeiidaiice he
cuuld not bu Ignorant ofj uivl it was rapidly and perfi.'ctly illustrated by the
«l
^54
THE TKEASimV OF HISTORY.
successes which Philip obtained after its capture. Falaise, Chen, Con-
stance, l']vreux, Bayeiix, and other fortresses successively fell jilio ||j,'
hands; Lupicaire, a Brabaiigon leader, to whom John had enlnisied ijie
defence of the first-named place, deserted with all his men to the standani
of Pliilip, and while tlie lower division of Normandy was thus overrun bv
the French under Philip, Upper Normandy was entered by the iJri'tons
under Ouy de Thouars, who look Avranches, Mont St. Michel, and the
other strong-holds of that part. Pressed thus by an active prince, who
was served by njen of condui-t and courage, and abandoned by 'jolij,
whose hasty and secret departure for England might almost be eal.'
led a fliuhl, the Normans had no resource but to submit to Pliijip, much as
they disliked the idea of subjection to the French goveriunent.
A. D. IMo. — As there was still a portion of ihc N(M'mans who, thoufh
abandoried by the king of England, determined to defer, if not wliojiy'to
avoid, their submission to Phili|), Kouen, Argues, and Verneuil confcilcni-
ted for this purpose. Philip iminedialely advanced his troops agninsi liie
first-named ciiy, the iidiabitants of which signalized their hatred of I'ranoe
by forthwith putting to death every man of ihal nation who was livinir
among them. The cruel are rarely brave; and the defence of Koimn bv
no means answered to tlu.' [ironiise of desperation given by tliis trcacher.
ous biiichery. Scarcely had the besiegers conuuenced operations when
the bou'gcHl lost heart, and merely demanded a truce of thirty days to
enabh! iheni to obtain succour from their prince. Philip, who wcllnmier-
.stood the character of .loiui. and therefore felt sure that he who liaij aliaii.
dcned chateau (iailliard was little likely to show luore coiirairi. jn (be |[.g,
hopeful case of l\oiien, complied with this demand. As I'bilip liiid fun;.
seen, no supplies or aid arrived, and the city was yielded. All the rest 0/
'he province ciiually submitted lo Philij), w"lio thus had the credit— niucli
aljaled, lliiiuiih, by the character of his o|)(ioneiit — of rininiling to rraiict
this iiiifMiriant portion of iis proper territory three centuries after rharhj
the Slm|ile had alienated it I", session to the first duke, the valeiiu Itubo
From .Niirmandy, Pbihp caM extended I, is victorious arms to Anion,
Maine, Toiiraiiie, and a portion of Poictou; John, llii; wiiijc, iiLstcad nj
endeavouring to arri'st the progress of bis enemy, was railing agiiinsl Ins
barons lor, what he called, their desertion of him, and adding to the iiiilional
evils created by his iiididence, the mischief which he still line! the
power to do; millclintr Ids barons in the seventh pdrliim of all their iiiovi'-
able property as a punishment for this pretendeil (dVeiice.
Not eiiiitent with even this impudent and excessive exiorlinii, John
next demaiided a sculage of two and a half marks upon each kiilKJit's \n
lo enable lilin to ('(Midiict an expedition into Normandy; but the inoiicy
onc(! received, the expedition was no loiter thought of ! Sulisii|iiinily
he e(dlected a fleet, as if fully determined lo Ui ike an attempt Id rcrovii
his transinaniie possessions ; but on s(une olijecl ions belli); made, lie abaii-
dolled this desiirii, too, on the |ilea that he was deserted anil betriiyed by
hisbaruiis; and at leiii,'lh nuistereil c(uiraue eiionirh to |ait lo stsi, luii
speeilily returned to port without auiibt beiiiL', done or atlempled, ('iii|.
sideriiig the fiery ti'ni|)er luid warlike habits of the barons, it isperfcclly
astoiiisliing that Ibex so jmig endured the insults of a king whose very
style of liisiiltiiiij was so eluiracleristic of Ins weikness.
A. I). 12011. — Am ally was at length presented to John in a person from
whom III! had hut liitle riijhl lo expect aid or eii('oura>.'eineiii. liny dc
Thouars, to whom, in right i>f his daughter Alne, the llielniis had i'nm.
initled ibeir ixnvernment. 'I'liis iiitble, peri'eivini; the immense sttidci
tnaile by Pbilip, became alarinrd for the safely of ilrilti'.ny, aiiil llienrnro
made a pro|io>iiiiiii to Jdhii for their JMiution against Philip, ami .hihii
accordingly left llii^laiid \\\\\\ a considerable f'irce and landed in snfeiyal
Kuchelle, whence he marched tu An;>eis, which he captured inul biiriii'iJ
Philip lUMv rapid;
by niakiiig propo;
sale, indeed, in p
any one less debii
death itself. Th
barons, under prei
pciidi'd, not in ref
We have alread
men eonid so lonj
ill (.'haiacter as Jo
piissible alio wane
the feiiiial tenure 1
ill idea, lo the Noi
this great power,
deeessors and the
early shaken, evei
liinji, llie ijreat feu
the nii'si powerful
hiinseir with the c
Irani. Ihit even tl
worn out by the pe:
fvpr ready lo sei/(
iiiiiiiense leinporal
which .lolin had so
wiild Willi either c
A.i>. l-'()7.— The
piiHiT al the nnusi
hilof die opportim
iinrc of ilie plausibi
III' bad so far stretc
si'iiil among them 1
Cfilcsiaslical revei
the more obviously
po|H'.hini over the"
receive a like pr()p(
iiiilary coiitritnilioii
rhains upon a body
hkely lo be slow In
■IS .lidiii ; nor was ;
llnlierl, archbish
cliiircli, Caiilcrbiirv
i'l"!.'; lint a imnont
"I 'be juniors, assei
:!» Ins successor III
I'livcrtly nisi'illeil 1
Home io iirociirt! Il
Wiiiil (d piiidence .
iilinosi as soiin ,'is 1,
was so fnr favonral)
niiiil.r proceeding
the senior monks, a
had a iiitlil to iiiilur
inmiks Jiilin left tin
Wtrl the biNhop of
bni as Hie snUV.iga
ihi'V ii(i\\
eiil an „:
ilic iminks of ('hrisi
llie great ndviintage
ii
THE TREASURY OF H.STORY.
255
Philip iio^v rapidly approached, and John, beooming alarmed, gained time
t,V niitkiiiS proposals for peace, and then covertly tied back to Kiigland —
sale, iiuioeil, in person, but loaded with disgrace and contempt, wliich to
a'liv'oiie li'ss debased in sentiment would have been far more terrible than
^^Hili iisidf. Thus all the vast sums which John had extorlod from his
barons, iiiiiler pretence of recovering his lost footing in Frani'c, were ex
pemlt'il, not in repairing the loss, but in adding disgrace and disgust to it.
We liiive already remarked that it was astonishnig that fiery and martial
nioii ciiuld so long endure the doings of a man so mean in aVt and weak
iiu'liarai'ter as Joint ; and astonishing it certainly was, even tnaking all
„,i5sil)le allowance for the extensive power wliich the very nature of
the femlal tenure gave in reality, and the still greater power w'hich it gave
ill idi'a, to the Noi-inan sovereigns. It is to be considered, however, that
this great power, wielded as it had been by the art of some of John'.s pre-
decessors and the mHrtial energy of others, was not to he cither easily or
earlv shaken, even liy the personal misconduct of a John, in whom the
kiii;;i ilic yrcat feudal lord paramount, would still he feared and obeyed by
llu' iiiosi powerful of his vassals, after the man John had overwhelmed
hiiiisell' with the contempt and the disgust of the meanest horseboy in hia
Irani, Ihit even the vast prestige of the feudal monarchy was at length
worn cut by the personal misconduct of the weak monarch; and the church,
ever ready to seize upon opportunity of extending and consolidating its
immense temporal power, wis the first to encro.ich upon Ihi- authority
wliiili .lohn had so oflcu (n'oved himself iinworihy to h(d(l, and unable to
wii'ld Willi either credit to himself or advantage lo his people.
A.I). 1'.'(I7. — The then pope, Innocent III., haviiisj arrived at the papal
power at the unusually early aye of thirty-seven, had never been uiimind-
liil of llic opportunities tliai presented themselves to him. Taking advan-
tairc ol llie plausible pretext afforded to him by the stale of the Holy F.and,
hi' iiiiil so far stretched his auiliorily over the clergy of ("iiristendom, as to
send among them collectors with authority to levy a furiieih p.irt of all
pi'clesiastical revenues for the relief of Palestine; and to make this li'vy
the more obviously and emphatii-illy an act of authority ami [lOwcr of the
|)ii|ii'ili)in over itu^ ecclesiastics, the .•<:ime collectors were authorized to
ri'e(iv(^ a lik(> proportion of laymen's revenues, not as a tax, but as a vid-
iiiiliiry coiilrilnition. A pope thus rcsidvcd ami aiistnie in riveting his
cliani^ upon a bo<ly so iiunieroiis and so powerful as the clergy, was not
liliilyK) lie slow in exercising Ins power ag.inist 80 contemptible ii prince
as.liiliii; nor was an opporinnily long wanting.
Iliilierl, arclibislio|i of Canlerbury, dying in lOO.'i, the monks of Phrist-
ihiircli, Oanterbnry, had the n<:lit of election, subject to the consent of the
Kiiiir; liiit a minority of lliein, consisting, too, almost without < xccplion,
(II the juniors, assenibled on tlw very night of Hubert's death, and ciceteil
IS Ins successor their •■ubprHn', K''"inald, who. having been hastily and
covertly insl died in the arclnepisi opal throne, immediately set out for
H(Hne to procure the pope's confirmation. Tlw vanity of Iteginald, or the
«aiii of |)iiidcnce of Ins friends, caused the atViir to reach the king's e;ir«
alniusl US s<n)n as the new archbishop hail comineiiced his journey. John
was so far favonralily Mtiiaied, iliat Ins anger at this presiimpiiioni and ir-
ngiiliir proceeding of tlie junior monks <il' Canterbury waH fiillv shared by
the senior monks, and also by the Miffrag.ins of ( "anlcrhnrv. both of whom
hail ii rialil to intliience the election dl their primate. Ill the hands of the
iiKiiiks John left the new eieclnm, onlv rccnnimending that they should
elci'l ilie bishop of Norwich, Jchii de (iray. He was according elected,
but as the sutlr.igans hail not cvmi m tins new election been considered,
they now Kent an auciii lo Himiic to prole*! against it, while tlii' kniL' an 1
llif iii'inks of ('hrisicliureh .Miit twehe o< tli.it order lo support It. Here
the yiMit udvanl.igc was clearly thrown into the hands of the pope, f<<r
SS6
THE TREA8U11Y OF HISTORY.
whiln eadi of the throe disputing parties opposed the pretensions of tho
other two, all three ajrreed in acknowledging the pope's authority to ie.
ride the question; and Innocent III. wns not the man to allow liiat ad-
vantage to escape his notice. That the election of Reginald had been
irregular and furtive, none but himself and his immediate friends could
well deny ; and the authority of the papal court easily overruled the pre-
lennions of the suffragan bishops, which, to say the truth, were strongly
oppofied to the papal maxims and usages. These two points being decided
it woidd at first' sight have seemed clear 'hat the decision must be in fa.
votir of the bishop of Norwich ; but the pope decided that the first election
being disputed as irregular, the decision of the pope upon that eleciion
tdimild have preceded any attempt at a new one ; that as it had not done
m>, siii'li second election was nncanonical and null, and that,asacori)llar\\
henci^forth tlie appointment to the primacy must remain in the hands of
the pope. Following up this decision by action, he commanded the monks
who had been deputed to defend the election of tlie bishop of Norwich im-
iiiedial(dy to elect the cardinal Langton, a man of great talent, English
by birth, but infinitely more attached to the interests of Rome than tn
thoite of his native land. All the monks objected to this course, that they
should, even looking only to the jiope's own recent decision, be conunit
ting a new irregularity, having neither the king's writ nor the authority
of Iheir convent to warrant tliein ; but, with the single exception of Kljas
de ilranlefield, they succumbed to the pope's authority, and the election was
made accordingly.
Iiuiocent now followed up his arbitrary proceedings by what our hi-Mo-
rians call a mollifying letter and present to John; but what would certain-
ly be called an addition of mockery to injury in the case of any clearer-
minded and higher-hearted prince, for by way of consoling John for the
precedent thus set of transferring to the papal court one of the moit valued
and, in many respects, important prerogatives of the English crown, Innn.
cent sent linn him four gold rings set with precious stones, and an e.vplan-
rilory letter of no less precious conceits. '* He begged him," says Hnnie
in his condensed acc(uint of this ;idinirably grave papal jest, "to consider
NeriiniHly, the form of the rings, their number, their matter, and their col
our. Their form, being round, shadowed out eternity, which had neither
beiriniiiiitt nor ending; and he ought thence to learn his duly of aspiriiii!
fiiim einllily objects to hi'avenly, from things t(<in|)oral to things elenial
'I'lie nninber, four, bring a s(|uare, denoted stearliness of iniiid, not lo he
f4iibvertid either by adversity or by prosperity, fived forever on the firm
liasiH of the four cardinal virtues, tv 'd, which is the matter, heiiij tlm
most preeioiis of metals, signiticil wisdom, wiiich is the most vahiahle n'
all accoiiiplisliiiients, nnd justly preferred by Solomon to riidies, power,
and all exterior atlainmeiits. The blue colour of the siipnhire represriiied
failh; the u'reen of the emerald, hope; the redness of tlie ruby, charity:
and llie splendour of the topaz, good works."
Nt;ver, surely, were niyslical conceils vended at a higher price! Even
John, weak and tanii- as was his spiril, did imt consider four rings and a
bundle of conceils (pule an iideipiate consideraiion for the more |irerioii8
and Hubsliiiiti.il jewel of which llie pope had so iincerenniiiioiisly deprived
liiiii, mid his wrath was treinendnoii!'. As the nioiiks of ('antiilmry
showed themselves willing lo iibide by the i le'-lion wliiidi Iheir I'elloHs at
lloine had made in obedienee lo the pope, ihe first efl'eels of his aiiuer fill
njioll llieill, lie despalelicd lleiny i\r Coriilinle and Fiilk ' de Ciiiilelinie
two resold III c kiiinhls of Ins reliniK", lo expel the prior and monks of Christ.
rhnrcli no! inily IVian their convenl, but iilso iVoin Ihe kinixdoin, a diilY
which llie Kinuhls pcrrorined ipiiie literally at Ihe point of llie swuril; .1
piece III viideiicc at oner partial ami childish, w Inch linioceiil iioined only
by ti new letter, i» which hi' eiirnesily advised the kiiiK no longer loopposo
THE THEA8UHY OF HISTORY.
257
himself to God and the cliureti, nor longer to uphold that u irighteous cause
which liiid cost the martyr St. Thomas of Canterbury his life, but at the
same limo exalted him to an equality with the highest saints in heaven —
averv pl'ii'i ''"usioji lo the possibility of Beiikels being easily found to
maintain the cause of Rome against a prince so much meaner than he to
wiioni "the martyr" Becket had done so much evil!
As this sisfnificant hint had not as much effect us the pope had antici-
pated in reducing John to submission, Innocent now commissioned the
bisiiops of London, Worcester, and Ely to assure him that should he per-
severe Ml his disobedience to the Holy See an interdict should he laid upon
his iiiiigdoin ; and both these and their brother prelates actually knelt to
him, and "'i'li tears besought him to avert a result so fearful, by conseiit-
liig to receive archbishop Langtun and restoring the monks of Cliristcliurch
to ilieir convent and revenue. But John, though well aware how little he
cmilil d"pend upon the love of his states, whom he did not even dare to
assemble to support him in an open struggle, was encouraged by the very
hiiinilily of the jMisture assumed by the prelates not merely to refuse (tom-
pliiinei; with their advice, but to couch his refusal in terms fully as dis-
gricifiil to him as they could be offensive to tluisc to whom they were
addressed. Not conlented with personally insulting the prelati's, he de-
dared his defiance of the pojie himst.'.f ; swearnig "by Orod's teeth" that
sliuuld the pope lay an interdict upon his kingdom, he would send the
uiiolc of the iiiiglisli clergy to Rome for support and take their estates
and reveiuies to his own use ; and that if thenceforth any Romans ven-
tured into his doininiiMis they should lose their eyes and noses, .nat all
who looked upon them migiit know iIkmu from other and better men. In-
iioi'Ciil was not to be deceived by this vague and vulgar abuse; lie well
knew the real weakness of John's position, and (indingthat half nurasures
and ni.m.igement would not suffice to reiluce him to oludience, he at length
issued the tcrtibic sentence of interdict. As this sentence frctpiently oc-
curs in oar history, and as it is essential that readers should clearly and
ill detail understand the nature of the decree by which Rome could fur ages
send terror into the hearts of the miglitiesl nations in Clinstendom — a
terror from which neither rank, sex, nor scarcely any siagi; of life was
Merii|iied — We paiise here, in the regular march of our history, to cpioio
..■: urief bill cleardi^scriiition of it which we find succinctly given in Hume,
frcMi the accounts sealltn'd in many piijics of more prolix writers.
•'Tlie si'iitence of interdict was at tiuil time the greal instrument of ven-
JOiinee anil policy employed by the cmnt of Home ; was denounced against
^||verl'ialls lor the lightest offi'nccs; and made the yiiilt of oi.c person in-
volve the ruin of inillions, even in their s|)iriinal and clcrnal welfare. The
exeeiiiion of it was caic\ilaied to strike the senses in the highest degree
and to opriale with irrc.'sistibU; fiuce on the superstitious minds of the peo-
|.|i'. The nation was suddenly deprived of all exterior exercise of its re-
liL'ioii ; the altars were despoiled of their ornameiils ; the crosses, the
r('li(|i|es, tlie images, the staiiu's of the saints, wert; laid on the ground;
and, as if the air itself were profaned and might pollute llieni by its con-
iiict, the |iriests care-fully coveicd II. .111 up, even from their own aiiproacli
and veneration. The use of the liells entirely eeasei' in all the (•lulrcll(^s,
Ihe hells themselves wi're reniovecl froai the steeples, anil laid on the
griMind Willi the othi'r sacred utensils; mass was celebrated with closed
diiors. and none but the priests were admitted to that holy inslltniion; liie
laity partook of no religious rite, except baptism to ncwly-lunn inf ints
ami lli(^ coiiiinui\;i>ii lo the dying; the dead were not interred in consecra-
icd UriMind . they «cre thrown into ditches, or buried in coininon fields,
and their ohseiiuics were not attended with prayer^, or any liallowi!d cor-
reiimnv. M.irriaiie was celebrated in Ihe churchyards; and, that cvijrr
aetioii of life mitjht bear the marks of this dreadful situation, the peo|>r
1.-17
'\ ::f^'
1:
\k -
^>..j»#H«f<
t58
THE TKEASLllY OF HZSTOHY.
were prohibited tlio use of meal as in :.fii ■. ; and, -is in tiin'G of the highest
penance, were debarred from ai! pk.i:.\irs and Hniert:.iiii i.ints, and were
forbidden even to salute each otier, ur so noich as to ■ ii-.v. '.heir beards
and give any d' cent afU ntion to i wh pi r^ • i sa,'. ppai,! .very circum,,
stance cii ried symptoms of the d.epest distr. ss, auJ yi' lie most iiimie-
diatc appreh'iuion of <iivjiie nidigi iiion and vengeance."
Unwarned by even tin commeii ,einent of tiiis state of things inhij
kinjrdom, ami o'^stinately tlo^nig his eyes against ilie contempt in which
ihj was hehi b} those lay barons upon whom lie must depend for what-
ever support he might need against th' spiritual po- ir. .Tv n now turned
his vengeance especiuil'. againr" tliose of tin (-ni'M vvho Vt^ntured to pay
aitcMijon to the interilici. ii.iul gtni^rally against 'if adherents of Arch-
bisiiup Langton. Tiie prelates oi Ihest clsses !ii: sent into exile, and
the monks he confined u) tl 'Tconve.it with . har( si (.ossibh; allowance
for llieir temporal neci - <itRi.. and in i'Hth eas.\-. lie niailc iiiniself the re-
cipi' lu of their revcnu'.s. {'onc\)bii.!,xe being a common vice of ihe
clt!igy, he seized upon that poini to annoy them by tlirowing their concu-
bines into prison, whence he would oidy release tiieni upon payment Oi
high fines; conduct which wi.s the more egregriously tyrannical, because
he well knew that, in most cases, those who were caili'd the coiiciihnies
of the clergy lived with all Ihe decency and fidelity of wives, and only
were not wives in coiisequehce of the crnel, unnatural, and odious exer-
cise of the power of itoine to rompcl the c<'lii)a<'y of the clergy.
Meantime the quarrel bci wi en John and the pope continued its jiivet
eracy on both sides, and las;. J for some years : ihe people, who had no
part in the (|uari'el, being thus i .-posed to all the evils and vcxalions which
v/e have described, excepting in the comparativcdy few eases where the
threats or persuasions of John w. re powerful enough to induce the clergy
to disregard the interdict. With these exceptnnis, upon which even iiie
laity, much as they were injured '.^y ibi^ interdiei, looki'd wlih dislike and
contempt, all the ehrrry reinaininsr in Kiiglaiid weie the eiieinies of John.
But Uv, afTecting the uiinost coiiiemi)t for puhlic (ipinioii, c|eri<'al as lay,
loadi^l all classes of Ins people with heavy imposts to defray the ex|ieiisL's
of Scotch, Welsh, and Irish expeditions, in wliiidi sut'ci'ss itself produced
him no glory, as it proceeded rather from the weakness of lliose lo whom
he was opposed than from his own valour or ciinduct. As if desirous lo
irritatt; his subjecis to the iitinos!. he made the vt'ry diversions of liis
leisure! hours eitliiT insulting or injurious to them. His licentiousness in-
sulted their families wlu^rever he made his appearance ; and he addcij to
the odious character of his forest laws iiy prolnhitiiig his subjects from
pursuing fealh(!red game, and hy the purely spiteful act of caiisiii^f the
forest fences to he reiiioveil, so that the cultivated fields in the iiciyliliour-
hood were tram|iled and fed upon hy the vast herds of 'leer wbidi the in-
jured liiisbaiidman dared not destroy.
A. n. 12(18. — A constant continuance in a course like this could not fail
to excite against the knit; the Iwitred even of thost? among his siibjei's
who had taken little or no interest in Ins original >|iiarrel with Roiiie, iind
a eonsennisness of this halreil. so far from cansiiig him to retrnee ImS
Bte|)s, only aronseil him to grosser and more determined tyranny, anil lis
demanded from all of his nobility wlimn he lioooiired with his siis|ii('ion$
that they should place their nearest relatives in his hands as liosiaiics.
Aininig those of wlunn this insulting deiuand was madi^ was Williinn ili'
l)ravns(;, whose lady, a wonn-'^ ot determined sfiint and |ilain speech, loiJ
the king's messc'iiger, that lor iier part she would never consent to emrihi
,lier son in Ihe lemds of the man who had iiotinKMisly mnrderetl hisowh
nephew. The naron, lliongh both wealthy ai.d powerful, was sensibli:
that there was no safely for hiin alter such a reply had been reiiirMiil m
the kinj;, and he scjught sbcllcr, with Ins wife ami < liild, in u remote siiuj.
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
259
lion ill Ireland. But Jolin, like most tj'rants, was only too faitlifuUy served
bv his spies ; the unfortunate baron was discovered, and althoujjh he con-
trived to escape to France, both his wife and their child were seized and
actually starved to death in prison.
Never was that line of the heathen poet which says that "the gods
(irst iiiadiien those whom they wish to destroy" more vividly illtislraied
tliHii l>y the constant addition which, by tyrannies of this kind, John was
rupiJIy making to the general hatred of his people, at the very time
when he was aware that such hatred could at any moment have been al-
lowed liy Rome to break out into open rebellion.
For ihougli the papal interdict, with all its severity upon the unolTend-
iiiff people, did not release them from their allegiance to the king who bad
iMlicd down that severity upon their heads, the next step was exeommu-
iiiiMtion, w iiieh, as John well knew, put an end to allegiance, and woidd
arm many a hand against him that now was bound by " iTiat diviiuty which
dolli hedge a king." And yet this inexplicable man, usually so cowardly,
siill held out atjainst the pope, though excommunication was certain to
fall with sneh peculiar severity upon him, should he provoke the pope to
prononnecit; and he exerted himself, alike in his rule and in his pas-
lime, Id increase that very hate from which much of its peculiar severity
would spring.
The patience of the pope was at length exhausted, or, perhaps, (o speak
more correctly, his policy no longer required delay, and the terrible sen-
tPiiceof excominuuicali(m was issued. But even now there was no formal
absoiutioM of the people frou) their oiitli of allegiance. Thnl most terrible
step of all the pope still bild in reserve, as a last resource, bemg well
aware how powerfid an effect the ordinary results of exconimuiiication
were ealeuhited to have upon a king of fir stnmger nerve th;in Jolui could
boiisl ; for how could he claim to be served with zeal and fidelity who
WHS thus disclaimed and cut oflfby the church 1
Scarcely had the pope's orders been obeyed by the bisho[)s of London
Kly, and \Vorcester — those very prelates upon whom John hail formerly
lu'iiped insult, as coarse as undeserved, and as unbecoming as impolitic —
wlicn a specimen was exhibited of its paralysing eflTeel by (ieoffrey, arch-
deacon of Norwich. Like most of the great cliiirchiuen of that day, he
held a judicial situation, and bo was engaged ni its duties when he re-
ceiveil the news, upon wliieli be immediately rose and left the court,
observing that it was loo perilous to continue to serve an exeommuniifated
kmg. This prompt abaniloiiment of the archdinicon, however, cost him
liis life, !or John threw bun into prison, had a large leaden cope fitted
li«litly to his head, and inllicted other severities upon him until he literally
5;\iik under lliem. W ariied, [leriiaps, by tiiis severe example, oilier clerical
dignitaries. llioMgh (inile as ready to aliandmi llieir detested and dangerous
kiiiji, took care to phwe themselves beyond his reach in the very act of
almiidonnient. Anioiur these was Hugh de Wcdls, the chancellor. Heiiig
iippiinited bishop of Winchesler, be reiiiirsled leave from the king to go
111 Normandy to obiain coiisecration from the archbisiiop of Rouen ; but
ItMve being cranled, Ke went mil thilber, but to I'ontigny, the resiilenci!
of llie archbishop Laiiuton, to whom he paid the formal submission diu!
iViini a snfTragaii to his priinale. 'I'lie freijuency of these desertions
aiiiniig linili the prelates and the lay noliilily at length gave the king very
scriiins alarm, and more especially as he received but too prolialile hints
of ,1 widely-spre.id conspiracy against him, in which he knew not who
ainiiiii,' lliit^e who still remaimnl ap|)ar<'nlly faithful to him might be en-
(Tiired. Now that moilerati' coni'ession could no Lniger avail biin ; now
lliat his nakedness and his weakness were so eviilent to his foes that lliey
tt'iiiilil richly deserve liis contemjit if they did not provide bis violence
Hilb an efTectual bridle for the future, even should they chose to show
il!r
fv^.x^HP*
3«0
THK TREASURY OF HISTORY.
some noderation in dealing with him as to the past ; now, in a word
when he no longer had it in his power to negotiate to advantage. John
commenced a negotiation with the hitherto exiled and dtspised Lani'ton
A meeting accordingly took place hnuecn them at Dover, and Julm uf!
fered to submit himself to tlie pope, to receive Langton as piiniiite, tu re-
instate the whole of the exiled clergy, and to pay a certain sum in con,.
pensation of the rents which he had confiscated. But these tcrin.s, wlncli
John might hav(j commanded at the outset of the dispute, and nt wliich
in fact, he had then manifested such childisii and unbecdining rat:c, «efe
far too favouralde to be allowed him now that Rome had at once tils i^rrot
and his helplessness to urge her to severity. Lauglon deinaniicij timt
instead of a certain sum in the way of compensation for the wruiiirduiig
to the clergy, John should pay all that lie had nujiislly received, aiid, .suji
further, that lie should make full and complete .satisfaction for ail injuries
suffered by the clergy in consequence of their exile and the conliscaiioii
of their revenues. It was less, now, from unwillingness to make peace
with Rome, on even the hardest ti^nis, than from siieer terror at ilie
thought of having to collect again all the vast sums he had wanionly dis-
sipated, and of having still further to find money for damages wliicli tliose
who had suffered them were, of all men, the kast likely to nndcrvalue
that John pronounced it impossible for him to comply with Langion's
demands.
A. n. 1212. — The pope, who most probably did not fully appreciate tlic
extent of the pecuniary difricnlties which caused John to shrink from
Langton's proposal, now solenudy ab.solved John's subjects from ilicir
allegiance to liim, and denounced excommumcation upon all wliu .•ilioulj
venture to have any commerce with him, at tin coiiiicil board or in the
festive hall, in |)riv;ite or in [)nblic, as a monarch or even as an inilividii;il
As even tiiis terrible severity, by wliicli the nio.-.t powerful nun iniilil In
in an hour deprived of all su|)|iort and of all demonstration of alfccloii,
and made — so niucii more powerful were sup( r.'^liii.nis fears than i!ie
urgings of either duty or an'((.'lion — desolale ami .^iinnnrd as the |iari;iliuf
tlie di'seit or the Ileijrcw leper, did not instantly force Jcdni to snhnnssioii,
Innocent followed it up by a solenm senlcin'<' t)( (tt/insiiion.
The ponliirs in that superstitious a;!e were wiser in their yenera'imi
than the lay prir.ces witii whom ley had to deal, and liiey well kin w
how to make those [iriiices each Ij !■ inslriiiiienl of the oilier's suhjecima,
Accordingly, on this occasion, the pojie, wiio widl iindcrslood the aiiiln-
tious character of the king of I'rance, and the animosity that iiuiiualU (x-
isted between John and I'liilip. [iromised ilie latter not only reinissinii of
sins, but also the sovereignty, as a vassal of the popedcnn, of .lojm',-, kiiii,'-
dom of England, as the reward of his inv.idiiig it ami subdiiini;- John.
Philip readily consented to comply wiili liie pope's wishes, am! iiavaig
livied a vast force and summoned all his military vassals to aildul ami
iild him, he assembled a fleet of seventeen liuiidred siil on the Clla^I nf
Normandy and Pieardy, and pre()ared for the immediate and ellVcUial la
vasion of Kngland.
Hut the papal court, as usual, was playing a double and an intercsied
ganu!, and was by no means siiici-re in desiring to replace on the throne
of I'higland a despised and incapable monarch, like John, by a po|iiil,ir,
warlike, and politic one like I'liilij), unless, iinlenl, the terror of the I^Mit
should, as was by no means inobable, fail to reduce the forniei lu
submission.
In this decidedly (he most serious of all liis perils from witlioni, J'llin
displayed something like a Hash of the liigli ami daring spirit of ins Nnr-
man race. Issnim; orders not only for thi! assembling of all his mihi iry
vassals at I)ov('r, but also for the irmiiig anil [irepiiration of every iii.iii
ttble to bear uriiis ilirougliout the Kingdom, he seemed •'"'<■>••:. iiii;deiilrct
THE TREASURY Of HISTORY.
361
(0 preserve his crown or to die in defence of it. But this temporary gleam
of niarlial feeling name too late, and was too strongly opposed by his
oraven conduct on former occasions to obtain him any general sympathy
among liis people. His excommunication and his general unjiopularity
ilianv'a (lamp on the spirits of even the bravest of his subjects, and the
most zealous among the very few friends whom his vices had left him
trembled for the issue. Nevertheless, patriotic feeling in some and habits
of feudal obedience in others caused his orders to be obeyed by an im-
TiKiise miinber, from whom he selected for immediate service the large
force of sixty thousand.
Philip, in the meautime, though anxious immediately to strike the blow
which promised to give him so vast a prize, was, as a vassal to the pope,
ind directly and specially engaged in supporting the papal authority,
obliged to be observant of the directions of Pandolf, the papal legate, to
whom tlie whole conduct <jf the expedition was committed. Pandolf, well
aqiiaiiited with the real and occult views of Innocent, required no more
if Piiili|i's aid after that prince had prepared and displayed his force.
rii;itdoiie, Pauilolf summoned Jolm to a conference at Dover. Pointing,
on the one hand, to the immense [jower and interested zeal of Philip, and,
on the other, to those peculiar drawbacks upon the elRcicnt action of tlie
Eiijlish force, of which John was already but too sensible, the legate,
iviili wily and emphatic eloquence, urged John, by a speedy and complete
submissioa to the pojie, to embrace the only means of safety that now re-
mained open to him ; excommunir ii by the pope, on the eve of being
aiiiicked by his miglity and vindictiv al of France, and secretly hated
by his own vassals, who were not at nil unlikely opeidy to desert him
upon the day of battle. The statements of the legate were true, and John,
who knew tiiem to be so, i)assed in an inst:inl from llie extreme of bra-
vado and obstinacy to an equally extreme iiiul far more disgusting humil-
iiv and obedience. John now promised tl' 5 most entire submissitsn to
ilie piipe ; the a(;knowledgenicntof I.angtor as archbishop of Canterbury;
die restoration of all, whether clergy orl'vmen, wlioni he had banished
on account of tli: long and unfortunate di sfiute ; restitution of all goods
mil revenues that had been confiscated, aid full payment of all damages
lioiie by tlu! confiscation; and an immcli ite payment of eight thousand
poinids on account, togetlier with an iniuiediate acceptance to his grace
Hid favonr of all wlio had suffered in tliem for adhering to the pope. To
ill llk'se terms the king swore agreem nt, and four of his great barons
also swore to cause his faithful compliance. Froiii tUv. ins'.ant tliat Pan-
dolf got the king to agree to these degrading conditions, th^ whole right
md merit of tiic quarrel was substantially and unalterably assigned to
Rome l)y the king's own solenui confession ; and (his ()oint Pandolf was,
lorubvions reasons, anxious to secure prior to ruiniing the risk of stinging
and sturiling even John's dastard spirit into desperation. But having thus
M»de ilie king virtually confess that his share in the quarrel was such as
lodisentitii liim to the support of liis friends and subjects, Pandolf wholly
diiiwofTtlic mask, ami showed John how much more of the bitter draught
ofd('!fr;i(lati(jii he still had to swallow.
John had sworn humble and conifjlete obedience to the pope ; he was
now re(juireil, as the first convincing proof of that obctdieni e, to resign his
kniploni lo the church ; an act of obedience which he was assured was
IIS innst effectual mude of protecting his kingdom against Philip, who
would iKd dare to attack i'. when placed under the innnediate guardiaaship
Hid insiody of Rome. John hid now gone too far to recede from that
Jeirradation which made him furi'ver the mere temporal as well as spiritual
•nwil of haughty and overreaching Rome. He therefon! siihscrilxMl a
I'l-Ur, ni \>hi('li, professing i/ be under no restraint, he solemnly re
iKj.iii ('(l i-ingiand and Ireland to Pope Innocent and his apostolic sue-
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
cesaois, aiid agreeci llieiiceforlh to hold tlu'iii at tlio anmi;i] rent of a tliou-
sand marks, as feudatory of the papal throne ; binding his successors as
well as himself to the due performance of this condition, on pain of nhso.
lute forfeiture in '.lie event of impenitent disobedience. Even the signhio
of this degrading agreement was not alh.wod to terminate John's'iiicp
humiliation. He was compelled, in open court, lo do homage; in die usual
feudal form to Pand •■ as the representative of the pope, and at ihe same
time to pay in advance a portion of the tribute, upon which tiie leoatc
trampled in open scorn. And, so much had John's niisccndnct cifgradid
his brave subjects as well as himself, that, with ihe single excepiloii df
the archbishop of Dublin, no one present had the spirit lo resent Paiidolfs
rude and impolitic behaviour.
After John had submitted to all this ignominy, he was still eompcjlpj
to feel himself dependent upon the very doubtful generosity of Home; f,,,
Pandolf refused to remove the interdict and excomniunication till ihi>
danuiges of the clergy should be both estimated and paid. Yet even in
this terrible and galling state of his fortunes John relaxed not from his
tyramiy to his subjects. An enthusiast or impostor, named Peier ol
Ponifret, a herniil, had in one of his rhapsodies prophesied th t the kiiii-
would this year lose his crown, a prophecy which had been likely cnuiicih
to be accomplished iii any one of many preceding years. This man, and
his son as his accomplice or abettor, were tried as impostors ; and thiniuh
the hermit stoutly iramtained that the king's surrender to Rome, and ihe
vassahige in which he had now consenle(i to hold bis formerly indopcii
dent crown, verified the prophecy, they were both dragged at horses' hi ijs
to the gallows and there haiiffed
John, the l)nseness of whose temper made him callmis to many reflt'c-
tions which woidd have stung a prouder and more honourable 'man al-
most to madness, was, amid all his degradation, less to be pitie,! just now
than the duped and baffled Philip. His rage on learning that his expi'n
sive display of force had only served tin; purpose of driving John into the
protection of the pope, could sc;ircely be kept within either safe or drccnt
bounds. He bitterly complained .>( the insincere offers and promises by
\vhi(di he had been gulled into an outlay of sixty thousand pounds; an],
his indignation being shared by his barons, he went so far as to declare
that not even the pope's protection shoi.ld save England from him. It
indeed seemed probable, that Ik; would at all risks have invaded Kiijjhnul
but for the influence and intrigue of the earl of Flaiulers, who, bein;; in a
secret ronfederacy with John, loudly protested again.st the intpieiy ol
attacking a state that was now becoiue a part of St. Peter's palrimoiiv.
Shrewdly judging that the earl would follow tip his words by correspond-
ing deeds, Philip resolved to chastise him ; but whik; he was engaged in
so doing, his fleet was atta<'ked by John's natural brother, the earl of Salis-
bury, so that Philip deemed it the wisest plan to lay aside his medi.ated
attack upon England, at least for the present.
John, as easily elated as de|)ressed, was so ptifTed up by his novel safely
accompanied though it was by so mueh ignominy, that he boasted his in-
tention to invade Krance. Dnt he was met on the part of his barons with
colli and contemptuous refusiil to take part in Ins enterprise; and when
in the hope of shaming them into joining him, he sailed with only liia
perMiiial followers as far as the island of Jersey, he had the inorlifieaiioi)
of liniig eiMiipelled to return, not one of the barons having so far relented
<8 to follow him. On his return he threatened to chastise tliein for theii
want of obedience ; but here he was met by the archbishop I/mgloii, who
reminded him that he was but the vassal of Rome, and threatened hiir
with the most signal inmisliment if he ventired to levy war upon any oi
his subjects.
Rome removed the infliction upon John and his kingdom to the full ai
[)ropriety of th
THE TB«:A8URY OF HISTORY.
36,;
trailuallyas she had laid thtm on; but in the end the pope himself inter-
feri'd to protect him against tlie extortion of the clergy, and commanded
ihem to take forty thousand marks instead of a hundred thousand, which
John had offered, and instead of the infamously excessive sum beyond that
which they had rated their losses at.
In the end, the king's submissive behaviour and his disbursement o(
arge sums ol^ money procured the interdict to be removed from his king-
join i and the prelates and superior clergy having received their damage!,
the inferior clergy were left to console themselves as they best might
without any repayment at all ; Nicliolas, bishop of Frescati, who was
now legate in England instead of Pandolf, showing himself more favour-
able to John than his predecessors had been.
i, D HH.— Not deterred by the evident dislike of his barons, and their
determination never to assist him when they could make any valid excuse,
John now proceeded to Poietou, and his authority being still held in re-
spect there, he was enabled to carrv the war into Philip's territory. But
before John had well commenced his depredations he was routed by
Philip's son, young Prince Louis, and fled in terror to England, to engage
once .nore in his congenial task of oppressing his subjects. For this
ami'uie pursuit he deemed that his submission to Rome had furnished
liim with full immunity ; but mortifications of the most severe description
were siill in store for him. The barons, shocked out of even their feudal
notions of submission, became clamorous for the practical and formal
establishment of the liberties and privileges which had been promised to
them by both Henry I. and Henry II. In their demands they were much
backed and aided by Archbishop Langton; less, it would seem pretty
clear, from any genuine patriotism on his part, than from old detestation
of John, exacerbated and festered by the obstinacy with which he had
resisted Langton's admission to the primacy. At a private meeting of
the most zealous of the barons, Langton not only encouraged them by his
own eloquent advice, but also produced a copy of the charter of Henry I.,
which he had rummaged out of some monastic crypl, and urged them to
make tiiat the guide and basis of their demands, and to persevere until
those demands were both fully and securely conceded to them. Perceiv-
ing the effect of this conduct, he repeated it at another and more numerous
meeting of the batons at St. Edmund's Bury in Suffolk ; and the charter,
supported by its own vivid eloquence, so wrought upon the barons, that
ere tlioy separated they solemnly swore to be true to each other, and
never to cease to make war upon their faithless and tyrannical king initil
he should grant their juit demands. This done they separated. :ifter
lixing upon a day for their reunion to commence their open and, il need
be, armed advocacy of their cause.
A. D. 1215. — On the given day they punctually met, and deinanderi thoir
rights, as promised by his own oath and as laid down in thi- ''h irter
of Henry I. Alarmed at their union, John promised that thtiy shoiiM be
answered on the following Easter; and the primate with the hiih"pof Ely
and the earl of Pembroke becoming surety for the performance of the
kinpi's words, the barons contentedly retired to tlieir castles.
B'lt John had sought delay, not for the purpose of considering the nature
and propriety of the demands, but for that of finding, if possible, some
means by which at once to baulk the barons and to be avenged of them.
Having experieii<'i'ii to his cost the power of Rome, he thought his best
.vay t(t baffle his nol)les was to conciliate the church, to which he volun-
tarily made many concessions and compliments ; one of the former being
his voluntary relinquishment of that right to investiture which the pre-
vious Norman kings had so stoutly ballle<l for, and one of the latter, an
equally voluntary proffer and promise to lead an army against the infideN
if) the Holy Land ; and, to signify his entire sincerity upon this last point,
T'
w
!64
THE TKISASUHY OF H18T011V.
he at once assumed the Cross. Both from Jolin's urgency for his protec
tioii and from llie counter and no less urKent instances of the barons, the
pope was excited to much ahirni about Kngland, for the peace and pros-
perity of which li*- had, since .John basely became his vassal, coMccived a
son of paternal interest. Kiiowing fidl well how much more difficult ii
would be to deal with the power of I']ngland under the bold barons than
under a despised and weak prince like John, it was obviously to the in-
terest of InnoL'cnt to uphold the latter as faras possible against the formeri
and lijL! thrrofore issued a bull, in which he characterised the proceedings
of tlie barons as illegal and treasonable; forbade them, under pain ol
excommunication, from persisting in their demands ; and enjoined Jolin,
under tlie same penalty, not to comply with them.
The primate, being in favour of the barons, refused to give formal
publicity to this bull; and though he was suspended for his conduct in
lliis respect, the failure of tlie bull was not the less insured; and thus a
new proof was afforded how much the pope's power depended upon the
extent and cordiality of the co-operation of the rest of the church. But
though the pope and the king thus exerted themselves to defeat the barons,
the latter succeeded in wresting from the king that well known dcMlara-
tion of rights and definition of prerogative known as Magna Chartn, or the
Great Charter — a document which we need not insert here, on account ol
its general notoriety. But no charter or agreement could bind tlie king;
he introduced foreign mercenaries, besieged and took Rochester ensile,
and barbarously put all but the very highest of the garrison to deatli, and
then curried fire and sword into the towns and villages throughout Eng-
land. The barons, chiefly from some faults or omissions on their own
part, were reduced to such straits, that they ventured in the nnpiilrioiic
and dangerous expedient of offering the crown of England to Prince Louis,
son of Philip of France.
A. D. 121G, — The prince accordingly landed in England with a large
force, in spile of the menaces and orders of the pope ; John was deserted
by the foreigners upon whom he chiefly depended, and who, though wil-
ling enough to slaughter his English subjects, were naturally iinwillluffto
fight agiiinst their own native prince, \lost of the English nobility wlio
had heretofore sided with John, now deserted him ; town after town, and
castle after castle, fell into the hands of his enemies; and everything
seemed to threaten him, when a report, true or false, got currency, that
Louis merely used the English nobles as his tools, and would execute
them as traitors whenever his success should be complete. This report
had visibly turned the scale once more in favour of John. Several
nobles returned to their allegiance, and he was rapidly collecting power-
ful forces to combat for his kingdom, when a heavy loss of treasure and
baggage, which occured as he was passing towards Lincoln, so nniidi ag
gravated an illness under which he already laboured, that lie expired at
Newark, on the 17th of October, 1210, in the forty ninth yeiir of his age,
and in the eighteenth of his agitated, mischievous, and inglorious reign.
It wiis in this reign liial the citizens of London first were privilcj^'d an-
nually and from their own body to choose their mayor and common ronn-
eil, and to elect and discharge their sheriffs at pleasure Of the li «g's
cliar;icter no suinniary is needed; both as man and as sovereign le is
but too forcibly depicted in the events of which we have giv" a briei bui
ro'nplete and impartial account.
m^
THE TUEA3UUY OF HISTOHY.
CHAPTER XXIIl.
26a
THE REIO.V OF IIKNRY III.
i.D 1216.— Arthedealhof John hia eldest son, Henry, wa8 only nine years
old ; but happily he had m the carl of Pembroke a friend and guardian who
was Imlh able and willing to prevent his infancy from being any disad
vimliige to him ; and Louis of Prance, who expected to derive great bene-
Si from the death of John, found, on the contrary, that very circumstance
most injurious to him.
Immediately after the king's death, the earl of Pembroke took every
necessary precaution on behalf of the young prince. He had him crowned
immediiitely after the funeral, and caused him publicly to swear fealty to
the pope; measures most important tosvards insuring the enthusiasm of
the people, on the one hand, and the support of Rome, on the other. Still
farther to increase the popularity of the young king, the earl of Pembroke,
BOW regularly authorized with the title of protector of the realm, confer-
red u|)oii him by a great council, issued in his name a ii(!w cliiirtcr, chiefly
founded on thai which John had granted and broken throu'^h ; and sub-
sequuiilly he added several still more popular articles to it, disaforcsting
much of the vast quantity of land whicli had arbitrarily been enclosed by
Riclmrd and John, and substituting fine and imprisonment for the more
cruel punishments which had heretofore been awarded for forest ofTences.
While active in taking tnese general measures to secure the affections
of the people, the earl did not omit to exert his individual inlluence to de-
tach the barons who had sided with Louis. He pointed out, with admira
Lie tact, the vast difference between fighting against a sovereign of mature
years who had wronged and insulted tlioni, and warring against an infant
prince of the race of their ancient monarchs, to set up in his place the son
of the French king; he dwelt upon the good measures which had already
been effected by the goverinnont of the infant king, and besought them to
take the favourable opportunity now offered, of abandoning the cause of
Louis, whicii was unjust in itself, anathematized by the pope, and had
hitherto been as singularly unfortunate as it was obviously unblessed. The
character of Pembroke was so high that his remonstrances had a great
effect on those to whom they were addressed. Many barons forthwith
abandoned Louis, and carried over their strength to their native prince ;
and many more, though not yet quite prepared to go all that length, enter-
ed into a correspondence with Pembroke which showed their leaning that
way. Louis added to this leaning by the impolitic openness with which
he evinced his distrust of the English. Robert Fiiz-Walier, that power-
ful noble under whom all the barons of England had thought it no dis-
grace to range themselves when they commenced the struggle with the
tyraiuJohn, applied to Louis for thegovernmimt of the castle of Hertford,
and was refused, although he had a personal claim upon the fortress.
With such an example before their eyes, how could the barons help feel-
ing that he was, indeed, making mere tools of them?
Louis lieing obliged, by the great losses he had sustained, to go into
France for reinforcements, afforded Ihe doubtful an opportunity to return
to their allegiance and join Pembroke, who at length liid siege to Lincoln
city, wliicli was garrisoned by the French under Count Perche, who in
their turn hemmed in and besieged the English garrison of Lincoln castle.
\ sally from the castle was made at the same moment that Pembroke and
liistrn()|)s mounted to the assault of the town ; and so complete was the
success of the English on this occasion, that the fate of the kingdom may
be said to have depended on the issue.
When Pembroke obtainiid ihis great advantage Louis was besieging
Dover castle, which was as ably as obstinately defended by Hubert de
Hurgli; and on hearing the tidings from Lincoln he hastened to London,
t!
266
THE TUKASDRY OF HISTORY.
wlu'rc the farther ill news awaited him of the defeat and dispersion ot a
French fleet which was bringing him over reinforcements.
These two events caused new desertions of the English barons to Pern
broke; and instead of entertaining farther hope of winning tiie Eiiglisfi
crown, Louis now thought only of securing a safe and speedy departure
from a kingdom in which he had met with so many misfortunes ; he ac-
cordingly agreed to evacuate the kingdom forthwith, upon the sole con-
dition that neither in property nor in liberties should those barons v,iio
had adhered to his cause be made to suffer for that adherence.
The protector readily agreed to so easy a condition ; and the civil war
being thus iiappily terminated, Pembroke, as regarded the lay barons who
had supported Louis, fully performed his pari of the agreement, not only
restoring them to tlicir possesr-ions, but also taking every opportunity to
show that tlieir former conduct was not allowed to have the slightest weight
in preventing favour or preferment from reaching hem. For the clerical
rebels a far severer fate was in store. As far as regarded the merely civil
portions of their oiFence Pembroke molested none of them ; but (iualo.the
pope's legate, dealt somewhat more sternly for the contempt and disohedi-
ence with which, in spite of the interdict and excommunication, t'ley had
dared to continue to support Louis. In so numerous a body of nie.i it was
obviously impossible but that there should be degrees of guilt; and ac-
cordingly, wliile some where deposed, others were (uily suspended ; some
were banished, but all, whatever their degree of guilt, had to pay a fine to
the legate, to whom this wholesale ctiastiseineiit of the erring clerks
produced an immense mmu.
The earl of Pembroke, <() whom the peace was so greatly owing, died
soon after its eoiicliisinn, and the protectorate passed into the h;in(ls of
Huliert d(! Durgh, the justiciary, and I'eter des Roches, liishop of Win.
Chester. 'I'hough the former, who took the chief part in the govtri\iiuiil,
was a great and able man, he had not that personal reputation aini)i';r the
barons which had been enjoyed by the earl of I'rinbroke, and which had
chielly enabled that nobleman to curb the evil dis|)ositions which now
broke forth into full and fell activity, insulting the royal authority, and
everywhere pillaging and eoercinir the people. Among the most dis
orderly of these was the earl of Albi inarle. lie bad served lilliler l,yii:s,
but had (luii'kly retiirneil to his duty and distinguished himself in (ijjliiing
against tlie Ficnch. His disorderly coi;:!'.ict in the north of Fiigland iiiiw
became so notorious am! .-o imschicvoiis, that Hubert d<' l)ur>;li, iliimnh
greatly averse to harsh measures agaiii.sl those |)owerf\d nobles wliiibf
future favour mighi be of such imp(utant coiise(|uenee to his jiniiig king,
Feized Ujion tl asile of fJockiiigham, which the earl had filled with Ins
lieenticms soldiery. The earl, su(iported by Fawkes de Hreiiul6 ami ether
warlike and turbulent barons, rorlilied the castle of Hilham, put IiiiukiK
upon Ins open defence, and seized upon the c;isll(? of Foiheringay ; ami u
seemed not unlikely that llie daring and injustice of this one man would
again kindle the so latelv exilimuislied llaims «{ civil war. r ortniii'iiiy.
Paiid(df, who was now rest<ired to the Iciraiitiiie powiT in Fnuhinil, «iis
[ireseiit to tike a jiart on beh.alf of the coiisliluted aulhorilies. He isMini
a sentence of excommunication not only against Albemarle, but al>o :ii
jjcneral ti'rins agaiimt nil who should adiiere to that noblemairs caiise ; am!
an (trmy.with means of piiynig it, uere providecl. The prompliludi' am!
vigmir of these measures so alarmed Alhemarli-'s adherents, that licMas
on the instant deserted by the most powerful of them, and saw nuiliiiiij
left hut to sue lor the king's |iardnii, which was not only uranled liiiii ;i*
regarded his [lersim, but he was at the same time restored to his •Uiiili'
«!state.
It was probably the eniifidenee of being, in the lant resoil, able In m-
«iire himself a like iin|icditie ilegree of lenity, that encourigcd Fiuvku
THE TilEASUllY OK HISrOllY.
867
rib Bifiiiuto to treat the govermneiit with ii most uiilieardor insolence and
coiiUinpt. Having been raised from a h>w ori|jin by Kinjr John, whom he
(oilinvL'd in tiiu diseri'dilablf capacity of a nnlitary "bully, this man carried
tlie cimJii-t and manners of his original station iiUo tiic higher fortune to
wliicli he had attained, and was among the mo!<t turbulcMit and unman-
age.ilile of all the barons.
To desire a freehold, and forcibly to expel the rightful owner and take
possi.'ssion, were with him but one and the s.ime thing; and for literal
roWit^ries of this summary and wholesale description, no fewer than thir-
tvfive v'!rdicts were recorded against him at one time. Far from being
ahaslicil or alarmed by such a plurality of crime, Fawkes marched a body
of Ins staiincliest disorderlies to the court of justice which was then sit-
till^^ seized upon his bench the judge who had ventured to deiude against
so pou'iit an ort'ender, and actually in'prisoried that judicial dignitary iu
Ueiifird castle. Having gone to this extent, Fawkes could have but little
coni|iiii»ction about going still farther, and he openly and iu form levied
war upon the king. Uul he had now gone to the full length of his tether;
he was opposed so vigorously that his followers were soon put to the
roiii. and lie, being taken prisoner, was punished by confiscation and ban-
ishiaeiil.
A. u. Vi-i'i. — Tn tills year a riot broke out in the metropolis. Com-
mcnciiij; in some pcUly dispute that occurred during a wrestling match
liplween a portion of the rabble of London and Westminster, it at lenglli
rosclo a desperate and dangerous tnmnll, in ihe course of wliicli several
persons were muirh hurl, and some houses were plundered and demolished.
These houses belonging to so iniporlant a person as the abbot of West-
minster, that cireumslancc; alone would probably have eiused the riot to
be looked njion iu a serious light at court. Hut it fariher app(Nired, that
ill the course of tin; conllici (he combatants on either or both sides had
been heard to us(! the French war-<'ry ".Monntjoy St. Denis!" and the re-
cent attempt by Louis upon the Fngllsh crown caused Ihe ns(! of this
Wiir-ery to giv(! lo an ordinary riot something of the aspect of a political
and tr('as(Miah!e atl(!mpt; and Hubert, the justiciary, personally took cog«
iiiziiiiee of the matter. The ringleader, Constanline Filz-.Vrnulf, bi iiaved
Willi much self-possession and audacity when before the jitsliciarv', and
Hiis forthwith led out from his presence and hanged ; wliih; several of
those whose guilt was confessedly less heinous had their fe(!t ampulateil;
all awful severity under any iiossible cireninstaiii'cs — how much more
so when contrasted with the lenity shown to so desperate an otrender us
Fawkes de Ureanto !
Shortly after tins alFair, which was much complained of as b( iiig roii-
trary to ihe (treat Charter, Hubert |)n)eured a bull from the pope, pro-
iioiineliig the kiiigof fuli age lo govern. \\r then resigned into the young
kind's liaiuls the Tower e!" liOiidon and Dover castle, which had been
eiilniste 1 to him ; and h'tvini; by this example aciiuired the greater right
lo (leiuand at the hands of other nobles a similar streiiglheniug of tlio
iiuii'li-iiiipaired power of (he crown, he formally did so. lint the barons
of that day were like the rake of a later dramatist; they "could admire
virtue, but could not imitate it." All murmured, most reiii«ed to comply,
and many, among whom were the earls of (Chester and .Mliemarle, John,
constable of Chester, Joli;i de Lacy, and William do Conrtel, absidutely
met 111 arms at Waliham aiu'i prepared ti march in hostile airay upon
London. Hut before they had timc^ to commence this actual levying of
civil war they had tidings that the king was prepared to outiiiimber and
(li'l'ei.t them. The>, therefore, abaiidoneil their design, and appi^a"ed at
court, whither tin y were summoned lo answer for Iheir cimdnct. lint
thmiyli, »% II inaiter of prudence, they liad laid aside Ihe design of levyiiiK
ibsoluio war upon their soverunj.i, they made no profcssiuu of repeiil-
268
THE TREASURY OF H18TOR
ance. On the contrary, while they eagerly disavowed any personal hos-
tility to the kini; liiinself, they equally admitted that they were hostile to
Hubert, and that they were still as deieriniiied as ever to iusist upon (us
removal from iiis power and authority. They were too numerous and
potent to be subjected to the punisliment which their insolent sedition
merited ; and |)iobably it was their perception of that as the real cause of
their bciu.ir sulTered to retire unscathe<l from court after so open a iIccIh-
ration of liieir hostility to Hubert, that encouraged them very shortly
afterwards to hold another armed meeting at Leicester. Here again they
det(!rniiiied tiiat the king, then resident at Northampton, was too strong
atid too well propanul to allow of their seizing upon his person, which,
despite tiieir former disclaimer, it was all along their desire to do. Itut,
as if watciiing for some relaxation of the vigilance of the justiciarv, or
some diminution of the royal forces, they kept together under the prc-
teiitu! of celebrating Christmas. As it was (^vid<Mit thai misciiief weiild
speedily occur to botii king and peopK". unless tiiese l)old bad men were
stopped bel'ore they had encouraged each other too far, the arclil>ish(ip mid
the prelates sternly remonstrated with them, and threatened iheni with
innnediate excomnuinication as the penalty of their longer delaying their
submission to the king anil the (lisbaiiding of their hostile array. Most
of the castles were, upon this thrt;:it, given ii|> to the king, and we iniiy
judgt! how neces.-iary a ste|) Hubert had taken (Ui behalf of his young
sovereign, when we r(!ad that there were in ihigland at that time no less
than eleven hunched and fifteen of ihest^ castles. When i;ulien's jwjit and
wise design was fuKilled, tin; king restored to that faithful subject and
servant the fortresses he had surrendered, ami this restoration was bittcdy
complain. ■! of by the factious barons, wliii chose not to perceive the iii).
mense diirirence between fortresses held for the king and fortres.'-es held
against him.
Parliament having granted tlie king a fifteenth, he was obliged to employ
it in carrying on war against France, in spiles of the disalTected stale of
so many of his most powerful snbiects. For lleiiiv having demuiuk'd
the resiiliition of Ins ancesir.il Normandy, Louis VIII. was so fir from
making that restit.itlon, that hi inad(! a sniideii altnk upon i'nu'teii, Im<-
Biegeil and took ICoclielle, and shuweil an evident deterunnalioii todc|iriv('
the Knglisli of their very small remaining continental ti rritory. The
king sent over, as his lienlenanls, his brntlier the t'arl of (>)riiwall, and
his uncle thi^ earl of S;disl)iny, who succeeded in preventing any lnrlhcr
progress (III the [)art of '.oiiis, and in keeping the vaKsais of (t.isiMiiy
and I'oiclou in obeiiienciv, and, after two years' stay in Frame, iliiiini;
which the military operations lunoiiiited to iinlliing higher than what iiiml-
em generals would term a skirmish, the earl of ('ornwall returned tu
England.
A. n. IJJ7. — Thiuigh Ricliard, rail of Cornwall, tieems to have cirtd
little ennugli for the ordinary ends of ainbition, lit! had a greediness of
gain winch answered all llie purposes of aiiibiluiii in arraying him against
Ins brother a"d king; and a petty dis|iiile which arose out of the iMrfH
({reed am! Ins niijiist course of gratifying it, not only |iroihiced lewd among
the brothers, but had well nigh involved the wlioli! nation in a civ'! tvHr,
and certainly wonhl have do' sn nut for the weak and yielding ctiaracti'i
of Henry, whose nresnh '-iveii tliUH early became manifest to both
Ins friends and his eiiemie. >
Taking advantage of a disp'ite whi<'ti had occurred lietweeii MichimI
and <Mie of the barons, ndative to the possessnm uf a certain manor, a
powerful confederacy of disconten' l nobles was formed against the kin^',
who at length yielded the- point through fear, and made concessions as
impolitic as they were inglorious to hit- as a Kovereign. So weak and
i»liant, in fact, vvus the character uf Hei y, that it may be doubted wlictliuf
THE TREASURY OV HI8T0RT.
2G9
he would evor have reigned at all had the care of his minority fallen into
the liaiids of a less able and upright man than Hubert (i(! Uurgli. And
it w:is no small proof of his weakness that after al the iniportant and
gieadfist services vvhieli he had received from Dc Burgh, that innusler
was dismissed his otiice, deprived of his property, driven to take sanc-
uiiiry, ili'awn thence and committed lo close custody in the castle of De-
vizes, for no other reason than that Ik; had been faithful to the king.
Oilier mil char^re than this there was none; though several j)reteni',e9
were uigrd against liiin, such as the frivolous ones of his having gained
tin; kings fivoiir and afleriion by iieis of enchantment, and of purloining
fioiii tlie royal treasure a gem winch had the virtue of rendering its
woanT invulnerible ! Hubert was at length driven into exile; but re-
ciilUid and taken into fivoiir with just as little apparent reason as there
hail bt'cn fur Ins persecution. ![e seems in his adversity lo h.ive at least
leariii'd llie valuable lesson of the danger of counselling wiscdy a w^ak
king; I'lir, tliongh he was now personally as much a fivourite as ever, he
iii'vi'r aflcrwards showed any desire to resume his perilous auiuorily,
winch was bestowed at his overthrow upon I'cKt, bishop of VVinclicster,
iiii.iiive of I'ojcton, aibiirary and violent, but without any of lliibcri de
lliiriili's lalent or ^Murage, and so litlli' (itled for the almost sovereign
;uiili(iriiy that was entrustcil to him, thai it was mainly owing to his mis-
coiidiii't and tyranny as judiciary, and regent of tlu' kingdom diiniig an
ahst'iu'c of Kinu John in rranci,'. iliai tiie bannis bad been slung into
that iiu'iiiDrable coinbinaiiiMi which rcsultiul in the great charter, ilie foun-
daimn of (sonstnmional liberty in I'liiglaiid.
». n l-'.'U. — Like all weak persons, Henry, while he fell his own inca
■;ai'iiy for governing, was unwilling lo abide by the advice of those who
woic woriliy of Ins confidence; and feehng that his true nature was
slirewdly nnderslood by bis own subjects, he inviied over a ureat nnmbei'
of I'oieievins, in whom he rightly supposed ihal lie would find more
pliancy and less resiraint. Upon ilnne foreign sycophants he ronferred
varimis olFi cs of trust and powi r whidi Jie feand to bestow upon his
r.iiLilisli subjecis. ('onlideni in the pri' on of the king, i illaied by the
sircain of good rorlune wbicdi osuddenl, ilowed in upon them, and either
■gimraiil (m- heedless of ihe hale and jeal eisy of which tlie_- wi-re the oh
("cts, iliese foreign favonriies, by tluir insolence, added lo the rancour of
tilt' powerfnl enemies by whom Ihe nii r" favour and profuse liberality of
llic king were of ilieinselve. irieicnt to surround ili.'in. The barons, on
ihcoiher hand, tinding all in .i''ei lokiais of llieir disple;isure iinallended
ti>, al length lelnsed lo attend ibeii p;(rliameniary diilie>, ninler pretence
iif rearing ihe power of ihe fon igners ; and when the king i lonslrated
ami plainly ctinmaniled iheir Iteiid nice, they replied that lliey winild
Rtli'ii I no more until ihe king should have dismissed lb" I'oiclcvins, ani'
lliil if he did not speedily dismiss ilinse men, bulb ihey and be should bo
inviii from the kmgiloin. Al h iigth, however, the barons, altering Iheir
in ill! proceed to parliament, bin in so warlike a uni-e, ihal it w.is evi-
li'iil Ihey intend -li to overawe the king, and make llieir own will serve
fur law both lo ban and lo Ihe kingdom. And tins ib y donblless would
«|)»i'(lily Inive dmu' with the slrony hind, had they been opposei' by no
ibler ani;igonisi than Ihe king. Hut Ihe justiciary, I'eler den Ho. 'bis, «o
ibly enipinyed their inlerval of irresoliilKMi, thai he deiaidied from llieni
an: only Ihe earls of Chester ami liincoln, but iilso the earl of rornwa.'l,
Ml' king's broilier, and tliiw ho mneh weakened the eonfeileraey, that it
^•■^s broken np and its leaders exposeil to the vengeance of the king,
lliiiiird, I earl mirshil, lleil into Wali-s and Iheiiee lo Irclind, where
ho WIS assis«iii;ii(.(| ; lUliers of Ihe barons were forlnnate enough to
escape, bni tlicir estates were eonlisealed, and, with the king's usn il folly
aiid profusion, dislribiiied uinong the already weallh-gorged foreigners j
■^|V|* „,;,:.
.iifw#
270
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
■*
and llic justiciary publicly said that the barons of England must learn to
know themselves as inferior to those of France !
To what extent of insolent tyranny he who uttered such a speech might
have proceeded it is not easy to guess ; but his pride met wiih a sudden
check, and that from a quarter wiience he niigiit reasonably have least
anticipated it. The church became alarmed for its own int(!resi3 ; several
of the prelates, well knowing the general discciiitent tiiat was spreading
among the people in consequence of the insolent and tyrannicid coiuiiict
of the Justiciary, attcnided iho archbishop of Canterbury to couri, whi^re he
strongly represented to Henry the impolicy as well as injustice of the
course he had pursued himself and allowed the jusliitiary to pursue ir. his
name; and, altributing all the evil to the justiciary, demanded his dis-
missal on paiii (if an instant sentence of excomnumication against the
king himself. Timid by nature, though w(dl enough inclined towards
(jespulism while it could be practised safely, Henry was struck with
alarm at lUc threat of excommunication, wiiich Ik; rightly juilgcil would
be satisfactory to the oppressed people as well as to the barons, and he
couseiitecl to the dismissal of I'cter des Rociiea. The primate siii'coeded
him in the task of ordering state alfairs ; and being a man of proini titnde
as W(dl as of good sense, lie speedily restored content by baiiisliiiig thn
detested foreigners and reinstating the Kiiglish magnates in the ollices
from which they had, as insultiiigiy as unjustly, bi.'en banished.
A. I). i'SV). — The inclinations of a weak jirince, hoW(!ver, are usuallytoo
strong lor the advice of llie most prudent minister, and the coinplainls of
the king's pri'l'i'ieiice of foreigiierM soon bi!(;ami; louder than ever.
Hiiviiig niiirried i'',leanor, (laiighler of the count of I'roveiice, Henry
surroiiiidcii luins(df with her counirymen and tiiosi! of her inatcnial uncle,
the binhopof Valence, who was oi' the house of Savoy. The I'roveiijals
and Savoyards now tasted if the king's iinliscrimmate bouiily as largely
as the Poiclccins had. The bishop of Valence became as potent ii per-
HOiiugc- as Peiii-r d(!s Ivoclu's had been; another member of the family ol
Peter was preseiued wiih the manor of liii hinoiid and the great wiirdship
of the (Mi'l of Wareiine, uiiil Uoiiifiiee, also of S avoy, was made arcliliisliiip
of CanterlMiry. Nnr were lUe men alone thus lorlniiate ; to the ladies of
Savoy the king gave iti mam ige the young and w, a|il,y nobles who were
his war Is. Profusion like tins soon exhausted even the moini'ch's ainpln
means, .md :iii attempt was made to put the kiiiR in possession of rniidii
for farther liberaliiies, Uy (dit;miiiig an alisiihitioii for him from Konu;
frum the o itli wlliidl he h.id taken to support Ins former granis to Ins lliiir-
lish ."iuhjecii' III tniih, it soon liei'aine necessary either that the king
iih(>«<<l obtain new funds, <«• that he slnnild ;■:, iiidoii Ins system of pmfii-
*ior for a new claim, wlneh had scmie show d renson, was now inaili'n|um
hull. It will he remembered iliat Henry's Uioiher, Is.ibella, had lieiii liy
lh<f violence of King John taken from her la^^'flll liiisliand, the coniil ilr la
Marciv; and to uiin, as soon afier Join's death as decency would ;illiiw,
nil*- h!«t given her hand in soeiMid marnago. Hy this second ni.iiri:i!{ii
she Intd four >i>ii". <)uy, Willi;im, <ieo(Trey. an I \yliiier, whom she sent
over to vinit Heii»\-. Their being foreigners would perhaps h.ive heeiKiniic
Niifllct^ot lo pr< t>r<> for them a eimh d reception ; but having the additiniiiil
re.'oiii>iieiidatioii ■,( riemg Ins h-dflirnihers, they were rapinrmisly ic-
ceived i)v hiiii, a-x' 'n-'ciped w^ ilth and dignities upon them, with ii
nioHt entire uir ii'icern a* lo Ins i/«ii me,ins and as to the fei Iiul's ;nid
claims (if III* Hiit>|re|«. In ehiireh i%r m wiaie, I'oringners we;c coiHi.nillv
preferred to iihIcvi <, and vrhilc Henry was lavistnng wealth and rivil
liifiioiira n|)'«(i l>i«" Poieti'viii*. Savoyard-, ami (iaseons. the overwlieliniiig
:n4lo^ticp of Hi«m« liliml tl»* ritdiest cliurcit bfniertccs of Kngiann wilii
naNWtv!** Ii>ilian inoiiki. Mid it was ttt uimi tmie proved to d(niioiistratiu;i
THE TIIE/.3URY OF HISTORY.
271
that the Italian intruders into the cluirch were in tlie yearly receipt of a
revenue considerably larger than that of the kiwi; himself!
Under such circumstances it was natural tii-.a the parliament should
show some unwillingness to gtrant supplies to a king who so ill knew how
to use his funds, or that men of all ranks should murmur against a king
so eiitinily destitute of patriotic feeling; and the more especially, as he
was thus lavish to foreigners while utterly careless V: Hattfir tlie English
witlitliat martial enterprise which then, as long after, \.-as view(;d by them
as ?'nple covering for many defects, personal and political. Wlicnever
l:e demanded supplies ha was obliged to listen to the complaints of the
vinlt'iice done to his faithful subjects, of the mean marriages forced upon
those of the liighesl ranks, of the actual violence by wliii^h his table was
supplied, his person decorated, and his religious solemnities adorned.
A.D. 1253.— To all tiie complaints of this nature Henry listiMied with
im|wlience, and replied with vague and general promises of ami-udment;
at liMigtIi, in 1253, having exhausted the patience of iiis long-enduring
suliji'cls, lie hit upon a new mode of obtaining funds from them, by so-
liciiiiig a supply to aid him in the pious design of a itrusade against the
luliili'Is. Uut he had nosv so often been tried and found wanting, that the
parliament could not put faith in this spiu-ious profession. The clergy,
too, \vlii> rightly deemed their interests perilled by the infatuated conduct
of tlic king, well: as much opposed to him as the laity'; and tlnsy sent the
arcliliisliop of (/'auterbiiry, and the bishops of Winchester, .Salisbury, and
Carlisle, to ri'inonstrate with him ui)on his general extravagamri;, as well
as n|)iiii the irregular manner in which he disposed cf church dignities.
Upon iliis ()(M-asi(iii Henry displayed more than Uif usual spirit. Availing
liiinsi'lf of the fact that hi! had anally favoured thi'se very personages,
liiM'eplied, " ll is true, I liarf hi. ii in error on this point of jmpio|)i'r pro-
nioliiins; I obtruded you. my lord of ('anterhiiry, upon your sec; i was
ohliiTi'd to eniploy both tlireals and periiiasioiis, my Ion! of Winchester,
to iiave you elfcted ; and irregular, indeed, was my coniluc.I, my lords of
Sa.isiiiirv and Carlisle, when from your lowly stations I raised you to
yiiiir present dianities," There was miieli truih in this, but there was no
apology; and the prelates slinnvdly replied, that the question was not of
errors past, but of tin; uvnidi.iiee of future errors.
Ndiwiilisiandmg the fareasm with which the king met the complaints
of till' predates, he promised so fairly for the reforniiilioii of both eeelesi-
asiii'al and civil abuses, that the parliament at length consented to giant
liiia a teiilli of llii ccelesjiislieal heiieliees, and a scutage of three marks
upon eaeli knight's fee, oil eoiidilioii of Ills solemnly ratifying 111'' great
rh irler, while, wiih the ceremony of " bell, book, ind caiidie,'" they cursed
wliotni r slioiilil henceforth violate it. The king jnmeil iii the eereiuouy,
audililv iiiid emphatieally agreed in the awful enr^e invoked upon any vio»
laiidii iif Ins o.eli— itnd iminedialidy afterwiinls returned to his old prac-
lii'cs lis though noiliing extraordinary had occurred !
A.n. I'.'.'i-*. — ( 'oiiducl so infatieiled on till part of the king iilmosl septnod
to iiiviic rebellion, and atleiigih templed one ambil ions and d iring noble so
far, llial he determiiied to endeavour to «iii the throne IVuin a king who
proved himself so unwcrlliv <tf lilling it with dignity or honour. Simon
de Miiiitford, a son of the great warrior of thai name, iiavmi;, thocLrh born
aliniiid, niheriteil large property in Kngland, was created earl of l.ejecs-
ter, and in the year 12.18 married the ilowaKercoiiiilessof Prinhroke, sister
to tlio king. Tlie earl had been sotnetiuies greatly favoured, soinetiuieu
as fisfiially di.sgraced by the kiiiu, bin being a man of great talent he ha*!
t'ontrivcd always to lecover his (ooilnu at court, !.■ d. whelher in or out
of f.ivinir Willi the king, to be a general favourite with llui people, who at
IIS first nmrryiiig the king's sister had hatial and railed ag.nust hnn for
ins fundgii birtli.
THE TRICASOBY OF HISTORY.
Pei'cciviiig liow invpteratt'ly tlio kit)g- was addii'ted to liis tyrannies luii!
follips, this ai'ifnl iiiid able iiolileinaii determiiifd to put hnnscif at i'm'
head of tlio popular — or, more properly speaking, the baronial and fliuiv!!
— party, believing that Henry woidd so far provoke his enemies as to lusr
his throne, in whieli ease LcMeester trusted to his own talents and intj
to enable him to succeed to it. Accordingly he took up the cry
mm-
become as general as it was just, against the king's oppression nf tl,,
people, and his preference of foreigners — Leicester convcnienllv (iver-
lo(diiiig Ins own foreisju birth! — and sought every occasion ofpuiiinff
himself forward as ihi! advocate of the native barons and the prcliiis!
When by pcrsevrriiig efforts in this way be had, as lie considercil, sufli.
ietitly sirengll. i!(d his own hands and inflamed tiic general n'seiiiiini^is
/lIlIT
lling
iiltil
alre-.idv ;il-
linst the k.'U;, '.i' took occasion of a quarrel with Henry's lialf-hn
1 favour!. c, William de Valence, to bring matters to a crisis. On
i meeting of the most incensed and powerful of the barons, he nprcsi
am
to them all those violati(,
hided, and demanded whc
f the charter to which wc have
they had so fir degeiKTated from the lijuli
feelings of the barons vho had wrested the charier from John, iliat liny
were pi-et)areil, without v'ven a struggle, to see it a mere dead leiter ii ijn-
if ik
whose most sol
emu proinises of reformation tln'v I
often expericii ;ed to lie unworthy of belief
There wa< so imich of truth in Ijcicester's harancue, that the
■h h
<l f.
pnsilion
lad occupied as a lavoureM loreigner was oveiiooked, his iTcnm.
niendaiions were mad(! the rule of the barons' coikUhM, and lliev -.I'^rm]
forthwith to take the governmeiil of public alfaiis into their own
Thev were jnsi then summoned to nieei the king for the
olil
liaiiijs
nirpiisp,
namely, to grant him supplies, and to his a-ilonishineiit be found ilicm a;
in '•oinplete armour. Alarmed at so iiniisn il a sikIiI and at the soloiiiii si-
lence with winch he was received, he deiii inded wheihiT he was to |(K)k
upon llicin as bis enemies and himsidf as tlwir prisoner ; to whirh Ihi^u,-
upon him not as ihcir iirj-
1)
iirod. as snokesman. re.ilied. that the
111 lli<
(' lllilS!
ROI1CI-, but as their sovereiL'ii ; tli' , i!ii'y had mii him there
dnlifnl ilesire to aid him wi h siip),iM .■. that h(^ mighi, as he wished, (ix Ins
son upon ihe thrniie of Sicdy ; lint they at the sinie time desired Lciliiiii
refiM-iii* which the expeiieucr of Ihe past plainly showed that he I'milil
init make iii Ins nuu person, and that llley llier(l'()r<.' were under the iii'ccs
sjly of ri'(|iiiriiig In in lo coiiler an! horny iipnu those who woiiM siri'iiii"iis
ly use It for Ihe nalioiial benclil. T' videni delenninatioii of the li.iniiis
ami the urcil and inslaiit n I which he had of supplies, left the kiiij: no
lice . he Iheref'ore assured llieni llial he would shortly siimi
lion aiiiiiiici
[larlianieiit fur the (declioii of persons In wndd lli(! authority spukeii of
ind al
so lo srille ami diline thai aulliorilv wilhin precise liiinls.
A pirlianiciil was a.-cordiiijly called, al wlin-h Ihi! barons niadc t'lcii
appear nice with so formidable an arineil allcnd.ince, that it was i|iiiti>
cl ir thai, whaiever they might propose, the king tiad no power In iithi
tn. m.
'I'widve barons were sr'leclcil by llio king and twrdvo by the [jarliamni!,
«nd I'> Ihe biidy thus formed an nnlimii'd relonniiiu power was givi m, ilir
kiin: liimself swearinu: to auree \i> and inaiulaMi whatever they shoiihidiiiii
fit IM KcdiT. Their inslani orders were most rea-oiiihle; that tlirce liiin'S
in each vi'ar the parliameii! should ineel ; that on ihe next mecling iilpif
laiiV'Ul I ii-li
nhire or i (ninlv slnnild scud f lur kiiidhls to that
P'irli
iiiiii'iii,
that sii ilie «!spi'ciiil wauls and uinvanees of every part of the kii"jil"iil
inighi be kiii'wn; thai the slierilfs, oTicers of great power ami iiillain ■
»lioull theniefnrlh be aiinii.illy elected by the cininlies, and slioiiii ,'
longer b ivi- ilie jiowcr lo line barons for noi allcndini; their coiuls oriw
ju-'iiei Hies' II r. nils ; thai iio easllcs should he eoinnnlted to I he ciisi I'v
■nil no Inns lo the ward-hins of foieigners, that no new forests or ,.f
rt'ii.<! should be
IK) imiger be far
Thus far the 1
good of the per
shameful profus
destruction of t
native barons.
regulations ahov
supplies, he WHS
agaiiisi his half-t
these latter, that
l':ur lives, and t
more violent of t
to which see Ayl
ed and threatene
destruction, agree
ill the persons of
his favour, the ba
and oilier chief n
ptTboiis u|)on who
virtual usurpation
lo obey and execii
pain oi' being decl
under the pretence
even the powerfii,
I'lrums were not c:
A.D. 12(il._So a
ed authority, that t
feileracy. separated
encouraged by the
htcoiniiigiiiore tyrf
'lial lie would peril
I'leir ipforins to a c
The spirit of the
llif crown, that Hei
10 put a curb upon t
11 kwew how preji
P"''erofliisenemie
lo lioiiie for ahsolnl
"I 'heir authority— a
01 tlie misconduct of
I'd with the English
iiidc|ieiideiice than
iMiMins. Prj,„.(, |.;^
Haul the outrageous
and the scrupulous fill
III' had been forced ii
queiiily H-^s very iuil
, A.D. lj(J2.-Asso
"•"111 Koine, he isbup,
"""<' part, iriily p;,,,
i»inty.|\,|,r baron.s h,
I'liii 111 duty lo Innis,
'"•'ii'Valauthoritv wi
"^li'iii^-d all the chief
'"""it of th,; sheriffs „1
'fcurcd himself he
f-18
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
27»
reus should be mude ; and that the revenues of counties or hundreds shoulu
110 liirijer be farmed out.
Thus fur the barons proceeded most equitably. But bare equity and the
good of the people did not include nil that the barons wanted. As the
shiiineful profusion of the king had heaped wealth upon foreigners, so the
destruction of these foreigners would yield an abundant harvest to the
naiive barons. Accordingly, when the king, having acquiesced in the
regulaiions abovo-mentioned, looked for the promised and nsucli-needed
supplies, lie was met by loud outcries against foreigners in general, and
against his half-brothers in particular. So loud was tlie clamour against
these latter, that even the king's presence seemed insufHcient to secure
l'\ir lives, and they took to flight. Being hotly pursued by some of the
more violent of tiie barons, they took refuge in the palace of Winchester,
to which see Aylmer had been promoted. Even here they were surround-
ed ami threatened, and the king, as the sole mode of saving them from
destruciion, agreed to banish tiiein. Having thus nearly attacked the king
in the persons of those who had some reasonable and natural claim upon
his favour, the barons next proceeded to dismiss the justiciary, treasurer,
and other chief ministers; and having filled tiiese important posts with
persons upon whom they could iin|)liciily rely, they next proceeded to the
viriuiil usurpation of the throne, by administering an oatii to all liie lieges
10 obey and execute all the regulations of the twenty-four barons, undei
paiu uf beinu declared public enemies ; and such was the power which-
under the preteixceof the purest patriotism, these barons had usurped, thai
even the powerful earl Warennc and Prince Kdward, the heir to the
I'lroiii', were not exempt from the obligation to take this oatii.
A. D. l'2(il. — So arrogantly did ihe barons use theircxtensive and usurp
cd authority, that the earl of Gloucester, from being a chief in their con
federacy, separated from it to side with tin? king; and Prince I'Mward,
ciiMuragi'd l)y the general murmurs of tlu; people that tlie barons were
becoming more tyrannous than even a king could be, threatened the barons
lli;it lie would peril his life in opposing them if they did not speedily bring
tlii'ir reforms to a close.
The spirit of the prince Rdward rallied so much favour to the side of
llie crown, tiuit Henry thought that he might safely vcnitinu! to einlcavour
input a curb upon the exorbit.uit power of the twenty-four barons; hui as
likiiew how prejudicial to his interests it would be to leave it in the
liiiwer of Ills enemies to aci^usc; hiin of pi'ijury, ho in the first place applied
lu Rome for absolulion from the oath he had made to support me harmis
iiiilieir authority — an absoluli(m winch he readily received, both berause
01 the misconduct of lh(! barons, and because the pope was seriously nffeiul-
I'd with the linglish ch^rgy for having shown a greater tendeniiy towards
iinli'peiideiice than squared with either the papal nilorests or the papal
miixiins. Prince Kdward refused to avail himself even of this absolution
until the outrneeous miscoiKhict of the barons compelled him lo ilo so;
and Ihe scrupulous fidelity with winch he thus kept to an ciigagemi'^U which
III' Irid been forced into, procured hiin a general admiration which subse-
quently was very importantly beneficial to hiin.
A. D. 12G2. — .\s soon as Henry received the absolulion he had •solicited
I'iMiii iioine. III! issued a proelainatioii, in whieh be liiiKu'ly, ami, for iliF
must part, truly painted the personal and selfish views with whii-h the
nvi'iity-ruiir barons had both sought an<i used their authoriiy, ami declared
ihni ill duly to himself and Uis jj-ople he should from thai time forth use
his rcyal authority without its <liiniiiution or parlieipniion l>y any one ; he
i'lwiia;"(l all the chief oliicers of slate and of Ins own household, as also
most of till! sheriffs of couiiiies and governors of castles. Having thus far
'ecured himself he summoned a parliament, which met on the iweiitv
1-18
• I ■
"^ V' ^ 'till
^<.-;- ■■■',<■'
ii'^'fW'
S7*
Thrt TllEASUay OP HISTOHY
third of April in this year, and which, with but five disseiitin' votes, rr-,^
firmed his resiiinptiou of his authority.
But the siiuke of disjifTeetion wrs only "scotched, not iiil', ' " maiiyol
the biirons still eornsponded with Lficester, and ttiat liaiighty „()b)e
tlioiigh rrsidcnt i:i France, was busily employed in foiniuM.^g' vl fnr Knff!
land, which h'; now the more confidently hoped to reign over, li'aiiselns
powerful rival Gloucester was dead, and (li-lbcrt, that nobleman' so- and
successor, had given his adhesion to Leicester.
While Leicester and his adherents were busily preparing to attack it.e
power of (he king, ihe Welsh suddenly made an irrupti ;u over she border,
probably prompted liy Leicester. The prince Kdwar;!, liowi. er, n^iulsed
Llewellyn and his ill-disciplined troops, and then returned to aid his father
against whom Leicester was now openly and in great force arrayed.
Leicester directed his attacks chiefly against the king's demesnes, ..nii
excited the zeal of his followers to perfect fury by encouraging them 'o
spoil and plunder to their utmost. The bishops of Hereford and Norwi, ,_
were seized and imprisoned, and in spite of the determined and able eon-
due! of Priii.!e Edward, the king's cause began to wear an unpromising
aspc'.'t. Tii(? rabble of the great towns were the zealous adlierenta o?
Leicester, whose cause and liberty to plunder they coupled ; and in i.oa-
don, "<^pecially, the very dregs of the population were up in arms, heailcd
and euiouraged by the mayor, a violent and ill-principled man iiamn!
Filz-Kitliard, by whom large gangs of desperadoes were encouraged tu
[lillage the wealthy and assail the peaceable. The season of Kaster was
espeei illy marked by these outrages in the metropolis. A cry was atlirst
raised against the Jews; from attacking them the mohproceedel toaitack
th(! Lombards, then the chief bankers and money lenders ; and, as iisuhI
in such cases, the violence speedily proceeded to be directed indiscrimi-
nati.'ly igainst all who had or were suspected of having any tliintj to be
plundered of. To su'di a height did the fury of the mob proceed, that the
queen, who was then lodging in the Tower, became so seriously alarmed,
that she left it by water with the intention of seeking safety at Windsor.
lint as her barge approached London Uridge the rabble assailed hnr, not
only with the coarsest abuse, 'nit also with vollies of filth and stones, so
that she was obliged to return to the Tower.
Prince F.dwari' was unfortunately made [irisoner during a parley at Ox-
ford, and that event so much weakeniid the king's party, that Henry, find-
ing Leicester's party triumphant and insolent all over the kingdom, wis
fain to treat for pea('e. Aware that they had the upper hand, the rebels
would allow of no terms short of the full power formerly given tu the
twenty-four barons bemg again entrusted to a like mnnber, of whom a
list was given to the knig; and as Priiu'e Fdward had shown great taleni
and daring, Leicester stipulated that the treaty now made should remain
in force during the life of the prince as well as that of the king. Henry
hail no choice but to submit ; the barons restoreil their own creatures lo
ofilee in the fiu'tri'sses. Ihe countii's, the state, ami the king's hoiisphold,
and then smuiTioiied a parliament to nteet them at Westminster, and deter-
mine npiiii fuiiiri' measures for the government of Ihe country.
Prini'e I'Muard lieing restored to liberty by this treaty, lost no time in
everting himself to prepare for a new siriig<rle against the insolent preten-
fii(ms of Leicester; but though many powerful barons gave him theiradhfi-
sions. iiicluiling the lords of the Scotch and Widsh marches. Leicester's
party w.is still too strong to give tlie young prince hopes of success; and
the people clamouring loudly for peace, the prince and king proposed that
the di-ipiite betiveeu them and the barons should he rel'erri d to the arbitra-
lion (jf the kit;;: (>;" Fr-'iiice. That uori'jht prince, on exannnaiion of the
affair, (le;'i led that the king shmild be liilly restored to his power and pre-
roi,'aliv"S on the one band: and that, on the other hind, the peoiile wiro
eiititl'T. to al'. the bcnelits of the great chatter. I'liKirtunately, tlimi.:li
THE TllKASURY OF HISTORY.
27*
■,\t Ox-
jy. tiilil-
|ill, WIS
rebels
to the
liom a
It f.ileni
1 reinam
Henry
lures to
lisplioW,
111 deter-
llime in
Ipreien-
lirurihe-
cesicr's
s ; anil
cil thai
larbiir.i-
li of \\v
liiil r"'-
he wero
inis dtcision was just, it only loft the confencling parties precisely where
ihev were at the commencetneut of the quiirrel, and stated in form that
whfch was perfectly noiorious before, namely, that the king had over-
streielicd the power to which he was entitled, and that the barons had
iissunit'd a power to which they were not entitled. Leicester, to whose
personal views peace was utterly destructive, represented to his party,
timt ilic award of the French king was wholly and unjustly on the side of
Henry; he caused seventeen <'iljer barons lo join hiiii in a compact with
the discontented Londoners, by which tliey mutually bound themscdves
never to make peace with the kinir but with the full and open concur-
rence of 'joth these contracting parties; and while some of Leicester's
friends rekiiitlled tne civ'! war in the provinces, he and Fitz-Richard did
liie like in London ; so at the whole country once more bristled with
arms and resounded with cries of war.
Finding civil war inevitable, the king and his brave son promptly made
llieir preparations. In addition to their military vassals, whom they sum-
moned from all quarters, they were joined by forces under Baliol, lord of
(ialldway, Drus, lord of Annandale, Jolm Coinyn, and other uortliern lead-
ers of puwer. With this array they commenced their proceedmgs by lay-
Mig siege to Northampton, in which was u strong garrison commanded by
snnieof tlie principal bnrons. This place being speedily taken by assault,
the royal arrny marched against Leicester and jN'ottingham, which opened
their ijiitcs. Prince f]dward now led a detachment against the property
(if the earl of Derby, whose lands were hiid waste as a puuisiimcnt of his
disloyalty. Leicester, in the nie, in while, taking care to keep up a coni-
iiinnieaiiou with London, upon tiie sup[)ort of which he greatly (jepeiided,
laid sii'ge. to Rochester castle, which was the only strong-hold in Kent
that still held out for the king, and which was ably defended by Karl
Warcnne, its governor. The royal army, flushed with its success else-
where, now marched in all haste to relieve this important fortress; and
Leicester, hearing of their approach, and fearing lo be outnumbered in a
ilisii(hantageous position, hastily raised the siege and fell liaek upon
London. From Loudon Leicester sent proposals to Henry, but of so
iirroirant and e.vorbitant a characer, t!iat he must have been aware they
would not be listened to; and, n a stern ruiswer being returned by the
king, Leicester publicly reM(nniced his allegiance mA marched the whole
forec he could colhu't towards Lewes, in Sussex, where the royal army
lay ; the bisho[) of Chiehesli-r giving the reliels a formal and gcmral abso-
Iniion, and assuring them that all who should fall in lighting against the
king would undoubtedly go to heaven.
Leicester, though a shann-ful rebel, was a skilful general, and on this
neeasion he so idily conducted his march, that lie ahnost surprised the
royalists in their qiuirters ; but the fliort time that elapsed between the
alarm and the arrival of the rebels sntRced to enable the active prince Kd-
ward to march the army to the (iel ' 'u good order: one division being led
by himself, the Karl Warremu', anu William de \alence, a second by the
king of the Romans :nid his son Henry, and the third forming a resi^ve
tniilcr the persoiuil coinmaiid o."" the king himself. The prince led his di-
vision against the enemy's vanguard, which w as composed of the Lon-
doners, who fled at the very fust chai .e. l-'orgetting that his assistance
mijijit lie requii('d elsewhere, Priu<-e .idward allowed himstdf to be gov-
erned entirely by his headlong rage against these inveterately disloyal
men, and pursued them, with great slaughter, for nearly live miles fron»
llie field of battle. This iinpeinosily of the prinre lost his fatlwr the day ;
for I vicester, promptly availing himself of the prince's absence, charged
so holly up(ni the remaining two divisions of the royali.'its, that they were
defeated with terrilde loss, and both thi' king and his brother, the king ol
the Hun. aiis, were taken nrisui'i--. : as were Mnis, (^omyii, and all the
Host coiisiilerabli' leaders i.o ./.■ Iiinjf's side. Ilarl Wariiiiie, lloiih U'gOvi.
..i^nf^r*^
,0\
276
THE THEASUBY OF HISTORY.
and William de Valence esciiped beyond sea ; but Prince Edward, unab.
palled by the consequences of his own imprudence, kept his force together,
added to it as many as could be rallied of the defeated divisions, and pre-
sented so bold a front, that Leicester thought it more prudent to amuse him
with pretended desire to treat, than to urge him to a desperate attack.
The earl accordingly proposed terms ; and though they were severe, and
Kucli as underother circumstances the prince would have laughed to scorn,
a little examination of the royal resources showed so hopek'ss a stale ol
things, that Edward, despite his pride, was obliged to agree. These terms
were, that Prince Edward and Henry d'AUmaine, son of the king of the
Romans, should surrender themselves prisoners in exciiange for their
fiilliirs ; that six arbiters should be named by the king of France, that these
six sliouhl choose two others, also French, and that one Englishman should
he iiiiined by these last; the council thus named to have power definitely
to decide upon all matters in dispute between Henry and his barons, In
coni|(liance with these terms, Edward and his cousm yielded themselves,
and were sent prisoners to Dover castle ; but Leicester, though he iiomi.'
nally gave the king his liberty, took care to keep him completely in his
power, and made use of the royal name to forward his own designs. Thus
the most loyal governors readily yielded up their iinportant fortresses in
the king's name ; and when commanded by the king to disarm and disband,
no loyal soldier could longer venture to keep the field. Leicester made,
in f;ict, precisely what alterations and regulations he pleased, takiiiffcare
to make them all in the king's name ; and so evidently considered himself
virtually in possession of the throne at which he had so daringly aimed,
that he even ventured to tretit with insolent injustice the very barons to
whose participation of his disloyal labour he owed so much of its success.
II living confiscated the large possessions of some eighteen of the royalist
liaroiis, and received the ransom of a host of prisoners, he applied the
whole spoil to his own use, and when his confederates demanded to share
wiih him, he coolly told them that they already had a sufficiency in being
saf(! from the attainders and forfeitures to which they would have been
exposed but for his victory.
As for the reference to parties to be named by the king of France and
his nominees, though the earl, in order to hoodwink Prince Edward, laid
so iniieh stress upon it during their negotiation, he now took not the
slightest notice of it, but summoned a parliament, so selected that he wcU
knew that his wishes would be law to them. And, accordingly, this sor-
Tile senate enacted that all acts of sovereignty should require the sanction
of a conni'il of nine, which council coulii be wholly or in part chaiiffcd at
the will of the carls of Leicester and Gloucester, and the bishop of Chi-
chester, or a majoriiy of these three. Now the bishop of Chichester being
the mere convenient tool of Leicester, the earl was in reality in full power
over the council — in other words, he was a despotic monarch in every
thing but name. The queen, secretly assisted by Louis of France, col-
lected a force together, with an intention of invading England on bchall
of her husband, in whose name the coast of England was lined with forces
to oppose her; but the queen's expedition was first delayed and then bro-
ken up altogether by contrary winds. The papal court issued a bull against
Leicester, but he threatened to put the legate to death if he appeared with
it; and even when the legate himself became pope under the title of Ur-
ban IV., Leicester still ventured to brave him, so confidently did he rely
upon the dislike to Rome that was entertained, not only by the people in
general, but also by the great body of the English clergy.
AD. 12(i5- — Still desirous to govern with a show of legality, Leicester
summoned a new parliament, which more nearly resembled the existing
f<»rm of that assembly than any which had preceded it. Before this par
liamenl t'je earl of Derby — in the kimr's name — was accused -iud eommit
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
877
tel- and the earl of Gloucester was intended for the same or a worse fate
bv his powerful and unscrupulous colleague, but avoided all present collie-
iy) with him by retiring from pari iiment and the council. This obvious
quarrel between the earls gave great encouragement to the king's friends,
and tlio general voice now biL'^in loudly to demand the release of the u;ave
close prisoner ever since the battle o(
'itioiis to release the prince, but he
liin his reach; and they were
linst the earl of Glouce:Uer,
IS of Wales. While Leices-
'.iloucester, the latter nobleman
;ward, and so to arrange matters
'attendance," as it was called.
prince Edward who had rem
Lewos. Leicester consen;
look care to keep both him
obliged to accompany him >
who had retired to his esiai
lerlay at Hereford, thrcuteni
continued to comnmnicate wii
tiiat the young prince escaped from tli
but really the confinement, in which he had been kept, and was speedily
atllie head of a gallant army, which daily received accession, when the
glad news of his real liberty became generally known. Simon de Mont-
forl, Leicester's son, hastened from London with an army to the assist-
ance of his father. Prince Edward, having broken down the bridges ol
the Severn, turned away from the earl's position, and fell suddenly upon
Simon de Montfort, who was carelessly encamped at Kenilwonh, put his
force uUcrly to the rout, and took the earl of Oxford and several other
barons prisoners. Leicester, ignorant of this, had in the meantime man
aij'cd tu get his army across the Severn in boats, and halted at Kvesham,
in Worcestershire, in daily expectation of the arrival of that force which
had already been put to the rout. Prince Edward, vigilant himself and
well served by his scouts, dexterously availed himself of the earl's mis
apprehension of the slate of affiiirs, and haviing sent part of his army on
iis march towards the earl, liearing De Monifort's banners and otherwise
provided for representing his routed force, he with the main body of his
army took anotlier route, so as to fall upon the earl in a differeut quarter-
and so completely was the deception successful, that when Leicester at
lengtli discovered the real state of the case, he exclaimed.. "Now have 1
taught tiiem to war to some purpose ! May the Lord have mercy on out
souls, for our bodies belong to Prince Edward!" But there was not much
time for rellection ; Edward led his troops to the attack vigorously and in
excellent order; Leicester's troops, on the other hand, were dispirited by
their bad position and suffering much from sickness ; and victory speedily
declared for the prince. In the heat of the battle Leicester was struck
down and immediately dispatched though he demanded quarter, and his
whole force was routed, upwards of a hundred of the principal leaders and
kniifhts being taken prisoners. The king himself was on the point of los-
ing his life. The earl had cruelly placed him in the very front of t!ie bat-
tle, and a knight who had already wounded him was about to repeat his
blow, when Ilenrv saved himself by exclaimina, "I ain Henry of Win-
chester, your king."
The victory of Evesham re-established the kin;j's authority ; and to the
great credit of the royal party, no blood disgraced that victory. Not a
single capital punishmont took place ; the family of Leicester alone was
attainted to full etTect ; for though many other rebellious families were
formally attainted, their sentences were reversed on payment of sums,
trilling indeed wl.en the heinousness of the offence they had eumniitted is
considered.
Tlie kingdom being thus restored to peace and released from all danger
from tiie turbulent Leicester, Prince Edward departed for the Holy Land,
where he so greatly distinguished himself, that the Infidels at length em-
ployed an assassin to destroy him ; but though severely and ♦• en danger-
ously wounded, the prince fortunately escaped with life, and Ins assailant
was put to death on the spot.
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)
1.0
I.I
1.25
li.
140
2.5
2.2
2.0
1.4
ll"4
/
Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
33 WIST MAIN STRUT
WHSTIR.N.Y 14580
(716) •73-4S03
il78
THK TllKASUaV OP HI8TOIIY.
A.D. 1272. — Lest Gloucester should imitate iiis late rival in rebellion
Kdward took that powerful nobleman with him to the East ; but his own
absence was very injurious to the public peace in Kiigland. No one pre-
sumptuous and even powerful baron, indeed, dared to dispute the crown
with his royal master, but there was a general tendency to disorder among
both barons and people ; and the rabble of the great towns, and especially
of London, became daily iiiore openly violent and licentious. Henry was
little able to contend against such a state of things. Naturally irresolute,
he was now worn out with years, and with infirmities even beyond those
incident to age. Perhaps, too, the disorder of his kingdom aggravated his
sufferings ; he perpetually expressed his wish for the return of his son,
and lamented his own helplessness, and at length breathed his last on the
16th of November, 1272, aged sixty-four ; having reigned fifty years, with
little ease and with little credit, being obviously, from his youth upwards,
rather fitted for a private than for a public station.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE REION OF EDWARD I.
A. D. 1273. — Prince Edward was already as far as Sicily on his way
b«)nic when be received tidings of the death of his father. He at the same
time heard of the death of his own infant so. John; and when it was ob-
served to him that the former loss seemed to affect him the most puinfully
he replied that the loss of his son might be supplied, but that of his fatliei
was niKil and irreparable.
Hearing that all was peaceable in England he did not hasten home, but
passed nearly twelve months in France. Being at Chalons, in Burgundy,
lie and some of his knights engaged in a tournament with the Burgundiao
chivalry, and so fierce was the spirit of rivalry that the sport became
changed into earnest; blood was spilt on both sides, and so much damage
was dune before the fray could be terminated, that the engiigcment of this
day, though commenced merely in sport and good faith, was seriously
termed the little battle of (/IimIoiis.
A. n. 1274. — After visiting Paris, where he did homage to Philip the
Hardy, then king of France, for the territory which he held in that king-
dom, he went to Guienne to put uii end to some disorders that existed
there, and at length arrived in London, where he was joyfully received
by his people. He was crowned at Westminster, and immediately turned
his attention to the regulating of his kingdom, with an especial view to
avoiding those disputes which had caused so much evil during the lifeol
his father, and to putting an end to the bold practices of malefactors by
whom the country was at once mmth injured and disgraced.
Making the great charter ihe standard of his own duty towards the
baroii", he insisted upon the same standard of conduct towards their vas-
sals and inferiors, a course to which they were by no means inclined.
A- p. 1275. — Having summoned a parliament to meet him in Friiruary,
127A, he Ciiiised several valuable laws to he pasged, weeded the magistracy
of those who lay under the imputation of either negligence or corruption,
and took measures for putting a check alike upon the robU . ics committed
by the great, under the (colour of justice and authority, and upon thoit
whicli, ill the > ose state into which the kingdom had fallen (luring the
dote of the late rei^ii, were so openly and daringly connnitlid un the
highways, that men of substance could only safely travel under escurt or
in great companies. For the suppression of this latter class of crimes llit
king showed a ficirce and determined spirit, wlii(di might almost he judged
to have been over severe if wo did not take into consideration tlie dcs
^^ .Ai-
THE TRKASrjRY OF HrSTORY.
279
perate extent to which the evil had arrived. The ordinary Judges were
iiitiiuidiited, the ordinary police was weak and ill-organized, and the king
tiiererorc established a commission whi-ih whs appointed to traverse the
country, taking cognizance of every description of evil doing, from tho
pettiest to the most heinous, and inflicting condign and prompt punish-
ment upon the offenders. The old Saxon mode of commuting other punish-
ments fur a pecuniary fine was applied by this commission to minor of-
fences, and a large sum was thus raised, of which the king's treasury stood
much in need. But the zeal of this commission — and perhaps some con
sideration of the state of the royal treasury— caused the fines to be ter-
ribly severe in proportion to the offences. There was, also, too great a
readiness to commit upon slight testimony ; the prisons were filled, but
not with the guilty alone ; the vuffian bands, who hud so long and so mis-
chievously infested the kingdom, were broken up, indeed, but peaceable
subjects and honest men were much harrassed and wronged at (he same
time. The king himself was so satisfied of the danger ofentrustiiigsuch
extensive powers to subjects, that when this commission had finished its
labours it was annulled, and never afterwards called into activity.
Though Edward showed a real and creditable desire to preserve his
subjects, of all ranks, from being preyed upon, by each other, truth com-
pels us to confess that he laid no similar restraint upon himself. Having
made what profit he could by putting down the thieves and other offenders
in general, Edward now turned for a fresh supply to that thrifty but perse-
cited people, the Jews. The counterfeiting of coin had recently been
carried on to a most injurious extent, and the Jews being chiefly engaged
ill trafficking in money, this mischievous adulteration was very positively,
though rather hastily, laid to their charge. A general persecution of the
unhappy people commenced, of the fierceness and extent of which some
judgment may be formed from the fact, that two hundred and eighty ol
them were hanged in London alone. While death was inflicted upon many
in all parts of the kingdom, tho houses and lands of still more were seized
upon and sold. The king, indeed, with a delicacy which did not always
characterise him in money matters, seized in the first instance only upon
one half of the proceeds of these confiscations, the other being set apart as
a fund for the Jews who should deem fit to be converted to Christianity;
but 80 few Jews availed themselves of the temptation thus held out to
them, that the fund was in reality as much in the king's possession i^ j
(hough no such provision had been made. It had been well for Kdward s
character if this severity had been exercised against the Jews only for the
crime wilh which they were charged ; but, urged probably still more by
lux want of money than by the bigoted haired to this race which he had
felt from his earliest youth, Edward shortly after commenced a persecu-
lion against the whole of the Jews in England ; not as coiners or as men
concerned in any other crimes, but simply as being Jews. The constant
(axes paid by these people, and the frequent arbitrary levies of large sums
upon them, made them in reality one of tho most valuable classes of Ed-
ward's subjects ; for whether their superior wealth was obtained by great-
er industry and frugality than others possestied, or by greater in<4enuily
and huarilussness in extortion, certain it is th.it it was very largely shared
wilh their sovereign. Uut the slow process of taillages and forced loans
did not suit Edward's purposes or wants ; and he suddenly issued an order
for tho aiinultaneous banisiuiientof (he whole of the obnoxious race, and
for their deprivation of the whole of their property, with the exception of
so much as was requsile to curry thcni abroad. Upwards of fifiecii thou-
•and Jews were at t>nce seized and uluiuliired, under this most inexiMisably
'yraiiiious decree; and as tho plundered victims left (he couiUry, many o(
(hem were robbed at the sea-ports of the miserable pittance wliiih tlic
iiing's cupidity Itud iparcd theiu, and suiue woru inurdsred and thrown
into (he >-e*.
2fln
THK TREASURY OP HISTORY.
While taking this cruel and dishonest means of replenishing his trea.
sury, Edwiiid had at least the negative merit of frugally expending wiiai
he nad unfairly acquired.
Aided by parliainenl with a grant of the fifteenth of all moveables, hv
the pope with a tenth of the ciuirch revenues for three years, and by'ih'o
merchants with an export tax of half a mark on each sack of wool hiu! a
whole mark on every three hundred skins, he still was cramped in means-
and as he was conscious tliat during the late long and weak reign many
encroachments had been unfairly made upon tiie royal demesnes, he issued
a connnission to inquire iiUo all such encroachments, and also lo devise
and seek the best and most speedy ways of nnproving the various briiiielics
of the revenue. Tlie commission, not always able to draw the line between
doubtful acquisitions and hereditary possessions of midoubted rightfuhiess
pu.shed their inquiries so far that tiiey gave great offence to some nf ihe
nobility. Among others tliey applied to tlie Earl Warenne, who so brave-
ly supported the crown against the ambition of Leicester during tlie late
reign, for the title deeds of his possessions ; but the indignant earl drew
his sword and said, that as his ancestors had ac^quired it by the swori so
he would keep it, and that he held it by the same right that Edward heW
his crown. This incident and the general dis(;ontint of the nobles deter-
mined the king to limit the commission for the future to cases of unduubt-
ed trespass and encroachment.
A.D. 127(5. — Not even pecuniary necessities and the exertion necessary
to supply them could prevent Edward's active and warlike spirit from
seeking employment in the field. Against Llewellyn, prince of Wales,
Edward had great cause of anger. He had been a zealous partizan of
Leicester; and though he had bfnii pardnned, in common with the oilier
barons, yet there had always been something of jealousy towards him in
the mind of Edward, wlii(d> j(>aloiisy was now fanned into a flame by
Llewellyn refusing to trust liimself in Englaiu' '-^ do homage to Edward,
unless the khig's eldest son and some nobles rtinto the hands of the
Welsh as hostages, and unless lilewellyn's c daughter of the earlo)
LeicestiT, who had i>een captured on her way ,t, ./ales and was detained
at Edward's court, were rehiased.
A. D. 1277. — Edward was not sorry to hi'ar demands, his refusal to com-
ply with which w^(utld give him the excuse he wished for, to march iulo
\Val(!s. Ho accordingly gavi; Llewellyn no other answer than a renewal
of his Older to hi'ii to come a.i ' do iiumagc, and an offer of a personal safe
conduct.
Eilward was both aided and urged into his invasion of Wales by David
and Roderick, brothers of Llewellyn, who having been despoiled of their
inheritance by that prince, had now sought shelter and taken service with
his most formidable enemy.
When the English approached Wales, Llewellyn and his people relired
to the mountain fastnesses of Snowdown, judging that he could maintaia
against Edward that desultory warfare which had harrassed ami fired out
the Saxon and Norman invaders of an earlier day. Ihil instead of expus-
ing his fontcs to being harrassed and beaten in detail, Edward );uarili'ii
every pass which led to the inaccessable retreats of the enemy, and then
coolly waited until sheer hunger should dispose tliein either to Irciit orlo
fight. Nor was it long in occurring; brave as Llew(dlyii wiis, lie saw
himself so coinplet(dy heinuKul in that he was iiualjle lo strike a bluw,
and h'' was compelled to submit lo ttii' terms dictatcil to him by Kdwanl.
And severe those terms wen; ; Llewellyn was to pay .'JO,nO()/ by way »(
exjienses of the war ; to clo homagi' to the king ; to allow all the tKiiimn
of Wales, save fotu' fif those neart'si to Snowdown, to swear feiiliy la I"''!-
ward; to yi"ld lo the lOnglish crown tin- wlxde of tli(( country hclwcrn
lliu rivvT Conway and the county uf Cheshire ; to settle u thuu«aiid iiurki
*"- .:^
Gahl VaHLnne iil»»niiin(i ih» hill in \\u Ksiuti
p
per year on
give ten lios
articles hav
of fifty thou
love of moil
gave lip so I
possible by
But their
with peace.
the noble an
glish, on the
bloodless an
marches, to-
a general sp
lelf to the in
get his perse
opposing the
their country
Luke de Tei
tacked as he
most extrava
by Mortimer,
two thousand
eignty, exerti
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been struck i
of Llewellyn.
among the m<
betrayed to E
by the Englis
as a traitor— 1
of a brighter i
The death i
opposition on
and English o
the principalii
born at Caern
A. D. 1286.-
isted betweei
dued, that Kd
differences wl
Philip' the Fii
Edward was
nearly three y
disorders and
by lawless bar
were beforo th
The d'-putp
dom gave Kdw
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*. D. 1Q93._
WHS agreed tha
of Scoiiund w.
to hIiovv Htlwar
''"ill? Scotland
J» thouirh he i
'^W
'■'/■m''
THE TRKASUllY OV HISTORY.
S8\
per year on his brother Roderick and half that sum upon David; and to
give ten hostages for his future good and peaceable behaviour. All the
articles having been duly performed, with the exception of the large sum
of fifty thousand pounds, Kdward forgave that; and considering his great
love of money, or rather his great need of it, we may suppose that he
gave up so large a sum cnly because the payment of it was rendered im-
possible by the excessive poverty of the country.
But the imperfect subjection of a country like Wales could not co-exist
with peace. The Welsh, impetuous, proud and courageous, remembered
the noble and obstinate defences their land had formerly made ; the En-
glish, on the other hand, referred in tones of insolence and taunting to the
bloodless and undisputed conquest they had now made. The lords of the
marches, too, connived at or encouraged many insults and depredations ;
a general spirit prevailed among the Welsh that preferred destruction it-
jelf to the insults they had to endure, and this spirit caused David to for-
get his personal wrongs, and to join hand and heart with his brother in
opposing the Knglish. The Welsh flew to arms, and Edward entered
their country with an army which seemed to leave them but little hope.
Luke de Tenay, commanding a detachment of Kdward's troops, was at-
tacked as he passed the .Menai, and his defeat inspired the Welsh with the
most e.\lravagant hopes; but Llewellyn was shcrrtly afterwards surprised
by Mortimer, defeated, and killed in the action, together with upwards of
two thousand of his men. David who now succeeded to the Welsh sover-
eignty, exerted himself, but in vain, to collect another army sufficiently
mime'ronsio allow of his facing Edward in the open field. Terror had
been struck into the inmost heart of the people by the defeat and death
of Llewellyn. David with a few followers was obliged to seek shelter
among the most difficult fastnesses of his native hills, and he was at length
betrayed to Edward and sent in chains to Shrewsbury, wliere he was tried
by the English peers, and condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered,
as a traitor — a sentence so disgraceful to Edward, that not even his deeds
of a brighter and nobler character can wash off the stain of it.
The death of Llewellyn and David put an end to all hope of successful
opposition on the part of the Welsh, who fully submitted ; English laws
and English officers were permanently established, and Edward conferred
the principality upon his eldest surviving son, the prince Edward, who was
born at Caernarvon.
A. D. 1286. — Though, as was inevitable, some national rancours still ex
isted between the two people, the Welsh were now so completely sub-
dued, that Edward found himself at liberty to go abroad to interfere in the
differences which had arisen between Alphonso, king of Arragon, and
Philip the Fair, of France, who disputed the kingdom of Sicily. VVhile
Edward was engaged in settling this dispute, which occupied him for
nearly three years, his absence from England had given rise to numerous
disorders and mischiefs. The administration of justice was openly defied
by lawless bands ; and robberies had become nearly as conmion as they
were before the severe examples made at the beginning of his reign.
The disputes which existed in Scotland about the crown of that king-
dom gave Kdward an opportunity, of which he was not slow to avail him
self, to inferfere in the affairs of that nation ; and at every interference
lie made larger and more obvious claims, not to the mere fealty of its king
but to its actual sovereignty.
A. D. 1202. — The two principal competitors were Baliol and Bruce. It
was asireod that Edward should arbitrate between them, and the castles
of Scotland wore put into his hands. This demand, alone, would go fat
to show Hdward's real intr ntion.^ ; yet, while ho was fully bent upon sub
'luing Scotland to hi"* own rule, he put the dispute upon the true footing.
as though he meant to act Justly, in the following question to the cotn-
,-)f^: ,.-i;;f
363
THE TUEASURY OF HISTORY.
missionera appointed to report to hiin otk the case, and to the principal
legists of Kurope. Has a person descended from an elder sister, but far-
ther removed by one degree, the preference as to succession to a kingdom
to one descended from a younger sister, but one degree nearer to the
common stock ? This question was answered him in the affirmative; and
Baliol, being in the first category, was pronounced by Edward to be the
rightful sovereign ; a decision which so much enraged Bruce thai he joined
himself to Lord Hastings, who was another claimant, but only for a por-
tion of the kingdom, which he maintained to be divisible.
A. D. 1293. — John Baliol having taken the oath of fealty to Edward as
his feudal superior, was put into possession both of his throne and the
ortresses of the kingdom. But having thus far acted with apparent good
faith, Edward now began to exercise his feudal authority in so vexatious
a manner, that it was quite evident that he desired either to cause Baliol
to throw up his sovereignty in disgust, or to burst out into "some sudden
flood of mutiny," such as would by the feudal usages cause the forfeiture
of his fief. He gave every encouragement to appeals to his authority from
that of the Scottish king, harassed Baliol by repeated summonses to Lon'
don upon matters comparatively trivial, and instead of allowing him to
answer by his procurator, compelled him to appear personally at the bar
of the English parliament. Such treatment could not fail to urge even
the quiet temper of Baliol into anger, and he at length returned into Scot-
land with the full determination to abide the chances of a war rather than
continue to endure such insults. In this determination he was encour-
aged by a dispute in which Edward was now involved in another quarter.
It will readily be understood that in an age in which robbery and vio-
lence were so common on land, piracy and violence were no less common
upon the sea; and both French and English sailors were but too ready
to engage in contests, without care as to the possible consequences to their
respective countries. It chanced that a Norman and an English vessel
met off Bayonne, and both sending a boat ashore for water the parlies
quarrelled at the spring. From words they proceeded to blows, and one
of the Normans having drawn a knife, an Englishman closed with him;
both fell, and the Norman died on the spot ; the English alledging that tie
•ccidentally fell upon his own knife, the Normans loudly aflirming that he
was stabbed. The Normans complained to King Philip, who bade them
avenge themselves without troubling him. The words, if lightly spoken,
were taken in all seriousness; the Normans seized upon an l]nglish ship,
hanged some of the crew side by side with an equal number of dogs,aiid
dismissed the rest of the ship's company, tauntingly assuring them that
they had now satisfactorily avenged the Norman sailor who was killed at
Bayonne.
When this intelligence reached the mariners of the Cinque ports
they retaliated upon French vessels, and thus an actual war wiis soon
raging between the two nations without a formal declaration of hostility
having been made or sanctioned by cither sovereign. As the quarrel pro-
ceeded it grew more md more savage ; seamen of other nations look part
in it, the Irish and Dutch joining the English, the Genoese and Flemish
joining the French. At length an incident in this singular war rendered
It impossible for Edward and Philip any longer to remain mere speetators
of it. A Norman fleet, numbering two hundred vessels, sailed sontiiward
for a cargo of wine, and to convey a considerable military force ; and this
powerful fleet seized on every English ship it met with, plundered the uonds,
and hanged the seamen. This news more than ever enraged the English
sailors, who got together a well-manned fleet of sLxty sail, and went in
quest of the Normans, whom they met with and defeated, taking or sink-
ing most of the vessels; and these being closely stowfd with ntilitiiry,
and the English giving no quarter, it was asserted that the Norman lust
John, and other n
THK T11EA8URY OF HISTORY.
283
was not less than firteeii thousand men; an enurmous loss at any time,
but especially so in an age when battles which altered the destinies of em-
pires were frequently decided at a far less expense of life.
Philip now demanded redress from Edward, who coldly replied that the
English courts were open to any Frenchman who had complaints to make ;
aiiiftheu he offered to refer the whole quarrel to the pope, or to any cardi-
nals whom himself and Philip miglit agree upon. But the parlies most
concerned in the quarrel were by this time too much enraged to hold their
hands on account of negotiations; and Philip, finding that the violence was
in no wise discountenanced by Edward, summoned him, as duke of Gui-
enne and vassal of France, to appear in his liege lord's court at Paris and
answer for the offences his subjects had committed.
A. D. 1394 — The king instructed John St. John to put Guienne into a
stale of defence, and at the same time endeavoured to ward off attack from
it by sending his brother, the earl of Lancaster, to Paris to mediate with
Philip. The earl of Lanciister having married the queen of Navarre,
mother of Jane, the queen of France, the latter oflered him her aid in
accommodating the dispute ; and the queen-dowager of France joined her,
in all apparent good faith. But the two princesses were acting most
insidiously. They assured the earl that if Edward would give Philip
siezin or possession of Guienne, to heal the wound his honour had receiv-
ed from his sub-vassals of that province, Philip would at once be satisfied
and immediately restore it. To this Edward agreed, and gave up the
province as soon as his citation to Paris was withdrawn ; but the moment
he had done so, he was again cited, and, on his non-appearance, con-
demned to forfeit Guienne. The trick thus played by Philip was so pre-
cisely similar to that which Edward had him.self planned for Scotland,
that It i.s truly wonderful how so astute a prince could ever have fallen
hlindfolil into such an uncovered pit.
A. D. 1295. — Edward sent an army to Guienne, under the command of
hisnepiiew, John de Bretagne, earl of Richmond, together with John St
John, and other officers of known courage and ability ; and as his projecti
upon Si;()iland did not enable him to spare so many regular soldiers ai
were needed, he on this occasion opened all the gaols of Engla'id and
added the most desperateoftlieirtenants to the force he sent over to France.
VViiiie a variety of petty actions were carried on in France, Philip en-
deavoured to cause a diversion in liis favour by entering into an alliance
with John Baliol, king of Scotland ; and he, smarting under the insults of
Rdwiini and longing for revenge, eagerly entered in'o this alliance, and
siriMigthened it by stipulating a marriage between his own son and the
daughter of Charles de Valois.
A. D. 1296. — Conscious how deep was the ofTencehe had given to Baliol,
Bdward had too carefully watched him to be unaware of his alliance with
France; and having now obtained considerable supplies from his parlia-
ment, which was more popularly composed than heretofore, he prepared
(0 chastise Scotland on the slightest occasion. In the hope, therefore, of
creating one, he sent a haughty message desiring Baliol, as his vassal, to
send him forces to aid him in his war with France. He ne.vt demanded
that the castles of Berwick, Roxburgh, and Jedburgh should be placed in
His hands during the French war, as security for the Scottish fidelity ; and
then summoned Baliol to appear before the English parliament at New-
castle. Baliol, faithful to his own purpose and to the treaty that he had
made with Philip, complied with none of these demands ; and Edward
liaving (hiis received the ostensible ofTence which he desired, advanced
upon Scotland with an army of thirty thousand foot and four thousand
horse.
riie military skill of Baliol being held in no very high esteem in
Scotland, a council of twelve of the most eminent nobles was appointed
e84
THE T11EA8URY OF HISTORY.
to advise and assist him — in other words to act, for the ume, at leiist, aa
" viceroys over him."
Under the management of this council vigorous preparations were made
to oppose Edward. An army of forty thousand foot and about five iiiiiul.
red horse marched, after a vain and not very wisely planned altempi upon
Carlisle, to defend the southeastern provinces threatened with Edward's
first attacks. Already, however, divisions began to appear in the Scottish
councils ; and the Bruces, the earls of March and Angus, and other eminent
Scots, saw so much danger to their country from such a divided host at-
tempting to defend it against so powerful a monarch, that they look the
opportunity to make an early submisson to him. Edward had crossed the
Tweed at Coldstream without experiencing any opposition of either word
or deed : but here he received a magniloquent letter from Baliol, who, hav.
ing obtained from Pope Celestine an absolution of both himself and his na-
tion from the oath they had taken, now solemnly renounced the homage
he had done, and defied Edward.
Little regarding mere words, Edward had from the first moment of com-
mencing his enterprise been intent upon deeds. Berwick had been taken
by assault, seven thousand of the garrison put to the sword, and Sir VVil-
liam Douglas, the governor, made prisoner ; and now twelve thousand men
under the command of the veteran earl Wareinie, were despatched against
Dunbar, which was garrisoned by the very best of Scotland's nobility and
gentry. Alarmed lest Dunbar should be taken, and their whole country
thus be laid open to the English, the Scots marched an immense army to
the relief of that place ; but the earl Warenne, though his numbers were
BO inferior, attacked them so vigorously that they fled with a loss of twenty
thousand men ; and Edward with his main army coming up on the follow-
ing day, the garrison perceived that further resistance was hopeless, and
surrendered at discretion. The castles of Roxburgh, Edinburgh, and Stir-
ling now surrendered to Edward in rapid succession; and all the southern
parts of Scotland being subdued, Edward sent detachments of Irish and
Welsh, skilled in mountain warfare, to follow the fugitives lo their reces-
ses aniidst the mountains and islets of the north.
But the rapid successes which already attended the arms of Edward had
completely astounded the Scots, and put them into a state of depression
proportioned to the confidence they had formerly felt of seeing the inva-
der beaten back. Their heavy losses and the dissensions among their
leaders rendered it impossible for them to get together anything like an
imposing force; and Baliol himself put the crowning stroke to his coun-
try's calamity by hastening, ere the resources of his people could be fully
ascertained, to make his submission once more to that invader to whom
he had but lately sent so loud and so gratuitous a defiance. He nol
merely apologized in the most humble terms for his breach of fealty tohij
liege lord, but mad a solemn and final surrender of his crown; and Ed-
ward, having received the homage of the king, marched northward only
to be received with like humility by the people, not a man of whom ap-
proached him but to pay him homage or tender him service. Having thus,
to all outward appearance, at least, reduced Scotland to the most perfect
obedience, Edward marched his army south and returned to England car-
rying with him the celebrated inauguration-stone of the Scots, to which
there was a superstition attached, that wherever this stone should be, there
should be the government of Scotland. Considering the great power
which such legends had at that time, Edward was not to blame, perhaps,
for this capture ; but the same cannot be said of his wanton order forthe
destruction of the national records.
Baliol, though his weak character must havevery effectually placed him
beyond the fear or suspicion of Edward, was confined in the Tower of
London for two years, at the end of which time he was allowed to rrtire
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
3eA
10 France, where he remained during the rest of his life in that privatp
station for whicii his limited talents and his timid temper best fitted him
The government of Scotland was entrusted to Earl VVarenne, who, both
from policy and predilection, took care that Englishmen were preferred
to all offices of profit and influence.
In Guienne Edward's arms had been less successful ; his brother the
earl of Lancaster had at first obtained some advantages ; but, he dying,
the earl of Lincoln, who succeeded to the command, was not able to make
any progress. Edward's success in Wales and Scotland, had, however,
made liiin more than ever impatient of failure ; and he now projected such
a confederacy against the king of France as, he imagined, could not fail
to wrest Guienne from him. In pursuance of this plan, he gave his daugh-
ter, the princess Elizabeth, to John, earl of Holland ; and at the same time
stipulated to pay to Guy, earl of Flanders, the snm of 75,000/. as his sub-
sidy for joining him in the invasion of the territory of their common enemy,
Philip of France. Edward's plan, a very feasible one, was lo assemble
all his allies and march against Philip's own capital, when Philip would
most probably be glad to remove the threatened danger from himself by
giving up Guienne. As a large sum of money was requisite to carry out
the king's designs he applied to parliament, who granted him — the barons
and knights — a twelfth of all moveables, and the boroughs an eighth. But
if tiie king laid an unfair proportion of his charges upon the boroughs, he
proposed still more unfairly to tax the clergy, from whom he demanded
a fifth of their moveables. Pope Boniface VIII. on mounting the papal
throne had issued a bull forbidding the princes of all Christian nations to
tax the clergy without the express consent of Rome, and equally forbid-
ding the clergy to pay any tax unless so sanctioned ; and the English
clergy gladly sheltered themselves under that bull, now that the king pro-
posed to burden them so shamefully out of all proportion to his charges
upon other orders of his subjects. Though Edward was much enraged at
the tacit opposition of the clergy, he did not instantly proceed to any vio-
lence, but caused all the barns of the clergy lo be locked up and prohibited
ail payment of rent to them. Having given thus much intimation of his
determination to persist in his demand, he appointed a new synod to con
fer with him upon its reasonableness ; but Robert de Winchelsey, arch
bishop of Canterbury, who had suggested to Boniface that bull of whicl
the clergy were now availing theniselv*!s, plainly told the king that tha
clergy owed obedience to both a temporal and a spiritual sovereign, and
that the obedience due to the former would l^.-.r no comparison as to im-
portance with that which was due to the lialcr • and that consequently it
was impossible that they could pay a tax demanded by the king when they
were expfessly forbidden to pay it by the pope.
A.D. 1297. — Really in need of money, and at the same time equally de
sirous of avoiding an open quarrel with the pope on the one hand, and of
making any concessions to obtain a relaxation of his bull on the other,
Edward coolly replied that they wlio would not support the civil power
could not fairly expect to be protected by it. He accordingly gave orders
to all his judges to consider the clergy as wholly out of his protection.
He, of course, was obeyed to the letter. If any one had a suit against a
clerk the plalntifT whs sure of success, whatever the merits of his case,
for neither the defendant nor his witness could he heard ; on the other
hand, no matter how grossly a clerk might have been wronged in matters
not cognizable by the ecclesiastical courts, all redress was refused him at
Ihe very threshold of those courts whose doors were thrown open to thp
meanest layman in the land.
Of such a stale of things the people, already sufficiently prone to plun-
ioT. were not slow to avail themselves ; and to be a clerk and to be plun-
dered and insullbd were preltly nearly one and the same thing. The rent."
iise
THK TRE/.'JRY OF HISTORY.
Iioth in money and in kind were cut off from the convents ; and if ini>
monks, in peril of being starved at home, rode forth in seach of subsis
tence, robbers, emboldened by the king's rule, if not actually prompted by
his secret orders, robbed them pitilessly of money, apparel and horses,
and sent tliem back to their convents still poorer and in a worse plight
than they had left them. The archbishop of Canterbury issued a general
excommunication against all who took part in these shameful proccedingsj
but it was little attended to, and had no effect in cliecking the spohation
of the clergy, upon which the king looked with the utmost indifference,
or, rather, with the double satisfaction arising from feeling that the losses
of the clergy would at length induce them to submit, even in despite of
their veneration for the papal commands, and that the people were thus
gradually accustoming themselves to look with less awe upon the papal
power. Whether, in wishing the latter consummation, Edward wished
wisely for his successors we need not now stay to discuss ; in anticipating
the former consummation he most assuredly was quite correct; for the
clergy soon began to grow weary of u passive struggle in which they were
being tortured imperceptibly and incessantly, without either the dignity ol
martyrdom or the hope of its reward. The northern province of York had
from the first paid the fifth demanded by the king, not in any preference
of his orders to those of the pope, nor, certainly, with any peculiar and
personal predilection for being taxed beyond theirability, but because their
proximity to Scotland gave tliem a fearful personal interest in the ability
of the king to have sutlicient force at his command. The bishops of Sal.
isbury and Kly, and some others, next came in and offered not indeed lit-
erally to disobey the pope by paying the fifth directly to Edward, but to
deposit equivalent sums in certain appointed places whence they could be
taken by the king's collectors. Those who could not command ready
money for this sort of commutation of the king's demand privily entered
into recognizances for the payment at a future time, and thus eitlier di-
rectly or indirectly, mediately or immediately, the whole of the clergy
paid the king's exorbitant demand, though reason warranted them in a re-
sistance which had the formal sanction, nay the express command, of their
spiritual sovereign. In this we see a memorable instance of tlie same
power applied to different itien; the power that would have crushed the
weak Jolin, however just his cause, was now, with a bold and triumphant
contempt, set at naught by the intrepid and politic Edward, thoiigli it op.
posed him in a demand which was both shameful in its extent and illegal
even in the manner of its imposition.
Dut with all this assistance, the supplies which Edward obtained still
fell far short of his necessities, and the manner in which he contrived to
make up the difference was characterized by tlie injustice which was the
one great blot upon what would otherwise have been a truly glorious reign.
Though the merchants had ever shown great willingness to assist liim, he
now arbitrarily fixed a limit to the exportation of wool, and as arbitrarily
levied a duty of forty shillings on each sack, being something more than
a third of its full value ! Nor did his injustice stop here ; this, indeed, was
the least of it; for he immediately afterwards seized all the wool that re-
mained in the kingdom, and all the leather, and sold them for his own ben-
efit. The sheriffs of each county were empowered to seize for Iiiin two
thousand quarters of wheat and two thousand of oats. Cattle and other
requisites were seized in the same wholesale and unceremonious fashion;
and though these seizures were made under promise to pay. the sufTerers
naturally placed little reliance upon such pnjinioe made under such cir-
cumstances. In the recruiting of his army Kdward acted quite as arbi
Irarily as in provisionmg it; compelling every proprietor of land to pay
Jlie yearly value of twenty poimds, either to serve in person or find a proxy
even though his land were not held by military tenure. Notwithstandiii{
w
TllK TRKASURY OF HISTORY.
367
ihe great popularity of Edward, and the terror of his power, he could not
under such circumstances of provocation prevent the people from murmur-
ing; nor were the murmurs confined to the poorer sort or those who were
personally suflerers from the king's arbitrary conduct, but the highest no-
bles also felt the outrage that was committed upon the general principle
of liberty. Of this feeling Edward was made aware as soon as he had
completed his preparations. He divided his forces into two armies, in-
lendiiig to assail France on the side of Flanders with one of them, and to
send the other to assail it on tlie side of Gascony. But when everything
was ready and the troops actually assembled on tlie sea coast, Roger Bigod,
carl of Norfolk and marshal of England, and Bohun, earl of Hereford and
constable of England, to whom he intended to entrust the Gascon portion
of his expedition, refused to take charge of it, on the plea that by their
offices they were only bound to attend upon his person during his wars.
Liille used to be thwarted, the king was greatly enraged at this refusal,
and in the high words that passed upon the occasion he exclaimed to the
carl of Herelord, " By God, Sir Earl, you shall either go or hang ;" to which
Hereford coolly replied, " By God, Sir King, I will neitlier go nor hang ;"
and he immediately left the expedition, taking with him above thirty other
powerful barons and their numerous followers.
Finding himself thus considerably weakened in* actual numbers, and
Btill mure so by the moral effect this dispute had upon men's minds, Ed-
ward now gave up the Gascon portion of his expedition ; but the opposi-
lion was not yet at an end, for the two earls now refused to perform their
duty on the ground that their ancestors had never served in Flanders.
Not knowing how far the same spirit might have spread, Edward feared
to proceed to extremities, aggravated and annoying as this disobedience
was, but contented himself with appointing Geoffrey de Geyneville and
Thomas de Berkeley to act for the recusant officers on the present occa-
sion; for as the offices of marshal and constable were hereditary, he
conld only have deprived the offenders of them by she extreme moiMiirr
of altainder. He farther followed up this (;onciliatory policy by taking
the primate into favour again, in hope of thus securing tlie interest of the
church; and he assembled a great meeting of tlie nobles in Westminster
Hall, to whom he addressed a speech in apology for what they might
kern e.vceptionable in his conduct. He pointed out how strongly the
iiouour of the crown and the nation demanded the warlike measures he
proposed to take, and how impossible it was to take those measures wilh-
m money ; he at the same time protested, that should he ever return he
ivould take care that every man should be reimbursed, and that wherever
diere was a wrong in his kingdom that wrong should be redressed. At
die same time that he made these promises and assured his hearers that
ihey might rely upon his fulfilment of them, he strongly urged them to
lay aside all animosities among themselves, and only strive with each
other who should do most towards preserving the peace and upholding
the credit of Ihe nation, to bo faithful to him during his absence, and, in
the event of his falling in battle, to be faithful to his son.
Though there was something extremely touching in the politic pleading
of the king, coming as it did from a man usually so fierce and resolute,
his arbitrary conduct had injured too widely, and stung too deeply, to
admit of Words, however paihetic, winning him back the friendship of his
people; mid just as he was embarking at Winchelsea, a remonstrance
which Ilereford and Norfolk had framed was presented to him in their
names and in those of other considerable barons. In this remonstrance,
strongly though courteously worded, complaint was generally made of
Ills recent ^system of government, and especially of his perpetual and
ll;igrant violation of the great charter ai^d of the'charter of the forests,
»nil his arbitrary taxation and seizuiei, and they demanded redress of
•I'
L'8.-!
THE TREASUIIY OF HISTORY.
thesu great and manifest grievances. The circumstances under which
this memorial was delivered to the king furnished him with an excuse o(
which lie was by no means sorry to avail himself, seeing that he could
neither deny the grievances nor find the means of redressing iliein ; and
he briefly replied, that he could not decide upon matters of such high im.
poriance while at a distance from his council and in all the bustle of em
barkatiun.
But the two Paris and their partizans were resolved that the king's em
barkation should rather serve than injure llieir cause ; and when the priiicj
of Wales and the government summoned them to meet in parliaineiu tliey
did so with a perfect army of attendants, horse and foot, and would not
even enter the city until the guardianship of the gates was given up to
them. The council hesitated to trust so much to men who had assumed
so hostile an ..ttitude ; but the archbishop of Canterbury, who sided with
the earls, overruled all objections and argued away all doubts ; the gntps
were given into tiie custody of the malcontents, and thus both the prince
and the parliament were virtually nut into their power.
That power, however, they used with an honourable moderation, de-
manding only tliat the two charters should be solemnly confirnieJ by the
king and duly observed for the time to come; that a clause shoijd be
added to the great charter, securing the people from being taxed wiihoiit
the consent of parliament; and that liiey who had refused to attend the
king to Flandi'rs sliould be held harmless on that account and received
into the king's favour. Hoth the prince of Wales and his council agreed
to thcs" really just and moderate terms; but when they were submitted
to Edward, in Flanders, he at first obJHctcd to agree to them, and even
after three days' delibenition he was oidy with difliculty persuaded li
do -SO.
The various impediments which the kinj had met with in Knglaml
caused him to reach Flanders too late in the season for any 0|iriatl(insij|
importance; and enabled Philip to enter the Low Countries hefure his
arrival, and make himself master, in suicession, of Lisle, St. Oiners,
Conrirai, anil yi)re8. The appearance of Kdward with an Kiijjiish iirmy
of fifty thousand men put an end to this march of prosperity ; and Pliili|i
not only was coiniii.'llcd to retreat on France, hut had every rciison to fi';ir
thai he should be early invaded there. Kdward, however, besides being
anxious for liiiHlaiid, expos(!il as it was to the hostilities of the Scots, wa^
(lisa|)poiiiteil of a considerable force for the aid of which he hiid paid a
hiyh prii'c to Adolpli, king of the Romans; and both nionarchs bcin^
thus dispose<l to at least temporary |)eace, they agreed to a truce of two
years, and to submit their (iiiarrcl to the judgment of the pope.
A. D. 12!)H. — Though boili K<lward and I'hilip expressly niaintainfJ
that they referred their quarrel to the pope, not as admittiiiu the panal
right to interfere in the temporal affairs of nations, but as rcNpecting Ins
personal wisdom and justice, lie was too anxious to he seen by the wnrM
in tli<! charm ter of mediator between two such nowerful princes, to mskr
any ex'-eotion to the terms upon which his mediation was aceepled. Ilf
examined ilieir dilTerences, ami proposed that a permanent peace shoiiM
b(! made by them im the following terms, viz. ; that Kdward, who «.i»
now a widower, should espouse Margaret, sister of Philip, and that llie
priiicf! of Wales should espouse Isabella, daughter of Philip, and llial
(Juieniie shtinld be restored to Kiigland. Philip wished to include llif
Scots in his peace with Ivlward, but the latter was too inveterate agaiiifi
Scotland to listen to that proposal, and afti'r some discussion the peacf
was made— I'liilip abandoning the Scots, and Kdward in turn aliandoniiiS
the Kleiniiigs. So careless of their allies are even tin; greatest iiionarclii
v.hei. their own iiiterests call for the sacril'ice of those allies!
It IS hut scliloin that projects of c(Mi(|ui'st will bear scrutiny ; itill tnorf
THE TRKASUaV OF HISTORY.
288
ler which
excuse ol
lie could
liem; and
1 high iiU'
itlc of em
king's em
Ihe princj
aineiit iliey
would not
jiveu up to
iid jissunied
) sided with
i; itie gates
1 the prince
Inration, de-
ruieJ by the
le shoiid be
iixed without
,0 vilti'nd the
mill received
(luneil iijirceil
ere suhmittcd
Jill, and even
persuaded 1"
;h in England
LT oprralions "\
rics hefi>re liis
(., St. Omrt>.
English nrmy
ly ; illld Plnlil>
rc'.isoii to fi'^if
, besides beiiiR
the Scots, wa?
he hiid paid a
onarchs bcnii;
:i truce o( Uvn
,ly niaintaineJ
tiiiR the papid
r^.^\)|'(■tin|; '"'
„ by the «'0»W
inces, to makf
m-eepted. 1 '
ncnce shoulit
•aril, wiw «,»'
I",,
lull
■11, "I"'
luid that die
lulip, a"'> >V'
to iiicUide Uif
[rttTiile aganiil
gi.ni the pewf
hni nhandoiniiS
[iilest i\umurch«
liuy
, still moK
,p|(jom that they merit praise. But certainly, looking merely at the geo-
graphical relations of England and Scotland, it is impossible to deny that
the latter seems intended by nature to belong to the former whenever
!iny considerable progress should be made in civilization. That Scotland
should long and fiercely strugjjle for independence was natural, and ex-
cites our admiration and sympathy ; but, on turning from sentiment to
•eason, we cannot but approve of the English determination to annex as
'■fiends and fellow-subjects a people so commandingly situated to be mis-
•hievous and costly as enemies. It is probable tlial Scotland would
never have made a struggle after the too prudent submission of .lohn
Bahid, had the English rule been wisely managed. But Eiirl Warenne
was obliged by failing health to retire from the bleak climate of Scot-
land ; and Oriuesby and Cressingham, who wore then left in possession
of full authority, used, or rather abused it in such wise as to arouse to
hate and indignation all high-spirited Scots, of -vhatever rank, and of
whatever moderation in their former temper tovards England. Their
shameful and perpetual oppressions, in fact, excited so general a feeling
of hostility., that orly a leader had been for some time wanting to pro-
duce an armed revflt 8Jid such n leader at length appeared in the per-
son of the afterwards famous William VVallacr.
William Wallace, a gentleman of moderate fortuue, but of an ancient
and honourable family in the west of Scotland, though his cfTorts on be-
half of his country deserve at least a part of the enthusiastic praise
whii'h his countrymen bestow upon him, would probably have died un
known, and without one patriotic struggle, but for that which often leads
10 patriotic eflforts— a private quarrel. Having, like too many of his fcl-
Inv-couutrymen, been grossly insulted by an English oflicer, Wallace
killed him ou the spot. Under so tyraimous a rule as tlial of the English
in Scotland, such a deed left the doer of it but little mercy to hope ; and
Wallace betook himself to the woods, resolved, as his life was already
forfeit to the law, to sell it as dearly as possible, and to do away with
whatever obloquy might attach to his first act of violence by mi.xing up
for the future his own cause with that of his country. Of singular bodily
ii well as mental powers, anil having a perfct-t aC(iuaintanco with every
morass and ini)untain path, the suddenness with wiiich Wallace, with
Hie small band of outlaws he at first collected round him, fell iinon the
Knglish oppressors, and the invarialih- fai'ility and safety with wliicli he
made good his retreat, soon made him looked up to by men who longed
for the deliverance of their country, and cared not if they owed it even
til a hand guilty of (hdilierate murder. The followers of Wallace thus
speeilily became more and more numerous, and from the mere outlaw's
band E;rew at length to Ihe patriot's army.
Hverv new success with which Wallace struck terror into the hearts
(if the fcujjlish iiicreas(ul Ihe admiration of bis countrymen; but thongl'
ilie number of his adherents was [lerpetuallv on the increase, for a lon^
lime he was not Joined by any men of rank and consequence snfHcieiit
to Hlamp his exertions with a national character. But this great diiriculty
ivasat length removed from his path, \fter a variety of minor successes
he prepared his followers to attack Scone, which was held by the hated
Hni;li«'; justiciary, Ormesby; and that tyrannical person being informi-d
by his spies of the deadly intentions of Wallace towards him, was so
liirmed, that he precipitately departed into Englimd: and his example
iviif closely followed by all the immediate accomplices and tools of liis
I'nii'liy ami tyranny.
The ji.iiiie llight of Ormesby added greatly In the efTect whicli llio cour-
se ami ciindiii't of Wallace had already produced upon the minds of his
fcllowcduiitrymen ; and even the great, who hitherto had deemed it pni-
Jeiii 10 keep aloof from iiini, now ihowed him both sympathy and coiifl
290
THi. TREASURY OF HISTORY.
dence. Sir William Douglas openly joined him, and Robert Bruce secreliy
encouraged him; the smaller gentry and the people nt * large gjve him
the full confidence and support of which the efforts he had already made
proved him capable of profitinif; and so general was the Scottish move-
ment, that in a short time the English government was virtually at an end
in Scotland. The more sanguine among the Scots already began to hope
tliat their country's independence, was completely re-established, bui the
wiser and more experienced judged that England would not thus easily
part with a conquest so desirable and, perhaps, even essential to her own
national safety; and their judgment was soon justified by the appearance
of Karl Warenne at Irvine, in Annandale, with an army of upwards of fortv
thousand men ; a force which, if prudently used under the existing cir-
cumstances, must on the instant have undone all that Wallace had as ye*
done for the enfranchisement of his country. For the mere appearance of
so vast and well appoiuted an army, under the command of a leader of the
known valour and ability of Wareime, struck such terror into niaiiy of tlie
Scottish nobles who had joined Wallace, that they hastened to submit to
Warenne, and to save their persons and property by renewing the oath ol
fealty to Edward ; wli ; many who were secretly in correspondence with
Wallace, and among lis most zealous friends, were compelled, thoiijli
sorely against their w 11, to join the I'^ngiish. Wallace, being then tliiis
weakened, a prudent jse of the vast English force was all that was re-
quired to have insurtd success; and had Warenne acted solely iipiin Ins
own judgment, success most certainly would have been his. But Cres-
singham, Ow treasurer, whose oppr(!ssions had only been second to tiiose
of Ormesby, was so transported by personal rage, and had so much inilu'
ence over Warenne, as to mislead even that veteran commander into an
error as glaring as in its conseciuence it was mischievous.
Urged by ('rcssingliam, Warenne, who had advanced to Camhnskeii.
neth, on the banks of tlu; Forth, resolved to assail Waliare, who had iiiosl
skilfully and strongly posted himself on tiie opposite hank. Sir liifliarii
Lundy, a nitiv(! Scotchman, but sincerely and zealously attached to the
Eiiulisli cause, in vain pointed out to Warenne the disadvaiitajjes niiikr
which ho was about to make the attack. The order was given, and ilit
English began their march over the bridge which crossed the river ai thai
point. Wallace allowed the leading divisions to reach his side of the river,
out before they could fully form in ordi^r of ballli! he gave the word, Ins
troops rushed upon the English in overwiielmiiijij; fonv, and in an wrrir
bly short lime the battle betMine a mere rout, tlie I'higlisli llyins; in eviry
direction, and thousands of them l)eing put to the sword or (Irowiiediii
Iheir vain endeavours to escape from their enraged enemies, (.'rensinj
ham, who behaved with much gallantry during the short but inurderoiiii
coiiflicl, was among the number of the English slain ; and so iiiviimie j
and men'ilcss was th(! Iiaire(l with which Ins tyranny had inspirel ilir
Scots, that Ihcy actually Hayed his corpse and had Ins skin taniii'il aiilcmi-
verted into girths and belts. The grc^at loss sustained by ihe Kii^listi
upon the field, and the comidete panic into wiiicli the survivors v-tt
thrown, left Warenne no alternative l)Ut to retreat into EiiLdand. Tiif
castles of Uerwick and Koxburgh wer<! spei'dily taken, and ScciiUiid «i*
'lerself free; oiico more, and loudly haili^d Wallace as her dehveivr. Tie
title of regent was Ix^stowcl upon him by aci-lamation : and hmli fnin
jeing tdated by his almost marvellous success, and from the almidiiii' liiii'
ine which [)revailc(l in ScotKud, he was now milneed to carry the «ar I
into England, lie accoidiiigly nvrelied his troops across the hiirder,:iiiil
xpreading them over llie northern . juniies, pliimlered and dcstntyeii wiili-
out mercy, till .it length having penetr.'^ed as far as the hishiiprKknf Dm-
liain, he obtamiMl enurmous booty, witu which he returned in iriuMi|)Mo|
Hcullaiid.
Tlie new
Flanders, \
He was ihi
liic loss of
greatly oflTe
zeal Im iio\
to regain hif
by restoring
wliieh his f<i
for exact in
eoniinodiiies
leading the it
others, that (
the nobles he
fessions of Ii
ingratiated hi
preparations I
enabled to ina
Theinagiiiti
only advantag
very moment
and ilisinleresi
lace had done
tioii and digpai
'he son of a pri
rei'ent gave dee
self more worti
Rerof ihedivid
disinterestedly
only the coin in
otbercoiiimaiid
ofHadenochaiii
tlie Scottish for
Kach of ihoSco
army, while a t
In I' himself. '|
"nervals I eiwci
aiiil as iJK; |.;i|„|
"ii' Ncoiiish ;„7m
ifcni-ed to etch
Kdwiird, 1)1 ;ir
"irce ilivisinh
nwniTil the altn
Jfized with a (Mil
r'Ht'lish bolls and
li''chai-g,. „fi|„
Ibim ohijiineil.
""' ''."nglish, in
P'". lliat II I
"'«lli routed, w
'■'"|''"'alion r,it,.,|
'•^'•'i ill iliis ail
"'''' '" k'cp his ,||
J'v-r tWroiMnii,
""■"•k of the Eii^l
'^'1 iiilerview h,
''"•I'lle his o« n III
'»■'« then serviii.r ,
d
THE TREASUIIY OF HISTORY
291
Camhusken-
■111) hrtd most
I Sir llichsr:
■(Ml, ami lilt
■ivcr -.11 iliai
of llif river,
lie worii.his
;in ilUTi'li-
im III t'vm
Iriiwiwil 111
Crensiii?
,\i nmr.iiTow
jllVYllTlK
iiisjiirfl liif
IIV'll ,llli l''"!'
till' F.iigli'ii
rviviirs «''rf
i(;\imi The
;,M>il:iiiil 1<f
^\ \),iili friim 1
;l\)H(llull' I'll"'
urry ilie «■«
,. burilfr.iw;^
giriiyt'il wiih-
iprii'k "f ""'■
mirmiiHiii'''|
Tlie news of this great triumph of the Scots reached Edward while in
Flanders, where, fortunately, he had just completed a truce with France.
He was thus at liberty to hasten to England and endeavour to retrieve
the loss of his most valued conquest. Sensilile that his past conduct had
greatly offended as well as alarmed his people, of whose utmost aid ani
zeal lit) now stood in so much need, his first care was to exert every art
(0 regain his lost popularity. To the citizens of Loudon he paid his court
bv restoring to them the privelege of electing their own magistrates, ol
wliii'h his father had deprived them ; and he gave ostentatious direi-tioiis
for exact inquiry to be made as to the value of corn, cattle, and other
cDininodilies, which a short time before he had ordered to be seized ; thus
leiulitig the more sanguine among the sufferers to believe, and persuading
others, that he intended to pay for tiie goods thus violently obtained. To
tlie nobles he equally endeavoured to recommend himself by solemn pro-
fessions of his determination to observe the charters ; and having thus
iiigriUiiited himself with all orders of men, he made extensive levies and
preparations for the re-conquest of Scotland, against which he was soon
en;ibled to inarch with aii army of nearly a hundred thousand men.
Tlie magnitude and excellent equipment of Kdward's forcf were not his
only advantages ; dissensions were rife and fierce among the Scots at the
Yery moineiit when it was obvious that nothing but'°the most unanimous
and disinterested zeal could give them even a chance of success. Wal-
lace had done wonders in raising his country from the extreme degrada-
tion anddi'spair in which he; had found her; but then VVallaiut was mily
the son of a private gentleman, and his elevation to the importiint post of
rPilont gave deep offence to llie proud nobility, each of wlunn deemed him-
si'if more worthy than the other. I'orcfiviiig buih the cause and the dan-
cer of tliu divided spirit, VVallai^e showed himself truly noble in soul, by
disinterestedly resigning the authority he had so well won, and retaining
only the coniinaiid of his immediiili; followers, who would have obeyed no
otlier commander; and the chief authority was divided between Cuiniiiin
of liadcniicliMiid the steward of Badenocli, who agreed in coiicciitraliiignll
the Scottish forces at Falkirk, there to awaii the attack of the Eii^'lish.
Kiicii of the .Scottish cominaiidcrs-iii-ciiicf headed a great division of their
Briiiv, while a third liivisiiui was under the immediate conimand of VVal-
JiKc hims(>lf. The pikeineii formed the front of each division, md the
intervals Lctween the three were ()Ci'Ut)ied liy strong bodies of archers;
ami as the Kiiglish had a vast snperiiu'ity in cavalry, the whole front of
the Scottish posiiiitn was protected as well ;is possilile by stakes strongly
jpcnred to ei.ch other by ropes.
Kdwani, oi arriving in front of his enemy formed his army, also, into
three (livisinhi. His archers, probably tlie most skilfil in the wmid, eoin-
iiiciii'cil the attack, and so galled the Si-oiijsh bowmen, that they were
ni'ized with a panic and tleil rrtiin the (itdd. 'I'he fearful shower of the
Kiiuhsli bolts and arrows was now turned upon the >Scoitisli pikeiiK'ii, and
theclianje (if the Knulish pikemen and cavalry fidlowed up the advantage
thus (ibtaiiicd. The Scots fought bravely and well, but the superiority ol
the Kiiyiish, ill discipline and cipiipnieiits as widl as in numbers, was so
prcat, tlial tlie niiiiost elforls of the Scoti'b were ill vain, and they were at
iiMiitli roiiti'il, with a loss of ten tl)i)usaiid men, but which the po|)nlar
laiiiciitalion rateil as high as (Ifty thousand.
Kveii in this app illiiiii scene of ('(uil'iisioii and slaughter, Wallace eonlrj.
Veil ui keep his division unbroken, and to lead it in good order behind the
rner Carnm, lininir the hank of that river in sindi wise as lo render the
iiitiickof the Kiiglisli highly perihnis, if not actually impraeticahle.
.\'i interview here look place between Wallace and voiiiig llriice, wlio,
lis|iile his own high birth and not weak elai'ii upon the Scottish royalty
«;is then servuig in Kdwiird's army The account given by the Scottish
■ 1^ t'
i
I'H
,,K,MW'
292
THB TREASURY OF HISTORY.
historians of this interview is so precise as to be somewhat suspicious,
especially as authors quite as eredible affirm that Bruce was not theinvjili
the English army, or even in that part of the country. If, however, tlu
interview took place, the subsequent conduct of Bruce shows, that, 30 far
from succeeding in his endeavour to induce Wallace to struggle no longei
tor his coinitry's independence, he was himself converted by the greai
hero into a nobler way of thinking.
A. D. 1299. — While Wallace still remained unconquered and in some
force, Kdward felt that his iriumph was not complete ; but after havnig
subjected tlie south of Scotland, Edward was obliged, by sheer want of
provisions, to march his troops back into England and to leave the north
of Scotland still unconquered.
A. D. 1300. — The Scotch having in vain applied for aid to Philip ol
France, now betook themselves to the mediation of Rome ; and Boniface
wrote on their behalf a long and justly-argued letter to Edward, in wliich
he strongly put forward all the solid arguments that existed against his
equally unjust and arrogant claim to Scotland. But as the ambition of
Boniface was fully equal to his ability, he weakened the justice of his
opposition to the arrogant claim of Edward, by putting forward an equally
arrogant and unfounded one on the part of Kome, to which he asserted
Scotland to have by right appertained from the most remote antiquity.
Tlu! real claim of Edward was plainly founded upon the riglit of the
strongest; his only justification was to be found in the geographical con-
nection of Scotland and England. But, in replying to the letter of the
pope, Edward advanced arguments which were quite as remarkable for
grave and absurd assurance as even the claim of the pope himself. Com-
mencing with Brutus the Trojan, Edward cited and assumed liistoriial
sayings and doings down to the time of Henry II. in support of his claim;
but carefully leaving out everything that told for Scotland, though he
commenced his elahoi'iite docinncnt by a solenni iippeal to the Almighty
to witness iiis sincerity and good faith ! It is still more extnionlinary that
Edward's pretensions were backed by no fewer than a hiindred and four
barons, who, to his defence of his claims, added, tliat though they had
condescended to justify them to Boniface, they by no means ackiiowl.
edged his right to judge, and that if their sovereign were willing to give
up the |)rerogative9 whi(!h they were determined at all hazards and all
sacrifices to uphold, they for their parts would in nowise allow him to
do so.
A. n. 1303. — While Edward was thus endeavouring to gi-cto a politic
and tempting usurp:ttion the character of a just and aiii'ieiit claim, the
Scots, relieved from his innneiliale ami fatal activity, were exerting thcia
8elv(!s for another effort in behalf of their n:itional independence. .Inliii
Cummin was made regent, an<l he did not content liiinself with keeping
a force together in the norlli, but made frequent iiuuirsions upon thi' sub-
dued southern provinces. John do Segrave, whom Edward hail left ;i<
Ins n'presentative in Scotland, at lengili led out his ariiiy to oppose il.i
Scotch, and a long and Kanguinary action took [)lace at Rosliii, near F.iliii
burgh, in which the Engli.sli were completely defeated, and llU' wlioh' "I
thesiiulliern provinces freed from them by the regent.
Edward, to his infinite indignation, now perceived that he had not to
complete, merely, but aclnally reeommenee the coiKinest of this liravc ptn-
pie, and he made pre|)aralion for so doing with his accustomed vigour ml
activity. Assembling naval as well as milit;iry forces, he enterni Scni.
land with a large army, which his navy, sailing along the coast, jint oiilul
all (liinger as reganh'd want of provisions. Tin; superiority which iliif
arrangement gave to I'Mward rendered the resistance of the Scotch ?■•
hopeless as it was gallant. Place aftiT places was taken, the chieriaiM'^ i
succession yielded iu despair, and Cummin himself and his niusl zi >
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
393
ous friends at length submitted. But though Edward l.ad marched triuni-
ohaiitly from one end of the country to the other, and had received the
«ubinissionof the ablest and the bravest, his conquest was still incomplete,
for \Vallace was yet at liberty and was still undaunted.
A.D. 1304 5. — Edward on many occasions during his busy reign display-
ed great talents, but his really clear judgment was usually vanquished when
It became opposed by his love of arbitrary rule. He had now doiin
enough to display his power, and his truest policy would have been to en-
deavour to reconcile the existing generation of Scots to their loss of real
ndepeiidence by flattering them with as much as possible of the appear-
iiice of it, by governing them by their own laws, and by indulging them
111 their national customs, until, habituated to rule and influenced by the
propensity of imitation, which is everywhere so strong, they should
gradually assimihite themselves in those respects to their conquerors. But
t'liis slow though sure process did not accord with his passionate disposi-
tion; and he not only made sweeping alterations in the Scottish laws, but
still more deeply wounded the national pride by the malignant zeal with
which he destroyed all their most precious records, and most valued monu-
ments.
By this injudicious cruelty he powerfully excited the hatred of the Scots,
and that hatred was now pushed to its utmost exces"S by what even an
English historian can only term the murder of the brave but unforliinalo
Wallace. Resolved never to despair of his country, nor to cease his
exertions for her but when heshonkl cease to live, Wallace sought shelter
in the mountain fastnesses, (confiding the secret of his retreat to only a
few upon whom he thought he could implicitly rely, and watched eagerly
and hopefully for some opportunity of again rousing Scotland to resist-
ance. Hut the anxiety of Edward to get into his power this most formi-
ilable enemy to him, because most devoted friend to his native land, led him
to hold out the promise of such reward and favour to whomsoever would
put Wallace into his power, that a traitor was found even among the mere
handful of Scots to whom the power of being tlius treacherous was "^on-
lined. The man to whose name this eternal infamy attaches was Sir.Iolm
Monleitli, an intimate and confidential friend of Wallace. This dastardly
md treacherous imblemaii revealed the place of the patriotic chieftain's
Mielter, and he was siezed, loaded with irons, and sent to London. Dis-
'.iiiguisiii'd as Edward himself was for courage, the almost romantic bravery
md devotion of Wallace might have been expected to have excited his
ulmiration. It is scarcely possible to read this portion of our history
«itlinut, for Edward's own sake, feeling shocked and disappointed at the
nikniglitly want of g(!nerosity he displayed. Had he kept Wallace even
1 close prisoner, though the wrong doer would still have been exercising
:'if unjust right of the strongest, Edward had been excusable, as it was
quite obvious that so long as Wallace was at liberty the conquest of Scot-
hind was not s(!cure for a single day. Hut the courage and perseveronce
which (Might to have secured Edward's sympathy, only excited his im-
placable hiitred; and the mifortunale Scottish patriot, after the mere mock-
ery of a trial for tn^ason and rebellion against that power to which he had
iifvcr made sutimission, was publicly beheaded on Towerhill.
If Kdwnid hoped by this shameful severity to put an end to the Scottish
"Opcs and ilctcnniiialion, he was signally mistaken ; the dying resentment
of the iM'opIc was aroused ; even those who had been foremost in envying
the fiiiprcmiicy of Wallace now joined in deploring his fate, and the gcn-
"ral mind was put into the most favourable slatt! for insuring welcinno
uiil (!ii|iii()rt to the next cltampion of independence, who soon presented
nimsclf Ml t!;c person of Robert Uruco.
AD )30(). — Robert nriice, grandson of the opponent of Haliol, was now,
liv the decease of bo.h his grandfallier and father, the inheritor of, at the
n
'M4
THE TRKASUttY OF HISTORY.
least, a plausible claim to the Scotiisli crown, iiiid had therefore a jm ^
soiial as well as a patriotic iiiotivt' for o[)posiiitr the tyranny of Kdward
Thoiigli he was himself personally well treated, though, indeed, he was
viewed less as a prisoner at hirgc than a favoured iv.itive noh|p, Uruce
conid not butifeel disgust and indigniitioii at the numerous cruellies of Kd.
ward, crown ^1 as they were by ihe damning injustice of the nuirder of
Wallace; an.i after iviiig long pondered the sidijecl, he determined to
succeed to tli ii hero m his task, even at the risk of succeeding also to liis
vi(dcnt end. This determination Uruce confided to his intimate friend
John (-ummi't, who iipproved of his design and encouraged him in it.'
Whether Cu'umin from the first listened only to betray, or whether lie at
first entered sincerely into the views of Druce, and only l)etriiypd tlipin
from horror at the magnitude of the danger, does not clearly appear. But
certain it is that, from whatever motives, he did reveal the sentiments and
intentions of Uruce to the king.
Kdward, though little prone to sparing, knew how to dissemble ; and
being desirous of getting into his power the three brothers of liruce, who
were slill at liberty in Scotland, and fearing to alarm them ere he could do
so, should he taki; any decisive measure against Robert, he for the prig.
eiil contented himself with putting his every act and word uiiilerthe most
severe siu'veillance of persons practised in that most contemptible species
of employntent. This pcdicy, intended to make the ruin of Robert Bruce
more ceriaiu and complete, proved his safety; for an I'-iiglish nobleman
who was privy to Kdward's dc^sign put Biuce on his g\iard in time. The
friendly nobleman in ipiesiimi, bemg aware how closely Uruce was watched
could not venture lo warn him |)ersonally ;oid in plain terms of the danger
which beset him, but sent him by a sure hand a pair of sj)nrs and a puisn
of money. The -agacity of liruce rightly interpreted the meaninj; of ijiis
double present, .'id he inslantly set off' for Aimandale, and arrived iliere
safely ; having t;"<en the precaution to have his horse shod backward, so
that ( veil had a ( 'irsuit been commenced, the pursuers would speedily iiave
been thrown oni
Migl) as Uruc' ranked in the Scottish nobility, he had hitherto been
looked upon as i-hoJly lost to Si'otland ; as the mere minion of the En-
glish king; Icssui ptiims about the land to which he owed hisbirlh thaiitiiilnit
in which he livec a life ofsi)lendid slavery. It was, tluTcfore, with noli;-
tic surprise, and < erhaps in some cases even with suspicion, that tiic ScdI-
tisli nobility ihei. assembled at Dmnfries .''aw him suddi'iiiy njjpear bcfuro
them, with the a\ owed determination of following up the mighty elVorts m
Wallace, and of I'berating his trampled country or nobly perishing in tin
attcnijjt. The e; upuMice and spirit with which Uruce declared his inteii-
tioiis and exhort(d the assembled nobles to join him in his (^fforls, musiil
their spirits to tht highest enthusiasm, and they at once declared their in-
tention to follow 'he noble Bruce even to death. To this enthusiasm and
assent there was out one exception : — Cummin, who had already hclraynl
th(! designs of Ui'jce to Ihe king, now endeavoured to introduce (hsconl
into the council, y dwelling with great earnestness upon the little proba-
biliiy that existed )f their being successful against the triMuendous power
of Kiigland, jMid u ion the still smaller probal)ilily of Kdward showiiijfiiny
mercy to them, sh )uld tliey fall into his hands after insulting him by anew
breach of their oaui and fealty.
The iliscoiirse o ('ummiii had the greater weiglit because he was held
to he a trills patriot ; and Bruce clearly perceived that this man, who l::iil
80 nearly betrayt d him lo certain iiii|irisomnent and very probable ex-
ecution, had so sli'ing a hold on the minds of the nobles, that they wotill
most lik(dy follow bis advitre, until the arrival of Hdward with an over-
whi'lming power would render exertion useless. Kuraged at srch an op'
pusilioii being addi-d to the treachery of which he was aware thai (.'nni
THE TREABUHY OF HISTORY.
29&
rain had already been guilty, Bruce, when the meeting of the nobles was
adjourned to another day, followed Cummin as far as the monastery of
the Grey Friars, in the cloister of which he went up to him and ran him
through the body. Bruce imagined that he hud killed the traitor, but on
being asked by a friend and confidant, named Fuzpatrick, whether he had
done' so, he replied, '* I believe so." " Believe'." exclaimed Fitzpatrick,
" and is that a thing to leave to chance 1 I will secure him 1" So saying
the fierce knight went back to the spot where Cummin lay, and stabbed
him through the heart. This brutal violence, which in our more enlight-
ened day we cannot even read of without horror and disgust, was then
deemed a matter not of shame but of triumph and boasting, and the mur-
derer Fitzpatrick actually took for his crest a hand and bloody dagger,
and the words " I will secure him!" for his motto.
The murder of Edward's spy — and murder it assuredly was, however
base the character of the victim — left the assembled nobles, and Bruce es-
pecially, no choice as to their future course; they must either shake
off the power of Edward, or perish beneath Edward's aroused ven-
geance. Bruce in this emergency proved himself well adapted for the
lofty and perilous mission to which he had devoted himself He flew
from one part of the country to the other, everywhere raising armed par-
tisans, and sending them against the most important^ towns and castles
lliat ventured to hold out for Edward; and by this activity he not only
obtained strong-holds in every direction, but organized and concentrated
a force so considerable, that he was able to declare Scotland indep(!ndent,
and to have himself crowned as her king in the abbey of Scone, the arch-
bishop of St. Andrew's officiating. Bruce, though both policy and ambi-
tion led him to be crowned, did not suffer mere ceremonial to occupy
mncii of tlie time for which he had so much more important a use, but
busily pursued the English until they were all driven from the kingdom,
save tiiose who found shelter in the comparatively few fortresses that
still hold out for Edward.
A. D. 1307. — Edward, who seemed as enthusiastic in his desire to con-
quer Scotland as the Scots were in their desire to live free from his yoke,
received the tidings of this defeat of his purpose only as a summons to ad-
vance to the conquest yet once more; and, while making his own ar-
rangements, he sent forward a large advance force under Sir Aylmer de
Valence, who fell suddenly upon Bruce, in Perthshire, and put him com-
pletely to the rout. Bruce himself, with a mere handful of personal
friends, took shelter in tiie western isles ; Sir Simon Fraser, Sir Chris-
toplier Seton, and the earl of .Vthol were less fortunate ; being taken pris-
oners, F.dward ordered their immediate execution, as rebels and traiiors.
.Similar severity was shown in the treatment of other prisoners, and Ed-
ward now in person commenced his march against Scotland, vowing ven-
geance upon the whole of the nation for the trouble and disappointment
to which it had exposed him. But a mightier than Edward was now at hand
to render farther cruelty or injustice impracticable. He was already ar-
rived as far on his journey of vengeance as Cumberland, when he was sud-
denly siezed with illness, and died on the 7th of .Inly, 1307, in the thirty-
fifili year of his reign and the sixty-ninth of his age.
Warlike, politic, and so espcuiially attentive to amending and consolida-
ting tiie laws of his comitry that the title of the English Justinian was
notiiuiio unjustly bi^stoweil upon him, Edward yet was rather a great
than ii good nionarcl); better calculated to excite the pride of his suiiji'ds
than to deserve tlnsir love. Self-will, a necessary ingredient, perhaps, to
A ecrtain exteitt, of eviiry great character, was in him carricil to an excess,
and madi; him ])ass from a becoming pride to arrogance, and front just
command to tinprini-ipled extortion anil unsparing despotism. With less
of arro;jaiice he would have been in every wbv a better king ; vet, such i*
,.$>4V*
L'96
THE TllEASIJHY OF HISTORV.
the temper of all uncultivated people, the tyrannies of this splendid and
warlike tyrant were patiently, almost affectionately, borne by the aatioii
who revolted at the far less extensive and daring tyrannies of John.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE REIGN OF EDWARD II.
A. D. 1307. — The dyinar commands of Edward I. to his son and siicces
eor were, that he should follow up the enterprise against Scolland, and
never desist until that nation should be completely subdued. An abun-
dantly sufficient force was ready for the young king Edward II. ; and as
Bruce had by this time rallied forces round him, and inflicted a rather
important defeat upon Sir Aylmerde Valence, tiie English people, too fond
of glory to pay any scrupulous attention to the justice of the cause in
which it was to be acquired, hoped to see Edward II., at the very com-
mencement of his reign, imitating the vigorous conduct of his martial
father; and they were not a little disgusted when Edward, after niarchinw
some short distance over the border, gave up the enterprise, not from any
consideration of its injustice, but in sheer indolence, and returned into
England and disbanded that army upon the formation of which his father
had bestowed so much exertion and care. Hitherto the character of thij
prince had been held in esteem by the English people, who, with Iheir
accustomed generosity, took the absence of any positive vice as an indi-
cation of virtue and talent, which only needed opportunity to manifest them-
selves. But this first act of his reign, while it disgusted the people in gen-
eral, at the same time convinced the turbulent and bold nobles that they
niiglit now with safety put forward even unjust claims upon a king who
bade fair to sacrifice all other considerations to a low and contemptible
love of his personal ease. The barons, who had not been wholly kept
from showing tlieir pride even by the stern and determined hand of fJd-
ward I., were not likely to remain quiet under a weaker rule; and the
preposterous folly of the now king was not long ere it furnislied them
with sufficiently reasonable cause of complaint.
The weak intellect of Edward II. caused him to lean with a child-like
dependency upon favourites: but with this difference, that the defwudcncy
which is touciiing and beautiful in a child, is contemptible in a man, and
must to the rough and warlike barons have been especially disgusting
The first favourite upon whom Edward bestowed his unmeasured confi
deuce and favour was Piers Gaveston, a Gascon, whose father's knightly
service in the wars of the late king had introduced the son to the esiiib-
lishment of the present king while prince of Wales The elegant though
frivolous accomplishments of which Gaveston was master, and the pains
whicli he look to display and employ tlicm in the amusement of the weiik-
minded young |U-ince whom he served, obtained for Gaveston, even during
the lifetime of Edward I., so alarming an influence over the mind of the
heir-apparent, that the stern monandi, who had little taste for childish pur-
suits, banished Gaveston not only from the court, but from the realm alto-
gether, and exacted the most positive promise from the prince never on
any account to recall him.
His own interests an<l his promise to his deceased father were utterly
forgotten by the young Edward in his anxiety again to enjoy tlie company
Bf bis aceoniplish(!(l favourite, and having astoiuided his rugged barons hy
disbanding his army, lie eoniiileted tlnnr wondering in<lignat]on by hastily
sending for (Javeston. IJefore the favourite coidd even reach Kni.'l;ind
the yoinig king confi^rred u|)on him tlie ricli earldom of Cornwall which
had lately escheated to the crown by the death of Edmoud, son of the king
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
297
of the Romans. In thus bestowing upon an obscure favourite the rich
possessions and lieere title that had so recently sufficed a prince of the
blood royal, Edward had only commenced his career of liberality ; wealth
and honours flowed in upon the fortunate young man, whom Ldwald at
length allied to the throne itself by giving him for his wife, his own neice
the sister of the earl of Gloucester.
The folly of the king was in nowise excused or kept in the back ground
by the favourite. Instead of endeavouring to disarm the anger and envy
of the barons by at least an affectation of humility, Gaveston received
each new favour as though it were merely the guerdon and the due of his
eminent merit ; in equipage he surpassed the highest men in the realm,
and he took delight in showing the wisest and most powerful that he,
relying only upon the king's personal favour, had in reality a power and
influence superior to all that could be won by wisdom in the council or
v;ilour ill the field. Witty, he made the noliles his butt in the court con-
versation ; accomplished, he took every opportunity to mortify them by
some dexterous slight in the tilt yard or at tha tourney ; and the insolence
of the favourite thus completed the hatred which the folly of the king had
first aroused.
Soon after his accession to the throne Edward had to visit France, in
order to do homage to Philip for Guienne, and also to (JSpouse that mon-
arch's daughter Isabella, to whom he had a long time been betrothed ; and
on iiis departure ho gave a new proof of his infatuated afTeclion for Gav-
eston, by not only preferring him to all the English nobles for the honour-
able and important office of guardian of the realm, but also giving him in
ihat capacity more than usually extensive powers.
When Edward brought his young queon to Engliuid he introduced Gav-
eston to her, and showed so anxious an interest in the favourite's welfare,
that Isabella, who was both shrewd in observation and imperious in tem-
per, instantly conceived a mortal hatred for the man who evidently pos-
sessed so much power over a mind which she deemed that she alone had
aright to beguile or to rule. Gaveston, though too quick of perception to
be unaware of the queen's feeling, was not wise enough to aim at concili-
ating her, but aggravated her already deadly emnity by affronts, which
were doubly injurious as being offered to a queen by the mere creature
and million of her husband ; a prosperous and inflated adventurer, whom
abreatii had made and whom a breath could just as easily destroy.
A. D. 1308. — Enraged that such a person should both share her husband's
confidence and openly deride or defy her own influence, Isabella gave
every encouragement to the nobles wlioin she perceived to be inimical
(0 Gaveston ; and it was with her sainuion, if not actually at her sugges-
tion, that a confederacy was formed for the express purpose of expelling
the insolent favourite from the court. At the liead of this confederacy
was the king's own cousin, Thomas, earl of Lancaster. First priiiec ol
the blood, he was also possessed of both greater wealth and greater powei
than any other subject in the realm ; and it was probably less from anj
patriotic feeling than from vexation at seeing his private influence witi
the king surpassed by that of an upstart favourite, that he now so strenu
oiisly opposed him. This powerful noble assembled around hiin all fhos*
barons who were inimical to Gaveston, and tliey entered into an agree-
ment, which they solemnized by an oath, never to break up their confed-
eracy until Gaveston should be expelled from the kingdom. From thig
umler-curreiit of opposition many open disturbances arose in the kingdom,
and tiiere were evident symptoms of a rear approacli to actual civil war.
At length a parliament was summoned to meet at Westminster, which
Lancaster and his •.•ssociates attended with so great a force, that they were
;ilile to dictate their own terms to the king. Gaveston was accordingly
luaished, being at the same time sworn never to return, and the prehiies
V9tl
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
threatening him with excoinniunication should lie venture to do so
Though Edward could not prevent tliis sentence being passed upon his
minion, he contrived to deprive it of its sting. Instead of sending (raves-
ton home to his own country, he conferred upon him the office of lord
ieutenant of Ireland, went with him on his way thither as far as Bristol
and made him a parting gift of some valuable lands.
During his residence in Ireland, Gaveston displayed both courage and
cond^lct in putting down rebellion, and probably was far happier in his
post than while mingling in the inane gaities of the English court. But
Edward was absolutely wretched at the loss of his favourite. Compara-
tivfi peace was restored by that person's absence, but peace itself to the
weak king seemed valueless until Gaveston should return to grace if. In
order to pave the way for the restoration for which he was so anxious
(he king endeavoured to gratify the most powerful of the barons. The
office of hereditary high steward was given to Lancastar, and gifts and
grants were profusely lavished upon the earls VVarenne and Lincoln.
Wlien by these means Edward had, as he thought, sufficiently mollified
Gaveslon's enemies, lie applied to the pope for a dispensation for the
favourite, recalled liiin from Ireland, and hastened to Chester to meet him
at his landing. As the absence of Gaveston had in a great measure caused
his insolence to bo forgotten, the barons, willing to oblige the king, con
sented to the favourite's re-estabhshment at court.
Had Gaveston been taught by the past to enjoy his good fortune unob-
trusively and inoffensively, all might now have been well with him. But
the doting folly of his master was fully equalled by his own incurable
insolence and presumption, and he had not long been restored to his for-
mer slation, ere his misconduct aroused the barons to even more than their
former hale and indignation.
At first they silently indicated their anger by refraining from their atten-
dance in parliament ; but perceiving that no alteration was made in the
profusion of the king or the insolence of Gaveston, they attended parlia-
ment, indeed, but did so, in contempt of an especial law to tlie contrary,
witli a force powerful enough to enable them once more to dictate to the
king, to wiioni, in tlie form of a petition, they presented their demand
that lie hlionld delei:ate his authority to certain barons and prelates, who,
until Ihf! following Michaelmas, siiould have power to regulate both the
kingd(Mii and llic kiny's household ; tliat the regulations thus luade should
become perpetual law ; and that the barons and prelates in question should
further be empowered to fi)rm associations for securing the observance of
those regulations. In brief terms, this petition did really create an im^ie-
rium in iinperio; and the defjradalion of the royal authority was not a jot
the less complete because the petitioners professed to receive the vast
powers lh(!y demamied solely from the free grace of the king, and prom-
ised thai this concession siinuld not be drawn into a precedent, and that
the powers demanded slioidd diaermine at the appointed time.
A.D. 1311. — Many of the regulations made under the extraordinary
powers thus usurped by the barons deserve all praise, inasmuch as they
tended to provide for the security of the people at large and the reguliir
admiiiisiralion of justice. IJnt the main object of the barons was to rid
themselves of Gaveston, who was accordingly again banished, and it wns
It the s;inie lime orilanied that should he ever again returri he should he
coMsidrred :ind treated as a public enemy.
To all other tilierations Edward was wholly indifferent; but the haiiisli-
ment of (laveston filled him with rage and grief. He therefore retired to
York, and, gathering forces about him, openly invited Gaveston back
from Fland(M-s, while he dei-lared that he liad been tyraimously and ille-
gidly banished, and re-establisli(;d liim in all his former pomp and power,
file instdenl and haughty nature of Gaveston was now so well known to
THE TIIEASURY OF HISTORY.
S99
the barons, that they full ihey must either wholly crush him or prepare to
bucrusiied by hiui; Lancaster accordingly summoned around him a for-
iiijilablc confederacy, at the head of which were Guy, earl of Warwick,
Bulmii, earl of Hereford, and Aynier de Valence, earl of Pembroke.
Hobert de Winchelsea, arciibishop of Canterbury, broujjht the whole of
the clergy to tiie aid of this mighty confederacy; and so geni'ral whs the
disgust caused by the king's absurd and ruinous folly, that Earl Warenne,
suluiig faithful, now openly declared against him.
L.uicaster led the army of the confederacy to York, but the king
„neaped tlience to Teignmouth, whence he embarked for Scarborough
castle. Here he left the favourite, while he himself returned lo York,
to endeavour to raise an army sufficiently numerous to admit of his meet-
ing the barons in the field.
Ill the meantime Giiveston was far less secure than Edward had sup-
piiseil. The castle of Scarborough was very strong, but it was iiisutli-
lieiitiy garrisoned, and still more insufficiently provisioned ; and, Pembroke
in'iiig sent to besiege it, Gaveston found himself compelled to capitulate
He did so on condition that he should remain in the custody of Pembroke
diiiiiigiwo months, which time should be employed in endeavours to bring
abiiiit an acconnnodation between the king and thebarq^ns; tliat should
sui;h endeavours fail, the castle should be restored unimpaired to Gave-
ston; and that Henry Piercy and the earl of Pembroke should with all
their lands guarantee the due performance of these articles.
On the surrender of Gaveston, the earl of Pembroke treated his prisoner
with all civdity, and conducted him to Dedington castle, near Uanbury,
where, on pretext of business, he left him with only a very weak guard.
Scarcely had Pembroke departed, when Guy, earl of Warwick, who had
from the first exhibited a most furious zeal against Gaveston, aitacked
the castle, which was readily surrendered to iiiin by the feeble and proba-
bly luOred garrison. Gaveston was now hurried away to Warwick cas-
tle, where Warwick, Hereford, Arundel, and Lancaster, after a very sum-
mary ceremony, ordered him to be beheaded, in contempt alike of the
terms granted to him by Pembroke, and of the general laws of the land.
When Edward first heard of the death of his favourite, his rage seemed
unappeasable and his grief inconsolable. But he was too weak-minded
to he dangerous ; and even wiiile he was threatening the utter extermina-
tion of the barons, they reconciled themselves to him by the politic and
empty form <)f feigning to regret tiie deed that was irrevocable, and prof-
fernig to asK upon their knees pardon for tiie offence. Tiie quarrel be-
tween the king and <he barons was, for the present at least, patched up;
and the people lijoped from this reunion of sucii powerful interests some
signal vindication of the national honour, especially as regardeil Scotland,
where Bruce had for some time been both bravely and successfully exert-
ing iiimself. Of the hill country he had made himself entirely master,
and liience he had carried destruction upon the Cunnnins in the north
lowlands. Seconded by his brother Edward Bruce and by the renowned
Sir James Douglas, Robert was continually a(diieving some new conquest ;
and the nuinificence with which he bestowed upon the nobility llie spoils
lie took, greatly tended to secure him that confidence, for want of which
alone the murdered Wallace had failed in his patriotic efforts. With the
sxcepiion of a few fortresses he had subdued the whole kingdom ; and
Edward, by the distractions of England, had been forced to consent to a
trii"(', which Bruce wisely employed in consolidating his power and ii;
employing it to the reformation of the numerous abuses which wat and
license had necessarily introduced.
A.D. 1314. — The truce, ill observed from the beginning, at length came
loan end, and Edward now assembled a vast army with tlie design of a
ouee crushing Bruce, and finally subduinn- that kingdom which had givi;a
■ f/.iM4ri.«>-
300
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
80 much trouble to his politic and warlike father. Besides assembling an
the military force of England, he called over some of his powerful vassale
of Giiscony, and to the mighty army thus formed he added a huge disor.
derly force of Irish and Welsh, eager for plunder and peculiarly well fiitej
for the irregular warfare of a mountain land. With this various force
amounting to at least a hundred thousand men, he marched into Scodand'
Robert Bruce, with an army of only thirty thousand men, awaited the
approach of his enemies at Bannockburn, near Stirling. On his right
flank rose a hill, on his left stretched a morass, and in his front was a rivu-
let, along the bank of which he caused sharpened slakes to be set in pits
wiiich were then liglitly covered with turfs.
Towards evening the English appeared in sight, and their advanced
guard of cavalry was fiercely charged by a similar body of Scots led by
Bruce in person. The fight was short but sanguinary, and the English
were put to flight upon their main body ; one of their bravest gentlemen
Henry de Bohun, being cleft to the chin by the battle-axe of Bruce.
The combat proceeded no further that night, but very early op the fo].
.owing morning the English army was led An by Edward. The left wing
of the cavalry was entrusted to the command of the earl of Gloucester,
Edward's nephew, whose youthful ardour led to a terrible calamity.
Disdaining all caution, he led on his force at full charge, and rider and
horse were speedily plunging among the staked pits which Bruce had pre-
pared for just such an emergency. The young earl himself was slain at the
very outset, the greater number of his men were utterly disordered and
helpless, and before they could recover and form in a line of i)attle, they
were so fiercely charged by the Scottish cavalry, under Sir James Doug-
las, that they were fairly drivfii off the field. As the hopes of Edward
and the anxiety of Bruce had chiefly referred to the English superiority
in cavalry, this event had a proportionate effect upon the spirits of both
armies ; and the alarm of the Faglish was now changed into a perfect
panic by the success of the following simple stratagem. Just as tiie Eng-
lish cavalry were in full retreat from the field, the heights on the left
were tlironged with what seemed to be a second Scotch army, but what
really was a mere mob of peasants whom Bruce had caused to appear
there with music playing and banners flying. At sight of this new ene-
my — as this mere rabble was deemed — the English on the instant lost all
heart, threw down their arms, and betook themselves from the field in the
utmost disorder. The Scots pursued them, and the road all the way to
Berwick, upwards of ninety miles, was covered with the dead and dying.
Besides an immense booty which was taken on the field and during the
pursuit, the victors were enriched with the ransoms of upwards of four
hundred gentlemen of note, who were taken, in addition t > a peri'ect host
of meaner prisoners, to all of whom Bruce behaved I'l ;;' ■ inii'.mity
and courtesy of a true hero.
Determined to follow up his success, Robert Bruce, > oPuu , >! •. jjd
recall his troops from the pursuit and slaughter, led t.i.ai o,, / iht i irder
and plundered the north of England without opposition ; and still farther
to annoy the English government, he sent his brother Edward to Ireland
with four thousand troops.
Lancaster and the malcontent barons who had declined to accompany
Edward upon his Scottish expedition, no sooner beheld him return beaten
ii.d dejpcted, than they took advantage of his situation to renew their
c'*' ,.''mand for the cstablisiunent of their ordinances. The king was in
;:;:uat!' I to resis' jnch formidable domestic enemies; a perfectly new
inlriist;;; v.as formea with Lancaster at its head, and great preparations
M"r.' iiavle to resis -iic thicntened hostilities of the now once more indc
pei'tli-it Scotland. But though Lancaster showed much apparent zeal
agui.'At the Scuts, and was actually at the head of the army destined
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
301
10 oppose them, it was strongly suspected that he was secretly favourable
(0 them and actually held a private correspondence with Bruce, judging
(hilt while the kingdom was thus threatened from without he could the
more easily ffovern the king.
lathe meantime Kdwurd, truly incapable of self reliance, had select-
ed a successor to Gyvt'ston in the splendid but dangerous honour of his
favour and r ui.J'-Mce. This person was Hugh le Despenser, more com-
monly li'liu' S; '\; -ir, V iio to all the eloquent accomplishments and per-
son.-l , tres of Gave&ion, added no small portion of the presumption and
in-,f)leii(<i which had consigned that adventurer to an untimely grave
The eK;' r !: : n. or was also very high in the king's favour, and as he pos
V =sed great ii! jderation as well as great experience and ability, he might
jHi iliiy have saved both his son and the king from many misfortunes,
li'J they not been self-doomed beyond the reach of advice or warning.
A. D. 13'21. — Any favourite of the king would, ipso facto, have been dis-
liked by the barons ; but the insolence of young Spenser speedily made
him the oi)ject of as deadly a hate as that which had ruined Gaveston.
To insolence Spenser added cupidity. He had married a niece of the
king, who was also a oo-heiress of the young earl of Gloucester who fell
al Bannockburn, and had thus acquired considerable property on tlie
Welsh borders, which he was so anxious to extend that-he became in
solved in hot dispute with two neighbouring barons, Aubrey and Amnion,
towards whom common report made him guilty of great dishonesty and
oppression.
In the same neighbourhood he got into a still more serious dispute re-
specting the barony of Govver. This barony came, by inheritance, into
ilie possession of John de Mowbray, who imprudently entered upon pos-
session without complying with the feudal duty of taking seizin and livery
from the crown. Spenser being very desirous to possess this property,
persuaded the king to take advantage of De Mowbray's merely technical
laches, declare the barony escheated, and then bestow it upon him. This
was done, and the flagrant injustice of the case excited such general and
lively indignation, that the chief nobility, including the earls of Lancaster
and Hereford, Audley, Ammori, Roger de Mortimer, Roger de Clifford,
and other barons, flew to arms and declared open war both against the
favourite and the king himself.
As the barons had long been nursing a sullen and deep discontent, they
iiad already made preparations ; they accordingly appeared at the head
of a powerful force, and sent a message to Edward, demanding the instant
dismissal of Spencer, and threatening, should that be refused, to take his
punishment into their own hands. Both the Spensers were absent on the
kin^r's business, and Edward replied to the message of his barons, that
he could not, without gross and manifest breach of his coronation oath,
co'ideuui tlie absent, against whom, moreover, there was no formal charge
The barons probably expected some such answer ; and they scarcely
waited to receive it ere they marched their forces, devastated and plun-
dered the estates of both the Spensers, and then proceeded to London and
tendered to the parliament, v\ hich was then sitting, a complicated charge
against both father and son. The parliament, without obtaining or de-
manding a single one of the many articles of this charge, sentenced both
the Spencers to confiscation of goods and to perpetual exile.
This done, they went through the mockery of soliciting and obtaining
from the king an indemnity fi»r tin ir pri)ceedings, which they thus plainly
confessed to have been delib< rately illegal, and then disbanded their troops
and retired, in haughty conlidence of security from any attempt at ven-
geance on the part of the weak king, each to his own I'slate.
So weak and indolent was the natur<^ of Edward, that it is probable
i'l
m..
M
I • ;
SOS
THl': TllKASURY OF IIISTOIIY.
that he would have loft the b:irons to the uiulisturbed enjoyment oi then
triuiii])!!, but for an insult which had been offered to his queen. Hcrina.
jesty being belated in the neighbourhood of Leeds castle, was denied ii
night's .»-lieller there by ihe lord Hadlesmere, to whom it belonged, and oi>
lier attendants reuiouslratiug, a fray arose, in whieli several of them were
Wouuiled and two or three killed.
In addition to the fact that tiie refusal of a night's lodging was diur.
lisli, and in the case of a lady doubly so, the queen had ever conducted
herself so as to win tlic respect of the baronage, especially iti her synip;;.
thy with their hatred of both Gaveston and the younger Spenser; n\\i
every one, therefore, agreed in blaming the uncivil conduct of Lord Bud-
esincre. Taking advantage of this temper, which promised hiiu an eiisv
victory, Kdward assenibled an army and took vcngeanee on Hadlesmere
without any one interfering to sav(! the offender.
Thus far successful, the king now communicated with his friends in all
parts of the country, and instead of disbanditig liis force on the accom.
[)lishuient of the object for which alone he had ostensibly asscnibltd ii
lie issued a manifesto recalling the two Spensers, and de>laring their seiN
tence unjust and contrary to the laws of the land.
A. I). 13-J'J. — 'I'his open declaration he instantly followed up Iv ' innreliinn
bis troops to Ihe Welsh marches, wher<; tlie possessions ol his nidsi eon'.
Bideral)le enemies were situated. As his approaeli was sudden and unex-
pected he met with no resistance ; and several of the barons were selznl
and their castles taken possession of by the king, lint Lancaster, tin
very life auj soul of the king's oppmienls, was still at liberty ; ami, assent.
bliiig an army, luaiiri w olVthe mask be had so long worn, ,uid avowed
his long-suspected conneriion with iScolland. Ueiiig joined l)y l!ie ciirl
of llerefiird. and having the promise of a reinforcement fnn i' Seytlaiul
under the command of Sir .fames Douglas and the earl of Murray, I.an
caster marched against the king, who had :-,o well emphyed his liinelliin
he was now at the head of an army of thirty thousand men. The hos-
tile forces met at IJurton and Trent, and Lancaster, who had no irreat nnl-
itary genius, and who was even suspected of being but indifferently en-
dowed with personal coiirai;e, failing in his atteiii|)ts at defending the pas-
sages of Ihe river reiicated norihward. in the hope of beiii!.' jniiied and
suppinted by llii' promised rcinforceiiieiils from Scotland. TIkhijjIi hollv
pur>iieil by the royal I'luces, hi' retreated in safely ami in perfect (irderas
far as Iturougbbriiige, where his farllu'r progress waso|ip.)sed by adivisnin
of the royal army, under Sir .Andrew llariday. Lancaster altein|ile(| |(,
cut his way tlir(Uii;li tins force, but was so stoutly opposed iliat Ins troops
weri" thrown into the inmost ilisorder; the earl of Hereford was slaiii.aiid
Laiieasier liiinsidf was liken prisinier and drat^^ed to the preseiiee of Ins
offeinlcd sovereign- The weak-miudeil are nsn.illy vindictive; ainlevia
liad lldwarri not been so, the temper of the limes \Miuld have niadeii
uiiliki l\ that a king so oll'eiided should show any mercy Itiit there «:i>
a petty lualigmly in Ivlward's Irealmeiit of Laiica-.ler highly (lisjjri.'iiiii
to his own character. The r<'cently iiowerful noble was mounted upon ,
mnry hack, without saddle or brliile, his head was covered wiilialimi'
and 111 I Ills plight lii^ was e.nrried to Ins own e.istle of I'onlelVaci ami llnri
beheaded.
Hadle^iMere and upw.irds of Iweuly more <i( the leaders of iliis rcvnl'
>v< ic le^jally Hied and executed . a ^real iiiiiiiber were condeiiiiii I lo lla
minor penallies of lorfeiiiire and iiiiprisiniincut ; ami a still gieaicr iiiini-
ner wen rciriuiiale eiiouyli to make their escape beyond seas. Su Aiidn «
llariday, lo whom ihe kiiiu's liuccess w.is mainly owiii)j, was r.iinnl in
lo the e.irldoin of Carllsh , .iiid received :\ goodly share ol the iiiiiin '"ii>
forfeited (>>tales which the kiwj, bail lo disliiliiilr auiiniu |ii> friends. Il.n!
llua dixtribul:on been made with anything like jiidgmeiit, it li,u! alTunlfJ
THE THEASUIIY OF lIIdTOIlY.
303
Ihii king a splendid opportunity of increasing tlie number of his friends
and of quickening and confirming their zeal. But the kinj? and his favour-
ite were untaught by the past ; and to the younger Spenser fell the lion's
shan; of these rich forfeitures ; a partiality which naturally disgusted the
true friends of the crown.
To the enemies whom Spenser's cupidity thus made even among his
own party, other and scarcely less formidable ones were added in the
pprsoiis of the relations of tlie attainted owners of t'le property he thus
grasped at; and his insolence of demeanour, whicli fully kept pace with
his increase in wealth, formed a widely-spread, though as yet concealed,
party tiiat was passionately and determinedly bent upon his destruction.
A fruitless attempt which Edward now made to recover his lost power
iiiSfotlaud convinced even him that, in the existing temper of his people,
success in that quarter would be unattainable; and after making an in-
glurious retreat he signed a truce for thirteen years.
A. D. 13-M. — If this truce was sea.sonable to King Rolicrt nrncc — forking
he was, though not formally acknowledged as such by Knglaiid— it was
110 less so to Kdward ; for, in addition to the discontent that existed
anions' his own subjects, he was just now engaged in a dispute of no small
importance with the king of France. Charles the Fair found or feigned
siinie reason to complain of the conduct of Kdward's minist(!rsin (Jiiieime
and showed a determination to avenge himself by the contiscalidn of all
Edwaid's foreign territory ; and an embassy Scut by Fdward, with his
brotiier tiie earl of Kent at its head, had failed to pacify the king of
France.
Edward's queen, Isabcdla, had long learned to hold him in contempt,
but on the present occasion she seemed to sympathize with his vexation
aiii per|)l('xilv, and ollVrcd to go personally to the court of France and
enileavour to arrange ail matters in dispute.
Ill this voluntary oflice of nicdiiilion Isabella made some progress ; but
wlii'ii all the main points in tiui dis[iiile were disposed (if, Charles, (|nile in
accordance with feudal law, demanded that Fdward in person should ap-
pear lit I'aris and do homage for his French possessions. Had he alone
been coiii'eriKMJ, this requisition could not have caused him an hour's de-
lay or a luiinile's perplexity ; not so, bound up ns his interests were with
those of Spenser. That insolent million well knew that lii^ had given the
dce|)est otl'iiice to the pride of Isabcdla ; he well knew her to lie both
bidd and malignaiil, and he fe.ired that if he ventnied to attend the kitr^ to
I'aris, Isabella would exert her [lower thertMo bis desirui'tiim ; sviiile on
'.iKMiihiir hand, should \w remain liidiind lie wonbl lie scarcely able to de-
fend liiaiseir in '):" kinu's absence, while his iiilluence over that weak
priiin would im si i robably be won away by smne new lavonritc. Is, ibid-
la, who probal:ly pinelrateil the caiisc ihal deliyed Iiit liusbaiid's jour-
ney, now pui|)Os(Nl ;bal, instead of Ivlward procei'diiii: to France in per-
son, 111- slionid si'ii I Ins son, young l''dw;ird, at thai tune lliirteen years of
ii!;e, to (Id hoiiiagc fur ('iiieiiiic, and resign that dieniiiioii to lilin. Until
Spenser and the king gladly embriiccd this expedient ; the young |irineo
was si'iii over to France; and Isaliidla, having now oiilanied the custody
of tile licirlo the crown, threw aside all ili^ginsc, (leclarint! her del'st.ition
of Spenser and iier determinatMni to have hiin binislied from tlo pri 3<'nc(!
and iiilliienei' he had so ptM'iiieionsly abused ; a deidaration which made
Isaliella very popular in Ijiglaiid, where the hatred to Spenser urew i|i ep.
er and nunc virnhail every <lay. A great ninnber of the adlieieiiis </( thp
lliiliirliiiiate l.aiicasler, who had esiMped from Fiiulainl when tlieii leader
was ilereaied and |iul to death, were at tins tune in Fr.ince ; and as
they, eiiually with the ipieni, detested Sp^n^er, their services weic nat-
nrall) tendered to her. Foremost aininig tlieiii was Koger Mnrliiin'r.
Tiii.i youiit; man had been a puwerftil and wealthy Imroii in iha \V«!«h
^.1
mm
ly .i^<i»e
304
THE TllEASUllY OF HI8T0HV.
';i
maiches, but having been condemned for high treason, his life was spapd
on condition of iiis remaining a prisoner for hfe in the Tower of London.
Aided by friends, he had been fortunate enough to escape to France, aiiti
having in tlio first instance been introduced to Isabella only in tiie cluir-
acter of a political partizun, his handsome person, accomplishments, and
wit soon obtained him a more tender and more criminal favour. Having
thus fallen away from her duty to her husband, she was easily inducfid lo
include liini in the enmity slie had hitherto professed to continc to \\\i
minion. A^ Isabella henceforth lived in the most unconcealed intimacy
with Mortimer, and as their mutual correspondence with the most disaf-
fected barons in England was made known to the king, he became iilarin-
cd, and sent a peremptory message requiring her not only to return to
England, but also to bring the young prince home with her. To this mes-
sage Isabella as peremptorily replied, ll.at neither she nor her son would
ever again set foot in England until Spenser should be definitively le-
moved.
Edward's situation was now truly terrible. At home secret conspira-
cies were formed against him ; abroad a force was rapidly preparing to
nvadc him; the minion for whom he had encounlered so many enmities
;ould do but little to aid him ; and his own wife and child, those near and
irecious connexions upon whom he ought to have been able to rely in the
>vorst of circumstances, were at the very head of the array that threuten-
cd his crown, if not his person. The king of France entered warmly into
the cause of the queen ; and Edward's own brother, the earl of Kent, beini'
induced to believe that the sob; intention of Isabella was to procure the
banisinnent of Spenser, joined the queen as did the earls of Leicester and
Norfolk. Nor was the ctiniity of the clerical order wanting to the formid-
able array against Edward.
A. 1). i;iJ().— With all these elements prepared for the destruction of
the unhappy Edward, it was clear that nothing was wanted lowiinis the
connni'iicemi.'nt of a civil war but the appearance of the queen at the
head of an invading force. This iq)pearance Isabella was very willlnirto
make; but some delay was caused by the decent unwillingness ol' the
king of I'rance to have an expedition, luaded by the wife and s(ui, sail
from any of his jjorts against tiie husband and father. Determined iii
her pmpose, Isabella removed this obstacle to its accomplislinieni, by
belriilhnij4 young Edward to I'liilippa, daugiiter of the count of Ibdhnid
and llainault. Having thus allied herself with this priiuie, Isalielht wari
8[)i'('ild\ I'ualiled lo collect a force of upwards of tiiree thousand men; ami
witii tins for('<' she sadcd from Dort, and landed safely and iniiJiiposeil
U()Oii till' ( uast of SutTolk. Here she was joined by the earls of Nmfdlk
and l.eii ester, ami the bishiips of F.ly, Hereford, and Lincoln, who brdiiuhl
toiler aid all their vass;ils; and Uobert ih Watteville, who was sent
do« II Id Siillolk at the head of a force to oppose her, actually dtseili'l
to her Willi tlie whole of his troops. As she jirogressed her forces were
still fariher oicreased, men of siibstHiiee, Ihinkiiig that they rati iiii riS'k
in siiiint; wlili he heir to the crown, and the common sort beiin; iiiliired
by llic yi'iieral professions of justice and love of liberty, of wliicli ls;i-
bella took care to be abundantly liberal in her proclamations.
On bearing thai bis i|uei'n ImiI landed and was advancing agiiiiisi liiiii
ill f<n'i'e, l-!il\\ aril's first einieavour was to raise the Londoners in lll!^ ile-
finer, nglitly jniliiing that if he could ilo that, he would siill have a cliaiiie
of oblainiiitj reasonablt! terniH. lint Ins alteinpl met with no success; hit
eiitn ilM's and ininaces alike were listeneil to in a sullen silence, and he
de|i:iili(l to make a similar alteiiipt in the west.
'riie kiiiLi's ilepailine was the signal for a general inBiirrectlnii ill Lon-
don. Wraith, il may be easily Mi|i|)osed, was the chief oii/ir ii|?aiii''l
Mhieli the M\hiirg('nt populace levelled it ra^je ; the next h' niiius eriiiie
THE TREilSURY OP HISTORY.
30ft
.'as gpai \i
f London,
ranee, and
the cliar-
iients, and
■. H;ivin-4
induced lo
itinc tu Ilia
1 intimacy
most disaf.
amc alarm-
3 return to
'o this mcs-
r son would
nitivcly re-
ii conspira-
preparing to
my enmities
ose near and
rely in the
liat threaten-
warmly into
if Kent, being
) jirocurc the
'jeicestcr and
lothe furmid-
Icstruction o(
1 towards the
1 queen at the
:ry willing lo
Uuess of the
iiiul son, sad
)etfrinined \n
ii>hnienl, bv
i)f Holhnul
iiliella was
ind iiieu; ami
111 UnO|l|H)!<l'll
.. of Nurfiilk
who bronnlit
llO was MMll
ullv deserli'i
. forces were
y ran no risk
icinif ;dhircd
lof winch Ua-
jr ;ilt:nii>*t hlMl
icrs in hi> de-
[mve a chancr
I) .sueeesit, \m
lleiice, and lu'
[('(ion ni 1.011-
iirtmr a^alll^l
1|. iiious erinw
:\t
MS that of being passively loyal to the fugitive monarth. Robbery and
murder were conimitled wholesale and in the broad light of day; and
amoiiif the victims was the bishop of Exeter. Tliis prelate, who was as
remarkable for kindly disposition as fur talent and loyalty, was seized as
he passed along the street, beheaded, and his body thrown lnu> the 'I'haines.
The rioters, or rather the rebels, now by a stratagem obtained possession
of the Tower, and then entered into a formal association and covenant,
by which they bound themselves to put to death all who should dare to
oppose the designs and desires of the queen.
The advanced f^uard of the vindictive and treacherous Isabella passed
through London in pursuit of the king, and consisted of a body of Kn*
glish and Hollanders, the latter commanded by John de Hainanit, and the
former, Iwrribile diclu, by the king's own brother, the earl of Kent. Ar-
rived at Uristol, the unfortunate king was disappointed of the aid and
support he expected to find there; and his furious pursuers being but
a short distance in his rear, he hastily departed for Wales, leaving the
elder Spenser, who had been some time before creatrd earl of Wmches-
ter, to defend Bristol castle, of which he was governor. The faithless
giirrison mutinied against the venerable earl, who was then nearly ninety
years of age, and delivered him into the hands of the queen's partizans,
by whom, without even the mockery of a trial, he was hanged. Nor did
the brutality of his enemies end even here ; he wras scarcely dead ere ho
WKl taken from the gibbet, and his body cut up and thrown to the dogs,
Ills head being stuck upon a pole and exhibited to the populace.
.\flcr equally ineffectual attempts to escape and to raise siiHii'ieut force
for his defence in field or fortress, the unfortunale king w;is discovered
among the mountains of Wales, and iinpris(nit'd in Kcnilworlh castle, in
llie custoiiy of the earl of Leicester. Tin; younger Spenser about the
siinie time was taken, and he speedily met with the fearful fate of his
I'ailier, a fate which even in the case of this arrogant mininn, whatever
Ins faults or crimes, was illegally and brnlally indicted. The earl of
Arundel was also put lo death by the dominant jiariy, though iln^ utmost
malice could alledge nothing against him, save ilial he had maintained
lil'i loyalty unshiiken and uncorrnpted amid the >lianu'less disloyally and
disitraceful success of the majority of the Kimli di baronage.
Ualikick, the chancellor, who, as being the most active as well as the
ablest of the king's advisers, was especially hated by the populace, and
who, moreover, was detested by Isabella, could not so safely be put to
driiih by the direct tyranny of the barons ; for he being a priest, his death
would have been offensive to Rome. Hut the liarons, w'(dl knowing the
P'lWir and Icinpcr of the London mob, sent tiic iiiilia{i|iy man to I he bishop
of Hereford's palace in lanidoii. As had been furcsicii. Ins sleinlcr guard
was overpowered, and after he had been fniillv maltreated by the mob
lie was thrown into Newgate, where ho shortly afterwards died of his
wuunils or of |)oi>(oii.
A.D. 1UJ7. — Having, by this long series of illegal and erne! deeds, given
iliiiMdaiii iiiliinatioii of the fat(; that would await ihosc who shimld dare
III oppose her measures, Isabella now summoned a |)arliamciit to meet her
It Westiiniisler, and a lonu and formal charue was presented lo it against
ihi' king, Tlioiiiih the charge was laboiircd wiih lln? ulinosi ingenuity,
iiiil iilnioiisly iii-pired by the dci'pest maliginlv, it did not from bcgimiing
M I'lid colli. III! a Miiiile accnsatimi upon which the meanest of Ins subjects
iiiild lastly have In en |Miiiished, howt^vcr slii.'hily. cither in piir--c or per*
viii. The worst ihit was iillcdgcd ;iir.iliisi him was a nmsi pil'alile want
of talent, unless, lodeed, wc may condescend lo notice thai iiiusi siranitfl
fliirue iig.niist a sovereign, that he h id inipris d Miinlry hannis and
aril lies who had been convii'tcd of treason. A more alisiird charge it
*ould have been scarcely possible to frame j but if such u charge had
Vol,. I 'JO
%t,:^'|
306
THE TREASURY C P HISTORY.
oeen presented to that scandalous parliament, the unhappy king would
still have been pronounced guilty, for tliey who sat in judgment upon him
could only confess his innocence by confessing their own treason and in-
justice.
At the very commencement of these disgraceful proceedings, the young
prince of Wales had been named as regent; he was now pronounced lo
be king in the room of his father, whose deposition was declared in the
same breath. But, as if to show more fully how conscious they were o(
the injustice and illegality of their conduct, these malignant and servile
nobles sent a deputation to Edward, in his dungeon, to demand his resia.
nation after they had pronounced him justly deposed, "
Entirely helpless in the hands of his enemies, whose past conduct suf.
ficiently warned him against trusting to their justice or compassion, the
unhappy king gave the resignation required; and Isabella, now wholly
triumphant, lived in the most open and shameless adultery with her ac-
complice, Mortimer.
The part which Leicester had taken in this most disgusting revolution
had procured him the earldom of Lancaster ; but not even this valued
and coveted title could reconcile him, conspirator and traitor though he
was, to the odious task of adding personal ill usage to the many miseries
under which his royal captive was already suffering. The honourable
and gentle treatment which Lancaster bestowed upon the king filled the
guilty Isabella and her paramour with fears lest th(! earl should at length
be moved to some more decisive manifestation of his good feclinir; and
the royal prisoner was now taken from Kenilworth, ;md committed to the
custody of Lord Herkeley, Mallravcrs, and (iournay, each of whom
guarded Irm an alternate moiitli. Tin; Lord llcrkcdey, like the carl o(
Lancaster, had too much of true nobility to add to the miseries of his
his prisoner, but when he passed to the hands of the other two slate jail-
ers they added personal ill-trcatm(.'nt to his other woi!s. Everytliingthat
could irritate first and then (inally prostrate? the spirit of the niihappy
king was put in practice; and when at length they despaired of brcaknii;
down his constitution with siiflicieiit rapidity by these indiriTt means,
they broki! tlirough all restraint and put him to (icath. We sliiill not de-
8crii)e witli the minuteness of some of our historians tlie barbarous ami
disgusting process by which tiie riiiriaii keepers [lerpetralcd their dialioi
ieal act. .Suffice it to say, tiiat a red-hot iron had lieen forcibly iniroihicd
into the bowels of the uniiappy siillerer; and thoiigti the body exhihjtpd
no outward marks of violence, the horrid deed was discovered to idl ihc
guards and attendants by the screams witii which the agonized lini'lillcd
the castle.
It IS as well to state here what became of these most dctcstalile and
ferocious wretches. Tiie public iiidigiialioii was so strong against thcni,
that, even before the inipndent guilt of Isabella caused her downfall, Ihnr
lives were in danger, and when that event at leiiglli took jilaee they were
obliged to lly the country, tioiiriiay was selzeil at (>iiieiinc anil si'iil id
England, hut was beheaded on the way, probably at the stiL'ni'shiHi (if
?ome of the instigators of his riillianly crime, who feared lest he shonld
■livul^e their concern in it. Maltravers lived for some years on llici'on-
tineiit, imil at lenutli, (Ui the strength of some services to his victim's son
and siiccesMur, ventured to approach him and sue for pardon, wliich. U'
the eternal distrruce of Edward III., was granted.
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
307
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE REIGN OF EDWARD 111.
g revolulioii
tliis valued
If though he
any miseries
B lionourable
iiig filled the
luld at length
fooling; ;\nd
imiiteiliolhe
,ch of whom
e the carl ol
lisories of his
two slate jail-
iVerytliing that
tlie uniiappy
I of hrrakiuj;
direct means,
sliall not de-
harbaroHs and
llicir (lialiol-
,)ly introdiici'd
lody cxhihili'il
(•red to all ihu
.zed lii-'lilloil
4, D. 1327. — When Isabella and her paramour had consummated then
aideuus guilt by the murder of the unoffending Edward II., the earl of
Lancaster was appointed guardian of the person of the young king, and
the general government of the kingdom was committed to a council of
regency, consisting of the primate and the archbishop of York, the
bishops of Worcester, Winchester, and Hereford, the earls of Norfolk,
Kent, and Surrey, and the h)rds Wake, Ingham, Piercy, and Ross.
The first care of the dominant party was to procure a formal parlia-
mentary indemnity for (heir violent proceedings ; their next, to remove
all stigma from the leaders and head of the Lancastrian party, and to
heap all possible odium and disqualification upon the adherents of the
Spensers.
Disgusted as the people were by the gross misconduct of Isabella, her
power was as yet too formidable to be opposed, and the first disturbance
of the young king's reign came from the Scots. Though Robert Bruce,
by his advanced age and feeble health, was no longer able to take an ac-
tive personal part in the field, as had been his wont, his brave and saga-
cious spirit still animated and instructed the councils of his people.
Feeling certain that England would never give him peace should its do-
mestic affairs be so completely and calmly settled as to enable it advan-
tageously to make war upon him, ho resolved to anticipate its hostility
while it was labouring under the disadvantages which are ever insep-
arable from the minority of a king and the plurality of the regency. Hav-
ing made an unsuccessful attempt upon Durham castle, he gave the com-
mand of twenty-five thousand men to Lord Douglas and the earl of Mur-
ray, with orders to cross the border and devastate as well as plunder the
northern Englisli counties. The English regency, sincerely desirous of
avoiding war, at least for that time, with so diflicult and obstinate an
enemy as Scotland, made some attempts at maintaining iioace, but, find-
mg those attempts unsuccessful, assembled an army of sixty thousand
men, exclusive of a strong body of highly-disciplined foreign cavalry
under John d(! I luinaiilt ; and the young prince himself led this formida-
ble force to Durham in search of the invaders. But tlic diHiculty of find-
Mig so active and desultory an enemy was only inferior to that of con-
qnenng him when found. Lightly armed, mounted on small, swift horses,
so hardy that every common supplied them with abundant food, and easily
subsisted themselves, these northern soldiers passed with incredible celer-
ity from place to place, plundering, destroying, and disappearing wilh iiii-
paralleleil rapidity, and suddenly reappearing in some direction (juite dif-
ferciii to that in which they had been seen to take their dep.irtiire.
On no occasion was their desultory activity more remarkable or more
annoying than on present. Edward lollowed them from place to place,
now liarrassing his troops with a forced march by liiricult roads to the
matli, and now still more dispiriting them by leading ihem to retrace their
steps aijain ; but though he everywiiere found that the Scots had Incn ill
ilic places where he sought tlicm, and had left fearful marks of their tem-
poi.iry slay, he every when.' fouiul that they had made good their retreat j
aiui io this harrassing and annoying waste of activity he was for some
time exposed, in spite of his having offered the then very spleni'^d reward
of a liiiiidred pounds per annum for life to any one who would give him
such Information as would enable him to come iiji with the enemy. At
iPiigtIi he received information of the exact locality of the enemy, and wa«
enabled to como up with them, or rather to be tunlalizcd with the sight ol
I
». kJM«*'
908
THE TKEASURY OF HISTORY.
them ; for they had taken up so strong a position on the southern bank oi
the river Wear, that even Edward, young as he was and burning for the
3onibat, was obliged to confess that it would be a wanton exposure of his
orave iroops I' cidrtain destruction were he to ailen)pi lo cross the river
while the fue niamtanied so admirably chosen a position. Naturally brave
Edward was doubly annoyed at this new difficiiity on account of his pre.'
vious vain reseavdies ; and in the excess of his enthusiasm he sent a for
inal challenge to ihe Scots, lo abandon their extraneous advantHges, and
meet his army, man to man and foot to foot, in the open field. The gen-
erous absurdities of chivalry rendered this ch- llenge less irregular and
laughable than it would now be ; and Lord Douglas, himself of a most fiery
and chivalric sj)irit, would fain have taken Edward at his word, but
he was restrained by the graver though not less courageous earl of Mur-
ray, y.iio drily assured EUward that he was the very last person from
whom the Scots would liks lo take advice as to their operations.
The Scots and Edward maintained their respective positions for several
lays; and when the foinier at length moved higher up the river, they did so
Dy so unexpected and rapid a movement, that they were again securely pust-
sd bi^lbie Edward had any chance of attacking them. The high courage
of the youthful monarch led him to desire to attack the enemy, no natter
at what risk or disadvantage ; but as often as he proposed to do so he was
overruled by Mortimer, who assumed an almost despotic authority over
him. While both armies t!ius lay in grim and watchful, though inactive
hostility, an aH'air took place which had well nigh changed the fortunes of
of England. Lord Douglas, audaciou.s and enterprising, had not merely
continued to take an accurate survey of every portion of Edward's eii-
campnieiil, but also to obtain the password and countersign ; and in iht
dead of night he suddenly led two hundred of his most resolute followers
into the very heart of the English camp. His intention was either to cap
turenr slay the king, and he advaii'^ed immediately to the royal tent. Ed.
ward's chamberhiiii and his chaplain gallantly devoted themselves tu the
safety of their royal master, who after rtghling hand to hand with his as-
sailants, succeeilt'd in escaping. The chamberlain and the chaplain were
both iiiil'ortiinatciy killed ; but the stout resistance they made not only eiia.
bled IJdward to escape, but also aroused so general an alarm, that Lord
Douglas, baulked in his main design, was happy lo be able to fight liisw.iy
back to Ills own camp, in doing which he lost nisirly the whole of his de-
termined liiile band. The Scots now hastily broke up their camp and
retrealed in good order lo their ow n country ; and when Edward, iiu lun-
ger lobe resir. lined by Mortimer, reaciieil the spot which the Scots had
otrciipied, he foiiiiil no human being there save ms. English prisoners,
who.se legs the Scots had broken to prevent them from carrying any in-
tclligeiii'i' In the I'higlish camp, 'i'liough the high spirit and warlike tem-
per which Ivlwaid had displayed during this l)rief and bootless cainpaiijii
made liiin very popular, the |)iil)lii' mind was justly very di.-isaiislieil hiiIi
the absolute nullity of result from so exteiisiv(! and costly an expediiioii;
and .^lorlimei, to wlunn all the errors coiuinitied were naturally allnhii'
ted, became dally more and more disliked. So puffed up and iiisoii'iil was
he reiidired by Ins disgraceful coniieciion Willi Isabella, that Ins geiicral
want (if popiilarily seemed to give Inin iieitlicr aiiiioyaiiee nor alarm. Yel
was ihere a eireuin.siaiiee in Ins position winch a wise man would have
striven lo alter. T!i(nigli he had n.snrped an even more than royal |)ower, and
settlt'd till' iiinst iMipinlaiit putilic alVairs witlioiii deigning to consult ciiliei
thoyonii'.' king or any of the blood royal ; lli>in<;h he by Ins merewoiil had
gone so iMr as III setllc npini the adiilleroiis Is.ibella iitMrly the whole ol
iiie royal revenue ; yet in fiu'ining the eoinicil of the regency he h.iil re-
lied so niiii'li on Ins power that he reserved no olhce or .seat therein foi
niinttelf. Tins was a grave error, lie must have been ill jud^ins indceil
if?
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
309
if he imagmed that tlie mere absence of iioininal power would procure a
characier for moderation for a man whose authority actually superseded
that of ihe whole council.
A. p.] 328. — To all the other offences committed by Mortimer he now
added the very serious one of wounding the pride of the nation. War
upon Scotland, and the most strenuous attenipts to reduce that nation
mice more to the condition of a conquered province, were universally
popular objects in England. But Mortimer, aware ihal he was daily be-
coming more and more hated, concluded a peace with Robert Brui;e, -fear-
ing that the continuance of a foreign war would put it out of his power
to keep his domestic enemies in check. He stipulated that David, son
iiid heir of Robert Bruce, should marry the princess .lauo, sister of the
young king Edward ; that England shmild give up all claim to the hom-
age of Scotland, and recognise that country as being wholly independent,
and that, in return, Robert Bruce should pay 30,000 marks, by way of ex-
tienses.
This treaty was excessively unpopular; and Mortimer, conscious of this,
now began to fear that the close friendship and unanimity that existed
among the three royal princes, Kent, Norfolk, and Lancaster, boded him no
gocd. He accordingly, when summoning them to attend parliament, took
upon himself to forbid them, in the king's name, frem being attended by an
armed force. Whatever had been their previous intentions, the ihree
princes paid implicit obedience to this order ; but, to their astonishment,
lliey, on reaching Salisbury, where the parliament was to meet, found (hat
Mortimer and his friends were attended by an armed force. Naturally
alarmed at this, the earls retreated and raised a force strong enough to
chase Mortimer from the kingdom. They advanced for the purpose of
doing so, but unfortunately the earls who had hitherto been so closely
united now quarrelled, Kent and Norfolk declined to follow up the enter-
prise, and Lancaster, loo weak to carry it out by himself, was compelled
to make his submission to the insolent Mortimer.
A. D. 1329. — But though, at the intercession of the prelates, Mortimer
I'onsciitcd to overlook the past, and bore himself towards the princes as
though the whole quarrel were forgotten as well as forgiven, he deter-
mined to make a victim of one of thein, in order to strike terror into the
snrvivors. Accordingly, his emmissaries were instructed to deceive the
f\\r\ uf Kent into the belief that King Edward II. had not been put to death,
but was still secretly imprisoned. The carl, who had suffefcd much from
remorseful remembrance of the part he had taken against his unhappy
brotlicr, eagerly fell into the snare, aud entered into an undertaking for
setting the imprisoned king at liberty, and replacing him upon the tiirone.
The deception was kept up until the earl had committed himself siifiicient-
ly for the purpose of his ruthless enemy, when he was seized, aijcused
before parliament, and condemned to death and forfeiture; while Morti-
mer and the execrable Isabella hastened his execution, so that the young
Kdward had no o[)portunity to interpose.
A. D. 1330- — Though the corrupt and debased parliament so readily lent
itself to the designs of Mortimer, the feiMing of the commonality was very
ilifTcrent indeed, and it was quite evening before any one could he foimd
to behead the betrayed and unfortunate prince, who during the day which
intervened between his sentence and execution must have been loriured
indeed with thoughts of the unholy zeal with which he liiid served the royal
adulteress, to whose rage, as much as lo that of her paramour, he wus
now sacrificed.
Perceiving that the sympathy of the people wa.s less courageous than
ileep and tender, Mortimer now threw Lancaster and numerous otiier
nolijcs in prison, on the charge of having been eoiicerned in the eonspi-
ra.y of Kent. Any evidence, however slight, suHieed lo insure convic-
.f5(('., .
nt
' -.|^f-- '
.»#^*'
310
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
Ill
i
5 *
Vion; and as forfeiture was invariably a part of the sentence, Mortimer had
abundant means of enriching himself and his adherents; and how little
scruple he made about availing himself of this opportunity may be judged
from the fact, that the whole of the large possessions of the earl of Kent
were seized for Geoffrey, younger son of Mortimer ; though this laller per-
son was himself already in possession of the greater portion of the vast
wealth of the two Spensers and their adherents. The cupidity and in-
solence of Mortimer at length produced their natural consequence; a de-
testation so general and so fierce, that nothing was wanting to his des-
truction but for some one to be bold enough to make the first attack upon
him ; and fortunately, that person was found in the ynung king himself.
Most fortunate it assuredly was that Mortimer, in his insolence and pride
of place, had overlooked the necessity of so treating the king while yet»
minor, as to secure his favour and support when he should at length aitai.
his majority.
Edward was of far too high and generous a nature to have been other-
wise than deeply stung by the petty insults and galling restraints imposed
upon him by Mortimer; and now that he was in his eighteenth year he
determined, at the least, to make an effort at obtaining the independence
for which he had so long sighed ; he therefore communicated his wishes
to the Lord Montacute, who engaged his friends the Lords Clifford and
Molins, Sir John Nevil, Sir Edward Bohun, and others, to join him in a
bold attempt at delivering both king and people from the tyranny of Mor-
timer.
Queen Isabella and her paramour Mortimer at this time resided in Not-
tinghani casH' : and so jealously did they guard themselves, that even the
king was oi ■ allowed to have a few attendants with him when he lodged
th' re, and the keys of the outward gates were delivered to tiie queen her-
self every evenmg. Lord Montacute, however, armed with the kind's
authority, had no difficulty in pnxniring the concurrence of Sir VVjjliain
Eland, the governor, who let tlie king's party enter by a subterraneous
passage which had long lain forgotten and choked up with rubbish. So
quietly was everything done, tliat the armed men reached the qneen's
apartment and seized upon Mortimer before he could prepare to make
resistance. Isabella implored them to "spare her gentle Mortimer;" bm
the paramour'.s doom was sealed beyond the power of her entreaties to
alter it. A parliament was immediately summoned, and was found iis
supple and facile an instrument fur his ruin as it had been for doing his
pleasure. He was accused of having usurped regal power, of having pro-
cured the death of King Edward II., of having dissipated the royal trea-
sure, and of having obtained exorbitant grants, of secreting two-thirds of
the 30,000 niarks paid by Scotland, and a variety of similar misdemean-
ours. The thoroughly servile parliament in its eagerness to cnnc'einn
could not legally convict even this most (uitrageous criminal. Kvidence
was not called to a single point, though every point might have been
proved by a perfect cloud of witnesses; but this j)arliameiit cdiivjciod
Mortimer and sentenced him to the gibbet and forfeiture, not upon lesii-
moiiy. but upon what tiiey called the notoriety of the facts ! A. loose sys-
tem of condemning men, which none but tyrants or their tools would ever
tolerate, even could no other evidence be found. Though at the period of
the conviction of Mortimer uien were too nnich irritated against him lo
look to strict justi(!e, scarcely twenty years had passed ere his illrg;illy
attainted rank wa.s restored to his son, upon the right and honourable priii-
r-iplc that, however detestable and however inoridly undeniable the giiill
of the elder Mortimer, his conviction had been the result not of evidence,
but of mere rtimmir iind assumption. SiuKui de Here.sford and some others
of the mere satcliiles of Mortnucr were execiit(?(l, and the vilesi eriiniiul
of all. the adulteress Isabella, was coiilined lor the remainder of I'er lifo
n
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
311
I
to her castle of Risings. The king allewed her four hundred a year for
her support, and he paid her one or two formal visits every year; but hav-
ing oiii'e deprived her of the influence of which she had made so bad and
base a use, he took care that she should never again have an opportunity
of regaining it.
As soDii as Edward had wrested from the usurping hands of Mortiraei
the royal power, he showed himself well worthy of it by the manner in
whicli he used it. He not only exhorted his judges and other great offi-
cers to execute justice, and to put a stop to the open depredations and
armed bands of robbers by which the country was now more than ever
infested and disgraced, but he personally exerted himself in that good
work, and showed both courage and conduct in that important task.
A. D. 1332. — Soon after the completion of the treaty between England
and Scotland, as related under tlie head of the year 1338, the great Robert
Bruce, worn out even more by infirmities and toil than by years, termina-
ted liis life ; and his son and heir, David Bruce, being as yet a minor, the
regciK'y was left to Randolph, earl of Murray, the constant sharer of Rob-
ert's perils. In this treaty it was agreed, that all Scots who inherited
jroperty in England, and all Englishmen who iniierited property in Scot-
land, should be restored to possession as free and secure as though no
war had taken place between the two countries. This part of the treaty
had been faithfully performed by England, but Robert Bruce, and, subse-
quenlly, the regent Murray had contrived to refuse the restoration of con-
siderable properties in Scotland, either from actual dirticultyof wresting
them from the Scottish holders, or from a |)olitic doubt of the expediency
of so far strengthening an enen^y — which they judged England must
always ill reality be — by admitting so many Englishmen to wealth and
consequent power in the very heart of the kingdom. Whatever the mo-
tive by which Bruce and Murray were actuated in this matter, their denial
or delay of the stipulated restoration gave great oflTence to the numerous
English of high rank who had a personal interest in it. Many who were
thus situated were men of great wealth and influence; and their power
became more than ever formidable when they were able to command the
alliance of Edward Baliol. He was the son of that John Baliol who had
briclly worn the Scottish crown; and he, like his father, settled in France,
with the determination of leading a private life rather than risk all comfort
for the mere chance of grasping a precarious and anxious power. This
resolution, though consonant with the soundest philosophy, was not cal-
culated to procure him much worldly estimation; and his really strong
claim to the Scottish royally procuredhim so little consideration in Francis
that for some infraction of the law he was thrown into gaol, as though
he bad been the meanest private person. In this situation he was discov-
ered by Lord Beaumont, an English baron, who laid claim to the Scotch
earldom of Buithan. Deauinont without loss of time procured IViliol's re-
lease and carried him over to Enghiiid, where he placed him, nominally
at least, at the head of the confederation which already had meditated the
invasion of Scotland.
Kill!! Edward secretly aided Baliol and the English barons in preparing
for tbeir enterprise, though he would not bi; persuaded to give them any
opeiieiii'onragenu'iit, as he had bound himself to pay 20,000 pounds to the
pope, should he, P^dward, commit any hostilities upon Scotland within a
certain period which had not yet expired ; moreover, the young king Da-
vid, still a minor, was actually married to Edward's sister Jane, though
the marriage was not yet consummated ; and the world would scarcely fail
to censure Edward sliouid he, under such circnmstinices, cause a renewal
of war between the two countries. Under these circumstances, eager "'
Edward might be lo aid his nobles in their enmity to Scotl;ind, he deter-
mined to confine himstdf to secret proceedings on their behalf; and. thui
'^..mmm
312
THE TRKASURY OF HISTORY.
aided, lh«ir nominal leader, Baliol, was speedily at the head of a force of
two thousand five hundred men, commanded by the Lord Beaumonl be.
fore mentioned, Umfreville, earl of Angus, the lords Talhot, .Mowbray and
other eminent barons interested in the adventure. As such a force tituld
not be so secretly raised as wholly to have escaped the notice of the Scot.
tish regent, who would naturally expect to be attacked by the Knjrlisi,
border, Baliol and his friends einbrirked at Ravenspur and landed their
force on the coast of Fife. The former regent, Mur.ay, was dead; and
his successor, Donald, earl of Mar, was far inferior to him in warlike ex-
perience and ability. Nevertheless, the English were promptly and vig.
orously opposed the moment they landed ; and though they succeeded in
beatinu' back their undisciplined opponents, time was thus afforded lo.Mar
to collect a very large army, which some historians reckon as high as forty
thousand men.
The hostile forces came insight on the opposite side of the river Erne;
and Baliol, crossing that river in the night, attacked the unwield; I'orceof
the Scots so vigorously and unexpectedly, that he drove them iVoin the
field with considerable slaughter, their numbers being a disn ivaMiHge to
them amid the confusion. But as daylight approached, the Scots re.so ved
once more to try their fortune against an enemy whose inferior niimbers
made it disgraceful to yield to ; but they were charged while strag.
gling over some broken and diflicnit ground, and so complete was ihe
rout that ensued, that while the Knglish los» scarcely fifty men, the Scdts
lost twelve thousand, including the earls ol \thol and Mcnteiih. the lord
Hay of Errol, constable of Scotland, the lords Keith and Lindsey, and the
earl of Carricik, a natural son of Robert Bruce.
Baliol followed up this victory by taking Prt\h. Here he was block-
aded by sea, and besieged on the land by an arr-y o( forty thousand Scuis,
under the earl of March and Sir Archibald Don", las; but the English ships
dispersed Ihe blockading squadron ; and as Baliol was tints enabled to com-
mand an abundant supply of provisions, the besieging Scots were shorty
obliged to retire from that very approach to famine by which they had an-
ticipated reducing him; and the initioti being in effect subdued, for the
present at least, Baliol was solemnly crowned at Scone on the 7th of Sep.
tember. So little chance did there now appear to be of a change of for-
tune in favour of David Bruce, that he and his betrothed wife departed for
Fratice; and their hitherto zealous partizans sued Baliol for a truce, that
his title might be fairly examined and decided upon by the Scottish par-
liament.
A. D. 1333.— Baliol's prosperity was as fleeting as it had been sudden.
Having owed all his success to the presence of his English supporters, he
was no sooner obliged to allow them to depart, from want of means to
support them, than Sir Archibald Douglas and others of the friends o(
Bruce fell upon Baliol and his slender attendance, slew Baliol's brother
Tohn, and drove hi in self back to England in the most complete dcsiitnlion.
Baliol had previously to this reverse proposed to Edward that his sister
Jane should be divorced from David Bruce, in which event Biliol would
marry her and also do homage to Edward for Scotland ; thus reslorinn^ lo
England that superiority which the minion Mortimer had given up during
Edward's minority. As Edward now began to despair of Baliol's success
by any other means, he resolved to interfere opeidy, r\nd having olitained
a considerable grant from parliament for that purpose — which graiil was
accoinpan.ed by a very blunt, though very reasonable desire, that he thenec
forth " would live on his own reveinie and not grieve his subjects wiili
illegal taxes" — he led a considerable army to Berwick, where a powerful
garrisoti was commanded by Sir William Keith. The plan of the Seot-
(ish leaders was. that Keith should obstinately defend Berwick, ami while
he thus engaged the attention of Edwiird, Douglas shouV lead u nuineroui
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
313
enemy over the border, and carry the horrors and losses of war into the
enemy's own country. But Edward's army was so well disciplined and
60 wtll provided, thiit berore Douglas could inarch into Northumberland
his plan of operations was changed, by the information of Sir William
Keith being reduced to such extremity, that he had engageu to surrender
Berwick should no relief Tench him within a few days. Douglas marched
to llie relief of that important place, and in a general action ttiat ensued the
Si'Ots were utterly defeated, with a loss of nearly thirty thousand men.
The English loss was certainly very trifling; yet we cannot without con-
sideriihle hesitation adopt the accounts which concur in assuring us that
the tutal English loss amounted to thirteen soldiers, one esquire, and one
kiiiilht; a loss which can only be imagined by considering that battle to
have been little better than a disorderly flight on the one part and a mur-
derous pursuit on the other.
As the result of this battle, Scotland was again apparently submissive
to Baliol. He was acknowledged as king by tlie Scottish parliament, and
he and many of the Scottish nobles did homage to Kdward, who then re-
turned to England, leaving a detachment to support Baliol. As long as
this detachment remained Baliol was most submissively, not to say ser-
vilely obeyed by the Scots, even when he stung their national pride full
deeply by ceding in perpetuity to England, Berwicfcv Dunbar, Roxburgh,
Edinburgh, and the whole of the south-eastern counties of Scotland. But
as soon as Baliol, considering himself safe, and perhaps being seriously
inconvenienced by the expense of keeping them, sent away his English
mercenaries, the Scots again rose agninsl him, and after a variety ot
struiiu'ies between him and Sir Andrew Murray, who acted as regent in
behalf of the absent David Bruce, Baliol was once more chased from all
thai he fondly imagined he had permanently conquered for himself or
England.
A. D. 1.135. — Edward again marched to chastise and subject the Scots,
who abandoned or destroyed their homes and sought shelter in their
mountain fastnesses, but only to return again the moment that he had
retired. In this obstinately patriotic course the Scots were greatly en-
couraged by Edward's position with regard to France. He had for years
laid an unfounded claim to the sovereignly of that country, and though
he had on one occasion in the most distinct terms recognised Philip's
right, and done homage to him for his lands there held, the encourage-
ment of Robert d'Artois and the concurrence of Edward's father-in-law,
the count of Hainault, the duke of Brabant, the archbishop of Cologne,
and several other sovereign princes, had induced Edward to persevere in
a claim which was opposed to common sense, and plainly contradict-
ed by his own deliberate act and deed, and thus laid tlie foundation of
a mutual hatred which has only completely subsided within the memory
of men w > as yet are but young. He pretended that he ought to suc-
ceed in ri^'ht of his mother Isabella, though Isabella herself was legally
and formally excluded from succeeding; he was thus guilty of the special
absurdity of claiming to inherit from a woman a crown to which a woman
could not succeed — and he could only support that special absurdity upon
agencriil principle— that of the natural right of women to succeed being
wholly indefeasible by special regulation; and in that case each of the
three last kings liad left daughters whose right upon that general prin-
ciple would take precedence to his! And yet such a monstrous absurdity
of assumption found friends, and caused rivers of the best blood of both
nations to be shed in fierce conflict !
To all his other abettors in this really ridiculous as well as unjust claim,
was now adde.l the well known Flemish demagogue James d'Areleveldt,
a brewer of Ghent, who had reached to so despotic a power over his fel-
ow-cilizens, that, after exciting theui to furious resistance against Mieii
m
»'• «*-i!'
314
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
legitimate sovereigns, he himseircould fill all the other towns of Flanden
with his adroit and unprincipled spies, and could put down all cimnce of
opposition in Ghent itself b)' the simple process of ordering the opponent
to be butchered — and he was butchered without remorse or delay. To
this demagogue Edward had no diffl(!ulty in recommending himself; for
with the servility that ever accompanies the ambition of such men, the
demagogue, who detested his natural superiors, was in a perfect flutter of
gratified vanity at being solicited by a powerful foreign monarch, and in-
vited Edward to make the Low Countries his 'vantage point against
France ; suggesting to him that, to prevent the Flemings from having any
scruple about aiding him, he should claim their aid, as rightful king of
France, in dethroning the usurper, Philip of Valois ; that usurper, to
whom, both personally and by a formal written deed, he had done homage
and owned fealty !
The king of France was greatly aided by the influence of the pope, who
at this time resided at Avignon, and was to a considerable extent de-
pendent upon Philip ; the king of Navarre, the duke of Brittany, the king
of Bohemia, the bishop of Liege, and numerous other powerful allies
tendered their aid to Philip, as being really interested for him ; while Ed-
ward's allies, looking only to what they could get of the large sums he had
wrung from his people for this unjustifiable enterprise, were slow and cold
in theirs.
A. D. 1339. — After much difficulty in keeping his hopeful allies even ap.
parently to their faith, and after having his pretensions to the crown ol
France very accurately pronounced upon by two of those allies, the count
of Namur and the count of Hainault — who succeeded his father and Ed-
ward's father-in-law in the interval between the old count joining in
Edward's scheme and the actual commencement of operations — the two
counts in question abandoning Edward solely on the plea that Philip was
their liesre lord, against whom they as vassals could not fight, Edward en-
camped near Capelle with an army of nearly 50,000, the majority of whom
were foreign mercenaries. Philip advanced towards the same spot with
nearly a hundred thousand of his own subjects ; but, after simply gazing
at each other for a few days, these mighty armies separated without a
blow, Edward marching his mercenaries back into Flanders and there
disbanding them. In this hitherto bloodless and unproductive contest Ed-
ward had not only expended all the large sum granted by his people, and
pawned everything of value that he could pawn, even to the jewels of his
queen, but he had also contracted debts to the frightful amount of .£300,000,
and probably it was the very vastness of the sacrifice he had made that
determined him to persevere in a demand, of the injustice of which he
must have been C()ns<;ious from the very outset. Aware that he had un-
mercifully pressed upon the means of his subjects, and finding that they
were daily growing more and more impatient of his demands, Edward
now retnrncMl to England and offered his parliament a full and new con-
firmation of the two charters and of the privileges of boroughs, a pardon
for old debts and trespasses, and a reform of certain abuses in the common
law. The first of these the king ought to have been ashamed to confess
to be ne(;essary. Put public spirit and the control of parliament over the
royal expenditure were as yet only in their infancy, and the whole con-
cessions were deemed so valuable, that the parliament in return granted
the king— from the barons and knights, the ninth sheep, fleece, and lamb
from their estates for two years ; from the burgesses, a ninth of the/
whole m<)veaI)l(S at their real value ; and from the whole parliament, a
duty of forty shillings on, 1st., each three hundred wool fells, and 2d.,
each last of leather, also for two years. It was expressly stated that this
grant was not to \w. drawn into a precedent; but as the king's iie<'essiliea
were great, it was additionally determined that twenty thousand sucks ol
■"rZ TXEASURY OF HISTORY.
315
wwi should immedn»e'y b^ put at his disposal, the value to be deducted
from the ninths whirh would of necessity come in more slowly. While
the padiiiinenl of Knglund acted thus liberally in forwarding Edward's
design upon France, tney made a formal declaration that they aided him
askmgof England, and not as king of France, and that in the event oi
his conquering the latter country, the former must ever remain wholly
distinct from and independent of the latter. But had Edward been suc-
cessful it certainly would not have been this bare and idle protest that
would have prevented so resolute and self-willed a monarch from remov-
jiiT tlie seat of government to France, and making England a mere pro-
vince and treasury.
A, D. 1340. — Philip kept a watchful eye upon the English movements ,
and when Edward at length sailed with a fleet of two hundred and forty
vessels, he was eiiconntered off Sluys by a French fleet of nearly four hun-
dred vessels, carrying forty thousand men. The inferior force of the
English was at the very outset fully compensated for by the skill of tlieir
nav'il conimmiders, who got the weather-gage of the enemy, and the ad-
vantage of fighting with the sun to their backs; while the action taking
place so near Flandirs, the Flemings hastened out to join the English, and
the result of the obRtinate and sanguinary action was the total defeat of
the French, with the loss of two hundred and thirty vessels and thirty
thousand men, including two of their admirals.
Edward, whowe loss had been comparatively trifling, now marched to
the frontiers of France with an army a hundred thousand strong, his
•ecent tri'mph having caused a host of foreigners to join him on his land-
11". Rol>ert d'Artois, in the hope of corroborating the success of Edward,
a°d «ie!io to St. Omers. But though his force numbered 50,000 men, it
*as chiefly composed of a mere rabble of artifi(rers, so little experienced
m war or in love with its perils, that a sally of the garrison put the whole
of this doughty army to flight, to the great annoyance of its really able and
Dravc commander.
Edward's subsequent operations were by no means so successful. He
creatly distressed Tournay, indeed, and he suff"ered no very great advan-
[■,[«e even in tiie way of manoeuvre to be gained by the French ; but every
day brought some new proof that his very allies were at heart hostile to
his purpose, and only supported him in their own greediness of gain; while,
on ihe other hand, supplies arrived so slowly from England, that he was
utterly unable to meet the clamorous demands of his creditors. A long
truce, therefore, was very gladly agreed to by him, and he hastily and by
absolute stealth returned to England. Annoyed at his want of success,
and attributing it chiefly to the slowness with which supplies had reached
him, Edward iio sooner arrived in England than he began to vent his anger
upon his principal officers; and he with great impolicy siiowed especial
rage in the case of Stratford, archbishop oi" Canterbury, upon wlnnn had
devolved the difliiiult and not very pleasant task of realising the taxes
granted by the parliament. It was in vain to urge to Edward that the
ninth sheaf, lainb, and fleece, being unusual taxes, were necessarily col-
lected with unusual slowness ; he was enraged at his own ill suci^ess, and
was determined to vent it upon his olRcers; Sir John St. Paul, keeper of
the privy seal. Sir .lohn Stoner, chief justice, the Mayor of London, and
Ihe bishops of Chichester and Liti;litield, were imprisoned ; and the arch-
bishop of Canterbury only escaped the like indignity by chancing to be
absent from London on Edward's arrival.
A. n. 1.341. — Archbishop Stratford, who really seems only to have failed
in his duty from the novel and ditficiilt nature of it, was not of a temper
lo quiiil before the unjust anger even of so powerful and passionate a
oriiice as Edward; ami on learning to what lengths the king liud gone
n'ilb tlic other great officers of state, the archbishop issued a geiifial se i-
i '* 'till*/
■••1
'.»•*#»»
316
THE TREASURY OF HiaTORY
tenee of excomnniiiiciuion agiiinst all who sliould assail the clergy eiihei
in person or properly, iiirriiige the privileges secured lo them by tha
ecelesiasiiciil ciiiioiis and hy ihe great charter, or accuse a preiuie ol
treason or any other crime lo bring him under the king's displeasure.
Nor (lid the bold and somewhat arrogant archbishop slop even jiere
After having thus generally aimed al llie king's conduct, and after liaviiiij
taken care to employ the <-Ii'rgy in painting that conduct in the darkest
cohnns lo the people, Stratford |ier>onally addressiid a letter lo ilie king
in which he asserted the superiority of the clerical to the civd power'
reminded him that the priesthood were answerable at tlie divine tribimai
as well for kings as for subjects, and were the spiritual fathers of the
former as of the lailer, and were therefore manifestly and fully eaiitled
both to <liri'ct them to right cimducl and to (^ensure them for iraiiagres.
sions. This bold and imlimiled assertion of superiority was in no vvise
calculated lo soothe Edward's irritatiim, and he marked his sense of Strat-
ford's conduct by sciuling him no summons to attend the parlianicat. But
the archbishop, attended by a mmu^rous and imposing train of peers
spiritual and temporal, presented Inmself, crosier in hand and in full p()i|.
lilicals, and demanded aihuissiou. for two days the king refused lo adult
him; hut al Icnath, fearing iIk; consequences o( loo complete a breach
with the ecclesiastical power, he not only pernnited bin) to take his seat
in parliament, but also restored liim to his former high office.
The ma.\ini of the Knglish parliament sei^ns at that time to have been,
that the necessity of the king should be made the advantage of the sub-
jt;cl. 'I'lie close restrictions \vh cli had been laiil upon Hciny III. and
Kdwaril II. were now, as far as was deemed safe, made the basis of the
parliament's demands upon Kdaard III. for concessions to be granted by
lum III return for a grant of twenty thousand sacks of wool. Kthvaid was
so pressed by his creililors, ihat he was obliged to comply with llie terms,
hard as they were ; but as soon as his necessities became suiiieuhal
mitigated he revoked all that he deemed olfensive, allcdging that lie was
advised to do so by anme of his barons, and that in originally iiiakiiig suih
concessions he had aissciiMcil d\n\ had made timm with a sfcnY protest
A most dislioiie>t |ilea in itself, and o\w which, it is obvious, would, if
allowed, render all the most solemn public engagements mere deceptions
and mockeries.
A. n. 1.31J. — Dissensions in Hritlany led to a state of affairs wliicli re-
vived Kilward's expiring hope of conquering France. He accordingly
siMit a strong fleet and army thither to liie aid of iIk! countess of .Miiuiil-
fort, who ivas besieged by (Miarles of Hlois. Robert d'Artois, who coin-
manded this force, fought a successful action with the Krench, and landed
his troops in llriltany. lit* laid siege to Valines and took it, but uliurtljr
afterwards died of a wound received at the retaking of that plucefcya
party of Hrelon nobles of the factiim of (^liarles. Deprived of the services
of Kobert, upon whose ability and valour Kdward had great rcliaiife, he
now determined to proceed in person to the aid of the l■oullte^s, The
truce lieiween Kngland and Trance had expired, and the war uas openly
and avowedly to he carried on between these two powers, which for some
lime had really been breaking their truce in tln! character of parli»;inslo
(he respective competitors for the duchy of Drillany. Having laiiilcd
near Valines with an aririy of twelve tlioiisand men, Kdward, aii.xiuus la
make somo important impression, and griMlly overrating his iiicansut
doing so. simultaiKHiiisly commenced three sieges : of Valines, of Ken-
lies, .Old of Nanti^s. As might have been expected, but little pi'(igri'N>i \\,i.«
made by a Niiiall force thus divideil. Kvcn the chief siege, ol' Vaniifi,
that was conducted by Kilwanl in person, was ii failure; and Milvanl \\u
at leiiuih obliged to concentrati^ all his troops in that iieighlioiirlioiid, on
itccoiMii of the a|iproacli of I'hilip'ii eldest sun, (he duke of Noriiiandf
THE TREASURY 0!!" HISTORY.
317
with an arniy of thirty tlioiisand fool and four thousand horse. Kdwiird
itrnngly entrenched himself; bui he soon becnnie so distressed for pru-
visions, wiiile his antagonists, both of the fortress and the arniy. were
well and fully supplied, that he was glad to enter into a truee of ilnee
years, and consent to Vannes remaining in the hands of the pope's legate,
who negotiated the truce, and all the other strongholds of Brittany hi re-
main in the hands of those who then held them. Edward returned to
England, and though he had made a truee for the long term of three years,
it is quite clear from his conduct that he merely did so to extricate him-
self »nd his followers from actual capture. He made complaints of a vir-
tual breach of the treaty by the punishnii;nt of certain Breton nobles who
were partisans of England; and the parliament, adopting his views,
granted hii.i a fiOeetith from the counties, and a tenth from the bcirouglis
for two years, to which the clergy adiled a tenth for three years. Henry
earl of i)erby, son of the earl of Lancaster and cousin of the king was
now sent with a force into Guienne ; and havini! bitaten ofT ail a^'sailants
fiomlliHt province, he followed the count of Lisle, the FrtMieh general, to
Bergerac, beat him from his entrenchments, and took the place. He
afterwards subjected a great part of Feriiford ; ami the count of Lisle,
having re-coUeeted and reinforced his troops, attempted to recapture .Au-
beroclie, when the earl, at the head of 1,(100 horse, surprised him, com-
Dlfitely muted his force, and took him pri.soner.
A. D. 134.5. — After this the earl madt^ a must rapid series of coiKjuests
on tlie side of Guienne, partly owing to the gen( ral discontent of ilie
French at some new taxes, especially on<! on salt, which Philip's neces-
sities had compelled him to lay upon his peojile.
A, n. i:!l'>. — As soon as Philip's finances became in biller order, vast
preparations were made by the Krench to change! the aspect of atr.in-s. A
very siiiendid army was led towards (luwuni! by the dukes itf Norniiindy
and lliirgnndy, and otiiers of the chief nobles of Krance ; anil the e;irl of
Perliy found his force so inadeiiUiite, that hi' was ccnnpelled stricily to
I'untiiii' his movements to the ilelensive. The Ptencii army, there Core,
was left full opportunity to lay sii^ge to AiiijcMili'ine, nnd tlu'y invested it
soclost'ly, that Lord Norwich, tin g.iilaiil Kiiglisli governor, was rediieed
til the must pninfnl extremities. Despairing of relief and unwilling to siir-
ri'iiiliT himself and troops as p'^isoners, be had recourse to a noi very
cri'ilitalile stratagem, wliicli, moreover, was only snceessfiil in eoiise-
jueiire of the rigid honour of the duke of NormMndy. Desiring a coiil'cr-
eine witli that noble leader. Lord Norwich proposed ai-essation of .inns
forthc following day, wliieli. as being the feast of the Virgin, he prolessed
1 dislike to desecriitiiig. 'The eessiitiiiii of anus being agreed to. Lord
XnrvMcii marched his troops tliroiigb the belenmiered city, ami, as be
«ish('il to pass tbrongli the French lines, Kent a messenger to reiiiind ilie
linkt' of the existing truce. " / ft Ihr ^nvirnur /un tnitwillnl »i',"' was the
iiiililc reply of the (liike, who allowed the Knglish to pass witliont aiiiioy-
anee, mill eoiitented himsidf with obtaining possession ol'the |)l;iie.
While these and minor triiiisactions were p.is>ing in l'"r,inee, IMwiird
had been engnged in Kiiglainl in preiiariiiL' a s|ilenillil expeiblnin wiih
wliii'li lie and !iis son the prinee of Wales, now about fifteen yi'iirs of iige,
at It'iijiili set sail from Sonthainpton. The origin;il destiniitioii of iliis ex-
iu'ditinii, which amounted to iieiirly n llious:iiid s iil, ums (inieiiiie; but
rinilriry winds jtrevailing for some iinie, I'Mw.ird listened to the mhiee of
I'liiffiey irihireourl, and resolved to nnike a descent upon Norm. iiidy, the
rich liijiis of which would supply Ins army, while the very proxnnily to
the capital wcnild render any iin|)ri'ssioii inaile there of proporiioiinie nn-
niiriiiicc. This determiniiiion ni.ide l'!i|\v;ir.l speedily diseuiliirk iit La
lfi>j:iii>, with four llionsand Knubsli men at .inns :iiid ten tlionsaiid arcliers,
lugctluT with leu thousand Welsh ami six ihous.ind Irish mhintiy, whO|
319
THE TREASURY OF HISTOAY
if not very imporlant in actual line of battle, were admirably adapted m
quality of foragers and scouts, to be serviceable to their own fcrce and
most mischievous to the enemy.
Having destroyed the shipping in La Hoguc, Cherbourg, and Carflcur
Edward, who on landing had knighted his son Edward and some of the
young nobility, dispersed all his lighter and more disorderly troops all
over the country, with orders to plunder and destroy, without other res.
triction tlian that they should return to their camp by night. Tlie cffeci
of this order was to spread the utmost consternation not only all over the
province, but even to Paris itself; and as Caen seemed most likely to bo
the next object of Edward's enterprise, the Count d'Eu, constable of France,
and the count of Tancarville were dispatched with an army to its derenw.
As had been foreseen, Edward could not resist tiie temptation to atiiick
so rich a place ; and the inhabitants, encouraged by the presence of rei;.
ular troops, joined them in advancing against the English. But the zeal
of these civilians gave way at the very first shock of battle, the troops
were swept along with them, both the counts were taken prisoners, and
the conquering troops entered and plundered the city with every circum-
stance of rage and violence. The uniiappy people sought to procnuij.
nate their doom by barricading their houses and assailing the Englisli with
missiles from the witidows and house-tops, and the soldiers, enraged at
this more insulting than injurious opposition, set fire to two or three
houses in various parts of the town. Hut Edward, alarmed lest the spoil
should thus be lost, stopped tlie violence of his troops, and, having niadc
the iiihal)itants give up their vain resistance, allowecl his soldiers to plim.
der th(^ jilace in an orderly and deliberate way for three days, reserving
to liimself all jewels, plate, silk, and fine linen and woolen cloths. TIkw,
together with three hundred of the' most considerable citizens of Caen,
he sent over to England.
Edward now marched towards Houeii, where he expected to liavcii
similar profital)le triumph ; but finding the bridge over tlie Seine lirokin
down, and the king of I'rani'c^ in {X'rsoii awaiting him with an army, he
marched towards Paris, plundering and eominitling the most waiitiii'i di'
struelion on the road. He had intended to pass the .Seine at I'oissy, but
found the opjiosite bank of the river lined with the French troops, am!
that and all the neighlioiiring bridg<'s broken down. Ity a skilful mi;i-
na'iivre he drew the rreneh from I'oissy, returned thitlu-r, repaired tln'
bridge with wonderful rapidity, passed over with his whole army, and
having thus disengaged himself from danger, set out by hasty marches
frnin I'laiiders. His vanguard cut to pieces the citizens of Amieiis, who
attempted to arrest their inarch; but when the English reacliml tlic
Soinm<< they foiiml tlieinselvcis as ill situated as ever, all the liridijos he
iiig either hnikeii down or closely guarded, (iiiided by a |)ea.<aiit, Kihvar!
fiiiiiid a lord at Abbeville, led Ins army over sword in hanil, ami put ><>
tliglil the <i|);i()siiig I'Veiieh under (ioileinar ile Fayi', the main liody of thf
{•'reiieli, uiidir their king, being only preventeil from following KdwarJ
iKToss the ford by the rising of the tide.
.\fier (his iianow escape, Edward, unwilling to cxpocc himself to the
enemy's siipi'rior cavalry force in the open |il;iiiisof I'ieardy, haltiMl upim
a gentle ascent iii'ar the village of Cresey, in a position very fivoiiruMe
for his iiwa ting the approach of tlie Kreiieh. H.iving disjiosed liis army
in three lines, he intreiii'hed his flimks. and there being a wood in lii!<r(.ir,
in that he placed his baguage. Ilis tirst and second lines he eomiiiitlnl
to the youiitf pniiee of Wales, with the earls of Warwick, Oxford, Arun-
del, iind Northampton, and lln! lords Chandos, Ilolliind, Willoiiglihy, Id'^'.
and other eminent le;iders ; while the third line, under his own iiiiiM'tihite
command, he kept back us ii corps </« reitrve, uithcr to Huppurt tlic funnel
V'
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
319
icclcd til Imvc a
I! Seine hrokcii
illi an iiriiiv, !ir
jffo if beaten back, or to improve any impression that they might make
upon the enemy.
In adililioii to the care with which Edward hud secured his flanks and
rear, he placed in his front some cannon, then newly invented and never
before used to any extent in actual battle. His opponent, though he also
possessed cannon, had, it should seem, left them behind in his hasty and
fiirioiis march from Abbeville.
Philip's army amounted to a hundred and twenty thousand men ; but
(he superiority of the English archers, and the inefficiency of the bow-
slrinjs of the archers on the French side, from their not having been se-
cured against rain, caused the very first charge to be injurious to this vast
and tumultuous host. Young Edward no sooner perceived the confusion
that tonk place in the crowded ranks of his enemy, than he led his line
steadily into the melee, and so furious was the combat, that the earl of
Warwick, alarmed lest the gallant young prince should be overpowered,
sent 10 the king, who surveyed the battle from a neighbouring hill, and in-
treiited him to send a reinforcement. Learning that the prince was not
wounded, the king said in reply to Warwick's message, " Return to my
son, and tell him that I reserve the honour of the day to him ; I am coiili-
deiil that he will show himself worthy of the honour of knighthood whii-h
1 so lately conferred upon him. He will be able to repel the enemy with-
out my assistance."
Tne king of France, far from inactive, did his utmost to sustain the first
line by that which was under his own command. Ilul the first disadvan-
taije could not be remedied, and the slaughter momentarily became greater.
Philip had already had one horse killed under liiin, anil, bein^ re-monnted,
was again rushing into the thickest of the fight, when John of Hainault
seized the bridle and literally dragged him from the field. The battle was
iiowchiiiged into a complete rout, and the v;;nquished French were pursued
and slaiiglitered until nightfall. When the king received his gallant son,
ni' rushed into his arms, exclaiming, " My brave son, persevere in your
honourable course. You are my son indeed, for valiantly have you uc-
(luiitpd yourself to-day. You have shown yourself worthy of em[)ire."
The loss to the French on this most fatal occasion amounted to 190(i
kiiiehts, 1400 gentlemen, 4000 men-at-arms, and about ."iO.OOO men of infe-
rior rank. Among tlie slain of superior rank, were the dukes of Lorraine
and Hmirbon, the earls of Flanders, Hlois. and Vamlemont, and the kings
of Miijoiva and lioheinin. The latter king, though very old and cpiite
bhnd, would not b(! dissuaded from taking a personal part in the battle, hut
had \m bridle f istened to tlioso of two attendants, and was thus, by his
own order, or at least by his own act, led to perish in the thickest of the
li?ht. His crest and motto were a triple ostri. h plume and the words Ich
iirii, 1 nerve, which were adopted by the j)rinei' of Wales, and have been
home liy ,ill his snceessors, in memory of this 'lost decisive battle.
Of this battle we may remark as of a former one, that it seems to have
hei'ii rather a chase murderously followi^d up ; for while the French lost so
'ittful a number of all lank.^.'the English lost only three knights, r)np
PKiinire, and a fe\t common soldiers
('icit as Edward's victory was, hv clearly perceived that fur llie present
many clrciiinstaiices warned him to limit his amlnlion to ca|)turiiig some
place tliiit would ;it all times alTord him a ready entrance into France ; and
accorihiiirly, after employing a few days in burying the deail and resting
his army, be presi'iiled liimsidf before Calais.
Jdliii (le Viciine, knight of Hiirmimly, roinmanded this important garri-
«oii ; nil lioiioiir wliieli he owed to Ins very high repntaiinn ;ui'l experience,
flu was well supplied with means of di-feiice; and Ivlward at the very
'"it«it(ictcriniiiei| not to attempt assault, lint to starve Ibis iinportaiil aar-
fwoa into submission. He accordingly inlrenelicd the wholo city and
'■^:yH
^i-^'^'i,fi-
380
THE "REASURY OF HISTORY.
formed liis camp, causing his soldiers to raise thatched huts for their pro
tection from the severity of the weather duriiijf tiie winter. De Vienne
judging what was Edward's design, sent all the superfluous hands dut o
the city, and, to the honour of Kdward be it said, he not only let the help.
less people pass through his lines, but even supplied them with niouey to
aid them in seeking some other place of refuge.
During twelve months Edward was engaged in the siege of Calais, and
the earl of Derby was during that period carrying on war in Gnieiine
Poicters, and the southern provinces of France. Charles of Blois at the
same time invaded Brittany, and laid siege to the castle of Rochelie de
Rien, wliere he was attacked and taken prisoner by the countess of Mont-
fort. While she and her rival and antagonist, the wife of Charles de Blois
were displaying their courage and talents In France, King Edward's queen!
Philippa, was still more importantly exerting herself in England. The
Scots had a few years before recalled their king, David Bruce, and ihouirh
they could not greatly rely upon his talentor prowess, they were encour-
aged by the engagement of Edward in France to make an irruption into the
noriiiern English counties, to which they were strongly urged by tht? king
of France, who in all his truces with Edward had shown great regard fi.r
the safety and welfare of Scotland. With an army of 50,000 men David
Bruce broke into Northnmberland, and ravaged and devastated the coun-
try as far south as the city of Dniham. Pliilippa, doubly indignant that
such an outrage should be committed during the absence of her husband,
got together an army of only about 12,000 mtMi, which she placed under
the command of Lord Piercy, and accompanied it and him to Neville's
Cross, near Durham. Here site addressed the troops in a very spirited
speech, and could scarcely be persuaded to retire even when the battle
actually commenced. The result was proportionate to the gallantry ol
the attempt. The Scots were coniphaely routed, with a Iocs of from fifteen
to twenty thous>anil killed, among whom wt^re Keith, the earl marshal, and
Sir Thomas Charteris, the chancellor; and amimg a vast number of pris-
oners were David Bruce himself, the earls of Fife, Sutherland, Mouleiih
and Carrick, the lord Douglas, and many nobles of less note.
Q ..'en Philippa, after lodging her important prisoners in the Tower of
London, was herself the bearer of the news to Edward, who was Mill be-
fore Calais, where she was received with all the applaii.-ie and adiiuration
due to her gallant and mure than womaidy devotion under circuaisianoes
80 dillicult.
A. D. 1317. — John de Vienne in his defence of Calais had well justified
his sovereign's choice of him. Bnt as Philip had in vain endeavoured to
relieve hnn, aiul actual famine had begun its drendful work upon the
garrison, Dc; Vienne iU)W offi-red to surrendi-r, on condition that the lives
and liberties of his brave fellows should he spared. Bnt Edw.ird was so
irritated by the very gallantry v,'hich, as De Vienne very perlineiitly ar-
gued, he would have expected from any one of his nwn knights under sim-
ilar circumstances, that he at first would hear of imthintt shoit of the
whole garrison surrendering at di><cretioii ; bet he w;is at |eiii;ili persua-
ded to alter Ins terms, though even then he reqiiiri'd that the keys of the
platie should be delivered to liim by six ol'tlie prin('i|iil <'iiizen», bart'liCrideil,
and with ropes upon their nel•k^<, ami iha', as the firico of the safety of
the garris(Mi, these six men .should be at his absolute disposal for either
life or death.
To send six men to what seemed certain destruction could not fail lobe
a terrifying proposition. The whide g.irrisoii wa> in dismay , lull Kiisiace
St. Pierre iio'ily voliinteenMl ; Ins example was followed by five other pa
tr'ot^, and the six Inavo nu'ti appeared in the prescribed form lii-forf Kd
wanl, tvlio only spared their lives— e'en after tins ioucliiii(j proof of tlieit
pxcidleni'c — at till! entreaties madi! t> him upon her knees by his qiieeD
I liihppu.
>:'!>■
for iheir pro
De Vieime
hands out a
y lei the help-
/ith niuiiey to
jf Calais, and
r ill Giiieiine,
jf Blois at the
f Rochelle de
mess of Mont-
iHrlesde Ulois,
:1 ward's queen,
'liiglaiid. The
t;e, and though
were encour-
-iiptioii into the
;ed by thv king
real regard fir
UOO men David
,alt'd llie coun-
indignant that
■)( ht-r hnsband,
le placed undei
iiii tu Neville's
a very spirited
vhen the battle
llie gallantry 01
9(>f fromfificen
irl marshal, and
[\iiinher of pris-
■laud, Monteilh
the Tower o(
ho was si ill be-
and admiration
r circuiiisiaiices
id well justified
endeavoured 10
work upon the
iliat the live*
Iw.ird was so
pcrlineiiilyar-
ghis under sini-
short of llie
It'iigtli persiw-
he keys of the
ns, liari'luMdi:i!,
f the safety of
)sul fur either
iir
did not fiiil to be
y ; hill Kiislatc
,y five oilier p^
■(irin lii'fore Kil
\H proof of llii'it
es by Iiii qiiftn
H\\,
vmiM*
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
321
On takinof possession of Calais, Edward adopted a plan far more politic
than any inhuman execution of brave men could have been ; for, consid-
ering that every Frencliuinn must needs be an enemy to him, he cleared
this important key to France of all its native inhabitants, and made it a
complete English colony.
A. D. 1349.— Kven this politic measure, and a truce which now existed
between France and England, had well nigh failed to preserve to Edward
this only valuable fruit of all his expense of blood and treasure. He en-
trusted the governorship of Calais to a native of Paris, who had the repu-
tation of bravery, but who was utterly unrestrained by any feeling of fidel-
ity; and this man volunteered to deliver his important trust to Geoffrey
de Chanii, the commander of the nearest French troops, on payment of
twenty thousand crowns. The traitor was himself betrayed by Ins secre-
tary, who despatched tidings of the intended treachery in lime t(» enable
Edward, with Sir Walter Manny and the prince of Wales, to reach Calais
with a thousand men. The governor was secured and taxed with hia
crime; and easily consented as the price of his pardon, to lead the French
into the ambush prepared for them by Edward. The French appeared
anil were attacked and conquered. Edward himself fought as a mere pri-
vate ^reiitUMiien, and was twice felled to the earth by his gallant antagonist.
Sir KiBtace de Ribaumont, who at length surrendered- to him. Those of
the Frem-h officers who were captured were treated with much distinc-
tion by Kdward and his heroic son ; and the king not only gave Eustace
de Itihauinont his liberty without ransom, but also presented him with a
handsome chaplct of pearls, which he desired him to wear in memory of
having proved the stoutest knight with whom the king of England had ever
been personally engaged.
Kdwani, partly in commemoration of his toils in France and partly to
elevate the warlike spirit among his nobles, shortly afterwards esliibiished
theordi'rof the Garter; an order which, being to this very day limited
to twenty five persons beside the sovereign, is one of the proudest and
most envied rewards of eminent merit.
A. D. 1319. — This year deserves especial remark from the awful pesti-
lence which, arising in the East, swept with tierce and destroying power
ihrouirh EiigUiiiil, as lhrnu<>;h all the rest of Europe, carrying off on an ave-
rage a full tliird of the population of every country in which it made its
appeariuire.
A. D. 1350. — The miseries inflicted by the pestilence upon both France
and Knglaiid tended to prolong the (cessation of arms between them ; but
Charles, king of Navarre, surnamed, very appropriately, tlie Bad, caused
much bloodshed and disiurbance in France ; and Edward, at length wea-
ried Willi peace, allied himself with the French malcontents, and sent an
anny under the heroic prince of Wales — who was now generally known
by the title of the Black Prince, from the colour of his armour — to make
an Inenrsiun on the side of Guienne, while he himself broke in on the side
of Calais.
Each of these incursions was produc^live of great loss to the French,
and of niiinci'ous prisoners and much spoil to the English, but led to no
jfoneralor decisive (Migagcment : and before any such could be brought on,
Kdwani was culled over to En<>land to prepare for a throatiMU'd invasion
by the Scots, who had surprised Herwick, and had gatliiTed an army there
ready to fall upon the north of England. IJut at Edward's approach they
retired to the mountains, and he marched without encounu^riiig an enemy
from Uerxvick to Edinburgh, plunderiiinand bnriiinu at every step. Ualiol
attendeil Edward on this occasion, .iiid was either so disgusted with the
niin which he saw intlictcd, or so utterly hopeless of ever ehtablishing
himself ii|)()ii the Scottish thrmic, that he made a final and formal lesigna-
tion of Ills nriHciisions, in evniinnvc fi"* a pension of two thousand pounds
I.— 21
if. I ' !
'M
«<?'
b
^§^w*v:
1-,'2
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
A. D. 1356. — The prince of Wak a in the meantime had penetrated into
the very heart of France, and committed incredible havoc. Having only
.in army of 12,000 men, most of whom were foreign mercenaries, lie wag
anxious to march into Normandy, and form a junction with the king of Na-
varre and the English force that was assisting that monarch, under the
command of the earl of Lancaster ; but every bridge being broken down
and every pass guarded, he next directed his march towards Guienne,
John, king of France, who had succeeded Philip of Valois, though a mild
and just prince was a very brave man ; and, being enraged by the destruc-
tion wrought by the young prince, he got together an army of nearly
00,000 men, with which he overtook the Black Prince at Maupertuis, near
Poitiers ; and the prince having done all that lay in his power to prevent
himself from being compelled to fight at a disadvantage, now exerted him-
self no less to avoid defeat even while so fighting.
With so great a superiority of force, the French king, by merely sur-
rounding the English, might without any risk have starved tliein into
submission ; but both .lohn and his principal nobles were so eager to close
with and totally destroy so daring and mischievous an enemy, thit they
overlooked all the cooler suggestions of prudence. Even this hot haste
would perhaps have proved fatal to the English ; but, fortunately for them,
though John had no patience to surround his enemy and starve him into
submission, he did allow his impetuosity to be just suflicieiUly checked
to aflford that enemy time to make the very best of his situation, bad as it
really was.
The French had already drawn up in order of battle, and were prepar-
ing for that furious and instant onset which, next to patient hemming in of
the English, would have been their most certain means of success, when
King John suffered himsef to be delayed to enable the cardinal of Peri-
gord to endeavour to bring the English to terms without farther blood-
shed. The humane endeavour of the cardinal was not ill received by the
Black Prince, who was fully sensible of the disadvantageous position
which ho occupied, and who frankly confessed his willingness to make
any terms not inconsistent with honuor ; and offered to purchase an unas-
sailed retreat by, 1st, the cession of all the conquests he had made during
this and the preceding campaign, and 2dly, pledging himself not lo serve
against France for seven years from that date. Happy would it have
been for John had he been contented with these protleriid advantages.
But he imagined that the fate of the English was now absolutely at his
disposal, and he demanded the surrender of Calais, together with Prince
Edward and a hundred of his knights as prisoners; terms which Edward
mdignantly refused.
By the time that the negotiation was terminated the day was too far
spent to allow the commencement of action, and Edward thus gniiuid the
inestimable advantage of having the whole night at his disposal to siipiigth-
en his post and alter the disposition of his forces. Besides greaily adding
to the extent and strength of his iiitrcncliinents, he caused the caplal de
Uuche, with three hundred archers and the like numbei' of ineii-at-arms,
to make a circuit and lie in ambush ready to seize the first favoiirahlc op-
portunity of falling suddenly on the flank or rear of the enemy. The
main body of his troops the prince had under his own command ; the van
he entrusted to the earl of Warwick ; the rear to the earls of Salisbury and
Suffolk ; aiid even the chief subdivisions were headed, for the most pat,
by warriors of scarcely inferior fame and experience.
The king of France also drew out his army in threo divisions; the fii''l
3f which was commanded liy his brother the duke of Orlef ns, the second
oy the dauphin and two of John's younger sons, and the third by J:>lin hi P-
self, who was accompanied by his fourth son, Phili[«, ;heti (uilj fui'rie )l
yeara old
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
3aj
The compaiative weakness of the English army was compensated by
Its position, which only allowed of the enemy approaching it along a nar-
row latie flank«:d by thick hedges. A strong advanced guard of the
French, led by marshals ClermontandAndrcheu, commenced the engage-
ment by inarching along this lane to open a passage for the main army.
This detachment was dreadfully galled and thinned by the English arch-
ers, will) from behind the hedges poured in their deadly arrows with-
out being exposed to the risk of retaliation. But, in spite of the terrible
slaughter, this gallant advanced guard pushed steadily forward, and the
survivors arrived at the end of the lane and bravely charged upon a strong
body of the English which awaited them under the command of the prince
in person. But the contest was short as it was furious ; the head of this
brave and devoted column was crushed even before its rear could fairly
emnrge from the lane. Of the two marshals, one was taken prisoner and
the other slain on the spot, and the rear of the beaten column retreated in
disorder upon its own army, galled at every step by the ambnshed arch-
ers. At the very instant that the hurried return of their beaten friends
threw the French army into confusion, iltc captal de Buche and his de-
tachment made a well-timed and desperate charge upon the French
flank, so close to the dauphin, that the nobles who had the charge of that
young prince became alarmed for his safety, and hurried him from the
field.
The flight of the dauphin and his immediate attendants was a signal for
that of the whole division ; the duke of Orleans and his division followed
the example ; and the vigilant and gallant Lord Chandos seized upon the
important instant, and called to Prince Edward to charge with all his
chivalry upon the only remaining division of the French, which was under
the immediate command of John himself. Feeling that all depended upon
this one effort, John fought nobly. The three generals who commanded
'he German auxiliaries of his army fell within sight of him ; young Philip,
rtiiose sword was wielded with a hero's spirit in defence of his father, was
wounded ; and the king himself was several times only saved from death
by the desire of his immediate assailants to make him prisoner; yet still
he shouted the war-cry and brandished his blade as bravely as though his
cause had been truly triumphant. Even when he svas sinking with fatigue
he demanded that the prince in person should receive his sword; but at
length, overwhelmed by numbers, and being informed that the prince was
too far off to be broughit to the spot, he threw down his gauntlet, and he
and his gallant boy were taken prisoners by Sir Dennis de Morbec, a
knight of Arras, who had fled from his country on being charged with
murder.
The gallant spirit which .Tohn had displayed ought to have protected
him from further ill ; but some English soldiers rescued him from de
i>iorbec, in hope of being rewarded as his actual captors ; and some Gas-
cons, actuated by the same motives, endeavoured to wrest him from the
English ; so high, indeed, ran the dispute, that some on both sides loudly
tlireatened rather to slay him tlian to part with him living to their oppo-
nents, when, fortimately, the carl of Warwick, dispatched by the prince of
Wales, arrived upon tne spot and conducted him in safety to the royal tent.
Prince Edward's courage and conduct in the field were not more credit-
able to him than the striking yet perfectly unaffected humanity with which
he nowtreated his vanqnishedenemy. Hereceived him at his tent, and con-
ducted himself as an inferior wailing upon a superior ; earnestly and truly
ascribed his victory less to skill than the fortune of war, and wailed be-
hind the royal prisoner's chair during the banquet with which he was
served. The example of the prince was followed by his army ; all the
prisoners were released, and at such moderate ransoms as did not presp
upon them individually, though their great number made the English so'
diers wealthy.
f I
I ,.«i<KJ'''
334
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
Edward now made a trune with the French for two years, and condiint-
ed Jolin to to I^undon, treating him not as a captive but as a monarch-
taking care himself to appear, alii^e as to horse and attire, as a person
of interior station.
King Edward showed his approval of his son's modest and delicate con.
duct by closely imitating it; advancing to Southwark to meet John on
his landing there, and in every sense treating him not as a captive but a*
a monarch and voluntary visitor.
Edward had now two kings his prisoners in London. But the contin-
ued captivity of David Uruce had proved less injurious to Scotland than
Edward had anticipated, the power of that country being ably and inde-
fatigalily directed by David's heir and nephew, Robert Stuart. Edward
therefore restored David to liberty at a ransom of 100,000 marks. f(ir the
payment of which the sons of his principal nobles became hostages.
A. D. 1358. — Though the very virtues of John, king of France, were cal-
culated to encourage disobedience to him in so turbulent and ill-regulated
an age, and in a country so often convulsed as France was by being made
the theatre of war, yet his absence was early and visibly productive tifjn-
jury and disturbance to his kingdom. If his goodness had been some-
times imposed upon and his kindness still more frequently abused, yet
as it was well known that he had both wisdom and courage, his pres-
ence had kept the ill-disposed within certain bounds. The dauphin, upon
whom the ditiicult task now lay of ruling during the imprisonment of his
father, was brave and of good capacity ; but he had one fatal defect, in it-
self su(Ticiei\t to incapacitate him for fully supplying his father's place; he
was only eighteen years of age. How far that circumstance weakened
his authority appeared on the very first occitsion of his assembling the
states. Though his father was now made captive in defending the kingdom
the yonn^ daiiphin no sooner demanded the supplies which his father's cap
tivity and the situation of the kingdom rendered so necessary, than he wm
met not by a generous vote of sympathy, confidence, and assistance, but
by a harsh and eager demand for the limitation of the royal authority, foi
redress of certain alledged grievances, ami for the liberation of the kingol
Navarre, who had been so mischievous to France even while John was at
liberty to oppose him, and whose liberation now might rationally be ex-
pected to be productive of the very worst consequences. 'J'his ungener-
ous conduct of the stales did not lack imitators. Marcel, provost of the
merchants, tht; first and most influential magistrate of Paris, instead of
using the weight of his authority to aid the dauphin, actually constituted
himself the ringleader of the rabble, and encouraged them in the most in-
solent and unlawful conduct. The dauphin, thus situated, found that he
was less the ruler than the prisoner of these ungrateful men, who carried
their brutal disrespect so far as to murder in his presence the marshals
de Clermont and dc Conflans. As usual, the indulgence of ill-dlsposi
tions increased their strength : all the other friends and ministers of the
dauphin were threatened with the fate of the murdered marshals, and he
at length seized an opportunity to escape. The frantic demagogues of
Paris now openly levied war against the dauphin, and it is scarcely neces-
sary to add that their example was speedily followed by every large town
in the kingdom. Those of the nobles who deented it time to'exert them-
selves in support of the royal authority were taunted with their flight from
the battle of Maiipertuis, or as it was generally termed, of Poitiers; the
king of Navarre was liberated from prison by aid of the disaffected,
and the whole kingdom was the prey of the most horrible disorders.
The dauphin, rather by his judgment than by his military talents, re-
duced the country at length to something like order. Edward in the
meantime had practised so successfully, and, we may add, so ungcn-
nrously, upon the captive John, as tu induce him to sign a treaty which
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY
32ft
ipas so niani ' stiy and unfiiirly injurious to France, tliat the dauphin re-
fused to be bouiid by it. (a. n. 1359-60.) War consequently whs re-
commenced by Edward ; but tiiougb liie English armies traversed France
from end to end, and committed the most disgraceful ravages, Edward's
success was so disproportionate, and his advantages constantly proved so
fleeting, that even the duke of Lancaster, his own near relative and zeal-
ous as well as able general, remonstrated with him upon his absurd obsti-
Diicy in insisting upon terms so extreme, that they were calculated rather
to induce desperation than to incline to submission.
Tliese remonstrances, backed as they were by the whole circumstances
of the case, at length led Edward to incline to more reasonable terms.
By way of salvo to his dignity, or pride, he professed to have made a
vow during an awful tempest which threatened the destruction of his
army, and in obedience to this his alledged vow he now concluded peace
on the following footing, viz.: that Knig John should be restored to lib-
erty at a ransom of three millions of golden crowns : that Edward should
for himself and his successors renounce all claim to the crown of France,
and to his ancestral provinces, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, and Normandy;
and should in exchange receive other specified districts in that direction,
with Calais, Guisnes, Montreuil, and Pontliieu, on the other side of France,
in full and independent sovereignty; together with suildry other stipula-
tions. John was accordingly restored to liberty ; and as he had been per-
sonally well treated in Ei!';land, and, besides, was at all times greatly in-
clined to sincerity, he seems to have exerted himself (o the utmost to
cause the treaty to be duly fulfilled. But tlie people in the neighborhood *
of Giiienne were obstinately bent against living under the English do-
minion; and some other difficulties arose which induced John to return
to England in the hope of adjusting matters, when he sickened and died,
1. D. 1363,
A. D. 1364. — Charles the dauphin, who succeeded to the throne of
France, devoted his first efforts to settling all disturbances in his own
realm, and ridding it of the numerous "/ree companions" who, soldiers in
time of war and robbers in time of peace, were one of tue principal
causes of all the disorder that reigned ; and he was prudent enough to
cause them to flock to that Spanish war in which the Black Prince most
imprudently took part.
Having got rid of this dangerous set of men, and having with secret
gladness beheld the Black Prince ruining himself alike in health and for-
tune in the same war which drafted so many desperate ruffians from
France, Charles, in the very face of his father's treaty, assumed a feudal
power to which he had no just claim. Edward recommenced war; but
liiough France once more was extensively ravaged, a truce was at length
agreed upon, when the varied events of war, consisting rather of the
skirmishes of freebooters than of the great strife of armies, had left Ed-
ward scarce a foot of ground in France, save Calais, Bourdeaux, and
Bayonne.
A. D. 1376.— Edward the Black Prince, feeble in health, had for some
lime past been visibly hastening, to the grave. His warlike prowess and
his unsullied virtue— unsullied save by that warlike fury which all man-
kind are prone to rate as virtue — made his condition the source of a very
Jeep and universal interest in England, which was greatly heightened by
the unpopularity of the duke of Lancaster, who, it was feared, would
take advantage of the minority of Richard, son and heir of the Black
Prince, to usurp the ihrone. This general interest grew daily more deep
and p.iinfid, and the Black Prince, amid the sorrow of the whole nation,
expired on the 8th of June, in the very prime of manhood, a(;ed only
forty-six. The king, who was visibly afH-'cted by the loss of his son.
1
^ 1
' * mi
..■*!!!«'•*■
3Cfi
THE THEASURY OF HISTORY.
5i:
lived only a year longer, dying on the 2l3t of Juno, 1377 in the Slst yeai
of his reign, and in the CSth of his age.
Tlie sense of power is usually more induential on men's judgment
than the sense of right; and tho'iigli his wars both with Sijoilaiid and
France chiefly originated in tyrannous self-will, the splendour of lils war-
like talents and the vigour of his character made him beloved and ad-
mired by his people .1 iring his life, and still make tiie English hislorian
love to linger over liis reign- His very injustice to foreign people keoi
sedition and its fearful evils afar from his own sutijccts ; and if he was
himself but too burdensome in the way of taxation, he at least kept a
firm hand over his nobles, and did much towards advancing and establish-
ing tiie right of the people at large to be unmolested in their private life,
and to have their interests considered and their reasonable demands at-
tended to. It has, indeed, been generally admitted that he was one ul
the best and most illustrious kings that ever sat on the Englisli throne,
and that his faults were greatly outweighed by his heroic virtues and
amiable qualities. On the whole, the reign of Edward III., as it was one
of the longest, so was it also one of the brightest in England's history.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE RKIGN OF RICHARD II.
A. D. 1377. — Edward HI. was suc(;eeded by Richard II., son of the
Black Prince. The new king was but little more than eleven years old;
but he had three uncles, the dukes of Lancaster, York, and Gloucester,
whose authority, aided by the habits of obedience which the firm ride of
tlie late king had established, seemed to promise at the least an undis
turbed minority.
The very commmencement of this reign proved how much Edward III.
had raised the views and added to the importance of the commons in
parliament, the deliberative business of which had now so much increased,
iliat they found it necessary to choose a speaker, both to be their organ
of communication and to keep due order and gravity in their debates,
The choice, however, showed but little gratitude to the late king, for il
fell upon Peter de la Mare, a man who had distinguished himself by op-
position to the late king's ministers, and had bi'cn imprisoned for a vio-
lent attack on Alice Pierce (or Perrers,) who. as the king's mistress, iiad
become so unpopular in consequence of thr influence she was supposed
to have upon his measures, that he was obliged to part with her lu ap-
pease the popular clamour.
Though the choice of this person for speaker did not indicate anyia-
•ention on the part of the coininoiis towards loo submissive a conduct,
they did not immediately show any desire unduly to interfere in the gov-
erinnent, but confined themselves to petitioning the lords that a council
of nine, composed of trustworthy and virtuous men, should be appointed
Jo conduct the public business, and to supi'rintend tlie life and eihicatlon
of the young king during his minority. The former part of the petition
was answered by the appointment ol the bishops of London, Carlisle, and
Salisbury, the earls of March and Stafford, and sirs Richard dt; SlalTord,
Henry le Scrope, John Devcreux, and Hugh Seagrave, who were em-
powered to conduct the public business for one year. With respect to
the latter portion of tlie petition, the lords declined interfering with it,
reasonably thinking that to intcrrere in the young prince's private life
and education, unless his royal uncles proved careless or inimical, wouU
De neither delicate nor just.
Of the tlree uncles, the duke of Lancaster was certainly by far lb«
THE TREASUav OP HlflTOB^.
327
:h Edward 111.
rtbiest, ami probably not iho least ambitious ; and ihougd there was no
one to whom any authority was ostensibly or formally given to control
iho council, Lancaster seonis lo have been the actual rejrent who for some
years not only governed, but, by his irresistible though secret inlluence
even appoinied the council.
As is usual with popular and numerous assemblies, the commons, on
finding their interference complied with instead of being resented, be-
came anxious and somewhat impatient to push it still farther. Scarcely
had the greater, and also the most important part, of their first petition
been acted upon ere they presented another, in which they prayed the
king and his council to take measures to prevent the barons from confed-
erating together to uphold each other and their followers in violent and
unlawful deeds. A civil answer was given to this petition ; but though
the answer was couched in those general terms which really bind the
parties using them to no particular course, it speedily called forth another
petition of a far more ambitious nature, and calculated to add at one step
must prodigiously to the influence of the commons, who now prayed that
during the minority of the king all the great officers should be appointed
by parliament— clearly meaning that the mere appointment by tlie lords
should thenceforth be of no validity unless it were confirmed by the
comiuons. This petition did not meet with so favourable a reception;
the lords still retained to themselves the power of appointing to tiie great
offices of state, and the commons took part in the appointments only by
tacit aequiescence.
Previous to this parliament being dissolved the commons gave another
proof of their consciousness of their own growing importance, by repre-
senting the necessity as well as propriety of their being annually assem-
bled, and by appointing two of their number to receive and disburse two-
fifteenths and iwotenlhs which had been voted to the king.
A. D. 1381. — Though the war with Franrc luok forth from time to
time, in spite of the prudent conduct oi' liarles, who most justly was
called The Wise, the military operations were not such as to demand de-
•.ail. But if unproductive of glory <ii tcmtory, the war was not the less
lestruc'tiv(! of treasure; anci on tin parli Mnent meeting in 1380, it was
found requisite, in order lo provide lui- the pressing and indispensable
necessities of the government, ti> iinpot-^' a poll-tax of three groats upon
every person, male and female, w iv> was more than fifteen years nf age.
There was no foreign count ry with which England had so close and
continued an intercourse as with Flanders, which greatly depended on
England for its supply of the wool necessary for its manufactures. The
spirit nf independence that had arisen among the Flemish peasants, as
exemplified in the brutalities which they had committed upon their nat-
ural and lawful rulers, and the servility with which they had submitted to
the utmost tyranny at the hands of a br(!wcr, now began to communicate
itself to the lower order in England. Then, as iu far more modern limes,
there were uo.v.ugGgucs -.vlv^ sought to recommend themselves to the
credulous people, and to prey upon ilicn by the loud inculcation of an
equably among mankind, which no man, not ucc:d?illy inferior lo all the
.•est of his race in the quality of intelligence, can failto see is but par-
tially true in the abstract, and wholly false by force of circumstances
which are at once inevitable and perfectly independent of the form of
government and even of the good or bad adminislrulion of the laws.
Among the demagogues who just at this period raised their voices to de-
ceive and plunder the mulliUKle, was one John Ball, a degraded priest,
but a man by no means destitute of ability. To such a man the imposi-
doii of a tax which was both excessive Vind cruel in the then stale of
lalMur and its wages, was a perfect godsend; and the opportunity it af-
forded him of giving vent to exciting and plausible declamation, was no!
328
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY
■•■n
diminished by the bitter and impolitic mockery of a recommendation from
the euuiicii, that when this new poll-tax should be found to press too se-
verely on the poor, the wealthy should relieve them by increasing their
own contribution.
It is not easy to imagine any circumstances under which so excessive
a demand upon a sufferiny^ population could have failed to cause discon-
tent and sedition ; but when to the excess of the tax the excit(;d temper ol
the people and the a(Mivity of their dcluders, the demagogues, was added
an insolent brutality on the part of the collectors, there could be little
doubt of the occurrence of great and extended mischief.
The tax in question was farmed out to the tax-gatherers of the various
districts, who thus had a personal interest in the performance of their in-
vidious duty, whic-h was certainly not likely to make them less urgent oi
less insolent Kvery where the tax raised complaims both lomi and deep,
and every poor man was anxious to avail himself of any possible niisrep^
reseiitaiioii is to the age of the children for whom he was charged. The
blacksmith of a village in I'^ssex having paid for the rest of his familv,
refused tr do so for a daughter whom, whether truly or falsely does not
appear, lie stoutly averred to be under the prescribed age; and llie tax-
gatherer, a low brutal fellow, offered a violent indecency to the irjrl in
pr<iof of his right to the demand. The father, poor, irritated at iIk; loss of
tli(! money lie had already paid, and doubly indignant at the outrage thus
offered to his child, raised the ponderous hammer he had just been using
in his hiiMiiess, and dashed th<! riiflian's brains oni on the spot. Uiulern
state of less violent excitement the bystantlers would probably have been
sliocke<l at the smith's fatal violence; but as it was, the murder '.uued like
a talisman upon the hilluTto supjiressed raire of the people, and in a few
hours a vast multitude, armed with every description of rude weapon, was
gathered together, with the avowed inleniion of taking vengeance on Iheir
tyrants and of putting an end to their oppression. From Kssex llie flame
spread to all the ailioiiiing counties ; and so sudden and so rapid wasilic
gathering, that before the astounded government could even deterinine 'in
what emirse to follow, upwards <pf a hundred thousand despi'rale men had
assembled oil Hlaekhealli, under the command of Wat Tyler, the hiaek-
cniitli, aiirl several oiher ringleaders who bore the assumed naiiies of Ihib
Carler, .lack Straw, and the like. The king's mother, the widow of tl:e
heroic lllack Prince, m returning from a pilgrimage to <'anterlmry, h;id
to pass lliron^h thisdesperale and dissolute innliitudc; and such was theiriii.
discriminate rage, that she, to whom they owed 8o mu(di respect, was lakcn
from her vehicle, insulted with the familiar salutes of drunken clownsi, and
her aitendants were tri aied with equal insult and slill greater VKilcnce
\t length, probably at the intercession of smne of the least debuscil uf thr
leaders, she was allowed to proceed on her journey.
'I'lie king in the meantime had been eondiicted for safely to the Towei
of Ijondon, and tlu* rebels now sent to demand a conference willi Inni.
He (lailed down the river in a barge to comply with their reipiisi, but as
he approaci.ed the shore the mob showed such evident iiicliualioii tiihniii!
violence, that he was compelled to return to the fortress.
In London the diworder was by this lime at its height. Thi^ low ribbll
of the city, always in that age ripe lor mischief, had joined the riolri^fnim
the country; ware-hinises and |irivale houses were broken opi ii, .iiid iiul
meridy pill iged, but the contents burned orotlii'rwnii' ihslruved »lii ii llii'V
'•oiild not be earned away ; and llie Savoy palace, the properly of Ihediile
of lialicaster. winch liml so long lieeii the abode of tin? king of I'r.HK c, \\,i*
in waiilon inisi lilef cimiplelelv rediiceil to ashes. Ascribing their siilTt'r.
iiigs to the ruber and better nislrnctcd classes, the mob not iinrrly inid.
Ire.ited, Iml in very many i';t«es even nnudered, itiu'h geiitleinvu a« wert
w^
-M
■nil
''I
ral'
UHCk
f
1
l!
H-
1
ilil
til
anfortiinntr
Ireaied witi
The king
End, wlirru
siirruiiinli'ij
reriied in tl
tolls and iiii
holiliiigs, ill!
cundiliuii to
llifi above w
was llius sei
Hut the di
rebels, liead(
meniitlnic bi
cellor and ar
with some ol
sing tjiroiij^li
phicc. The
now only six
vioiisjy lit'i li
whole of tlie
Flushed uitji
Biichnieiiacin
llie then iniiyi
that he strii'cl
A fierce yell
leader; but b
rode steadily
command wliii
cvcliiinied, "A
that ye have l
be my peo|)|e'
lurpri-ic lii.i ci
ihem, the kin
joined by an
maud Ins (It!
'iMirjre lliein
"lis b.nid as p
Mile Kud, 111,(1
While liie
Iry 111 all pa
I'li'ir reiaiiicrs
"MiMmo tiiei.
anil the rlnn,
uiilit fi)rili(. St
"f exei'iitioii,
"haviuj; beei
Imd banded in
Suiiiary and
Siivcreiy;n »ii
Kiiiiard did ..
"'»! brijjhi pro
A. n. Kt-*.'),-
when till' ;iii|
IM- and clicrk
Iwd Nrolj.ind
My of |.'ivi„,
"> 'he niiiunt,!
THE TREASUllY OF HISTORY.
329
anfortundtn enough to fall into their hands ; and lawyers, especially, were
treated witliout mercy.
The king at length left the Tower .ind proceeded to a field near Mile
End, where one of the main bodies of the rioters had assembled. They
surrouiiilril him with peremptory demands for a general pardon for all con-
cerned in the insurrection, the instant abolition of all villeinage, and of
tolls and imposts in all markets, tojrelher with a fixed money rent of land-
holdings, instead of personal service. The government was as yel in no
coudilion to proceed to forcible measures ; and, consequently, charters to
the above were hastily drawn out and delivered, and this body of rioters
was thus sent |)eaceably away.
Hut ilic danger was as yet only partially past. A larger body of the
rebels, headed by Wat Tyler and other leading insurrectionists, had in the
meHUlimc broken into the Tower and put. to death Simon Sudbury, chan-
cellor anil archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir Itobert Hales the treasurer,
with some other persons of High rank, though of less note ; and were pas-
sing through Sinithfield just as the king ami his attendants entered that
place. The king wi'li a spirit and temper far beyond his years, for be was
now only sixteen. ■ "^r"i' into conference with Wat Tyler, who had pre-
vionsly lift his 1..; 'i . . \ orderto rush on at a given signal, murder the
whole of the royal • and make the young moitarcli their prisoner.
FInslied with his I >i hitherto unchecked triumph, Wat Tyler made
such menacing gestures as he spoke to the king, that Williatn Walsworth,
tlie then mayor of Loudon, was so provoked out of all sense of the daM;ior,
that lie struck the ruffian to the ground, and he was speedily dispatched.
A fierce yt II from the rebels prodaiinwl their rage at the loss of their
leader; but bofero tin luld rush upon the royal party, young Richard
rode steadily tip to II ., and in that calm lone of high conlidence and
coinaiand which has so great an influence over even the most violent men,
exclaimed, " My good people ! What moans this disorder ? Are ye angry
ihai ye have lost your leader 1 1 am your king! follow me ! I myself will
be my people's leader!" Without giving them time to recover from the
surpriic his coolness and the majesty of bis air and appearanc(; had eausod
lliciii, the king led the way into the neiglibourii.g fields, where he was
ionied by an armed force under Sir Rolierl Knolles. (Cautioning Sir Rob-
ert and Ins other friends to allow nothing short of the most vital necessity
lourgeilii'iii into violence, the king after a short conference, dismissed
this bind as peaceably and as well satisfi((d as he had the former one at
Mile Fiiid, and t)y means of giving them similar charters.
While liie king had thus skilfully been leinporising, th" nobility and gen-
try ill all parts of the country li;id been actively asMcmbling and arming
Iheir reiainers ; in a few days Richard was able to lake the field at the head
of 40,0110 men ; the rioters dared no longer to appear openly and in force;
iml tlip iliiriers, whiidi, reasonable as iliey now seem, were not merely
unlit for the state of the country at tint time, but actually impriiciicable
of exi'i'iilidii, were formally revoked, not only upon that ground, but also
Mliaviiii; been extorted while the king was under eoiistraint of men who
bail b.iinlcd logeiher to miinler all the higher ranks and bring about a gaii-
Suinary and sweeping revolution. It is scarcely possible to iiingiite •<
siivcreiun so youni> giving more clear proof of conrage ill. I ability t'' i
Rii'liard ilid oil this sad oecasioii; but his later years by no incHiis fulfillc
llie brijilil promise thus given by hi<i boyhood.
*. n. i:t->.V — Scarcely was peace restored after this alarming revolt,
when till' aliunde of the Scots n iidered it absoliilidy necessary to clias-
tiM' and check them. Accordingly tlie king with a mimerons army en-
l«ri'd Siotliiid by llerwick. Hut the Scots, who bad a strong auxiliary
boily (if Kreiirh cavalry, had already secured all their moveable property
ID the niouiitaniif, mid, luuviiig their huuies to be burned, they unierud
»^\
I
I .1.
I'li
J THE TRKASUHY OF HISTORY.
Enjrland, dispersed lliemselves in large marauding parlies throughout Cum
bcriaiid, VVL'sliiiorelaiid, and Laiicasliirc. and returned laden with booty
without having met with any show of resistanee.
The Knglisli army under Ilieliard had in the meantime marched unop-
posed to Kdinburgh, burning all the towns and villages on tiieir way-
Perth, Dundee, and a vast number of other phu-es in the l.owlanils, were
treated in the same manner. But when news readied the army of the
successful inroad cf .lie Scots upon the northern counties of lOniflani], the
true nature of Richard, his frivolity, and his detcrnnned preference c(
pleasure to action, only lor clearly appeared ; for he positively refused 'o
make any attemiit at cuttiiig off the retreat of the spoil-laden enemy, ami
immednitely led his army home.
A. D. 1386. — The French had aided the Scots chiefly, if not solely, wiih
a view to annoy the English; and Flanders being now at peace with
France, a large fleet and army assembled in the Flemish ])ort <if iSiuys fui
the invasion of Ei. gland. The fleet actually sailed, but was scarcely out
of port when it encounttu'cd a terrible storm, which dispersed it and de-
stroyed many of the largest shi|)s. The lOnglish men-of-war attacked aii''
took the remainder, and thus, for the present at least, this new dangerwa&
averted.
Uul thonglithis expedition had completely failed, it turned the attention
of the nati(Mi, as well as the king and council, towards those circiniisum-
ces which made it ordy too certain that a similar attempt would be aiaile
at no great distance of time. Tin; disturbances which had so recently
agitated England from one end to the other could not fail to act as an in-
vitalion to foreign enemies ; and, to mak(! the matter still worse, the hcsl
of th(! English soldiery, to a very great number, were at this time in Spain,
8upp(irting tin; duke of LancMster in the claim he had long laid to the
crown of Castde. Perhaps the alarm which called attention to tlii;se eii'
cumslaiH'es mainly served to avert the danger; at all events, it speedily
ajijicared that the [)iace of England was in greater danger from English
men than from foreigners.
We have already had occasion, vmder the reign of Edward I!., t ) poiiii
out the piopensiiy of weak-minded prnii'i * to the adoption of favoiinti's,
to whose inicrrsts they delight in sucriticing all other (jonsiderations, iii.
eluding their own dignity and ev(Mi their own personal safely. Rleliiird
wiui had shown so much frivolity in 'lis Scotch expedition, now ff^ve a
new proof of iiis weakness of mind by adopting a successor to liie Spen-
Hcrs and the (lavestons of an earlier day.
Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford, of noble birth, agreeahh; manners, iiiid
ffreat accoinplislinn'iiis, but extremely dissoliiti! and no less vain and am
bilious, ma(l(! his eomp.niy so agre(;ab!e to Richard, that tin yoiiiii; nniii-
arch seeiiK'd scarcely able to exist but m his presence. In proof of his
attachment to him, the king made him inar(|uis of Dnidiii — tli.' title bi'iiig
then (h'st used in England — created him by patent vice-king of Irilaiui f'l
life, and evinced Ins preference for him by various other marks of roya!
favour.
As is uniformly the case with nuch favouritism, tlio favourite's riipacily
and insolence kept ''ull pice with the king's fully ; tlu^ mai'(|iiis of I)ii!>hN
becanii! the virtual king; all favours were obtainable ihrouu'li his iiileic^l
justice Itself searc(dy obtaiiiahli' without it ; and the man|iiis and lii!.:;il
ellites became ai once the plague and the <leleslali(m of the whole iiobilily,
but inon' esjii'cially of the king's uncles, \iho saw tin! iiilluiiiic whicli
they oiiglit to have nossesst d, and much that ought to iiavc been rcfiisrJ
even to them, transterrcd to a man of eomparailvc obscuiity. TIm' nun-
isters, Ihongli they, it is ijiiite clear, could have little power to currt'ci
their master's peculiar folly, sliareil tlie sovereign's disgrace, and tli'
who.c kingdom soon rang with coinphiints and tiireatenings,
THK TllEAaUHY OH HISTORY.
331
lout Cum
iili booty
lied unop-
.liuir way.
iiiiils, were
luiy of ihe
nirlaiiii, llie
il'ereiice ol
I refused".)
jiieiny, ami
solely, will)
peaee wilh
of Sluys foi
iC-.ireely out
d it and de-
itl;iekedai\''
; danger wai
the allcntiou
■ eireuiiislaH-
luld be maile
i 81) recently
I act as an in-
(irsc, llie best
time in Spain,
nir laid to the
n to these eir
Its, it speedilj
from Knglisli
rdll., »-'Pf'""
1 of favonrilcs,
iiderations, iU'
ciy. RiebarJ.
11, now ijave a
or 10 the Spell-
manners, anil
ss vain and am
li( yonng "!<•"■
11 nroof of hi:
lUi,' title bi'ins
,r „f IrclaiuK'i
niarlib of royi
ourite's rapafi')'
;\r(|ins
of Diilil
„1, liis niteu'-l
iii> and 111" •*
. whole iiobiWV'
intluwK'' wliic.i
ivc liei'ii "■'"*''''
irity. "H"' """;
Mivv.T toeorrici
i.irra.r, and Hi'
The first rush oftheloiig-brevviiig tempust showed itself in a ficroo attack
upon Michael de la Pole, earl of Siiflbik, the chancellor. Tlioiigh he was
originally only the son of a merdiant, he had won a high and well-deserved
celebrity by his valour and conduct during the wars of the late king, and
had since shown very splendid civil ability. Ho was supposed to be the
chief confidential friend of the king and of De Vere, who was now, from
the inarquisate of Dublin raised to the dukedom of Irela'id ; and Ihe duke
of Gloucester consequently singled him out for persecution, (iloucester,
wlio was both able and ambitious, had secured a most potent sway over
both tlie lords and commons, and he now induced the latter to impeach the
earl of SufTolk before the former; a power and mode of proceeding which
the commons had possessed themselves of towards the close of the reign
ofl'Mward III.
The impeachment of the most eminent of his ministers naturally alarmed
the king for himself and his favourite; and he retired to the royal palace
at Ellliam, to be out of immediate danger, and to deliberate upon his future
course. Rightly judging that while the king was thus comparatively
rcitiiiveJ from da.iger and annoyance they would have liule chance of
bringing him to compliance wilh their wishes, the parliament sent to in-
funn hiin that unless he immediately returned they would dissolve with-
oiil miking an attempt at preparation for the French invasion with which
the nation was at thai time threatened. And lest this threat should fail
to lonipel the king to compliance, they called for the production of the
parliamentary record of the depoiiition of Kdwaid II. This hint was too
inielligible to be disregarded, and the king at once consented to return, on
llie soli! cimdition that, beyond the impeaclimnnt already coinnienced
against the earl of SufTolk, no attack shoui I lie made upon his ministers;
astipulation which, most jirobably, he chiefly made with a view to the
sifety of the duke of Ireland.
The charges against .Suffolk were directed almost .wholly against his
pecuniary transact ions, llf was accused, for instance, of having ex-
chimjjcd a perpetual annuity, which he had fairly inherited, for lands of equal
value, with llii! king; of having purchased a forfeited crown annuity ol
lil'iy pounds and induced tin; king to recognise it as being valid ; uu>l ol
having olitaini'd a grant of 500/. per annum lo support his dignity on his
bciiijfer<'ati'(i c.irl of Suffolk. The first of thiise charges, it is clear, could
only hive been made by men who were sadly at a loss for some weapon
wlili wliu'h to assail iheir enemy; the second was ill-supported ; and the
thiril iiroceciled wilh a very ill-grace from Gloucester, who, though a-i
wcillliy as Suffolk was poor, was himself in re(;eipt of just double the
amount by way of pension ! When to this we add that, as to ihi; first
cliarjre, it was positively pmvcd that Suffolk had made no sort of pnndiase,
honest or (lisnoncsl, Iroin thi; crown during his enjuymciit of onice, the
reader would be greatly surjirised at learning that he was convicted and
seiiieiK'cd lo lose his ofllcc — if it were possible for tint reader to have no-
liccil till' events of history even thus far wilhout liNirniiig that when pow-
erful men hate deeply, tlicy do not require cither very important charges
or very clear evidence loimluce ihcni to (^onviiil the parly hated.
This triumph of tl;e aiilifavourile party cinholdencd lliein to fly at a
higher (inarry. They kept the letlcrofttieir agrcetiient with the king, and
inaile mi further attack n|)on his ministers ; but at once proceeded to .iirike
alius own authority by appoiiuinjr a conMi'il of fourleiii, to which the
wienign autluM-ity was in be translVrrcid for a year, the council in ques-
lioiiiiiiiHisting, wiili tlu! .single exception of the airhliishoit of York, of the
personal friends and |iarlizaiis of the duke of (iloiicesli'r ; and thus Rich-
aid II., whose boyliodd had promised .•io vignroiis and sjilciidid a reign,
WIS at llie early age (if twenty-live vniually deposed, and a mere puppet
«iid p'liunur in the liandu of his uuumius. No cliunce of present resist*
';.!:; k.*i'
l^Hflfi
.Wi>
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
!i
^il
»• off ed itself, and the unfortunate and weak king signed the corDtnii.
' ...■•h in rcjility uncrowned him, increasing raiiier than diminishing
iiie _,.c)a:iure and triumph of his enemies by an impo'cnt protest whicli he
made at the end of the session of parliament, to the effect that nothing in
the commission he had signed was to be iield to impair the prerogHtives
of the crown.
K. D. 1387. — The pampered favourite and his supporters, as thoy Imdso
greatly profited by the king's weak misuse of hi* power, did nut fail to do
their utmnst to stimulate his anger and to induce him to make some effort
to recover his lost authority, in which, in troth, they were far more inier-
ested than he was.
Estranged as the lords seemed, he resolved to endeavour to mflu.
ence the shiTilfs to return a commons' house calculated for his purpose;
but here he found himself completely anticipated by the fact that most of
the sheriffs and magistrates were the partizans of Gloucester, and actually
owed their appointments to his favour.
Baffled in this quarter, he now tried what use he could make of theau.
thority of the Judges. Having met. at Nottingham, Tresilian, chief justice
of the King's Bench, and several of the other most eminent judges, he pro.
posed to I hem certain queries, to which, in substance, they replied, "ihM
the commission was derogatory to the prerogative and royalty of the king,
and that those who urged it or advised the royal compliance with it were
punishable with death; that tliose whi> compelled 'iimwere guilty of irea-
8011 ; that all \#ho persevered in maititaining it were no less guilty; that
the king had the right to dissolve the parliament at his pleasure; that the
parliament while sitting must give its first attention to the business of ihe
king; and that without the king's consent the parliament had no right to
impeach his niinislers or judges."
Hicliard did not consider when he took this step that even the fa-
vourable opinions of judges, are only opinions, and of little weiulit when
opposed to usurped power, iirmed force, and an iron energy. Moreover,
he could sc;ir(;ely hope lo keep his conference and the opinions of the
judges a sccrta; ;ind if he conld do so of what avtiil could be the liller!
And would not this step sharpen the activity of his enemies by le;i(liiig
them to fear that it was but the prelude and foundation of a far iiinre deci-
ded step ? It actually had that efTect ; for as soon as the king re turned to
London, (ilnucesttr's parly appeared with an overwhelniing force at High-
gate, whence ihey sent a litpnlalion to demand that those who had given
him fala(! and perilous counsel shunhl be delivered up to them as traitors
alike lo the king and kinir<lom ; and they speedily followed up this message
by appearing armed and ii tended in his presence, and accusing of having
given such counsel tlie archbishop of York, the duke of Iiel.Mid, Iheearl
of Suffolk, .Sir Robert 'I'rcsilian, and Sir Nich(das Urembre, as piililie ene-
mies. Tills accusation the lords offered to maintain by duel, and in token
of their willingness to do so they actually threw down their guuiitleis,
The (hike of Ireland, ;it the first appearance of this new and iirgciildan-
^er, ri'tired into Cheshiri! to levy troops to aid the king; but lie wa? met
by (Jloucesler, as he hastened to join Uichard. and totally dcfealed. This
defeat deprived him of all chance of being of use to his friend and master,
and he escaped to the Low Countries, where be remained in exile and
comparative obscurity until his death, which occurred not many years
afterwards.
A. D. 1388. — Ilendered bolder and more eager than ever by this defeat
of the dnke of Ireland, the lords now entered liondon at the head of an
army of 10,000 men ; and the king being entir'-ly in their power, was
obliged to summon a parliament which he well knew would hi> a mere
pa^8ive instrument in the h.iiids of his rebellious lords. Hefore tins pirkcJ
ind slavish parliament an accusation was now made against tlie five per-
(onages who had :
ported by five of t|
tester, uncle to thi
Derby, sun of thee
tvick, and the earl i
^» if the conibi
been insufficient to
es in lliL- case, actn
ii)gs"tohveaiiddi
all opposition with
i!ie only one of the
thirly-iiine charges
He had tlie niocker
absent were not evei
vent them from bei
also Sir Hobert Tre
ecuied ; and here it
lords and their pari
cliican,. and violence
oilier judges who ha
ciMideiniied to death
HwmpofHolt, Sir /
burv were condemned
1 he execution, ort(
made a very great an
king; for he was higl
onus personal charac
lie lamented niack Pi
•««'«llas Kdward JII
Preseni king during his
"lelioiiour of the Bad
lion /n the glowing pH
against liiin and the vj
gw Here supported, ai]
»5'ch would have evcj
f «"cy he had walcliJ
'■•■rmiiiationofhis.ul
'"■'*i»ir» wife, whose f
^""■'If title of the Go,l
•^'"'■cesicr, and i,, thatf
'""ffl'l. Ilie lif,.. of ,1,1
*l''r liad doon.ed tl|
wrdiiiffly. ■
'*s I/' conscious of
fead reiribuiion, the
" ly his novcr recovM-l
; . " heihcr from .he [
""""g Iheinselves or
r..f '"; '--ming „l
tli"/^"'- llic- nValcl
'thenceforth ho wot]
THE TKKASURY OP HISTORY.
333
jonages w)io had already been denounced ; and this accusation was sup-
ported by five of the most [jowerful men in Kiigiand, viz , the duke of Olou-
cester, uncle to the king whom he was endeiivouiing to ruin, the earl of
Derby, sun of the duke of Lancaster, the earl of Arundel, the carl of War-
»ici(, and the earl of Nottinyrham, marshal of England.
As if the combined and formidable power of these great nobles had
been iiisiiiricient to crush the accused, the servile parliament, though judg-
es ill llie case, actually pledged themselves at the outset of the pioceed-
iiigs "10 live and die with the lords appellant, and to defend tiiem against
all opposition with their lives and fortunes!" Sir Nicholas Brembre was
the only one of the five accused persons who was present to hear the
thirly-iiiiie charges made against him and the other four persons accused.
He had the mockery, and but the mockery, of a trial; the others beinj
absent were not even noticed in the way of evidence; but that did not pre-
vent lliein from being found guilty of high treason. Sir Nicholas and
also Sir Robert Tresilian, who was apprehended after tlie trial, were ex-
ecuted; and here it might have been supposed that even these rancorous
lords and their parliamentary tools would have halted in their career of
chicani' and violence ; but far other was their actual conduct. All the
oihir judges who had agreed to the opinions given at Nottingham were
ciinilcmned to death, but afterwards banished to Ireland; a*id Lord Beau-
chainpof Holt, Sir James Berners, Sir Simon Bu.iey. and Sir .lolin Salis-
bury were condemned, and, with the exception of the last-n.mied, executed.
The execution, or to speak more truly, the irdcr of S ir Simon Biirley,
made a very great and painful sensation ev imong the enemies of the
king; for lie was highly and almost univeiojily popular, both on account
of his personal charairler and from his having from the earliest infancy of
the lamented Black Prince been the constant attendant of that hero, who,
as well as Kdvvard IIL, had coi.currcd in appointing him governor of the
preseii! king during his youth. But the gallantry which had procured him
iheluMioiir of the garter, and the imperishable fame of a laudatory men-
tion In till! glowing pages of Froissart, the beygarly nature of the charges
against liiin and the very insufficient evidence by which even those char-
ges were supported, and'lhe singularity of his case from the cir(;nmstances
which would have excused a far nu)re implicit devotion to the kini; whose
infancy he had watched, were all as udihing when opposed to thi; fierce
dilerniiiiation of his and his sovereign's implacable enemies. Nay more,
the killer's wife, whose virtue:, had obtained her from the people t!ie atToc-
lionitf title of the Good (lueen Anne, actually fell upon lier knees before
(iloMcestir, and in that posture for three hours besouglit, and vainly be-
sought, the lift; of the tniforiunate Hurley. The siern enemies of his
niHslcr luid doonied the faithful knight to die, and he was executed ac-
cordingly.
As if conscious of their enormous villany, atid already beginning to
iiCMl rciribuiion, the parliament (•(ut duded this memoralily evil session
by an act, providing for a general oath to npliold and maintain all the nets
of forfeiture and attainder which had previously been passed during the
iessi(Mi.
A. D. I.IPD. — The violence with which the king had been treated, and
the (leoriidation to which he had been reduced, seemed to thrcnten not
uiily his ri(!ver recovuiiig his authority, hut even his actual dcsiruction.
Bui. whether from slieir weariness of their struggle, from disa;;reement8
•uioiig ilii'insclves.or from sonu; fear of the interference of the commons,
Mwdiiily heconiing more powerful and more ready to use their power,
llie chiefs of the nnilcontents were so little able or inclined to opjiose
"irliani, that he, beinu now in his twenty-third year, venlu'cd to say in
open eoiiiieil that he Imd fidly arrived at an age to govern for himself, and
that henceforth he would govern both the kingdom and his own house
ft",
.*-|
liilH!
i<H0'
J34
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
hold; and no one of all his lately fierce and overbearing opponents ven-
tured to jjainsay him. The ease wilii which the king regained his au.
thority e:in only be aeconnted for, as it seems to us, by supposing thai
circumstances, no account of which has come down to as, rendeied tiie
king's enemies afraid of opposing him.
From whatever cause, however, it is certain that the king suddenly re.
gained his lost power. His first act was to remove Fitzalhin, arclibishop
of Canterbury, from the office of chancellor, and to replace him by the
celebrated William of Wykehaui, bishop of Winchester. Procccdinir jn
the obviously wise policy of substituting friends for foes in the hiirirof-
fices of slate, the king dismissed die bishop of Hereford from beinu
treasurer, and the earl of Arundel from being admiral. The earl of Wiir"-
wick and the duke of Gloucester were removed from the council; and
even this evident sign of the king's determination to deprive his enemies
of the power to injure him called forth little complaint and no opposiiion.
To tiie policy of what he did, the king in what he left undone added a
still higher wisdom, which his former infatuation gave but little promise
of. He did not show the slifflitest desire to recall the duke of Ireland;
and while he took care to purge the high ofRces of state, he did not by
any part of his demeanour leave any room to doubt that he was heartily
and completely reconciled to the still powerful uncles wiio had caused
him so much misery. Nay, more, as if determined to remove all daiiiiei
of the revival of past animosities, he of his own motion issued a prociii-
mation confiriiiing the parliamentary p;irdon of all oft'ences, and, still more
completely to ingratiate himself with the lax-burdencd people, Ik; volun-
tarily declined levying some subsidies which had been granted to him by
the parliament.
Partly as a consequence of these really wise and humane measures
and pavily, perhaps, owing to the return from Spain of the duke of Lan-
caster, Uicliird's ifovernment for the ncxteight years went on sosinoollily
and so prosperously, that not a siiigh- dispute occurred of coiiscquci ce
enoiijjh to be related. Lancaster, between whom and Richard tlHiviiiid
nev' iicen any quarrel — uidess we may interpret the p.ist coiuluct of ihe
dukci's son as the indicatioii of one — was (xiwerful enough to i-.ucpliis
Brothers in check, .lud was at Ihe same lime of a more mild and peace-
loving temper. And, accordingly, the duke was extremely useful to
Richard, who in turii took every opportunity of favouring and gratifying
nis uncle, to whom at one time he even ccdiil (JiiieiiiK', tiioiigh. I'rmn llie
discontent and annoyance express(>(l by the (Jascons, Iticharil was shintly
aflerwiirds obliged to revokt? his grant. Tiie king still mure strongly
testified his preference of Lancaster on occasion of a (lifl'erciicc wliicii
sprang ii|) i)ctw('en the duke and his two brothers. On the diMtli of tiie
Spanish princess, on ;i(!ooniit of whom Lancaster had enterliiincd such
high but vain hopes, and expended so much time and inoiiey, tlicilnke
married Catharine .Swainforrl, by whom he had previously had children,
and who was the daughter of a [irivate Hainaull knight (d"uo great wcihli.
Lancaster's two lirotliers loudly exclaimed iigainst this malili, whu'h
they, not wholly without reason, declareil to be derogatory to the hminiir
of the royal family. Hut Uiidiard stepped in to the supiioitof his iiiiclc,
and ciinsed the parliament to pass ;in act legiliinaiizing the lady's idiildn'n
born heforr marriage, and he at the same time created the; ehlest of iliein
earl of Somerset.
\VI. le ihese domestic events were passing, occasional war li.iil siill
been going on both with F''rance atid Scotland; hut in each iiisiaine ilif
actual (iglitinir was both feeble and uufre(|ucnt. This was especially lli(
rase tis to l-'ranee ; wliile the most ini|i'>rtant baMie on liie Srniiish «M'
was tliat of Olterbourne, in which the young I'ien-y, snriiaiin'd II irry
Hotspur, from his impetuous temper, was taken prisoner, and I)iii)i!lti
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
335
Killed; but fliis really was less a national battle than a comba arising
out of a private quarrcl and individual animosity.
A. D. 1390.— The insurrections of the Irish having become so frequent
us to excite some fear for the safety of that conquest, the king went
ihither in person; and the courage and coniluet he displayed in reducing
the rebels to obedience did much towards redeeming his character in the
liidgmeiit of his people. A still farther hope was raised of the tranquillity
:iiid respectability of the remainder of this reign by a truce of twenty-
live yenrs which was now made between France and Euglaiid. To ren-
,lcrtliis truce the more solid, Richard, who ere this had buried the "Good
Queen Anne," was affianced to Isabella, the dautthter of the king of
France, llien only seven years old. It seems probable that Richard, still
feeling insecure in the peaccfuhiess of his uncles and the barons gen-
erally, sought by this alliance not only to strengthen the truce between
Ihe two nations, but also to obtain from it additional security against any
domesiic attacks upon his authority.
But tlioniih he thus far gave proofs of judgment, there were other parts
of his conduct which were altogether as impolitic and degrading. Unsta-
ble, inconsistent, wildly extravagant, and openly dissolute, the king effec-
tually prevented his popularity frojn becoming confirmed. Having shown
so mueli wisdom in refraining from recalling the duke of Ireland — and
pcrliaps even that arose loss from wisdom than from satiety of his former
miuion— lie now selected as his favourites, to almost an equally offensive
exient, his half brothers Ihe earls of Kent and Huntingdon, to whom he
iooonipli'tcly committed the patronage of the kingdom as to render hiin-
sflf, in that respect at least, little more than their mere tool. This, with
his indolence, ex(!essive extravagance, indulgence at the tiible, and othei
dissolule pleasures, not only prevented his growing popularity from evei
oeiug confirmed, but even caused a revival of the former complaints and
aiiiraosiiies.
A. !)• 131)7.— What rendered this impolitic conduct the more surely and
entirely destructive to Richard, was the profoundly artful manner in which
his clncf and most implacable enemy, the duke of ( iloucester, availed him-
self of it, Instead of endeavouring to vie with Richard's favourites and
to invite a share of his ivirtialily, the duke almost retired from the nourt ;
appenring there cily on the public occasions which would have caused
his absence to have been ill rcniaiked on, and devoting all the rest of his
lime to cnltivtiting the popular favour by every art of which he was mas-
ter, When obliged to offer his opinion in council, he took ctiro to give
the most powerful reasons he could cominaud for his opposition to the
iiie-.isnres of die king. As the truce and nUiaiice which Richard had con-
cliuleil uilli France were almost universally unpopular, Gloui.'cslcr, to all
ir'irs of incn who had approach to him, affected tlu! nlinost pers-onal sor-
row imd patriotic! indignation that Richard had so completely and shanie-
iiilly (Icjjencrtitcd from the liiijh anti-fjallican spirit of his icnowiied and
"iirlike 1,'ranil father, who looked upon the French as Ihe natural foes of
KiiL'land, and n|ion l''raiiee :is the treasnrehoiise of Knglaiid's high-born
iliUMlry and lusty yeomen. To fall in with the interested opinions of
iw II IS tiic surest possible way to obtain their favour; and iIk^ more un-
popiiliir liiidnird liecame, the more openly and earnestly did llie people.
Hill mm-e especially the military, (leidan? that the duki^ of (tlouitester's
piitrjdiisni was Ihe real cause of his want of favour at court ; and that his
"isdnin and coiiiisid alone eotild ever restore lh(> honour ami prosperity
'( ilie iiutiiMi whose true interests h(! so well understood and so disinter'
*Mly advocated.
Tlim (iloiiccsicr for a long time had liarbonred tlie most treasonable
Ifsimis agiinst Richard is (iuil(! certain fnnn even his own confession
'iiJ Richard, urijed by iIk- advice not only of his favourites, but also bv
nii
li'f?
\^ll
f
f'i
i
II
336-
THB TIIEASUHY Of lllaTiiRY.
f
iiic king of France, suddenly caused Glouuusier lo be arrested and con
veyed U» Ciilais, while at the same time liis friends the earls of Aruiidei
imd Warwick weie seized and thrown into prison. As botii ilie dukes of
Lancaster and York and tiieir eldest sons approved of and supported the
king's s'iddeniy adopted course, the friends of the imprisoned nobles saw
that resistance would only serve to involve themselves in ruin. The
king, 1(10, by influencing the sheriffs, caused a parliament lu be assem-
bled, which was so completely suhservient to his wishes, thai ii not only
annulled the eoniniission which had so extensively trenched upon the
royal authority, and declared it high treason to attempt the renewal of a
like commission, but even went so far as to revoke the general pardon
that Richard had voluntarily confirmed after he regained his authority, and
to revoke it, in the face of that fact, upon the ground of its having beei
extorted by force and never freely ratified by the king !
The duke of Gloucester, the'earls of Arundel and Warwick, and the
archbishop of Canterbury were now impeached by the commons. Arun-
del was executed, Warwick banished for life lo the Isle of Man, and the
archbishop was deprived of his lemporalilies and banished the kingdom.
That they all really were cognizant of and concerned in Gloucester's mnri)
recent treasonable projects there can be no mural doubt; and yet, legally,
these men were all unjustly condemned, for they were condemned not
for any recent treason, but for that old rebellion which the king had par
doned voluntarily and while under no restraint. The chief pariizHiis of
Gloucester being thus disposed of, the governer of Calais was ordered lo
bring the duke himself over for trial; but to this order he relumed wnrd
that the duke had suddenly died of apoplexy. When it is considered ihat
this sudden death of the duke happened so 'conveniently for releasing the
kiuQ from the unpleasant, practiiral dilemma of either setting at liberty a
powerful and most implacable foe, or incurring the odium which could
not but attach to the act of putting to death so near a relation, it is diffi-
cnlt to withhold belief from the popular rumour which was very rife at
the time, and still more so during the next king's reign, that the duke was,
in fact, smothered in his bed, in obedience to a secret order of his king
and nephew.
Ere the parliament was dismissed, very extensive creations and pro-
motions took place in the peerage, of course among those who Iiad been
most useful and zealous in aiding the recent royal severity: and at the
very close of this busy and discreditable session the king gave a singu-
larly striking, though practically unimportant, proof of his inconsistency;
he exacted an oath from the parliament perpetually to maintain the acts
they had passed — one of those very acts being in direct and shameful vio
lation of a precisely similar oath which had been subsequently sanctioned
by the king's free and solemn ratification!
A. D. 1398. — When the parliament met at Shrewsbury, in January, 1393,
the king again manifested his anxiety for the security of the recent ads,
by causing both the lords and commons to swear, upon the cross uf Can-
terbury, that lliey would maintain them. Still ill at ease on this point,
he shortly afterwards obtained the additional security, as he deemed it,
of a bull from the pope, ordaining 'he permanence of these acts. At the
same time, as if to show the folly i>f swearing to the perpetuation of ads,
the parliainent reversed the attainders, not only of Tresiiian and the other
"udges, for the secret opinions they had given to the king at Nottingham,
)Ut also of the Spensera, father and son, who were attainted in the reign
of Edward II.
Though the enmity towards Gloucester of the nobles who had soz?al
ously aided in the destruction of that prince had united them in appurcnily
•iidissolublf friendship whil" the duke lived, animosities and hearthurnin,'i
■oon sprang up among them when this common bond of union was n
'^
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
337
moved. The duke of Hereford in his place in parliament solemnly ac-
cused the duke of Norfolk of having slandered the king, by imputing to
him the intention of destroying some of the highest of the nobility ; Nor-
folk gave Hereford the lie, and demanded the trial by duel. The challenge
was allowed and accepted ; and as the parliament was now separating,
md legislative authority might yet be rendered necessary by the result of
this due), a singular and somewhat hazardous expedient was n^sorted to;
Ihatof delegating the full powers of the parliament to a committee of
twelve lords and six of the commons.
The lists for the duel were fixed at Coventry, the king in person was
to witness the combat, and the whole chivalry of Knglaml w.is split into
two parties, siding with the respective champions. But on the day of
duel the king forbade the combat, banishing Norfolk for ten years and
Hereford for life.
The great inconsistency of Richard makes it difficult to write his reign.
By the act we have just recorded he showed sound and humane policy;
vet in the very next year we find him cominilting a most waiilon and
jespoiic wrong; as though he would balance the prudence of putting an
tnd to one source of strife among his nobles by taking the earliest possi-
.le opportunity to open another !
A. D. 1399. — The duke of Lancaster dying, his son applied to be put
into possession of the estate and authority of liis father, as secured by the
king's own patent. But Richard, jealous of Unit succession, caused the
[ommittee to which the authority of parliament iiad been so strangely de-
egated, to authorize him to revoke that patent, iind to try aii<l coiuleinn
Lancaster's own attorney for having done his duty to his employer ! This
ifioiislrous tyranny was not carried to ihe length of aclualiy pulling the
.tlorney to death, in pursuance to the sentence, but that extreme rigour
i,as only commuted to banishment!
The tyranny of this strange act was indisputable and detestable; but
7 no means more strange and unaccoiiiitablu tliaii its singular impolicy,
il would have been impiissii.le to name a noble tlieii living who was more
/enerally and universally popular than Htiii-y, the new duke of Lancaster,
lie had served with great credit against the Infidels in Lithuania; he was
'iOsely connected by blood with many of tlie most powerful of the nobil-
.ty, and by friendship with still more ; and his own popularity, and tiie
cetestation into which the king had now fallen, caused the great majority
■i! the nation not only to take an indignant interest in the flagrant wrong
'lone to the duke, but also to h0|)e llnit the vastness of his wrongs would
induce him to become the avenger of theirs.
Notwithstanding the mere irritating and driving out of the country a
.nan who, alike by birth, popularity, and talents, whs so well calculated
to wrest from him his tottering tiiione, the iiiiatiiated Richard now left
England, as though for tiie express purpose of inviting and facilitating
some attempt likely to consummate his probable ruin ! His cousin, and
tlie presumptive heir to the throne, Roger, earl of March, ha^'ing been
slain ill a skirmish with the Irisii kern, Riciiard went over to Ireland in
person to avenge his deceased relative. The promptitude of the duke of
Lancaster was fully equal to the infatuation of Richard. Kmbaiking at
Nantes with a retinue only sixty in number, the duke lauded at Ravenspur
in Yorkshire, and was joined by the earls of Northumberland and West-
moruiaiid. In the presence of these two potent nobles, and of tiie arch-
liishop (if Canterbury and that prelate's nephew, the young earl of Arun-
fli'i, both of whom had bee.i his companions from Nantes, the duke
solemnly made oath that he had returned to the country with no other
pnrpose than that of recovering his duchy that had been so tyrannically
withheld from him. Having thus taken '»he best means to appease the
fears of ilie kinjf's few friends, and of I'-c numerous lovers of peace whom
JilfT'tyif'',
M<lM>*^ '
338
THE TREASURY OF HISTORy
I,?"
i
the dread of a civil war, as a consequence of his aiming at tlie throne
would otherwise have rendered hostile to him, the duke invited not only
all his own friends, but all in England who were true lovers of justice, to
aid and upliold him in this incontestably just and reasonable design; and
his appeal, partly from personal affection to him, but chiefly from general
and intense detestation of the absent king, was so eagerly and speedily
answered, that, in a very few days, he who had so lately left Nantes with
a slender retinue of only sixty persons was at the head of an army of as
many thousands, zealous in his cause, and beyond expression anxious to
take signal vengeance for the numerous tyrannies of Richard.
On leaving England for the purpose of chastising the Irish rebels, Rich
hrd gave the important office of guardian of the realm to the rjiikeol
Vork. This prince did not possess the talents requisite in the dangerous
crisis which had now arisen ; moreover, he was too closely connected
with the duke of Lancaster to allow of his exertingthe sincere and ex
.leme rigour by which alone the advances of that injured but no less am-
bitious noble could be kept in check ; and those frieiuls of the king whose
power and zeal might have kept York to his fidelity, and supphed \\\i
want of ability, had accompanied Richard to Ireland. Everything, there-
fore, seemed to favour the duke of Lancaster, should ambition leid him
to attempt something beyond the mere recovery of his duchy.
The duke of York, however, did not at the outset show any want of
will to defend the king's rights. He ordi'red all the forces that could be
collected to meet him at St. Alban's ; but after all exertion had been made.
he found himself at the head of no more tliaii forty thousand men ; and
these far from zealous in the royal cause. Just as he made this discovery
of his twofold weakness, he received a message in which the duke of Lan-
caster begged him not to oppose his recovery of his inheritance, to which
he still Willi consumniate hypocrisy aff'cctc^d to limit his demands and
wishes. York confessed that ho could not think of opposing his nephew
in so reasonable and just a design, and York's declaration was receiveJ
with a joy and applause which augurcjd but ill for the interests of tiie ab-
sent king. Lancaster, still preteiuliiig to desire only the recovery of his
right, now hastened to Bristol, where some of the ministers had taken re-
fuge, and, having speedily made himself master of the place, gave t!io lii>
to all his professions of moderation by sen<liiig to instant execution the
earl of Wiltshire, Sir .lolin Uussy, and Sir Heiu-y Green.
Intelligence of Lancaster's proceedings had by this time reached Kirh-
ard, who hastened from Ireland with an army of IL'0,000 men, and huidcc
at Milford Haven. Against the force by which Lancaster had by this
time surrounded himself, the whole of Richard's army woidd have iiVailrd
but little : but before he could attempt anything, above two-thirds of even
that small army had deserted him, and he found himself con\pelled to
steal away from the faithful remnant of his force and take shelter in ihf
Isle of Anglesey, whence he probably intended to embark for France.
there to await some change of affairs which might enable him to exert
himself with at least some hope of success.
Lancaster, as politic as he was ambitious, saw at a glance how much
mischief and disturbance might jjossibly accrue to him from Hichard ob-
taining the support and shelirr of France or even of Ireland, and deter-
mined to possess himself of the unhappy king's person previous to wholly
throwing off the thin mask he still wore of moderation and loyalty. He,
thercfori!, sent the earl of Northumberland to Richard, ostensibly for the
purpose of assuring him of Lani;aster's loyal feeling and mo(h'rate aim;
and NorthumbiM'land, as instructed, took the opportunity to seize upon
Richard, whom he conveyed to Flint castle, where Lancaster anxiously
awaited his precious prize. Tlie unfortunate Richard was now conveyed
to London, in)minally under the protection, but really as the prisoner, o'
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
339
Lancaster, who throughout the journey was every where received with
the submission and acclamations that uf rij^ht belonged to his sovereign.
The Londoners, especially, showed unbounded affection to the duke ; and
some writers even affirm that they, by their recorder, advised Lancaster
10 put Richard to death. However atrocious this advice, the spirit of tiiat
ige was such as by no means to make it impossible that it was given.
Hut Lancaster had deeper thoughts, and had no intention of letting his
whole designs be visible, or at least declared, until ho could do so with
perfect safety from having the chief authorities of the nation compromised
by his acts. Instead, therefore, of violently putting an end to the captive
king, he made use of the royal name to sanction his own measures.
Richard, helpless and a prisoner, was compelled to summon a parliament ;
mi before this parliament thirty-three articles of accusation were laid
against the king. Most of the nobles who were friendly to Richard had
secured their own safety by flight ; and as Lancaster was at once powerful
and popular, we may fairly believe that Richard was as ill provided with
friends in the commons as in the lords. But the bishop of Carlisle, in the
latter house, nobly redeemed the national character by the ability and
lirmness with which he showed, at once, the insufHciency of the charges
made against Richard, and the unconstitutional and irregular nature of the
treatment bestowed upon him. He argued, that even those of the charges
against Richard which might fairly be admitted to be true, were rather
evidence of youth and want of judgment than of tyranny ; and that the
ileposition of Edward H., besides that it was no otherwise a precedent
than as it was a successful act of violence, was still further no precedent
m this case, because on the deposition of Edward the succession was kept
inviolate, his son being placed upon the throne ; while the duke of Lan-
caster, whom it was now proposed to substitute for Richard, could only
mount the throne, even after Richard's deposition, by violating the rights
of the children of his father's elder brother, Lionel, duke of Clarence, upon
ivhoin the crown had been solemnly entailed by the parliament.
The spirited and just conduct of the able prelate, however honourable
'0 himself, and however precious as, pro tanto, rescuing the national char-
acter from the charge of being utterly lost to all sense of right, was of no
service to the unhappy Richard. The bishop was heard by the parliament
as though he had given utterance to something of incredible folly and in-
justice; the charges were voted to be proven against Richard; and the
hike of Lancaster, now wholly triumphant, immediately had the bishop of
Lincoln arrested and sent prisoner to St. Alban's abbey, there to acquire
imore subservient understanding of the principles of constitutional law.
Richard being in due form deposed, the duke of Lancaster, who had so
rpcnntly made oath that he sought only the recovery of his duchy — of
nhichit is beyond all question that he had been most wrongfully deprived,
now came forward, crossed himself in the forehead and breast with mi; i.
<etming devotion, and said, "In the name of the Father, tlio .Son, and tlie
Holy Cliost, I, Henry of Lancaster, challenge this realm of England, and
the crown, and all the members and appurtenances also, that i am des-
feiidod by right lino of the blood, coming from the good king Henry the
Third, and through that right that God of his grace hath sent me, with
help of kin and of my friends, to recover it ; the which realm was on point
of being undone by default of governance and undoing of the good laws."
The right to which the duke of Lancaster here pretends requires a few,
and but a few, words of explanation. " There was," says Hume, " a silly
story received among the lowest of the vulgar, that Edmond, carl of I,an-
'■aster, son of Hniry the Third, was really the dder brother of Edward ;
!)nt tliiit by reason of some deformity in his person he had been posti)oned
111 the succession, and his younger brother imposed upon the nation in his
"""'' As the present duke of Lancaster inherited from Edmond, by hi/
"lead.
i
=11
ji
II
M
i»«t#
SAO
THE TKEASURY OP HISTORY.
[14
V
I
mother, this genealogy made him the true heir of the monarchy, and it j,
therefore insinuated in his speech, but the absurdity was too gross tu be
openly avowed either by him or the parliament."
But if too gross for formal parliamentary use, it could scarcely be too
^ross for imposing upon the changeful, ignorant, and turbulent rabble and
Henry of Lancaster was far too accomplished a demagogue to overloolt
the usefulness of a falsehood on account of its grossness.
The deposition of Richard rendered it necessary that the parliameni
should be dissolved ; but in six days after that took place a new parliiimeiit
was called by his usurping successor. This parliament ga.e a new prool
of the absurdity of swearing the parliament and people to the pcrpptiiiiy
of laws; all the laws of Richard's former parliament, which had not only
been sworn to but also confirmed by a papal bull, being now abrogated at
one fell swoop! And to make the lesson still more striking and stih more
disgusting, all the acts of Gloucester's parliament which had been so sol-
emnly abrogated, were now as solemnly confirmed ! For accusing Glou-
cester, Warwick, and Arundel, many peers had been promoted; they were
now on that account degraded ! The recent practice had made appeals in
parliament the rightful and solemn way of bringing high offenders tojiii-
tice ; such appeals were now abolished in favour of common law indict-
ments. How could peaceai)lc and steady conduct be expected from a peo-
ple whose laws were thus perpetually subjected to chance and change, to
the rise of this or to the fall of that party 1
Henry of Lancaster, by due course of violence and fraud, of hyprocrisy
and of perjury, having usurped the crown, the disposal of the persinof
the lute king naturally became a question of some interest; and the carl
of Northumberlimd, who had wf.Uni so treacherous a part, was deputed to
ask the advice of the peers upon that point, and to inform them that ihc
king had resolved to spare Itichard's life. The peers were unanimously
of opniion that Kichard should be confined in some secure fortress, anil
prevented from having any communication with his friends. Poii'efract
cast!' was accordingly fixed upon as the deposed king's prison, and wra
he speedily died at the early age of tinrly-four- That he was murdend
no historian denies; hut while some say that he was opeidy allacked by
assassms who were admitted to his a|iartments, and that before lie was
dispatched he killed one of his assailants and nearly overpowered the rest;
others say, that he was starved to death, and that his stnnig coiisliluiioii
inlli('te<l upon him the unspeakable misery of living for a fortnight afiir
his inhuman gaolers had ceased to siip|)ly him with any food ; and ihis
latter aci-ount is more lik( !y to be the correet one, as his body, when
exposed to puldic view, exliitnied no marks of violence upon it. Whatever
his fault, it is impossible to deny th.il he was nn>.st unjustly Irealcil hylln'
usurper Henry, and vi'ry liastly abandoned by both houses and parliameni;
and his fate furnishes a new proof tliat tlie smallest tyraiiiiii's of a wi'ik
sovereign, in a mile ami iinletiered aye, will provoke the most i<angiiiiiiry
vengeance at the hands of the very same men who will patiently ;iii'!
basely put up with tlie greatest and most insulting tyrannies at (.ic Irindi
of a kintf who has either wisdom or courage.
Apart from tlie sediiioii anil violence of which we have already given
a detailed accoinit, the reiirii of the deposed and miirdered Rich ird ImI
but one rircuinsl.iiice worthy of es| lal remark; the coininenceineiil in
Dnulaiid of llie relorm of llie chiinii. .lolin Wickliffe, a secular pne)'l I'l
Oxford, ami siiliseipienlly rector of laitterwortli, in Leicestershire, hem:
a mail of yrcat learning and jni'iy, and lienig nnalile by the inosi earefiil
Btildy of the scriptures to find any jiHlilieatioii of llie doelrinc nt ill*" ri'il
nreHcnce, the siipreiiiicv of {{oiiie, or llie merit of vows of ciiihaey. Ml
himself bound to mak"pnldii' his opinion mi these pinnts, aiii' tnin iiiii'im
" that tl e scriptures wen* »' e •olo rule of faith; tliut the ( liuieli wind*
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
341
pendant on the state and should be reformed by it ; that the cleigy ought
•,o possess no estates ; that the begging friars were a nuisance and ought
not to be supported ; tiiat the numerous ceremonies of the church were
hurtful to true piety ; that oaths were unlawful, that dominion was found-
ed ill gr;»ce, that everything was subject to fate and destiny, and tiiat all
men were predestined to eternal salvation or reprobation."
It will be perceived from this summary that Wiciiliffe in some particu-
lars iveiit beyond the reformers of the sixteenth century ; but drawing
his opinions from the scriptures and the writings of the fathers, he, in the
iimin, agrees with the more modern reformers who also sought truth in
ihat same true source. Pope Gregorj' XI. issued a bull for the trial of
Wiciiliffe as to the soundness of liis opinions. The duke of Lancaster,
who then, in consequence of Richard's minority, governed ihe king.Jom,
not only protected Wickliffe, but appeared in court with him, and ordered
that lie sliould be allowed to sit while being exiiinined b\ Courlrnay,
bishop of London, to whom the pope's bull was (iii(;cted. 'I'iie populace
at this time were much against Wickliffe, and wo'ild probably have pro-
cei'ili'd to commit actual violence upon both him and his great protector
hut for the interference of the bishop. But Wickliffe's opinions being,
fur the most part, 'rue, and being maintained by an extremely earnest as
well as learned and pious man, soon made so much progress, that the uni-
veisiiy of Oxford neglccte<l to act upon a second bull which the pope
directed against the intrepid reformer; and even Ihe populace learned to
H'e so much soundness in his arguments, that when he was summoned
belori'a synod at Lambeth, they broke into the palace and so alarmed the
preliios who were opposed to him, that he was dismissed without censure.
Uii !<iil)sequent occasions he was troubled for his opinions, but thou^rh he
showed none of the stern and headlong courage of Luther in a later age,
hi' did that which paved the way for it; being sutTicicntly tinctured with
ihiit tMilhusiasm necessary to unmnsk imposture, he gained the approba-
lioii of liunest men ; while he so skilfully explained and temporized, tliut he
livid pr(>s()erously and died in peace at his rectory, in the year 1385; hav-
III;' SL't the example of deep and right thinking upon the important subjects
ul° rtdigion, but leaving it to a later generation to withstand the tyrannous
assumptions of Rome even to the stake and the axe, the torture and the
iiiiiddi'iiing gloom of the dungt-on. The impunity of Wickliffe and his
fiMitiMuporary dist^iples must not, however, bo wholly set down to the ac-
ciiuiit ')f his and tln'ir prudent temporizing and skilful explanation. These,
iiiih'tid, under all the circumstances greatly served them, but would have
ulii-riy failed to do so but that as yet there was no law l)y which llin se-
I'ul.tr arm could be made to punish the heterodox ; and Uoino, partly from
III r own schisms and partly from thi* static of Kiigland, was just at this
\\m<: ill no condition to take those sweeping and stern measures which
either in an <'arlifr or later ajre, with the greater favour of the civil ruler,
she winild have proved herself abundantly willing lo take. That tin- jjowi.'r
mill i)|)|)ortuinty, rather tlian the will, were waniing on the part of Home
til .suppress Ihe Lollards— as Wickliffe's disciples were called — rests not
inrri'ly upon speculation. I'roof of that fact is alforded by an act whicli
aluml lour years before the death of Wnikliffe the clergy surrenlitioiisly
gilt enrolled, thmigh it never hail the cmisent oi" llu- coinmons, by which
an all slierlffs were bound lo appridieiid all preachers of heresy and their
bliittors. The fraud was discovered and coinplained of in thi' coininons
liiiniii; the next sesHion ; aiiJ the clergy were tlius deterred from in.ikinu
iiiiiiiedi lie use of their new and ill actiiiired powc, though Ihey coulnv«
lu prevent the formal rcpjal of the smuggUvl art
iiig
I'M
ifii
.^•Klit
349
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
TUB REION OF HENRY IV.
a
I
A.D. 1399. — HowEVEB Henry IV. miglit gloss over tlie matter to the servile
coniinoiis or to the profoundly ignorant rabble, ho could not but be perfect-
ly aware that he had no hereditary right ; that his " rijfht," in f;ict, was
merely the right of a usurper who had paved the way to the throne by the
grossest hypoerisy. And lie must have constantly been tortiirerl with
doubts and anxieties, lest the ambition of some new usurper should be
sanctioned as his own had been, by what artful demagogues facelioiish'
call the "voice of the people," or It^st some combination of the barons
should pluck the stolen diadem from his brow, to place it on thai of the
heir of the house of Mortimer, whom parliament had formerly declared
the heir to the crown. But Henry could lessen these cares and fears by
retlecting that he had possession, and that possession was not so easily tn
be wrested from liim by a future usurper, as it had been by himself from
the weak and unskilled arm of Richard ; while, even should tiie parlu^
mentary decision iri favour of the true heir be brou|i;ht into play, it was not
so dilHcult or uncommon a thinsilo alter the most solemn acts, even wIkmi
passeil amid oaths and supporie(l by a luill ■ Moreover, as to tiic diirieuitv
that might irise from the true heir, Hiniry probably placed his chief reli'-
ance here — that heir, then only seven years old, and his younger brother,
were in II<'nry's own custody in the royal eastle of Windsor.
A.n. i 100. — Had Henry been previously ignorant o*" the turbulent char-
acter of his barons, his very first parliament had funnshed him willi abun-
diint information upon that score. (Scarcely had the peers assembled
when disputes ran so liigh among tluMU, that not only was very " uiipar-
liamentary" language! I)andi»'d about among then, even to the exteiil ol
giving each other the lie direct, and as direi'tly cIm TUig cacli oilier wiili
trtMson, but this language was supported by the throwing down, upon the
floor of the house, of no fewer than forty gauntlets in token of their
awiiers relldine^s to maintain their words in mortal combat. For the
present the king had iniliience enough among tliose doughty peers to pn-
vent them from coming into actual personal collision. Diit he was imi
able to pi'i'veiii their (jiiarr*-l from stilt rankling in their hearts, still le»
was he alile to overpow(M' the strong feeling of hatred which some ni
them cheris!ie I .i<;.iinst his own power and person.
\V(' spoke, :i liiile whili^ since, oftlie degrcdation by Henry's pariiameiit
:)f ceriain peers who had been raist^l by Richard's parliament, on account of
the part they took at the time of the rebellion of the duke of (ildueeslir
The ea' 's of Rutl.md, Kent, and Hniitingdon, aiicl the Ijord Spenoer, who
were thus degraded, respectively from tlu! titles of Albemarle, .Surrey,
Kx'tiT, ami (Iloiicester, the three first being dukedoms and the hiiirih an
sarldiMii, iiiiw I'litertMl into a conspiracy to seizin the king at Windsor: and
his lieposition, if not his death, must iiifalliliy have fcdiowed hail they siii'
eeedcd in the first jiart of their design. Tiie earl of Salisbury and liu
liOrd liiimley joined in this conspinicv , and the measines were so (vell
taken til, It lieiiry's mm would have liiii nuu'ally certain, but tliiit Kill-
land, from coin|iuneti(in or kdiiih less rredil,'il>le motive, gave the kin;'
timely notice ^md hi! suddenly withdrew fnini Windsor, where lie » n
living comparativ(dy unprotected, and rcaehcil l.ondoii in private jihl a?
the conspirators arrived at Windsor with a p:irl\ of five hundii'd eavaliy.
Hefore the ballli'd conspirators cdiild lecovcr from tlicir surprise the kinv
posieil liioiscit at Kiiigsii)ii-oii-Th lines, Willi cavalry mid inlaiilry, chiel!)
Hupplied tiy the city of Lomloii, to the numlicr of twinly ihotisaiiil. 'I'lif
cunspu'.tlois had HO eiitu'i'ly depended upon the efVect of surjinDiiitf lli*'
li!
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
343
King and making use of the possession of his person that they now saw
that they had lost all in losing aim, and they betook themselves to their
respective counties to raise their friends and dependants. But the king
had now all the advantage of being already in force, and strong detach-
ments of his friends pursued the fugitives so hotly that they had not the
chance of making any combined resistance. The earls of Kent and Salis-
bury were seized at Cirencester, in Gloucestershire, by the inhabitants of
that place, and were beheaded on the following day ; Spencer and Lumley
were similarly disposed of by the men of Bristol; and the earls of Hunt-
ingdon, Sir Thomas Blount, Sir Benedict Sely, and several others who
were made prisoners were subsequently put to tleatii by Henry's own or-
der. It S'ves us a positive loathing for tiie morality of that age when we
readtliiiton the quartered bodies of those persons being brought to Lon-
don, the mangled and senseless remains were insulted by the loud and
(iisgustins; joy, not only of immense numbers of the rabble of the turbu-
h>iit inelropoiis, but also by thirty-two mitred abbots andeiglileen bishops,
who thus set an example which — iian we doubt it! — was only too faith-
fully followed by the inferior clergy. But the most disgusting as well as
the niost horrible i)art of this sad siorv still remains to be told. In this
trulv dcjinuling procession the earl of Jutland made a conspiciiDus fiirure,
not niiTciy as being son and heirof thedukeof York,as hiiving aided in the
miirdenif his uncle, the duke of (llouccsler, as having descrtcil from Hich-
;iriilo llciiry, and having conspired against the latter and belrayed to him
llie wrciclitil men whose remains were now bt'iiig 'orutally paraded before
the eyes of the rabble; these distinctions wiirc not enough for bis evil
anil)iiioii, and lest he should lie overlooked in tiic bloody procession, he
carried ii|ion a poh; the ghastly bead of one of tliose victims whom he had
(iisi seduced and conspired with, and tlicn betrayed — and that victim was
the Lord Spencer, his own brother-in-law! Surely ibis nran had succes-
hilly aimed at the sublimity of infamy !
A. n. 1101. — Politic in everythinu:, and resolute to make ovcrytliing as
far lis possible siibservient to bis safety and inlcrcst, Henry, who in
his yoiitli ami while as yet a sulijecl bad bvvn, as his fallwr had, a favour-
er of the Lollards, now iiided in tiiiiir oppressimi, in onler to conciliate the
fstalilislied clergy. And to all the other evil (•haract<uistics of this reign
IS lo lie ailded that of the originating in England of civil penal laws
auaiiist the undflinable crime of hert'sy.
LolLirdisin, appealim,' to the simple common sense of the multitude, had
hythis tune become very widely (iisseminated in England ; and the clergy,
lo oppose the iKadini; armimenis of the detested liert tics, and unpossessed
of tlic power lo silence those whom tliey could not confute, hmdly
ih'iiKindi'd the aid of the civil power. Aiixioiis to serve a vast and jww-
orfiil liody of men who in any jjreiit cinerdeney would he ho well able to
sirve liiin, Henry engaged thi' piirliament to jmss a bill, which provided
thtt ;ill relapsed heretics who slionld refuse to abjure their errors id" faith
when siiiiiiiiiiiied hrforc the bishop and his commissioners, should be de-
livered ovcrlo the civil authorities, who sliuidd publicly commit tlieni to
the flames. An atrocious use of the king's power; but every way worthy
of the atoiious hypocrisy and violence by which that power had been
ai'qilirni.
\Vli. >\ this act was passed with all the due forms, the clergy speedily
ullbnli'ii proof that lliey did not inlend lo allow it to remain ;t dead letter.
Wijjiiiin Saiiire, a elei'ifyman of liimdon, was rondeinned as a relapsed
heretic by llie convoralion of ('anterbnry.aiid beinc coiniiiilted to the chas-
lisemi'iil of the eivil power, the kiui; iHsiied his wnl,.iiidlbe wrelelied man
HUH liuriieil to death. tJreat as all the oilier crimes of Henry were, they
fall into comparative nisiKnilieiince in comparison of this : that he was
the lir^t, xincf Ihr diirk anil rrurl .iiiiirrtiti/innn/ thf Driiidii, who iti.igutlrj and
I '
i *
344
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
'
' ,i;
horrified the inhabit ; ■< of En!;land with the awful sight of a feUnwereat^,t
yielding up his brerth amid the ineffable torturts of the sacrificial flames.
While Henry, ( msnoiis of the badness of his title, was thusendciivour-
mg, by tl'.c most atroi jus sacrifiees to expedieney, to strensthen liim.
self in England, !>', as far as possible, avoided the necessity "of makino
any consideiable exertion elsewhere. But even his consummate art could
not wholly preserve him from the cares of war.
The kinjf of France had too many causes of anxiety in his own kinc
dom to admit of his making, as bmh he and his friends were anxious To
make, a descent nptm Kngland, and he was obliged to content himself with
getting his daughter safely out of the hands of Henry. Hut the fiaswms
among whom Richard was born, and who, in spite of his numerous and
glaring faults, were passionately attached to his memory, refused to
swear allegiance to his murderer ; and had the king of France been able
to send an army to their support, they would, beyond all doubt, Imve mailn
an obstinat. resistance. But Charles's own situation rendering liini uii-
able to assist M em, the earl of Worcester, at the head of an Kiiffjish
army, found no difliculty in bringing them to obedience ; ami they wore
the less inclined to make any new attempt at shaking off Htiiry's yoke,
because he was in communion with the pope of Rome, whose zealous par-
tizans they were ; while France was in communion with the anti-pope,
then resident of Avignon.
A sturdier and more formidable opponent ofthe nsurperwas found near
home. Owain (tlendwyr, the powerful chieftain of Wales, a lineal de-
pcendant of the ancient princes of that country, and greatly belovcti on thai
account as well as for his remarkable personiil courage, gave deep of-
fence to Henry by the firm attachment which he displayed to the memory
of the murdered Richard. Lord (iray, of Ruthyn, a confidential and iiii-
scrupulous friend of Henry, had a large possession in the Welsh niarcli-
<'s ; and well knowing that he should please Henry — perhaps even per-
sonally iiistii;;Ued !)y him— he forcibly entered (Jlendwyr's territory, and
expelled him and his followers. The personal fame and the anliijiie dt-
scent of (ilendwyr enabled him easily and speedily to collect a sufficient
force to oust the intruders, and Henry, as probably had been agrccil,
sent assistance to I^ord (iray, whence a long and sanguinary wareiisucil.
Tilt! Welsh chieftain no longer combaled merely his personal enemy,
but made war without disliiictnm unoii all the Knglish subjects in his
neighbourhood, and among them upon the earl of Marche. Sir Ivliiiuiid
Moitimir, unide of that n(il)leniaii, assembled the family n ii'.i lers ami eii-
deav(Mire(l to make head against (ilendwyr, but was defeated, and hotli he
and the young earl, who, though only a youth, would go to the field, were
taken prisoners.
Detesting the fannly of .^lortinier in all its brandies, Henry not only
took no steps towards obtanniig the release of the young e;irl, hut even
refused in grint the earin -Jt inirealies ofthe earl of Northumlicrland to be
permillcd to do so, althou;ili llie earl had so mainly contributed to lieiiry'i
own elevation, and was, hi sides, very nearly related to the young captive,
But in p'lint of in^iratitude, as ni point of hypocrisy. Henry stopped at no
half ine.isures ; and havnig thus shown Ins sense ofthe earl's past scrvji'e
he very shortly afterwards made a inw service the actual ground of new
and even more directly insulting ingratitude.
'J'lie Scots, tempted by the oeeasioii of so recent and flngrant nn uiur-
patior of ihe crown, made inciirsiinis into tlie norlliern counties of Knj.
lanil, and Henry, iilteuded by the most warlike of his tiolilcs, iiianhid
in such I'orce to I'ldinlnirgli, that the Scots, niiatdeat that moment priiuent-
ly to give liitn battle, retired to the inountains, as was ever their cusliiin
when lliey eoiilij not tight, yet would not resist. In this dileinina, "idia
f<t« winch he tould neither provoke into the field or terrify into it forinaUiul
I A
ft!
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
340
nsincere submission, Henry issued a formnl and pompons summons to
Riihcrt HI. locome to him and do homage for liis orown, and marched
home and disbanded his army.
J. D. HOa. — Delivered from the immediate preseijce of their enemy, the
S.dis exerted themselves so well (hat Lord Douglas was now able to le:id an
iriiy of twelve thousand men, officered by all (he beads of the nobility,
iitii Hiighmd, where the usual devastation and plunder marked their pre's-
incp. The eiirl of Northumberland and his gallant son collected a force
.,i.l (iiertook the Scots at Holmedon, as they were returning home laden
wiiiilmotv. In the battle which ensued the Scots were completely rout-
(il. vii^t luimbers of them were slain or taken prisoners, and among the
I ,ii( r wore Lord Douglas himself, the earl of Fife, son of the duke of Al-
luiiv iiiid nephew of the king of Scotland, and the earls of Angus, Mur-
iiv.aiiil Orkney.
Ill tliiit age the ransom of prisoners was a most important part of the
piDtlt of the warrior, whether officer or private. The noble who went to
,11 for his sovereign not only ran the ordinary risks of the fight, but also,
il i;ikiMi prisoner, had to purchase his own release, often at a sum so vast
isioiMiluil comparative poverty upon his family for generations. Under
-iili L'ircumstances to interfere with him as to the ransom of his prison-
, s, when he was favoured by the fortune of war, was as scandalous a
iiii acli of faith as any other and more obvious invasion'of his poperty ;
I 111 iliis breach of faith, with the added infamy of extreme ingratitude,
: 111 Ihiny now commit, by sending a peremptory message to the Pcrcies
1)1 to ransom their prisoners on any terms ; the desire of the politic ty-
iiiii hcing to make the contimied imprisonment of those noblemen a
!i( HIS of procuring advantageous terms from the kingdom of which they
MIC the pride and ornament.
\. 1). 1403.— Henry had probably reckoned on the continued faith of the
iirl of Northumberland, under any circumstances of provocation, from the
iii|ii'iMci|)!cd absence of all scruple which that nobleman had shown in aid-
':i;i|ii!< usurpation. But the eiirl, besides that he himself smarted under
ilii' iiiiiigled insult and injury, was still farther prompted to vengeance by
IIS son the younger Percy, better known as Harry Hotspur, and it was
li trriniiicd between thee itvt an ittempt should be made to hurl the un-
^nitcfiil usurper from tl.c 'liront! to which they had so mainly contributed
;ii raise him. Kntering into a correspondence with Glendwyr, they agreed
II join him in his op| uMltion to Henry, and, still farther to strenirthen
ihiiiiselves, gave Lord Douglas his liberty, and engaged that warlike no-
;li' lo join them with all the Scottish force that they could connnand.
rill ir own military retainers and friends wert not a weak army ; and so
lispolic was the power of the earl's family, and, at the same time, so im-
jiluit and undying was the attachment of its followers, tliat the very men
«liii liiid formerly followed the earl for the purpose of placing Henry on
"i" ilirono, now followed for the purpose of deposing- him.
All the preparations being made, the etirl's army was ready for action
«li('ii it was deprived of its h-ader by a sudden illness w liich disabled
III' carl from moving. Hut young Henry Percy had the confidence of his
iiiiops in a degree not inferior to that in which it was enjoyed by the earl
'iiiii'<t'lf, and he marched towards Shrewsbury, wlu^rc he was to be joined
liy lilt'uilwyr.
Ilciiry, w bo, wl.uiever liis crimes, was both brave and able, had just col-
I'rteij a I'orce with a view to repelling or cliastisiiip the Scots, and by liur-
ii'il inarches ho contrived to reach Shrewsbury before Gli ndwyr arrived
In the Hiipiiort of Percy.
Il was obviously the king's true policy to force Percy to an engagement
lipfnre his expected allies eoiild arrive, and tlui fierce and impaliciil lem-
piTuf Henry Hotspur adnnraily seconded the king's wish.
■r 'I
J ijij' I
346
T'iB TEBASURY OF HISTORY.
H
M>
As if fearful lest an}' motive should induce the king to de* ,'ine i\<;. (,;Uant
trial of thci- nrength, Hotspur issued a manifr«to, in winch he i r- j
every topic that was caJculated to goad trc king's conscier. r (Jt ton .'^'ikj
lis pride and lower his character, .'n the words of Hume, ' He reuoun.
i;ed his aliegiance, set him at defiance, uid in the name of 1 '.i father and
uncle as well as in his ouii, he enumcniied all the grievances jf which he
pretended the nation had rc:i.bon to I'omvhiin. Ho ujaTaided hirn wiih
tlie perjury of whicli he bad I ten guilty, vvhen, on landing at Ravenspur,
lie had sworn upon the gospels, before thti earl of Northumber^'id, tlwt
.le Iiad no other intention than to recover the du'.i' y of Lai^'.-aster, and tha.
he would over remain a faithfti! subject to King liichai J. Ho aggravated
ills guilt ill firs! uethroning and then murdering tir^t prince, and 'n ..rur;
iiig !iip title of the house of Mortimer, to whom, H,>th by hneal su
i-er.^ioii and by declarations of parliament, the hroii", when ■•.rant U
IN 'iiard's demise, did of right belong. He complained of his c.twA pohcv
ii . i'cwiniY fh(j young ' arl of Marche, whom he ought to regard as liis
sover.iyii, ti. veraiiii ;> 'apiive in the hands of his enemies, and in even
refusit ; 'o ali liis" friends permission to treat for his ran-^om. He charged
him ai, u . viih ptM iury in loading the nation with heavy taxes, after Imv-
iiig sworn that, without the utmost necessity, he would never lay any ini-
ixisifioiis upon them ; and he reproached him with th(, arts employed in
procuriMfr favourable elections into parliament; arts v hich he himself jiad
liplbrc Imputed as a crime to Riciiard, and which he iiad made one chief
reason of that prince's arraignment and deposition."
'I'lie truths here collected tell very heavily against Uie character of
Henry ; but the reader must not omit to notice that in most of the crimes
here laid to his charge the earl of Northumberland had bi'cn his zealous
accomplice, and by his overgrown power had mainly enabled i lim to do those
very things which he now charged against him as crimes, and which he
so eliargcd only because of their bitter personal feud. So rarely, so very
rarely, do even the most patriotic enterprises lake their rise solely in pa.
triolic and pure feelings.
On the following morning the embattled hosts attacked each other, and
rarely upon English ground has so sanguinary an action taken place.
nouglas and young Percy, who had so often and so bravely opposed eaiii
other, now that they fought in the same ranks seemed to strive to outvie
each other in deeds of daring and self exposure. Henry, on his side, with
whom was the young prince of Wales, who now '' fleshed his maiden
sword," proved himself worthy of the usurped crown as far as valour ai;d
conduct were concerned. Yet, though he repeatedly charged where ilie
battle was the fiercest and the slaughter the most terrible, he even on tin-
occasion sliowed that he never allowed courage to leave policy altogeilier
behind. Feeling sure that the hostile leaders would not fail to direct llieit
especial exertions to slaying him or making him prisoner, he caused sev
eral of his oiFicers to be dressed and armed in the royal guise; :ind Ihis
policy at once proved the correctness of his jiulgment, and, in all hnnian
I)r(il)al)ility, saved his life, for several of the seeming kings paid 'ilh their
lives for their temporary disguise; the fierce Douglas roaming tlirouijhtli.'
field, and slaying each that bore the royal semblance who had the inisl'nr-
tune to come within the sweep of his trenchant and unsparing blade. The
slaughter was tremendous, but ilie victory w;is on the side of the knn;,
the troops of Percy falling into complete and irremedialilc disorder throimi
that gallant, iliough too inipetiions leader being sli.in Dj sonic uniiistni-
guislied h;in(). About four thousand siddii.-rs pensheil on the side of I'er
I'V, and al)o\ half that number on the sidi; of the king, while, nielndmi!
lli(! loss nf IkiiIi armies, considerably mor" than two thousand nobles ani!
ftemlei,. 'M were slam. The earls of Worcester and Douglas were taken;
the latter was treated with ill the respi'ct atul kindnegs diu- tu a t'.istiri-
THE TREA8UIIY OF HISTORY.
34'
. nished prisoner of war, but the former, together with Sir Richard Vernoi
;,. 5 beheaded at Shrewsbury.
he earl of Northumberhmd, who by this time had recovered from his
i/.iiess, had raised a small force and was advancing to the aid of his gallant
son, when he was shocked and astounded by the disastrous tidings from
Shrewsbury. Perceiving the impossibility, with all the force he could then
comiiiand, of at that time making head against the king, he dismissed all
his followers, except the retinue usual to men of his rank, proceeded to
. -1:, and presented himself to the king, to whom he boldly affirmed that
I. s sole intention was to endeavour, by mediating between lii.s son and
the king, to prevent the effusion of blood which now unhappily had taken
pLu'e, Henry, whose policy it was to evade war by every means in his
|)Ower, pretended to be deceived, and a formal pardon was given to the earl.
A. D. I'lOO. — But the earl of Northumberland knew mankind in general,
and Henry in particular, far too well to suppose that there was any reality
Ml this very facile forgiveness; and he was confirmed in his own enmity
not only by the loss of his brave son, but also by the conviction that be had
been too iniquitously useful, and was too dangerously powerful, to allow of
his ever being safe from Henry, should circumstances allow o( that priitce
iirtniii upon his real feelings. He now did what, had lie done it previous to
Ihf biitlle of Slirewsbury, would most probably have given him a complete
m\ comparatively easy victory over Henry. The earl 8f Nottingham,
son of the duke of Norfolk, and the archbishop of York, brother of that
piiil of Wiltshire whom ITenry, while still duke of Lancaster, had beheaded
;U Dristol, had never ceased" to hate Henry. Whether from their own
haclvwardiiess or from some unaccountable oversight on the part of the
I'lri'ii's, these two powerful personages had taken no part against the king
at Slirewsbury, but they now very readily agreed to join with Northum-
hirhiiid in a \ww attempt to dethrone the usurper; but, as though the want
of jiKJijment on the part of the foes of Henry were always to stand him in
;is nuieh stead as even his own profoundly artful policy, Nottingham and
till' archbishop took up arms before Northumberland had completed his
|in'parations for joining them. They issued a manifesto, in wliich they
iltsiMiitcd, though in temperate terms, upon Henry's usurpations, and de-
nwiuled not only that sundry public grievances should bo redressed, but
lilso that the right line of succession should be restored. The earl of
Wostiiioreland, who commanded the king's forces in tlicir neighbourhood,
fimliiii; himself too weak to allow of his prudently engaging them, had re-
I'lnirse to a stratagem so obvious th.tthe could only have resorted to it on
ilic assumption that he had to do with very simple persons, and one that
111 pniving successful showed that assumption to be very correct.
Westmoreland. desired a conference with Xottinghain and the archbish
o|i, listened with admirable gravity to all the complaints they had to make,
liigEcd them to suggest remedies, cordially assented to the pro|)riety of
;dl thai they |)roposed, and closed the conference, by undertaking on the
I'ir! of the king, that everything should be arranged lo their entire satis-
fariKiii. It might be supposed that men of their rank, men, too, who had
entcreii upon so perilous an undertaking, woidil have had iheirsuspii'ions
aroused by tli(! very facility of the iissent to their terms ; and it is diffieidt,
(Veil with the well-iiutlienticated aceoiuit before us, to believe that so far
from that being the case, they actually suspected nothnig when Wesl-
moii'iaiiil |)roposei| thai, iiS all their terms had been agreed to, and there
was nil longer any feud between Iheiii and his royal master, both armies
^hiMiid he ilisbaiided, tliat the country might be relieved from the very
ureal liiinhi'ii of having two siu'li large and expensive bodies to support,
liai the eai'l and ilie ar'bbisliop, like the doomed men l()ld of in tales of
iili'lieral'l, nisheil upon their ruin with closed eyes. They disbanded their
uriiiy. nnil Westinareland pretended to disband his • but the instant that
m
;;;iT
348
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
his opponents were utterly powerless, Westmoreland's secret orders can
ed his forces together again iis if by nirigic, and Noitingliam and the arpi,.
bishop were made prisoners, and sent to the king, who was at iliitmo.
ment making forced marches towards Iheni, in tlie expeotati(ni ni linvino
to oppose tiiem in the field. The earl of Nottingham and tlie archbishop
were both condemned and huh executed ; a new proof, as regards the
archbishop, of the very limited extent to whii^h Rome cuuld at this lime
exert its formerly great power in England.
The earl of Northumberland, cm learning this new calamity, which wiis
chiefly attributable to the double folly of his friends in revolting before lie
could join them, and in listening to deceptions by which even cliildrcn
ought not to have been imposed upon, escaped into Scotland, auci)iii[i;iiij(.(i
by lord Bardolph; and Henry revenged himself upon them by seizing ;ii:d
dismantling; all their fortresses. This done, Henry marched ai'-iinsi
(ilendwyr, over whom the prince of Wales had obtained some advan-
tages ; but though (tlendwyr was not in force to meet his enemies in the
field, his nionntain fastnesses and the incorruptible fidelity of iiis friemls
enabled him to escape from being captured.
A. D. 1407. — The earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolph. more m
veterate than ever against Henry, since ho had dismantled tlieir castles,
entered the north of England with but a slender retinue, in the hope that
sympathy with them and hatred of the king would cause the people to
flock to their standard. Hut if Henry's crimes had made him hated, Ins
success had made him feared ; tlx! attempt was unsuccessful. :ii)d the
sheriff of York, Sir Thomas Hokeby, having got together a force, sml.
deuly attacked the outlawed nobles, both of whom perished in the h;iitle,
To complete Henry's good fortune and wludly free him from his domestic
enemies, the formidable Gleudwyr soon after died.
Fortune served Henry in Scotland as it already had served him in Kng.
land. Robert HI., a mild and inctipahle sovereign, allowed his hnitlier,
the duke of Albany, completely to usurp his luithoriiy ; Albany, tyraniiiial
and ambitious, thrinv his idder nephew, David, the heir appiiret'it to the
throne, into prison, where (le was starved to death. Robert's yoinigesi
son, James, who alone now stood between Albany ami that ihroiie for
which he had already committed so awful a crime, was sent by bis aliirm-
ed father for saO ty to France, but the vessel in which he Su Id was rap-
tured by the Enj..ish, and the prince was carried to London. There was
at the time a truce between England and Scotland, not withstaiKhnmvhich
Henry would not part with his young prisoner; and this virtnaliossol
his only remaining child ccuniiletely broke the heart of the niifintiiiiate
Robert, who shortly afterwards died. Henry now had a most stringent
power over Albany, who governed Seotlaml as regent ; for he miild emi-
tiriue the duke in that high ofTiee by detaining young James, wiiiie, upon
the slightest breach of peace on the dukti's sidiN Henry could at nnce
ruin him and gain the friendship of the Scots by restoring them their
rightful king.
In the wars which occurred among the French factions durintr the latiti
part ot this reign Henry look but little part, and nothing that iiis troups
did in that country was of sulhcieiit importance to merit any detailed
mt'Ution.
It must not be supposed that the kinir, though outwardly lliiis pronpor-
ons, eiijoyed his usurjied dignity wiihiMit any drawbacks. His iiienliil
sutrerings art! described to liavi' been tremendous ; the greatest siieeess
could not fortify his mind tigainst a harrowing dread of future misforiinn',
and even wh le he ^vas preparing for new crimes by which to support his
throne, he wos haunted by remorse for the old ones by wliieb lie had
Hcquired it. This |.erpetiial misery at length wholly deprived iiiaiof his
reason, and h< died the victim of crime and remorse, a worn out luaa,
THE THKA8IJRY OF HISTORY.
34»
*.|iile yet as to age only in the very prime of life, on the 20tli fif March,
1413, ill the thirteenth year of hisreign ami lu llie forty-sixth of his age.
Of this reign little ne(!d be said in the way of snininary. Ill acquired
as was Henry's authority, he bhowed himself si> able to wield it, that had
lie been a legitimate sovereign his reign woulJ undoubtedly iia'. been one
of ihe most glorious in tnir lustory.
The parliament, profiting by the defect of ilie king's title, made con-
siderable advances in authority in this reign: but ihongh Henry was
politic enough to yield in matters of lilile iiioini'iil, he also knew how to
refuse when refusal was necessary to prcvtMii encroaehinenl from going
furllier. Thus on one occasion he dismissed four (lersons from his liouse-
Lolil, iiieludiiig his ('onfcssor, at the demand of the commons ; while on
Miollier, he replied to the demand of the ciimmoiis for greater lenity to
the Lollards, by ordering a Lollard to be burned before the close of the
sessiua !
CHAPTER XXIX.
THK RV.U-.S OF HKMIV V.
A.D. 1413. — TnouoH the iiad title of Henry IV., and the care with wliich
his f.ilhei's jealous suspicious diiriiig Ihe lailer years oP' ! reign had
causRit him to exclude his scm from any ^sll in; in the civ ,, vernment
secmeil to give the young prince but lilile o()portimily of easny scemliiig
llie lliroiie, he had the very great adv uilnge of beiiijf popular. The
fdUiiilff and eoiidnct which he hail sliouii lu miliiary airairs, so far as his
f;illii'rli III allowed him ti act In tlieiii, an I a ccriaiii chivalric and f.iulamic
geiienisily, had not only caused the people to set at least a full i alue
iipiiii whal he did of guoil, hut also to excuse, as the mere " Mas i and
oulbreak of a fiery miinl,'" irregulariljis whirli would have exi-iliH their
iiiiniist iuilignation against a piiiice of :uore sullen and less gi icrous
ipiiiper.
Looked n|iiiii with jealousy by his father, a'ld discouriged, or rather
preveiilC'l, from mixing willi the si.itiisiiii'ji of tlie day and sharij..,' in the
I'ares of g'lverninent, ili(! menurial l('m|i"r of ihe young prmci c;msed
liiiii to seek pleasure and com[)aniouslii[) ou' of his proper splu-r , and to
nuke himself talked of among his fnlure subjects for many frolics, which
ill any other person would have been treated as crimes of no ordinary
ma;riiiiMde. Me not mily ri"ted and drank wiih iiieii of bad n^piite and
bniken foitune, but it is even said llui ou more! than one oec:ision he
jiiineil lliein in laying llu^ wealthy pi.ssenger under coutrihutioii ou the
liiL'liway. Sliakspeare. who in tins as in many oilier eases has painted
faillifiilly, in ikes F.ilstalF e.\e|aiin In this y<.iiiiu' (innce — '' iiob me the
I'X'heipier, Hal!" bill the prince, if Instoria'is speak the trnili, took the
lilierly to rob the subject (.-re his eoiii eoul I liiid lis way to ihe exchequer.
Siii'li a course was but ill a lapied to reeoncile the nation lo the bel tiih;
ti|iiiii u'liji'li Henry V. iimv aseende I Ihe ihro.i". or lo give tlteiii liopu that
Ihe laws would be well admiiiisiered un ler his governineiii. lint as his
generous and giy naliire hid reconeiled iheni to the faults of ihe youth-
ful |iriiiee, so IMW, yoili'.' as he still wh-<, ihe wis loin and propriely of his
Very first act gavt; thcnn reason to think lioiw|"ully of him as their king.
(ill one of the many occasions in whieii I'riiiC" Heiiry's lurbnleiit com
panioiis had disturbed Ihe public peaee, ceit.iiii of iliem were indicted for
.heir luiseoiidiiet, and the I'riiiee Meiny aileuded their trial in the court
of Kiiij;'.s lieueli. I'lreeivi'ig that 'hi' hu'd chief- jnsii. * , (taseoiifue, was
iml (iveraiveil by thi! presence of the heir apparent, Priiici- Henry was
gniUv o( .MMiii^ iiilerriiplioii, for w'lie'i the chief justiee at once ordered
liiin lo be laken to prison. It may be doubled whether some of Ihf
350
THE THEASURY OF HISTOEY.
" courage" and " uprightness" which historians so emphatically ati/ibutfi
to the lord f hief-justice, on account of this affi'ir, did not originate in the
knowledge that the king would be rather plea-jnd than angry at any mor-
tification inflicted upon the popular heir appj rent. At all events, how.
ever, .ve must admit that Gascoigne at least showed that he did not cal
cula:e, as many more eminent men have done, the future consequences
of Wis present performance of his duty.
On the accession of Henry V., Gascoigne waited upon him with every
expectation of receiving the plainest discouragement; but tliekjiiff, so
far from showing himself offended at the past, made it the especial'sub.
ject of his commendation, and exhorted the chief-justice to continue still
»o administer the laws faithfully and fearlessly, without reference to the
rank of the offender. To the grave and wise ministers who had ablv
served his father the young king gave a like gracious reception ; and
sending for the former companions of his dissolute youth, he made them
liberal presents, assured them of his intention wholly to reform his way
of life, and forbade their ever again approaching his presence, until thev
should have followed his present example, as they had participated and
encouraged his former vice.
Most men were greatly surprised at this wise conduct, and all were
jrladi' ned by it ; and probably none were more completely in either oi
these categories than the ministers who, at the very time that they
imagined they were earning the prince's bitter enmity by their discour-
agement of his youthful levities, were, in fact, securing both his esteoin
and his confidence.
Henry's prudence and justice were not manifested merely in ihnii mak-
ing amends for his own early follies. Deeply conscious that his father
had wrongfully acquired that throne which he himself had too much am-
bition to give up, he endeavoured, in all but giving it up, to do all thai he
could towards repairing the wrongs committed by his father. He caused
the memory of the murdered Richard to be honoured with the most
solemn and splendid obsequies that could have been bestowed upon ;i
potent sovereign newly deceased, and he set at liberty the young earlol
Marche, of whom his father had been so extremely jealous, and showed
him every kindness. The young rarl, who was of an extremely mild
temper and who seemed to have had no particle of ambition, appeared
fully sensible of Henry's kindncs-;, and hot only would never make any
attempt to disturb his government, l)ut showed himself strongly and sin-
cerely attached to his person. As if anxious to leave no token exisliii"
of the sad tinnults of the lust reign, Henry also restored the Percy family
to their honours and property ; and by this and numerous other acts indi-
cative of his (lelcrmiiiation to forget all i)arty distinctions, ca.ised all
parties to he loo much delighted with liis use of power to have cither
leisure or inclination In inquire iiow he bcame possessed of it.
But party spirit could not be wholly eradicated from the popular heart
even by the personal exhorliitions and example of the king himself. The
horrible punishments which in the recent reign were fo"* the first time in
Knj/laiul inflicted upon hcjrelics, thoii;^!! it mijrlit have awed many wlui
would oiiierwise have coiUinr 'd to be Lollards, far more certainly made
many such, who, but fur this terrible advertisement, would liavt; gone lu
their graves in ignorance of llu; very ( xist(>nc(! of Lollaniism. The pub-
lic attention was roused anu fixed by these brutal executions ; discnssioii
iiid inquiry I'ullowed, and by degrees the country became divided into two
parties, the friends of Rome and the Lollards ; and if the latter were by
far inferior to the foriniu- in number, they were already sullicicutly num-
erous to catise great amioyance to the clergy and some anxiety even to
the civil i>"-, cc
By fa - the most eminent man among the liUUards at tills time was Lord
I !
THE TREA8UEY OF HISTOUY.
361
Cobham, who, both under that title and as Sir John Oldcastle, had done
uood service to the nation, and had been honoured with the notice and
approbation of both the late and the present king. The very excellence
of iiis character and the extent of his abilities made his sectarianism the
more offensive to the church ; and as it was deemed that the increasing
number of the Lollards required to be checked by some especially striking
example, Lord Cobham was selected as the victim, and the archbishop of
Canterbury, Arundel, applied to Henry for permission lo indict Cobham.
Henry, who seems to huve been better aware than the bigoted arch-
bishop of 'he real eflfects of persecution in matters of faith, was extremely
unwilling to consent to a prosecution which, he judged, would but loo
surely end in Cobham's destruction ; and the archbisliop was forbidden to
taiie any steps until Henry himself should have endeavoured, by force of
argument alone, to lead Cobham back to the church from wiiich he had
de°parted. Henry accordingly sent for Lord Cobham to court, and en-
deavoured to convince him of his error; but Cobham was fully equal to
Henry in the use of intellectual weapons, and was not, upon so important
atopic, at all inclined to sacrifi''e truth to complaisance and etiquette.
Finding it in vain to endeavou' to convert this unfortunate nobleman,
Henry, with seemingly sincere r ;gret, was obliged to give the clergy their
required permission to indict him. The archbishop, assisted Ijy the bishops
of London, Winchester, and St. David's, proceeded against him, and he
was condemned to be burned. He was sent to the Tower, and a day was
appointed for his execution, but before that day arrived he managed to
escape from his gaolers. Naturally of a fierce and somewhat haughty
•jinit, the treatment he had received and the danger from which he had
60 narrowly escaped excitni him to so high a pitch of anger and resolu-
lion, that I.J determined to aim at a general revolution of the kingdom.
And accordingly, from the obscure retreat in which he found shelter, he
issued orders to the Lollards upon whom he could most depend, to join
him upon a certain day, tliat tliey might in the first place seize upon the
person of the king, who was at that time lodging in the palace of Ellham,
in Kent, and then take summary vengeance upon the chiefs of their per-
secutors.
\. D. 1414. — As Cobham was very highly esteemed among the Lollards,
ami as they wen; not only very numerous but also included a great num-
ber of wealthy and respectable persons, the king, who was informed of
ivliat was in contemplation, deemed it necessary not only to guard him-
self an;ainst the intended sur[>rise, but also to prepare to resist open insur-
reetion. He accordingly removed to the palace at Westminster, and pre-
pared himself for whatever force Cobliani might be able to bring. Even
now Cobham had ample opportunity to abandon his design, which became
liopeless from the moment it became known, and to es(;ape from the king-
;lom. Ihit he seems to have been of a temper which difliculty and danger
might enrage but could not intimidate, ai\d he assembled all the forces he
could raise in the fields of St. Giles. Being made acquainted with the
cippoiiited time as well :'s place of meeting, the king caused the gates of
ilic city to be closed, to [I'-event the discontented from getting an increase
lotheir numbers from '!'■ t quarter; he then went, well attended, lo St.
Kill's, and seized those of the leaders who had already arrived, while the
military, skilfully stationed, jirn.'sted all who were found hastening to the
spot. It appeared that, as is usual in such cases, the greater number of
llie prisoners knew little or nothing of the real (lesigns of their leaders,
though of the criminal and treasonable desi>rns of the latter there remained
r.o shadow of doubt. Those who were pinved to have treasonable dc-
sijus were executed, but by far the greater number were pardoned. Ue
whom the clergy were the most anxious to punish, and who, indeed, was
now not nmch less obnoxious lo the civil Hum to the ecclesiastical autho
mK0
362
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
I
y
lii
rity, the Lord Cobtiam himself, was lortmiale enough to escape. But
eenteiice was proiioiiiiced ayraiiist h\ii\, par cuniumace^ as a traitor and a
relapsed and incorrif;ililt! Iieieiic; and being apprehended about foiirytMrs
afterwards, he was Iiangod fur iiis partieipation in treason against ihe
king, and liis body was burned in pur.suaiiee of tiie sentenee passed a'luuist
him for lieresy.
Tiie severity with which the leaders in tliiserude and ill-plaiuiecl revolt
were treated, and the advantage winch 'lie cireu.nslances of it gavt- ilm
clergy, in being able to connect heresy and treaso'i ms offences eouplit) hy
necesfity and naturally springnig tliH one from tlu other, had a vi-iy seii-
sible effect in checking the progress of Lollardy ; but not so much on nc.
count of the terror attacluul to the punishmeiil, as the disgrace and Cim-
tempt which seemed everywhere to attach to the crime. Very wisely
the clergy and ihe civil authorities appeared at this lime to treat the Luj.
lards, associated as they had confessedly been with the civil disturhaiicc?
of Uobhain, not so much as heretics as partly heretics and panly Umse
fellows who were desirous of causing public dislurbance for the hciiur
Hccomplishment of their own i)rivate ends; a mode of trcalmg tla; ucise
the best possible for making it intolerable in the eyes of all decent priijiie,
and for depriving such people of all curiosity as to iis doctrinal peciiji.ir.
ities. Happy had it been for mankind if ridicule had ever been the sub-
stitute for perseitution ! 'I'rutli, indeeil, woiiUl ov(!rcoine the former as it
has the latter; but what pangs would have been spared to some of the
combatants— what dark and undying infamy to others! Nor was it
merely among the unreflecting midiitiide, and those who, simply wiili re-
ference to their worldly possession.^, were unwilling to countenance Ihuse
whose opiiiimis and practices were likely to disturb the puhlic peace mid
put wealth in peril, that the exploded plot of Cobham raused a disuisie
for Lollardism. Tlie parliament met just after the dispersion of tJobliaiii's
adherents, and one of its first acts was hn-elled against heretics. This
act provided that all persons who were (ronvicted of Lollardy should imi
only be capitally punished, as was provided for by the fiunier aii, but
should also forfeit all their lands and goods whatever to the kiiiji; and
that the chancellor, treasurer, the justices of the [leace, and chief innjfis-
trates of all cities and boroughs, shoiilil be sworn to use their uiinust
pains and diligence in the e.\iir|)ation of heresy.
That the Lollards wen; feared and detested, less on account of their
religious heresy than as civil disturbers, appears from ihcctniirast buirtci'ii
the act thus providing, and the subsequent coolness with which the s;i w
parliament, on the king demanding a supply, begged him, instead of piini ;'
them to the task of imposing a tax upon the people, to take posse.isnii, il
the ecclesiastical revenues and convert tliiun to the use of the cnmii,
The renewal of this profiosiiiim, which had formerly been made to liiniVs
father, threw the clergy into ala'-m. To turn the king's aUenlioii from ihe
proposed wholesale spoliation id' the church, they endeavouied at on>;(' lu
supply his more pressing and immediate wants, and to conciliate liis per-
sonal favour, by voluntarily conferring upon him the valuable alien piiurifs
which were de()endent ujion chief abbeys in Normandy, and had hcen lie-
queathed to those abbeys while Kngland and Normaiiiiy were siill nmlcJ
under the crown of England. Siill fiirllier to turn the attention of the
king from a proposal which was so , vegiiHiit with alarm and danger in ;lie
clergy, Chichely, the then archbishop of (^'anterbury, endeavoured to eiP
gage the king in a war with France.
A. D. 141.5. — In this design of the archbishop — a design, be it parenllie-
tically said, which was much more politic than either humane or Christian
— he was considerably aided by the dying iiijunelions of Henry IV., «lio
had warned his son, if he could at all plausibly engage the Knylish [vnple
in war, never to allow them to reniani at peace, which would iiifailibl)
THE THEASUttY OP HISTORY.
35«
turn their inclinations towards domestic dissensions. The kingdom of
France had now for a long time been plunged in the utmost confusion and
discord, and the various parties had been guilty of cruelties and outrages,
disgraceful not merely to themselves but even to our common nature.
The state of that kingdom was consequently at this time such as to iiold
out advantages to Henry, which were well calculated to give force to tiie
advice of Chiciiely and the dying request of Henry Iv. Hut just as
Henry, who did not want for either ambition or a warlike spirit, wa.s pre-
paring and meditating an attack upon the neighbouring and rival kingdom,
his iitiention was for the moment arrested by the discovery of a dangerous
aidexleusive conspiracy at home.
As we have already said, the young earl of Marche was so sensible of
the i(indness shown to him by the present king at the commencement of
his reign, that he seemed to have no desire ever to give any disturbance
to his government. But tlie earl's sister was married to the earl of Cam-
bridge, second son to the deceased duke of York, and he thus, not unna-
turaFly, became anxiously concerned for the rights and interests of a
family with which he had himself become so intimately connected. —
Deeming it possible to recover the crown for that family, he took pains to
acquire partizans, and addressed himself, among others, to Lord Scrope
of Masham, and to Sir Thomas Grey of Heaton. Whether from treachery
or from want of sufficient caution on the part of tiie earl of Cambridge,
the conspiracy became known to the king before it had gone beyond the
mere preliminaries ; but tiie conspirators upon being seized made such
ample disclosures of their ultimate designs, as both enabled the king to
order their trial, and fully warranted him in so doing. They were in the
first instance tried by a jury of commoners, and condemned upon the tes-
timony of the constable of Southampton castle, who swore that the pris-
oners had confessed their guilt to him ; but they afterwards pleaded, and
were allowed their privilege as peers. But though Henry had iiitherto
sliown so much inclination to moderation, he on this occasion evinced
no desire to depart from the arbitrary practices of the kings of that age.
icourt of eighteen barons was summoned and presided over by the duke
of Clarence ; before this court the single testimony that had been given
before the common jury was read, and without further evidence or nearer
approach to even the form of a trial, these two prisoners, one of them a
prince of the blood, were condemned to deatii without being heard in
iheir own defence, or even being produced in court, and were executed
accordinffly !
This ill-digosted and unsuccessful attempt of his brother-in-law put the
young earl of Marche in considerable peril. As it was, nommally, on his
account that the war was to have been levied against the king, lie was
accused of having at least consented to the conspiracy ; but the constant
aiiachment he iiad shown to Henry had probably gained him a strong
personal interest with that monarcii, wiio freed him from all further peril
oiiaccouiit of this aflFair by giving iiim a general pardon for all offences.
As soon as the excitement consequent upon this conspiracy had soino-
ivhal passed away, Henry again turned his attention towards France.
The duke of Burgundy, who had been expelled from France by a com-
filiation of the usually jarring powers of that country, iiad been in su(!h
correspondence with Henry, that the latter prince felt quite secure of the
iiike's aid whenever an Knglisii army should appear to claim it; and
ilierefore, witho'it making any precise arrangements with the duke, and
indeed without rvcM coming to any positive agreement with iiim, Henry,
on the 14th of August in this year, put to sea and landed safely in i\or-
Jiaiidy, with about twenty-four thousand infantry, chiefly consisting ol
ircliers, and six thousand men-at-arms.
Harfleur had for its governor D'E.«touteville, under whose commaii
Vol. I.— 23
ti
\!^ .
1
,^^p»ii»iM^
M4
THE TREASUUY OF HISTORY.
i
were De Guitri, De Gaucourt, and other eminent French soldiers. Henrv
laid immediate siege to the place, but was so stoutly and successfully rZ
sisted, that, between the excessive fatigue and the more than usual heat
of the weather, his men suffered dreadfully, and were alarmiiii;ly thinned
by f(!ver and other sicknessei. But, in spite of all losses and discourage-
ments, Henry gallantly persevered; and the French were so mucli strait!
ened, that they were obliged to promise that if no relief were afforded
them by the Kith of September, they would evacuate the place. No sions
of relief appearing on that day, the English were admitted; but so much
was the army thinned, and in so sickly a condition were the majority of
the survivors, that Ilcury, far from having any enoouragcment to follow
up this success by some new enterprise, was advised by all iibout him lo
turn his attention to gelling the skeleton of bis army in safety bark to
England. Even this wns no easy or safe matter. On his first landing hi-
had so little anticipated the havoc which fatigue and sickness had niailc
in his army, that lie had incautiously dismissed his transports; and ho
now lay uiulcr the necessity of*marching by land to Calais, ere lio nmV,
place bis troops out of danger, and that, too, in the face of an arinv m'
fourteen thousand meu-at-arins and forty thousand foot, asscmhleil m
Normandy under the command of tlu; constable D'Albret. Tlu; Fremdi
force so tremendously outnumbering that of Henry, he very prudenilv
offered to sacrifice bis recent conquest of llartlcur, at the pike of biini;
allowed to jiass unmolested (o Calais ; but the rrencli, coiifidiMit .;i ihti'r
6U|)('riority, rejected bis proposal. Henry, tbertfore, in order equally lo
avoid (lisciiurageinentlo bis own troops and eiicnuragtMnctit to tin; i'u-v.'A.
retreated by easy marches to the Komiiie, where he^ hoped to p.iss ijn
fcrd at niamiuet.iirne.as Ivhvanl bad escapi'd from Pliilip di; Valuis under
very similar circuinstanccs; but he found that the French had taken tlic
prceaiition to render tbi' ford im|iassable, besides lining ihe opposjic hmk
with a strong iiody of troops, and he was iilijiyed to seek a jiassiigc liiijirr
U|i the river. Scarcely anything conld exceed the distress of llii;r\'s
present situation. His troojis wen^ fast pcrisbiiig with coiiliiuial f.iiiiii,.
and the prevalent sickness ; be c uild proi'iire no provisions, owiii;; lu iin'
activity of the French; and every when! he fi)iiiid biinself coufronieil liy
ninni'roiis eneniics, ready lo f;dl npoji hini llic insianl lie slionld erossim'
river. Hut under all Ibes'! circuinst;inces Henry preserved his fdiiri^'i
and pre«cnce of mind; and a fold near Si, (inenlin being but sliiidtrlv
guarded, hi' surprised llie ciieiny Ibi're, and led bis unny ovrr in safiiy.
Henry now hastened towiirds Calais, but In passing t'le little river uf
Ternoi ;, at Illan;;!, be had the inorlificitiiiii to perceive the in.iin lioh nf
the i'rcmdi driiwn up ;iiid a\\ ailing niiii in ttir extensive plains of \.ri:i-
court. To reacli Calais willioiil an aitinn was now evidently iiii|)osMli|'',
the French were lo the F,iii,'lisli as four to one, bcsidf's beiiiir fne fnm
8i( kiirss, and alinndaiilly su|pplied witii provisions; in a word, iliinyui-
now in fully as dangerinis a position as that of Fdvvard ill Crcsi; , or ii'
lirrnie Ulack l'niic(! at I'oitiers. Situated as tbcv bad bein, he resoKiJ
to imitate llieir i)lan of battle, ;nid be awaited the ;illack of the eneiiiy 'ii.
a narrow land closely Canked by a wood on eillier side. Willi iliiir il-
vantage in miie'icrs ;iiid faeiliiies of obtaiiiiiio provisions, the Vuir
ongbl rlearlj < have reinanird (d)stinalily on the (IrfeiiMve, until K'
,l')iii>lisli sliinild oy al)solule famine lir oliliui'd t,i ;i(|vance from ihi'ir h\"m-
abh' position; a position wlncli, lo .1 vers gn at extent, gave the ;i'h 111
tat;e to till' side having the smalbr niiiiil)ir of men to niiomuvre. |1„;
till ir vrry superiority III ninnlirrs deprived Ibe Freiieb (d' all (iniiluM'
niid they pressed forward as if to ciiisli llie Eniilidi by their iiH're Wl•;^!•
'I'lic irounled cridiers and iiien-alnnns rushed 111 erowded r inks ii(0' ' •
Fiiitbsli, who. defended by iiilisadoes, and free liniii tile crdwdmi! «ii
•iiiburruBMud (he uclioiis and dislraetcd tbe alteuliou of tli«' riieiiiy. i>i
K
THE TREASURY 0J<' HISTORY.
35S
Idiers. Henry
iUccessfuUy re-
than usual heal
■mindly thinned
and discourage-
so much strait-
f were afforded
luce. No signs
d ; but so much
the majority of
[ement lu follow
all iilioul him to
II sufety hack to
>s first landing lii'
:kiu;ss had inuili'
uisports; and lie
lais, ere he ('(lulil
ce of an army of
i)t, assemWed ni
ri-l. Tlie Freni'li
10 very prudently
he prue of boniL'
coufuli'iU ,a ihtir
1 order equally lu
lent to the i"ifi;;''i,
liopcd to pass llic
lip i\i; Valuis under
ich liad taken the
' the opposite li;ink
'k a passage liia;!"'!
islrt'ss of lli'iiry's
li coiitiuual fatimif
iioiis, owing to ii,i
isclf confronted by
.. should cross tiif
served Ills coura;;i
(•ins I'Ut slenderly
liver in safely.
Vic little river nf
(. the in.iin holy (if
■(■ plains of Ai"!'
Iciilly iiii|io!'mWi'.
cs lii'liia tree ti;ilTl
I wold, llciiry Wi-
lli Cress;', 01 Hi'
lieeii, he resohcJ
,if the enemy "ii
With tlii'it 'l;
isioiis, the rrn'i'
., ;eiiMve, until 111-
.,. froio their lav"iii-
W, sjave the aiH m-
1,1 in!iii»'uvre. lU
, (.f all priid'"''
V Iheir mere ^^vl^^
,,|f(l ranks iijO''-
111,, crovvdim; «"'
„f ilie enemy. ^'•^■
them Nvitli ii deadly and incessant shower of shafts and bolts. The heavy
land, reiide ed still more ditficult and tenacluns by recent rain, was highly
disadvantageous to the French cavalry, who were soon still farther in-
commoded in their movements by the innumerable dead and dying men
and horses with which the P^nglisli archers strewed the narrow ground
When the disorder of the enemy was at its height, Henry ga»'e orders
10 the English to advance with their pikes and battle-axes; and the men-
li-arins following them, tiie confn.sed and pent-up multitudt^ fell in
crowds, without even the possibility of resistance. The panic of the
enemy speedily led to a general rout, with thu sole exception of the
French rear-guard, which still maintained itself in line of battle upon
the open plain This also was .speedily cut to pieces; and just a.s the ac-
iioii closed completely in favour of the Mnglish, an incident occurred
which .used the loss of the French to be far more numerous in killed
than it oilierwise would have heeii. A mob of a few peasants, led on by
some gentlemen in Picanly, had fallen upon the unarmed followers of
die English tamp with the design of seizing upon the bagajage ; and the
alarm and outcry thus caused leading Henry t(» imagine that his numer-
ous prisoners were dangerous, he hastily gave ordiirs for them to he put
10 the sword; upon whudi a terrible slaughter of these inihappy men
took place hefore he discovijriKl his mistake, and revoked an order so
sanguinary and so contrary to the laws of war-
In this short but most decisive action the French lost ten thousand
killed, of whom eight thousmd were cavalry, ami fourteen Ihoiis.ind
pnsoncrs; the former iiicluiled the constalile d'.VIhret, the count of Nev-
ers, the duke of [Iraliant. the duke of .VleiKj'iiii, the duke of li.iri't', the
euiMit of Vaudeinoiji, and the count of .Marie ; while among the jinsoiiers
were the duke of llourbon, the duke of Orleans, iiie maresciial Hoiicicaut,
and the counts d'Kii, Veiidomc, aii.l Hichemonl. Tlu! Fiiglish loss, though
tonsiJeralile, was small compared to that of the enemy, and the chief
Kiigli^huiaii of note that was slain was tlu; dnki.' of York. As if I'ully
salisliiil Willi his victory, and intent only on regaining his native land,
Henry iniincdiately eoiitiiined his march to (lalais, wh.'iuM! he emliarked
Hiili his prisoners for F.iiglaiid; and he ^ ven uiaiiled the French a truce
for two years, without insislin^r upon any corresponding concussion oii
llieir pari.
A. B. IIH. — The intestine disputes of France still continuiMl to rasfe
most furiously; not only were the i!uke of llnrgiiiidy ami the I'rcnc'i
I'oint fiercely warrint; upon each oihee. hut coniiiiiicd fciiils, scarcely leHs
violent, and no less bitter, r.igeil among the various niemhcrs of the royal
family. This stale of ihiiigs eiieiMir.igcd Henry to make a new and
stronger aitcinpi u|ioii i'^rancc; ami he landeil ni Normainly at tlie head
of an army »( tweii,y-liv(' tlionsaii I men, wiiliunt eiieoimiciiiig lh>' sli^ht-
e^i opposition, lie took Faliiisc ; Ijvreiix ind < 'aeii immediately Mirren-
(lired Ui hiin. and I'oiit dr r\rclii' (jiiickly afterwards ii|ieiieil its gates.
11 nnig siilidiied all Lower .S'ormaiidy, and rei'eiveil from Mngland a re-
liifoi'ccineiit of ril'ieen thonsanl men, lleiiry proceeiled to lay siege to
Itouen. While thus eiigai>e(| he was visited by lli" cardinal des risiiiH,
who tried to persuaile him to alford a chance of peac(> to France by mod
eMiiiig Ills pretensions lint llciiry, bent upon ulilaining the sovenunty
of tli.ii kingilmn, and well aware of (he advanliiue Iih derived, not (uily
frmn liis own strength, htit also from the dissensions of the Freiudi,
eaiiiily rcpheil, "Do yon not perceive that (Jod has led me as hy tliu
hand' France has no sovereign' I have jiisi pretensnms to that kinit-
lioin : everything here is in the niniost cinil'iisKm, and no one lliinkM of
r>'si.<linH me. Can I have a more sensiiiie proof that die lleniH who di*:-
l>'>M s of enipireM hax deteniiined to put the crown uf Krunee upon my
leiidr'
;i'M
I,
35C
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
m
m
^'
But wliile Henry expressed this confidence, and made every effort and
preparation to carry his designs into execution by force, he iit the b,ni;e
time carried on negotiations for a peaceful settlement, on the uiie ha;i'(i
with tlie queen and duke of Burgundy— who had tiie semhhnice, at Itast
of the only legal authority in tiie kingdom, inasmuch us they jmj ^^^^
custody of the king's person — and with the dauphin, on the oilier liaml
who had all the popular favour on his side, and was, besides, the undoubi'
ed heir to the monarchy-
It is unnecessary here, indeed it would be out of place, to do more llian
merely to allude to the distractions of which France was now and fui a
long time had been the prey. Suffice it to say, that the disputes of ihi
rival parties were so wholly and intensely selli;sh, tiiat either uf tliein, hm
especially the queen's party, seems to have considored the intert'sis ui
the nation as nothing in comparison with even temporary personal einnh,.
inents. Taking advantage of this temper of the antagonist jiarlies, llcnrv
offered to make peace with them on the croiidiiion of their giving iiim ii|',
princess (Catharine in marriage, and with her, in full sovereignty, Xnr-
inandy and all the provinces whii'li were ceded to Kdward ill. by iIk
treaty of Bretigni ; and these terms, so obviously injurious to the pown
of France, were agreed to.
A. n. 141!). — While Henry was attending to some minor circninstancps
the ailjustment of which alone was waited for ere the treaty above .,<■■
scribed should be carried into effetl, the duke of Hnrgiindy, who lia!
been carrying on a secret negotiation with the; dauphiii, formed a trcaiv
with that prince, by which it was agreed between them that they shuiil'l
divide the royal aniliority as long as King ''liarles should survive, ainl
that they should join liieir elVoris to e.\p<'l all intruders frinn the kiinjilmn
An interview was .ippoiiited to take place between them ; but as the iluki
of Burgundy had, by his own avowal, been the assassin of the late ihik'
of Orltiaiis, and haii thus by his own act sani'tioned any triaclicroiis a!
tempt lliat might lie made upon his life, and had at tlii^ same lime )i|\(i,
everyoiw reason to refuse to put any eoi lideiice in his hoiioiir, tlic iiws',
ininnle precautions were taken to guard igainst treachery <>ii eiilicr si.li-
Hut all these precautions were taken in vain. Several of llic retainirs n'
the daiipliin, who had also been altached to the late duke of Orleans, mi;.
denly a'lacked Hnriiiiinly with their drawn sworils, anil ile.Mjiatchcil hm.
betore any of his frienils coiilil inlerlere to save him.
This murder created so much rage and eonfusioii in Francn, mid al,
parlies, though from widely ditreri'iit motives, were so iniic'i excite I !.\
it, that all iliiMiglit or care for preserving the nation from foia i^ii iluin:
nation was lost sight of; the views of lleiiry were thus most iiii|iiiit mi!'
forwarded, through an accident arisiiiL! out of iliai very iiitervavv hy »liii,
It was intended wholly to destroy Ins cliancef' of success.
BesidwH the advantage which Henry derived from the new slate uh<',
fusion and tnrtnoil intc which France was llirown by this event, liedaiiii^
from It an extremely powerful ali\ in the person of the new duke ehlui
giiiilv. who, stipulating only for veiiueaiice nii')ii the iniirilen r« nl li-
father, and the iii.irriage of Ins sister vMth the diik. of llcilt'nrd, aKrei.lii
i4!nd llenrv whatever aid lie might reipnre. wilhont innuiry or care as u
the evil it might eventnalh entail npoii the nation, llenry hail a'r'ah
made iiiiiiiense progress in arms. Kinieii, though 'unst gallantl' - \t M
by a garrison ol four llious.md men, who were zea 'sly inden ■) (lltctii
th(M:sand of III'" citizi'iis, had at leiuiih been taken, .-i bad I'oiitoise m'
(jisors Willi less diftienll\ and so closely did he hreaten i'arl^ ii-il!
that Ihe court had removed in alarm lo Tro\es.
A. n. I'l'.") — \N hen ilie negotiations lieiween the Duke of Ihiruiiii
and Henry lind arrived at IIiIk [loiiit, Henry, iiccompiuieil by Ins liretlur
(lit) Uuhe of Ciurt'liee and Uloucesler, jnoeeeded (u I'royes lo liiiii.i ■■
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
367
fcatv, nomiii.iily with Clmrles, but in reality with the duke of Biirgiiady ;
■)!■ the unhappy Charles was in so completely imbecile a condition, that
,e was at best but a mere puppet in the hands of whoever had for the
•line the charge of his person.
The chief provisions of this treaty, in vvhich the honour and interests
ifthe nation were accounted as nothing, were as follows ; Henry was to
jirry tltc princess Catharine ; Charles was to enjoy the title and dignity
if king (luring his life, but Henry was to be his heir, and was also to be
titiusted with the immediate administration of the affairs of the i<ingdom,
iliichwas to pass to his heirs in common with England, with which king-
dom it was to be united under him, though each kingdom should internally
clam its own customs, privileges, and usages ; all the French princes,
ifors, communities, and vassals were to swear to obey Henry as regent,
y indue time adhere to his succession as king; Henry was to unite
nih Charles and the duke of Burgimdy in chasing the dauphin from the
<i:iiTdoni ; anJ no one of the members of tiiis tripartite league was to make
pace with him, except with the consent of the f»ther two. A treaty more
•I'imlaious to all parlies it would be difficult to imagine. Even as re-
:iriled Hngland, Henry was king only by succession to an usurper; and
lis claim to France, even on that ground alone would have been scouted
V the duke of Duigundy, had patriotism not been entirely banislied from
* breast l)y passion and personal interest.
lint interest, and interest alone, was attended to by the parties concerned
I this very singular treaty, which was drawn, signed, and ratified wiili as
iiile scruple on the side of Burgundy, as though there liad been no other
'hjcct in view th.in the mere gratification and aggraiidizement of fleiiry.
\fi\vdays aficrtiie signing of the treaty, this prince esponsed the prin-
i<s r.itiiarinc, and with hcrand her father proceeded to Paris. Possess-
lofthc capital, he had but little dillicully in procuring from the |)arlia!nent
i;i| ilie three cstat<'s a full ami formal ratilication of that treaty, in every
iicof wlncli their degradation was visibly written.
Thi'daupliin now assmncd the slyleofre^Miitof the kingdom, appealed to
lOii to witness the justice of his cause, and prepared to del'e nd it in arms,
mil Henry proceeded to oppose liini. He first laid siege to Sens, which
ificra very slight resistance surrendered to him, and Montereau wassub-
'ued with 110 less ease. H(!nry now proceeded to Mchiii.hiil here tic met
iiih a stouter resistanc(^ the governor, Barbasaii, repelling every effort
' could make for above four months; and even at the end of that time
:lif brave governor was only induced lo treat for surrrcniler by the abso-
iiii'Slati' of faiiiiiie to which the garrison was reduced. Henry was now
iliiigeJtii visit England for the purpose of oblaiiiing both men and money,
i'lil (hiring his absence he left his uncle the duke of Exeli-r in the post of
.iv.rnor iif Paris.
By iliis time the Englisli, however much they were daz/led and flat-
rill by the talents and success of their king, seem to have begun to take
iidhiiit; lik<' a correct view of the possible altiinate coiiseipnncc to them
.il III llicir posterity, of 'he proposed union of the two crowns ; ami th(»
irliaia.'iit voted him a sul>siiiy of mily a fiftecntli. which would have been
;. iiiadcipiate lo Ins necessilies, Imt that the Frencli territory he hio
■iii|ii('rcil served for till' mainleminec of his troops. Having got tn^ethcr,
iiih till' Riilisniy thus voted lo liini, a new uriny of i \enty-foiir tlioiisaiid
ri'liori, anil four thousand cavalry, he embarke,! at Dover ami safidy
I ifliiMJ Pans, where everything had reinaiimd in perfe( t trauqnilliiy under
■• (t'lvcriiiMcnt .if Ins uncle.
Hill during Ihc absence of Henry the Eiiglisli bad •"ceived a very so-
I'fc chock 111 \iijou. ' Scotch brnr ide of seven tlioi:^ oid incn had Imij
•'M li; iKe dauphin's service, sent Ibilbcr liy the rcgciil of Ncollanil. Men.
iiid taken the young kiiiijof .Scotland, who h.ui so long been in captivny,
<>i^«if*lK
4
i
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358
THE TllEASUllY OF HldTOilY.
to France, and caused him to issue orders for all Scots to leave the dau.
phin's service. Uut ihe e;irl of Buchaii, who comiiianiifil the Scoti?, rt-
plied, ihiU his kine; while in ciiplivity could not issue orders— at all evVm,
Udisciplined
could not expect him to ol)cy the
I'his ifiillant and \v<
body of troops now ciicouniercd the Knglish detiiclinient under ilii
mar
id of the duke of Clarence. Thai prince was slam in the action b
Scottish kni'^ht nam( ' Allan Swinlou ; the earls of SonitrNti, Hunt
t' ivtm-
;i
and IJorset «'ere taken prisoniTs, and tli
ilisli were
llli'(|{M|,
c<mi[ilelely nnit, d,
to the great joy of the dauphin, who rewarded the earl of Ducimn with
ofjlce of constahle.
Henry's return, however, soon daai|)('d the new-born joy of the daii-
hill, who was besieging Chartres, wlnlher Henry inarched, and
ei'Mliii
lUII
led iiiin to raise the siege without a struggle. From Charlies lli'mv
marched to Drcnix, which also surrendered without resistance, and t!
proceeded to lay siege to Meaiix, the garrison of which had greatly
noyed the Parisians. Mere the English were resisted with greiil sikli
anil cmirage for eight months, by the governor V'aurus. At theeinl ufih.i
time the plac(! was taken and il was proliaiily in n'ality on aceouiitof iIk
obr.tHiatia resistance that he li,
t with, hut professedly for tl
le cruelly
Well as
which Vauriis had un(toub;idly shown to his pri.'ioners, Knglisli as
Biirguiidian, that Henry ordered him to be hanged upon the same jjilibii
n[)on wliich he tiad caused mi many br.ive nii'ii to be <'xecuted.
riie capture of Meaiix led to the snireiuler of tdlier places in il.r
liei"-|iliiMirliood that until then had nhslinalely held out
the d;
iipliin,
unable to resist the united power nf the Knulish and Iturguivlians, \\;i<
driven hevond the Loire, and eompi lied to abandon nearly all the noitli
prn I
1
irovinces
while the son id' «lioni Henry's (lueen was just now
ivereil was as en
king of both nations.
ibusiasticallv liailed at Pans as at Limdon, as the fuUin
Singularlv bandsoine and vigorous in person, and having not yet iic;irh
Tt'.ii
bed middle
He
.fgl
eiiry might have been rxpecleil to have very
iniiiv
)rv and triunipb
Vei before liiiii. IJnl he \i as alHieti'd with
fistula, a disease with which llie rude surgery "f that ,ige knew nut limv
to
id
the powerful and aiiibiti'iiis, the envied and .-iure
king found biinsclf hurrying tu the gr.ivi' by the r.<piil progre.-is of .< is
ease, from wlinli in our own time the poorest peafant wouM he reliivi I
ConseiDiis of liis appro iching end, he gave a i.ew (iroof o. " tlic liiliui
passion sliimLr m deat''." Sending for h\* brother, tlie duke of liedl'iiri;
tbf earl of Warwick, and some other ii'i'di iiieii who stiMid lugliinli-
enl'eui, he with great ealmness deliveri I to Iti*-!!! his last will n* y
nfl'eneii both Ihe kmgdom .■ind his fainilx. Pror»-#sing to view lii< ,r,<
proaehing deaiii ■vitfuiut any ither regrei tli.iii that which arow I'l '
e.ivuiu bis gn
at ol
)|ect iiieomp
■le, 11,
d lliem tli.it ihi'V I'ciili!
fail of Ktiecess by tiie exertion of their known jirudt and valour, i
appiMiiled Hedforil regent of France, his yonnsrer brotbi . , the duke of Hi
(•ester, ri-iient of I'.nglaiid, and to Ihe ear! of \Varwi'-k he eoiniiiilii-s I
govirnineirt ami proterliou of lim infant -<>ii Me .<i the same liincui'
ive fr«iMliiiii
urgently eii/»ined these friends un no eiMifideratmit •' a
the Fre'iieb I*!**''*'* Iiikeii ai .XgiifHirt. until ns Hon (►lunild beof an;i';i
Boveri. for liuHwlf, c.irefnily in preserve ihe friendw^iip of the diiki
lliiriinndy , to exert every ine.nis to seeun the throne of Fratu''- Im'i'
inf.intking; .iiid, failing snreess in that pirlicnliir, !>»"»■ r to rmke |"
with France miles'^ on ('ondilion of the pemiimeiit oinf tdfion of .Norm
dy to tl rovMi of KllKland
Apart Iroin hi" .iiii^mIkxi, and the violent injustie*- «hwb nereksuft
Ivrr
nulled from it, tbis |iriiie. w»f m ver\ iiifoiv reMieetsd* ^ervinjf
popiil.irily which through<iv» liis life In .■.i|i.\ ( 4 m Kn({iaiid. n
110 b ss eiijoved ill Fraiiei' jubseiiueo
m.irrittlr with tU- \>v.i
A. D. 1422.— Wi
lliat the usurpatic
power of the pari
10 wiiicli that pov
ilie instructions g
proceeded to niak
iliaii with those oi
(loin and the youi
They altogethei
piiinted the duke (
(iloucesler, to act
placino' a peculiar
(Til purposes it mi
THE TllEASUIlY OF HISTOttY.
350
uaiharine. His civil rule was firm and productive of excellent order
wiiliout being harshly severe ; and in the uniform ]<indness and conlidence
which he bestowed upon the earl of Marche, who beyond all question had
the preferable title to the crown, betokened no eonimon magnanimity.
Henry, who died in 1422, aged only thirty-four, left but one ciiild, young
Heiiry, then only nine months old ; and the queen Catharine, rather soon-
er after the death of her husband than was strictly becoming, gave her
jiandin second marriage to Sir Owen Tudor, a private gentleman, who,
however, claimed to be descended from the ancient Welsh princes ; to
him Bhe bore two sons, the elder of whom was created earl of Richmond,
ihe younger earl of Pembroke ; and the earl of Richmond subsequently
became king of England, as we shall hereafter have to relate.
CHAPTlill XXX.
THE REIGN OF HENRY VI.
A. D. 1422. — Wb had occasion to remark, under the head of Henry IV.,
that the usurpation of that prince gave a great and manifest impetus to tiic
power of the parliament. A new proof was now affurded of the extent
to wliiehthat power had increased. Scarcely any attenti'vi was paid to
the instructions given by Henry V.on hisdoatli bed; jMid the ""parliiiment
proceeded to make arrangements in accordance rather vvitli its own views
than with those of the deceased monaicii, with respect to butii the king-
dom niid tiie young king.
They altogether set aside, as to the former, the title of regent, and a],
pointed the duke of Bedford, and, during any absence of Ins, the duke of
(iioiicester, to act as proicetor or guardian of llie kingdom; evidently
placni<( a pecidiar Vidue on tliis disimctiori of terms, tlioiigii (o all practi-
cnl purposes it necessarily was a men; distiiietlon witlunit a dilTiMcnco.
They showed, iiowever, a more practical juilgnu'nt in preventing, or,
at the least, in anticipating, any undue stretch of authority on the part of
either of the royal personages, by appointing a (.'ouiicil whose advice and
approbation were necessary to the legalising of all iini)i)rt<iiil measures.
They next procei^ded to show an equal disregard to the wislii s ol tlir
deceased nioiiarch, as related to tin! custody and goveriiiaeiit of liis infant
Jon, wlicn they committed luni to the care of Henry lleaufnrt, hisla (> of
Winchester, a natural but legitimalt son of Joliii of (Tiimt, duke of Lan-
caster; an arrangement which at lea!>t had this recoiniiiendalioii, lliat the
ireh' In ()uest>on could set up i.o family pretension to the itowii, and
liai llierefore, no inducement to act unfairly liy Ins infant charge.
Til 'duke of Uedford, long renowned lor eipia! prudence and v. dour,
imiiU'diaUdy turned his attention to l''raiii-c, wiiliout ni.tking the ulijjlilesl
aiti'in|jt to alter the deterininatioii of piirliainent, which .i less disinterest-
'.'(land noble-spirited man would very probably have interpreted as u jier
miiml afl'ront.
(.'Iiwrles, the late dauphin, had now assumed, as he was justly entitled
III, ihe title of king of Krancc; and, being shut out by the Iviglisli
fri'in Khi'ims, ihc ancient and especial placid of coronation of Ihe kings nf
Fr.iiice, he caused liiinself to be crowned at Poitiers. This prince , tlioiigli
iinly twenty years of age, was vj'ry p<i|mlar with iniiltitiide.> of ihc l''nii(li
*> wi II for the many virtues of Ins |)rivale char.ictcr, as for Ihe ureal and
prri'iiciuus abilities he had sliown in must dillicult jihases of Ins public
itfiirs.
No one kiiPW better tliaii the duke of Bedford that, excluded though l!ie
du|ihiii was from his riuhtfiil succession, b)' the iinnaiur.il and unpalnniii
*r\ 01 Ins imbecile father, his own ^ibililic* would be sirongly aided by
hi
X
t
*mf
m .'
B-aii;
■F1 »1
4fii0
H««*
-A:
360
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
IP -*■.'
i
u
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a nata!;il ana inevitable revulsion of feeling oil the part of those Frenchmen
who had hitherto shown themselves fast friends to England. He ihert.-
fore strictly obeyed the dying injunction of Henry as to a sedulous culij.
vation of the friendship of the duke of Burgundy, wiiose persoiwl quarrel
with Charles Ir.id so mainly aided the success of the I'higlisli cause thus
far, and whose support would henceforth be s-o vitally important to iheir
maintaining their ground in France. Bedford, therefore, hastened lo ful-
fill-
prill-
egeiicy
fil his part in the treaty of Troyes, by espousing Philip's sister, tiie
cess of Arras; and he even olfered his new brother-in-law tin
of France, wliich Philip, for not very obvious reasons, declined, tluiuirii
as lie was far from being unambitious, he could scarcely have overlook
ed tiiai the regency, during the minority of young Henr\ and llieconilim
ed success ol llie Fnglisli, would be nearly equivalent '.( he actual sov
eieignty, and might by some very slight cir(ninisla'".'e, actually load to ii
'["lie duke of Bedford next turned his attention to securing tjie fricmi!
ship of the duke of Brittany, who, whether as friend or foe, was i.o\i jn
imp<utaiice, as regarded the English power, to Bnrgunily himself, y^q
duke of Driltany iiad already given in his adhesion to the treaty of Tiuyes-
but as Bedford knew how much that ;^rinc:e was governed by" Ins brother'
the count of Uiciiemont, he skilfully sought to fix the frieidsliip oi
that haughty and not very strictly honourable persoii. llichenioiit was
among the hitfh personages wlio were made prisoi (;;s at Agiiicouit, bin
had been treated with great kindness in England, and even allowed by
Henry V. to visit Brittany, on his jiarole of honour, to return at a given
time. Btfiiie the time arrived the death of Henry ociLared, and liiehe-
nioiit, contrary to all the usages and maxims of chivalry, aflVctcd to be-
lieve that as his [lande had been given [lersoiuiUy to Henry V., Iiis liunout
was in nowise engaged to maintain it towards that prince's successor.
His plea was as iricgiilar as it was meanly false ; but as- IJi clford bad ob-
viously IK) niiaiis of cdinpelling Uicdiemont to a more honourable LOiirse
of conduet, VMllmut involving himself in n v(Ty mischievous disagrccnieiit
v;il,i the duke of nriltany, he very wisely made a virtue of iiecessily, and
not only overlookeil the count's mis(;oiidui't, but even obtained forliiiuthe
liMiid of the willow of the deceased dauphin Louis, the sister of I'liiiipul
Burgundy.
Having tliiis both pcditically and personally allied himself with iliepo
teiii dukes of Hurguiiiiy and Brittany, Bedford now directed his atlciitiou
to Si'otlaiid. The duke of Albany, who, as regent of Scotland, had so
eonsidcrably aiiied the dau|)liin, now King ('li.irles, by sending liiin hirge
bodies of veter:in Scotcli troops, was lie.id, and bis ollice and powei
had be.n assumed by Ins so'i Murdae. 'I'liis nobleman had ncitlii rlhuiHl-
eilt: iiiir tin I'liijrgy .d'lns latbir, and lie was (piite unable to limit, as the
duke ol Albany hail done, any enterprises to w l.icli the tinlnileiii m;b|i ,
of Scotland inigb' think proper to turn their Mltention. 'I'lii^ iiislaiiily
becanii' evideui from il.e siiddeii and v.isl iicrease of thi! niiiiil rr of Scut
tisli iHiiiles will) hastened tn oiler tin ir s\ '.ids to Charles of France; aiui
the pieriiiig gl nice of Bidford discerned the strong |irob;ibility of the
Scots, at 111) distant ilay. doing ('liarles tlie -^till more elTeeiicd service nl
distiaiMing the attention and dividing the I'orce of his English eneiiiics, 1 1
making formidable and freipient nu'ur8ions upon the nortltern eouiilics ui
Knulanii.
As the readiest and surest w.iy of meeting this portion of liin diiriiiil'iies,
Bedford induced liic llnylisli governiiieiit to re>-l(H'e In liberty tie ScdIIisIi
kiiif;. yiiiniu .l.imes, on the payment of a ransom of forty thousand p:Miiiil!<.
Thif vniing prince wan bad re.-.ide(l in l')iii>laiid from his earlv luiyhood,
and had there rei-eived ilie v<ry b<'St education wliiidi the scliolaHii.' stale
of llial agi' woiihl atliinl even In princes. Ii.id iinbibed ini.cb of the HiiKlii'li
ri'i.'liiii>s anil laste.i ; and during; the whole of his short reiyii — (lie wiiNiuur-
Mdof Kuclian.flu
THE TREASUilY OF HISTORY.
361
ierei in 1437 by the earl of Athol) — whatever might be the extent of the
'caning he was alledged to have towards France, he never once gave the
Riiglish cause to regret their generosity or to throw blame on the policy
if Bedford, to which the young king owed his freedom and the enjoyment
of his throne.
Even while engaged in these wise political precautions, the duke of
Pedford strenuously exerted himself in those military movements and op-
erations which were indispensable to the ultimate success of the measures
he contemplated.
King Charles in person, and all the forces under his own immediate
leading, had long since been driven into the southern provinces beyond
[ho Loire. But there were many of his attached partizans still possessed
of fortresses in the northern provinces, an j even in the neighbourhood ol
Paris. Against these fortresses, therefore, the duke of Bedford deemed
! necessary to exert himself, before proceeding to deal witii the main
<irength of Charles. Dorsay, Noyellc, and Rue in Picardy, were be-
qeged and taken ; and Pont sur Seine, Vertus, and Montaigne, soon after
;VII into the Knglish power. These successes were followed up by still
more brilliant and important ones ; till at length the constable of Scotland,
uith many of the French nobles, were taken prisoners, and Bedford's
army occupied La Charite and other towns upon the Loire.
Every new success of the English by which they were brought nearei
■9 his soutlicrn provinces, made Charles tiie more painfully anxious for
the preservation of the fmv strongholds which he still held in those of the
north, where they could so greatly annoy and impede their inimical neigh-
hours. One of these, Yvri in Normandy, had for three months held out
asiiinst the utmost eflbrts of its besiegers, inider the personal conimand
offiedford himself; but the gallant governor at length found himself re-
duced to 3uch straits that he agreed to surrender unless relief should
reach him by a <ienain day. Information of this threatened loss of Yvri
iiosdonp'" reached Charles than he sent adetachment of fourteen thousand
men to its relief, one half of the detachment being Scots and the oilier
half Kri'iicli. The chief command of this delai'lnneiit was given to the
carl of Itucliaii, the titular constable of P'rance, who made the; utmost elTorts
;o perform his mission siieeessfiilly, but had the mortifKMtion to find that
ihe place had been already surrendered ere he couhl arrive, lie iolved not
'.0 rcl'irn from so long a march without having at least attempted some
inipoiiant enterprise, and, turning to the left, ho marched rapidly to Ver-
neuil and prepared to besiege that place, which was delivered up to him
!iy the citizens, in spite of all the o|)|)osilion that could be made by the
garrison.
it had been well had Ruchan contented himself with this suci'css. Hut,
tmouraged hy it, he called a council of war to consult whether he should
ii'iw make good his retreat, with Ihe glory he had so easily and elieaply
iqiiired, or await the coming up of tlie duke of Hedfonl. 'fhongh ilie lor-
iiier|il;iM was strongly anil well urged by the gravn ;ind more politic of
his nilii'ors, the latter one was so agreeable to Buelian's own desire to en-
gage ilie enemy at any risk, that he liiially adopted it, ami it was not loinr
r»' his army was coiifronled with that of Ileilford. The nuinhers were
Mlt'raLdy eipial ; and Buchan drawing up his men in rxcelleni ordiT under
liie wali.s of Verneuil, deternnned in that ;idvantageous position to await
hfcliiirge of the enemy. Thi.< pnileiii precaution, in a situ.-itinii whicii
ireiitiT prudence would wholly iiaM- priserved hiin from, was ileliated hy
'hi' iinpetiioiis rashness of the i-isconnt of Narbcmiie. who led bis men so
' immsly to the charge, that for an in- lain the Knglish archers were Ix^ateii
nmitlie line of palisadoes, behind wliich, aeconling to ilieir usual ens-
">'n, they hud stationed tliein selves. Qti; -kly neoveriiig themselves.
|"^"ever, and forming behind ami among their baggage, thej poured their
ml
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THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
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arrows so thickly and with such deadly precision, that Narbonne'g moii
fell fiist around him and were soon thrown into confusion. Thp nwiii
body of llie coui^jtable's army, animated out of all sense of stciidv disci-
pline by (lie dasliing but most imprudent hariro of this division, riished lo
Narbonne's support, and necessardj' partook with his men tiio siauThtcr
and the panic caused by the Ei ,.''sh archers; whi'e ih« duke of Be(ff()rd,
perceivinirtiie confusion of the oucmy, seized upon tlic favourable momniu'
and ciiargcd them at tlic head of the main body of his men-at-arms. The
P^-ench ranks (juickly liroke under this .i^'orous attack, and the rcui* in a
few miinites l)ecame general. Though Bedford's victory was comiili'te
it was as lie considered, so dearly purchased by the loss of sixiroi, hiiii-
dred of the English to al)out two thousand of the French, that lie would
not allow any rejoicings for a victory which had c'st the English a luss
so nearly proportioned to that of the enemy. IJut the loss of the French
could not fairly be estimated by a mere statement of numbers. It was
unusually great among the leaders; Uuchau liimself, the carl of DoiKrias
and his son, the counts D'Aumale, De 'ronn(re, and De Ventpdoiir, -.viili
many other nobles, were among the shiin; ■■lud the duke D'Alencon, the
marshal de la Fayette, and the lords Gauconit anci Mortemar aaioiig; tlie
prisoners. On the foUowiiig day Verneuil, ',a>ing no hope of relief, sur-
rendered 10 Uedford.
Nothing could appear more desperate tlian ll'.e case of the French king.
He had in this fatal battle lost the braves! of his leaders; his partizans
had no longer even a cbanet' of making any head against the English in
the provinces north of the I^oire; and he was so far from possessing the
necessary means of recruiting his army and en'icing other gallant men to
embrace Ins (les|)erate cmise, that he actually had not even the means of
paying for tin; sui)port of his nMinne, though he carefully ab.stained from
indulging many ol the frivolous and expensiv(! shadows of royalty, whili;
he was still uncertain of the issue of his contest for its substance. Bui
just as he himself, as well as both his friends and his foes, begini to deem
his cause neiirly lost, a most unexpcM-teil incident occurred to save li m.
.lacqueline, countess of Holland and llainanit, liad, from the politic mo-
tives wlui'li so K(Mierally diMermined |)rincely marriages, espini.std I'le
duke of Hurgundy's consm-serinan, .lohn, duke of Drabant. The bride-
groom was a nirre boy of fifteen ; Uie lady was nnicli older, and of a mas-
culine ami ardent tenijier. The sickly and weak-minded boy-liusliand
soon bee one the detestation of his vigorous and high-spinled wife,
and she ap[)lied to Konie to anuid the uiu'4ual and unsnitabk' uiarriagi'.
Beinjr well ;iw;ire that, venal as |{oine was, much diflicully awaited froii
the puuiii'iil op[ii)iriti(Ui wbieli would be made to her design by the duke
of IJuiiiundy, and benig fearful that be would even go lo the extreme o(
putliny her under |)ersonal restraint, she made her escape to England. anil
solicited the aid and inoteclimi of the duke of (Jloucesler. The iicrso.ial
beauty '^f the countess .liu-queliue, together with (he lemi)lalion of her in-
lierittMl wealth and sovereignly, stimulated the love ind aini)ilion olCiluii-
cester so far, that, without even waitiiijr the result of an api)licaiii)n to
kiMiiie, be made a contract of marriage with lu'r, and commenced an at-
tentpi to wrest her territories from the duke of llrabi at.
Till duke of Hurgundv was doubly annoyed ami disgusted by lliis jjro-
ceedinii of ( Jlouccsier ; lor while ii ver\ serionsl}' tre::"bed upoi) Ins fam-
ily i)o\ur and uea'lb. It wave but iin unpromising eavnest of the condiiCt
to be txpeeted froii/ the Eii(tlisli, when, baviiiir fully t slablislied tliemscUn
in France, they sliouhl no ioiiyer, from not needing tlie duke's alliame
tind support, have an iiUt rested motive for [nitting any limits t'l liicir
perftoiinl amlntion or eupidity. Actuated by these feeliny;s, he lud luily
couiiHcileil his cousin to resisiaiiue, but exerted hin.sidf to iiiduci' tiio
more powerPil of
ivilh a coiisidera''
Too exclusive!
He.i.dit to polii-.;-
lii.'^ |)Lirpes6 ; and
llini and the duke
GiiMicester, in t
panied the warlik(
led falsehood <) P
updii a retraciion,
The grave and p
of fJloucttter's im
10 ihc English povi
laiisi' of the right
employed in his o\
ioiisly expi.'cling fi
could nut but weal
duke of Uurgundy
Having endeavourt
ford now saw hims
lory at Verneuil, ai
there to repair the ;
lieadstnnig temper
-Vor was it (;ii ;i(.'i
Bedford was at this
Winchester, as we
cusius of the young
lies, bill also becau:
duce hill) to behave
great personal ainbi
mid required from t
than his office of c
inaiidiiig, or the coii
Betuecn the pre!
ambitions and fiery
should take place ui
pririizans in tlie miii
great authority of It
wholly succeed in s
menl, before which
loan apparent reco
ililferences should b
While Itedford ha
qufirrel, the duke of
as lo have procured
beUvuen the countei
bade iheir marriage
moved by death. " 'I
atwl in his adventur
love, finding so insii
liis fullire success,
giving Ins hand to a
hi" mistress.
Soon after, ihe du
her territory, was ol
<he di(' without issii
with the duke's COM.
This lerinination
THK TREASURY OF HISTJttr
3(i3
more pouerf'i' of Jr.' ';'!ii;i(,-'s sr'ijecls to oppose hr., <iih' niiirclietl himself
ivjili a L'Oiisidcni!'!*. 'uly of !iis iroo|.s lo support ihcin in doing so.
Too exflusivel} ^..gHUP,] wi h hi? personal designs to give their due
weiilit I'l poll' -:^ ci.iisidcnilions, Gloucester would not be diverted from
lij^ Jnirpese : and a (jii urel iit onee political and pcTSoniil thus engaged
him anil tile dnke of Ij:i; gundy in war in tin; Low Countries.
(iloiicester, in the loarse of the angry (rorrespoiuieuee whieh aceom-
paiiied tliu warhkc coiiiest between liin) inid the dnke of Burgundy, itnpu-
!ed falsehood 'i Piiili|), in terms so insultingly direct, that Philip nisisted
uniiii a retrai'^ion, ; \\ ptrsonal challenges now passed between tlieni.
'("lie grive and politic Bedford was vexed to the soul at the consequences
of (iloucester's imprudence; consequences as disastrous and li:i'eatening
lotlie English power in Fia ice. as they were fortunate and hopefu lO the
(ause of the rightful king of France. For, in the first place, Gloi. tester
employed in his own qunrrel ,hc troops which Beford had been so aiix
imijly'expecting from Kngland, and, in the next place, this occurrence
could not but weaken, if it did not wholly alienate, the friendship of the
duke (if Burgundy, to which the Knglish cause was so much indebted.
Hiuiiig endeavoured, but in vain, to mediate between the angry dukes, Bed-
ford now saw himself obliged to abstain from following up his signal vic-
tory at Veriieuil, and to hasten to Fngland, to endeavour oy his presence
there to repair the already very miscnievous consequences of his brother's
he;idslroiig temper and personal ambition.
.S'or "as it on ac-counl of Oluticester's folly alone that the presence of
Ijedfoid was at this jun(!lure much needed in England. The bishop of
Wiiiclicstor, as we mentioned before, had been selected by parliamen' as
cusius of the young king's person not only on account of his groat abdi-
ties, but also because his family had no claim to the throne that could in-
duee him to behave unfairly to his young charge. But this prelate had
great personal ambition. He was of an arbitrary and |)ereinplory temper
and requiriid from the council a far greater share of authority in the state
than his office of custos of the king's person could warrant him iti de
maiidiiig, or the couuimI in granting.
Between the prelate, thus peremptory and ambitious, and tlu? equal!;-
ambitious and fiery Gloucester, it was inevitable that an open qiiarr ■
should take place under such cin-uinstances ; and as each of them had h,
parlizans in the ministry, it was not without some difRcully that even the
great authority of Bedford composinl tin; existing dilTcrences ; nor did he
wliully succeed in so doing until he had invoked the authority of parlia-
ment, before which assembly the two disputants were compelled to come
to an apparent reconciliation, and to promise that thenceforth all their
iliffereiices should be buried in oblivion.
Willie Bedford had been busy in adjusting this untoward and unseemly
qiiiirrid, the duke of Burgundy had so well employi!d his credit at Home,
as to have i)rocured a bull which not only annulled the marriage contract
between the countess Jacqueline and the duke of Gloucester, but also foi-
bade their marriage even in the event of the duke of Brabant being re-
moved by death. The duke of Gloucester, who had all along been actu-
ated in his adventurous suit far more by ambition and cupulity lli;m by
love, finding so insuperable an obstacle interposed between him and even
bis future success, very soon consoled himself for his disappoMitnient by
giving his hand to a. lady who had for a considerable time been known as
hiH unstress.
Noon after, the duke of Brabant died ; and his widow in order to recover
lior territory, was obliged to declare the duke of Burgundy her heir should
she liii! without issue, and to engage not to take a second husband unless
Willi the duke's cimsent.
This teriniiiatioti of the affbir prevented the itnmfdiate hostility upon
it I OiVfT "
lf»0l
llP«f
364
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
•■•■•■
m
t ill
'fj:
the part of Burgundy, of which Bedford at first had been very juutiy gn
prehensive ; but all the circumstances of the quarrel were calculated greatly
to weaken the duke of Burgundy in his attachment to the Euglisli, froni
wliom he could no longer expect, in the event of their coniplere success
to receive much better treatment than that which on the part of Kins
Charles had aroused the duke to such fierce enmity ; and ultimately this
quarrel did alienate the duke from his unnatural and, on the whole, very
impolitic alliance with the English.
The duke of Brittany, whose alliance Bedford valued only second to that
of Burgundy, was very effectually detached from the English side by the
gift to his brother, the count of Kichemont, of the office of constable ol
France, vacant by the death of Buchan; and this loss must have been the
more mortifying to Bedford, because he could not be unaware that it was
mainly owing to the impolitic pertinacity with which he had refused to
gratify the passion of the count of Richemont for military command. But
the loss, however caused or however much lamented, was wholly irre.
trievable ; for whatever there was of personal and selfish in the duke's
motive for changing his party, the change was permanent, and he ever af-
ter remained faithful to King Charles.
The cooled zeal of one ally and the total loss of another, and the favour
able moral effect which these things and eight months of comparative quiet
had produced upon the partizans of king Charles, were sufficient to cause
anxiety to the sagacious duke of Bedford wlien he returned to France.
The French garrison of Montargis was besieged by the earl of Warwiclc
and an army of three thousand men, and was so reduced as to be on the
very point of surrendering, when the Bastard of Orleans, afterwards so
famous uh tcf 'i's title of duke of Dunois, marclicd with only sixteen liun-
dred nifsi *" Montargis, and compelled Warwick, in spite of his superior
numb'.'; >. *'■■ Mv. c the seige.
Th: i. <i aim of tlie duke of Bedford was to bring back to his alliance
the ;U',.^o ijf L';'ittany. Sensible that that prince had chiefly been guided
in his c!i..:r^'( ')f alliance by the count of Ilicliemont, and would, tlierefure,
most probabiy allow his own obvious interest to induce him to diange
sides once more, Bedford secretly concentrated several detaclnncnis of
English upon the frontiers of Brittany, and invaded that province so sud-
denly, that the duke had no chance of resistance, but saw himself obliged
to consent to give up the Frencli alliance and adhere to the treaty of
Troyes, to acknowledge the duke of Bedford as regent of France and to
pledge himself to do homage to the young king Henry for his duchy.
Having thus freed himself frcun a dangerous enemy in his rear, Dodford
prepared for an enterprise, the success of which would pretty conspleiclv
insure the entire success of the Knglish cause — the siege of the city of
Orleans, which was so situated between the northern and southern prov-
inces as to open a way to the < ntrance of either by its possessor. Ai
Bedford, having been so suci;essml in expelling Charles from the northern
provinces, was about to attack him in the south, the possession of Orleans
was evidently of the greatest importance to him.
The conduct of the attack upon Orleans was entrusted to the carl of
•Salisbury, a distinguished soldier, who had just brought a reinforcement
of six thousand men from England. Tin; earl, quite rightly, no doubt,
confined himself to the task of taking several places in the vicinity of Or-
eans, which, though they were but small, might prove of very serious in-
convenience to hii-i wher.i engaged in the contem|)lated siege. Tiieso
preliminary measures of the earl, however conformable to the rules of
war, and however indispensable under the particular ciri;umsiances, were
lit the least thus far unfortunate, that they at once disclosed to King
r^harles the main design of the English, and gave him time and opportuiii*
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
365
w to throw in such stores of provisions and reinforcements of men an
might enable the garrison to msiive an effectual resistance.
The lord of Gaucour, an officer of equal conduct, valour, and experience,
was made governor, and many other veteran officers threw tlwniselves
into the place to aid him in its defence ; the troops they *jad to command
were veterans in every sense of the word, and even the very citizens, in-
stead of bcinuf likely to disturb their defenders by idle fear^, were iv ■ sr
aceusiomcd to war that they promised to be of very important ser
Having noniplcted his preliminary operations, the earl of Salisb
proaehed Orleans with an army of ten thousand men, and all
looked with anxiety for the result of a siege which was likely to
completely derisive as to the future fate of France, and where,
quently, i' behoved Charles to make his utmost and final effort.
Having too small a force for the eomplete investment of a city whii'h,
apart from its great e.\tent, had the advantage of a bridge over the Loire,
tlicftarlof Salisbury proceeded to attack the southern side, towards Sd-
logiie ; but as he was attacking the fortifications which defended the bridge,
he" was killed by a cannon shot while in the very act of reconnoitering the
enemy. The command of the Knglish now fell upon the earl of Suffolk,
and he, receiving at the same time a large reinforcement of both English
and BurgiMidians, departed from Salisbury's plan of partial operations, led
his main force across tlie river, and thus invested tin; city on the other
side, The winter having now commenced, the severity of the* weather
remleied it impracticable to throw up intrenchments completely around ;
ijut by eonstruciing redoubts at convenient distances, Suffolk was at once
able to lodge his soldiers safely, and to distress the enemy by preventing
any supplies beiiig conveyed to them ; leaving the task of connecting the
redoubts by a series of trenches until the arrival of spring. It thus ap-
pears "that Suffolk trusted rather to famine than to force ; to confining the
enemy strictly within their walls, than to hazarding his cause by splendid
storming f,'ats, which were certain to cost him many of his bravest men,
and were not likely to be soon successful ; for ihougli he had a train of
artillery, the engineering art was as yet far too imperfeot to allow of its
making any speedy impression upon so strong a fortress. The attempts
of tin; friends of the besieged to throw in supplies, ami of the Knglish to
prevent them, gave rise to many splendid but partial engagements, in
which both parties displ lyed great gallantry and "iiterprise. So persever-
ing, indeed, were the French, that upon some occasions they succeeded
in throwing in supplies, in defiance of all ihe vigilance and courage by
whifli they were opposed ; but the convoys that were thus fortunate could
but in a very inconsiderable degree assist a garrison so numerous, and it
was evident to all military observers that Suffolk's cautious policy bade
fair to he successful, and that, however slowly, the English were steadily
andconsiantly advancing nearer to the accomplishment of their important
designs.
A. D. 1429. — While Suffolk was thus engaged in starving the enemy
within Ihe walls, he was himself in no smtiU danger of being placed in the
same predicament. There were, it is true, neither intrenchments nor
redoubts behind him, but there were numerous and indefatigable parties
of French ravagers, who completely denuded of provisions all the neigh-
bouring districts from which he might otherwise have procured supplies;
ami from his small force he could not, without groat danger to his main
design, detach any considerable nimiber to keep the French ravagers in
check, .lust as Suff(jlk's men began to be seriously distressed for provi-
sions, a very great convoy of stores of every description arrived to theii
re'.k'f, under the i'i)inniand of Sir .John Fastolff;', with an escort of two
thousainl five hundred men; but ere it could re.ich Suff(dk'o camp it was
budJenly .iltacked by nearly double that number of French and Scotch,
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THE TREASURY OF HISTOR
ander the command of Dunois and the count of Clermont. Fastolffe en-
deavoured to counterbalance his inferiority in men by drawing them up
behind the wagons, but tiie enemy brought a small battery of cannon to
bear upon him, which very effectually dislodged and disordered the En-
glish. The affair now seemed to be secure on the French side, as a steady
piirseverance but for a few minutes in their first proceedings would have
made it. But the fierce and undisciplined impetuosity of a part of the
Scotch troops caused them to break their line and rush in upon the Eii-
glish ; a general action ensued, and ended in the retreat of the French,
who lost five hundred in killed, besides a great number of wounded, and
among the latter was Dunois himself. The convoy that was thus saved
to the English was of immense importance, and owing to a part of it be-
ing herrings for the food of the soldiers during Lent, the affair commonly
went by the name of the " Battle of the Herrings."
The relief thus afforded to the English enabled them daily to press mo/e
closely upon the important city ; and Charles, now wholly despairing of
rescuing it by force of arms, caused the duke of Orleans, who was siill a
prisoner in England, to propose to Gloucester and the council, that this
city and all its territory should be allowed to remain neutral during the
whole remainder of the war, and, as the best security for neutrality, be
placed in the keeping of the duke of Burgundy. That prince readily
grasped at the proposal, and went to Paris to urge it upon the duke of
Bedford, who, however, replied, that he had no noti<m of beating the
bushes that others might secure the game ; and Burgundy, deeply offended
both at the refusal and the manner in which it was made, immediately
departed and withdrew all those of his men who were concerned in the
investment of Orleans. Foili'd as well in negotiation as in arms, Chiirles
now wholly despaired of rescuing Orleans, when an incident occurred to
save it and to give new hopes to his cause, so marvellous, that it reads
more like the invention of a romancer's fancy than the sober relation ol
the matter-of-fact historian.
Long as Orleans had been invested, and intimately connected as its fate
seemed with that of the whole nation, it is not to be wondered at that the
siege was talked of in all parts of France, and speculated upon even by
persons little cognizant of public affairs. Among the thousands whose
minds were strongly agitated by the frequent and various news from
Orleans, was Joan d'Arc, the maid servant of a country inn at Domrcmi,
near Vaucouleurs. Though of the lowest order of menial servants, this
young woman, now twenty-seven years of age, was of blameless life and
maimers. Well formed and active, her simple living and her hard work
preserved her naturally healthy constitution; and as she was accustomed
to ride her master's horses to their watering ()liico, and to do other work
which ill m(»st households would fall to the share of men, she was iiiiasu-
ally hardy and of a somewhat masculine habit, though, as has been siiiil
of perfectly blameless life and uninurked by any eccentricity of maniiei
or eoniluct.
This young woman paid so much attention to what she heard resprct-
iiig the siege of Orleans and the distress and peril of her rightful sov
ereign, that by <legree8 she accustomed herself to make them the snle
sulijects of her thoughts ; and her sanguine and untutored mind at length
became so much iiifiained by sympathy with the king, and by a |)assi(iiialfi
desire to aid liim, that her reveries and aspirations seemi'd to jissunie the
aspect of actual visions from above, and she iinagini^d hc^rsi J ainhlily
called upon by soiii" supernatural power to exert her.ielf in her sovereiKii'i
behalf. This delubion lieennie ijaily stronger, anil at length, naturally
courageous, and rendered still more so by heriiiiagined visions, she over-
loi'ki'd all the vast difficulties wliich inust tiav<! Ii.'en evident to even lici
liK Npenenced miiul, and prcsenieil heiijiK to haddricnurt, the governor 'j(
THE TaEASURY OF HISTORY.
367
Vaucouleurs, related to him all her fancied experiences, and besought him
to listen to the voice of heaven and to aid her in fulfilling its decrees.
After some hesitation, the governor, whether really believing all that Joan
affirmed of her visions, or only considering her a visionary of whose de
lusions a profitable use might be made by the king's friends, furnished
her with some attendants and sent her to Chinon, where Charles and his
scanty court then resided.
Where so much is undeniably true in a tale of which so much must of
necessity be false, it is no easy matter to separate the true from the wholly
false or the greatly exaggerated. We, therefore, shall simply relate what
passed and is said to have passed, contenting ourselves with this single
caiition to the reader — to conceive that, from very many motives, cvimi
the best men then living about the French king's court were liable to be
seduced into credulity on the one hand and exaggeration on the other, and
that, consequently, the wise plan in reading what follows will be to reject
altogether all that assumes to be miraculous, and to credit only what, how-
ever extraordinary, is perfectly natural, and especially under the extraor-
dinary state of affairs at thai time.
When Joan was introduced to the king she at once singled him out from
among the courtiers by whom he was surrounded, although it was at-
tempted to baffle heron this point by the king's assumption of a plain dress,
totally destitute of all marks or ornaments that could discover hi.s rank to
her. Repeating to him what she had already told to Baudricourt, she
assured him, in the name of heaven, that she would compel the English
to raise the siege of Orleans, and would safely conduct him to Rhcinis,
that, like his ancestors, he might be crowned there. The king expressed
some doubts of the genuineness of her mi.ision, and, very pertinently, de-
manded some unequivocal and convincing proof of her supernal inspira-
tion; upon which, all the attendants save the king's confidential friends
being withdrawn, she told him a secret which, from its very nature, he
had every reason to believe that by natural means no one in the world
could know ; and s le, at the same time, described and demanded to be
armed with a certain sword which was deposited in the chnrcli of St.
Catharine of Kierbois, and of which, though it was certain that she never
could have seen it, she described the various marks with great exacfness.
Though greatly staggered, the king was even yet unconvinced ; and a (.-on-
clave of d()(;tors and theologians was assembled, to inquire into and report
upon Joan's alleilged mission. The rejiort of these learned |)i'!-..iiis was
decidedly in favour of the damsel's truth, and she was tiien ri >sfiy inter-
rogated by the parliament which was sitting at I'oitlers, and iiere again it
was decided that her mission was genuine.
If the king and his advisers first sinuilatei' doubt and scrupulosity, only
to increase the effect upon the vulgar of llieir subsciiueiit and .seemingly
reluetaiu belief, the device had all the success tliey could have desired.
Kver i)ron(! to belief in the marvellous, the people who had lately been in
the deepest desjiair now s|ioke in aci'ents not merely of hope but of con-
viction, that heaven had miraculously inspired a maidcn-clianipioii, hv
whose instructions the king would ho enabled to triumph over all his difn-
culiies and lo expel all his enemi'^s.
Hut it was not mirelyasan adviser that Joan believed herself instructed
to aid her kiiijr. In her former servile occupation she had leariuMl to
manage a horse with ease, and she was now mounted on a warsleed,
armed, "cap i\ pie," and paraded before the people. Her aniinaied coun-
lenance, her Vi iilli, and, above all, her graceful ami fearless t ijuilation,
which seemed so marvellous and yet iniglil have been so easily accounted
(or, confirmed all tlie favourable impressions which had been foriiuMl of
her; and the miilliinde loudly avered that any enterprise he^uh'd by her
duisi needs be successful. With these fond prepossessions in her favour
^
368 THE TREASURY OF HISTOKi.
she set out for Blois to head the escort of a convoy abou to be sent u.
the relief of Orleans.
The escort in question consisted of an army of ten thousand men undej
the command of St. Severe, who now had orders to consider himself
second in command to Joan d'Arc ; though probably with a secret reser-
vation not to allow her supernatural fancies to militate against any of the
precautions commanded by the laws of mortal warfare. Joan ordered
every man in the army to confess himself before marching, and all women
of bad life and character to be prohibited from following the army, which
last order had at least the recommendation of removing a nuisance which
sadly militated against good discipline. At the head of the troops, car-
rying in her hand a consecrated banner, upon which was embroidered a
representation of the Supreme Being grasping the earth, Joan led the way
to Orleans, and on approaching it she demanded that Orleans should be
entered on the side of the Beausse ; but Dunois, who well knew that the
English were strongest there, so far interfered with her prophetic power
as to cause the other side of the river to be taken where the Knglish were
weaker. The garrison made a sally on the side of the Beausse, and the
convoy was safely taken across the river in boats, and was accompanied
by the Maid of Orleans, whose appearance, under such circumstances,
arrayed in knightly garb and solemnly waving her consecrated banner,
caused the soldiers and citizens to welcome her as being indeed an in-
spired and glorious prophetess, under whose orders they could not fail of
success ; and as another convoy shortly afterwards arrived, even Dunois
was so far converted to the general belief, as to allow it, in obedience to
Joan's orders, to approach by the side of the Beausse. This convoy,
too, entered safely, together with its escort, not even an attempt being
made on the part of the besiegers to cut it off.
Yet a few days before Joan's first arrival at Orleans, when sh ^ had sent
a letter to Bedford, threatening him with the divine anger shouUl he ven-
ture to resist the cause which she was sent to aid, the veteran duke treated
the matter as the ravings of a maniac, or as a most shallow trick, the mere
resorting to which was sufficient to siiow the plete desperation to
which Charles was driven. But the age was sn: ious, and the natural
success which had merely accompanied the pi .ons of Joan was by
the ignorant soldiers and by their (us to superstition) scarcely less igno-
rant oflicers, taken to have been caused by it, and to be, therefore, a sure
proof of her supernatural mission and an inlallible augury of its success.
Gloom and terror were in the hearts and u|)on the countenances of tlie
English soldiery, and Suffolk most unwisely allowed these feelings full
leisure lo e.tert themselves by lu-ving his men unemployed in any uulilary
attempt ; their inactivity thus serving to augment their despondency, wliile
it increased the confidence and exultation of the garrison.
Whether merely obeying the |)romptiiig8 of a naturally brave and active
spirit, worked into a state of high enthusiasm by the events in whi'h siio
had taken so conspicuous a part, or from the politic promptings of Dunois
and the other Freur.h commanders, Joan now exclaimed that the garrisuii
ouglit no longer to be kept on the defensive ; that the brave men who had
been so longcompulsoriiy idle and pent up wilhiii their beleagured walls
should he led forth to attack the redoubts of tlie enemy, and that site wan
coniinissioned by Heaven to promise them certain success. An attack
was aci'orilingly made upon are(loui)t and was coin|)letely successful, the
defenders being killed or taken prisoners to a man. This sueecss gave
new ainination to the French, and the forts on the other side of the river
were next attacked. On one occasion tlie French were repulsed, and
Joan received an arrow in her neck ; liui she led hack the French to tin;
charge, and they overcame the fort from which for a moment they hiul
fled, and the heroine— fur such she was, apart from her supernulural pre-
THE TEEASUaV OF HISTORY.
3(>9
tensions — plucked the arrow from the wound with her own hands, &nd
■carcely stayed to have the wound dressed ere she returned to the self-
imposed duty into which she so zealously entered.
Such was the effect of Joan's deeds and pretensions, that the English
lost redoubt after redoubt, besides having upwards of six thousand men
either killed or wounded in these most desperate though only partial con-
tests. It was in vain that the English commandei ;, finding it completely
useless to endeavour to convince their men that Jr an's deeds were natural,
laboured to persuade them that she was aided wut by Heaven, but by the
powers of darkness ; for it was impossible to persuade the men that those
powers were not, for the time at least, too strong to be combated with
any possibility of success. Fearing, therefore, that the most extensive
disaster, even a total destruction of his army, might result from his keep-
ing men so thoroughly and incurably disheartened, before a place defended
by men whose natural courage was indescribably heightened by their be-
lief that they were supernaturally assisted, the earl of Suffolk prudently,
but most reluctantly, resolved to raise the siege, and he commenced his
retreat from before Orleans with all the deliberate calmness which the
deep-seated terror of his men would allow him to exhibit. He himself
with the principal part of his army retired to Jergeau, whither Joan fol-
lowed him at the head of an army six thousand strong. For ten days the
place was gallantly attacked and as gallantly defended. At the end of
that time orders for the assault were given, and Joan herself descended
into the foss6 and led the attack. Here she was struck to the ground by
a stone, but almost immediately recovered herself, and fought with her
accustomed courage until the assault was completely successful. Suffolk
was himself taken prisoner by a French officer named Renaud, and on this
occasion a singular specimen was given of the nice punctilios uf chivalry.
When Suffolk, complcf ly overpowered, was about to give up his sword,
he demanded whether his successful opponent were a kniglit. Renaud
was obliged to confess that he had not yet attained to that distinction,
thougii he could boast of being a gentleman. Then I knight you, said
SiiD'olk, and he bestowed upon Renaud the knigiitly accolade with the
very sword which an instant afterwards was delivered to him as the captor
of tlic man to whom he owed his knighthood !
Willie these things were passing at Jergeau, the remainder of the En-
glish army under FastolfTe, Talbot, and Scales, was making a somewhat
disorderly retreat before a strong body of French ; and the vanguard of
the latter overtook the rear cf the former near the village of Patay. So
completely dismayed were the English, and so confident the French, that
the batlle had no sooner commenced than it became converted into a
nu^rc rout, in which upwards of two thousand of the En^.r|ish were killed,
and a vast number, including both Scales and Talbot, taken prisoners. So
great and so universal was the panic of the English at this period, that
i''as!uin°e, who had often been present in the most disastrous scenes ol
war, actually set the example of flight to his astounded troops, uiul wiis
8ul)sc'(iuently punished for it by being degraded from the order of the
garter, which iiad been bestowed upon him as the appropriate reward ol
a long life and gallant conduct. So blighting a power has superstition
even u|)(in minds accustomed to treat mortal and tangible dangers with
indifference !
During this period King Charles had kept remote from the actual llieatn
of war, though \w had actively and cfnciently busied liiniscif in funii.shinie
upplies and sending directions to the actual coininnnilers of his troops in
the fiehl. Hut now that Joan had so completely redeemed her pledge as
to the raising of llie siege of Orleans, and now that the prestige of her
lupi'rnatiiral niissioii had so completely gained tlie asceiidtiiu'y over the
minds of all conditions of mc i, he felt neither surprise nor reluctanci
I.— J J
iil'
970
THE TREASURY OP HISTORIT.
when she urgently solicited him to set out for Rheims, and confidcnti-; -e-
peated her assurances that he should without delay be crowned in' that
city. True it was that Rheims could only be reached by a very long
march through a country in which the enemy was in great force, and in
which, of course, every advantageous position was carefully occupied by
them. But the army was confident of success so long as Joan marched
at its head; and Charles could not refuse to accompany the heroine,
without tacitly confessing that he had less faith in her mission, or was
himself possessed of less personal courage, than the lowest pikeman in
his army. Either of these suppositions would necessarily be fatal to hit
cause ; and he accordingly set out for Rheims, accompanied by Joan and
an army of twelve thousand men.
Instead of meeting with the opposition he had anticipated, Charlet
marched as peacefully along as though no enemy had been in the neigh
bourhood. Troyes and Chalons successively opened their gates to him ;
and before he reached Rheims, where he might reasonably have expected
that the English would muster their utmost force to prevent a coronation,
of which they could not but judge the probable influence on the minds o'
the French, he was met by a peaceable and humble deputation which pre-
sented him with the keys.
And in Rheims, in the especial and antique coronation-place of his
fathers, Charles was crowned, as the maid of Orleans had prophesied that
he would be ; and he was anointed with the holy oil which was said to
have been brought from Heaven by a pigeon at the coronation of Clovis ;
and the lately obscure and menial of the village mn waved over iiis head
the consecrated banner before which his foes had so often fled ; and while
the glad multitude shouted in triumphant joy, she to whom so much of
this triumph was owing fell at his feet and bathed them with tears of joy.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE REION OF HENRV VI. (cONTIKUED.)
The coronation of Charles in the city of Rheims was doubly calculated
to raise the spirits and quicken the loyal attachment of his subjects. For
while, Hs the established coronation-place of the kings of France, Hiioiins
alone seemed to them to be capable of giving sanctity and efl'ect to llie
solemnity, tlio truly surprising difficulties that had been surmounteci by
him in obtaining possession of that city, under the auspices of the Maid of
Orleans, seemed to all ranks of men, in that superstitious ago, to bo so
many dear and undeniable evidences that the cause of Charles w;is in-
deed miraculously espoused by heaven. On turning his attention to oi)-
tainlng possession of the neighbouring garrisons, Charles reaped the full
benefit of this popular judgment ; Laon, Soissona, Cliateau-Thiery, Pro-
vins, and niuneroiis otiicr towns opening their gates to him at the first
aiiinnions. This f'lnling spread far and wide, and Charles, who so lately
■aw himself upon the very point of being wholly expelled from his country,
had now tiio satisfuclion of seeing the favour of the whole nation rapidly
and warmly inclinincr to his rause.
Hcdford in this (liflicult crisis showed liimself calm, provident, and reso-
lute iis ever he had t)een during the greiitewt prosperity of the Kn^iish
arms. Pereeivini; that the Frenoli, and espcciiilly the fickle and turhii-
lent popiiliice of V:\r\n, were wavering, he judiciously mixed curbin[r and
iiululgcnce, at once ini|)r('ssing them with a painful sense of the diingnr
otf iiisiirrertion, and diiniiiishing as far as kiiiiliiess could diminish, tlicir
evidently stronir tlesire for one. Conscious, too, that KiirKiindy whh
deeply offended, and that his open enmity would just at this juncture hr
THE TEEASURY OP HISTOEY.
371
Ciliated
For
lihcims
to the
('(1 by
aid of
bo 80
as in-
to ob-
thc full
Fro.
first
itfly
oiintry,
[ipidly
1(1 rcso-
Kiii;li>^!i
tiirlni-
ug mid
(liingrr
I. their
y WUH
luro br
absolutely fatal to the English cause, Bedford skilfully endeavoured to
win him back to good humour and to confirm him in his alliance.
But there was in Bedford's situation another element of trouble, against
which he found it still more difHcult to contend. The conquest of France
had lost much of its popularity in the judgment of the English. As re-
garded the mere multitude, this probably arose simply from its having
lost its novelty ; but thinking men both in and out of parliament had begun
to count the cost against the profit ; and not a few of them had even begun
to anticipate not profit but actual injury to England from the conquest of
France. These feelings were so general and so strong, that while the
parliament steadily refused supplies of money to Bedford, a corresponding
disinclination was shown by men to enlist in the reinforcements which he
so much needed. Brave as they were, the English soldiers of that day
desired gold as well as glory ; and they got a notion that neither the one
nor the other was to be obtained by warring against the king of France,
who, even by the statements of the English commanders themselves,
owed far more of his recent and marvellous successes lo the hellish arts
of the Maid of Orleans than to mortal skill and prowess.
Just as the duke of Bedford was in the utmost want of reinforcements,
it most opportunely chanced that the bishop (now cardinal) of Winchester
landed at Calais on his way to Bohemia, whither he was leading an army
of five thousand men to combat against the Hussites. This force the car-
dinal was induced to yield to the more pressing need of Bedford, who was
thus enabled to follow the footsteps and thwart the designs of Charles,
though not to hazard a general action. But in spite of this aid to Bedford,
and in spite of all the skill and firmness of that general, Charles made
himself master of Compeigne, Beauvais, Senlis, Sens, Laval, St. Denis,
and numerous places in the neighbourhood of Paris. To this amount of
success, however, the Fabian policy ot Bedford confined the king of
France, whose forces being chiefly volunteers, fighting at their own ex-
pense, were now obliged to be disbanded, and Charles himself retired to
Bourges.
A. D. 1430. — Attributing the advantage which Charles had evidently de-
rived from his coronation rather to the splendour of the ceremony than
to the real cause of its locality, Bedford now determined that his own
yoinig prince should be crowned king of France, and he was accordingly
brought to Paris, and crowned and anointed there with all the pomp and
splendour that could be commanded. The splendid ceremony was much
admired by the Parisian populace, and all the crown vassals who lived
ill the territory that was actually in the hands of the English duly appeared
and did homage to the young king ; but to an observant eye it was very
evident that this ceremony created none of the passionate enthusiasm
which had marked that of Charles at Rheims.
Hitherto we have seen the maid of Orleans only in one long brilliant
and unbroken career of prosperity; but the time now ai)proached for that
sad a'.id total reverse which must, from the very first, have been anticipa-
ted by all men who had sense enough to discredit alike the representation
of her miraculous support that was given by her friends, and of her dia-
bolical commerce that was given by her enemies. It would seem that
she herself began to have misgivi-igs as to the nature of her inspiration :
as it was quite natural that she should have as the novelties of military
splendour grew stale to her eye, and her judgment became more and more
alive to the real dilTirulties of the military achievements which must lie
performed by her royal master, before ho could become king of France in
deed as wcfl as by right. From such niisKivings it probably arose that,
having iiovv performed her two great and at first discredited promises, of
raising the siege of Orleans and of causing tJharles lo be crowned at
Rheims, she now urgently desired to be allowed to return to her original
t72
THE XaKASURY OF HI3T0RY
abscurity, and to the occupations and apparel of her sex. But Dunois wai
too well aware of the influeneeof her supposed sanctity upon the soldiers,
not to be very anxious to keep her among them ; and he so strongly urged
ner to remain, and aid in the crowning of her prophetic and great career
by the total expulsion of the enemies of her sovereign, that she, in a most
evil hour for herself, was worked upon to consent. As the best service
that it was at the instant in her power to do, she threw herself into Ccim-
peigne, which the duke of Burgundy and the earls of Arundel and Suffolk
were at that time hotly besieging. Her appearance was hailed by the be-
sieged with a perfect rapture of joy ; she had proved her miraculous
power by such splendid and unbroken success, that every man among
them now believed himself invincible and the victory secure ; and the
news of her arrival undoubtedly imbued with very opposite feelings not a
few of the brave hearts in the English camp. But the joy of the one party
and the gloom of the other were alike short-lived and unfounded. On the
very day alter that on which she arrived in the garrison she led forth a
sally, and twice drove the Burgundians, under John of Luxembourg, from
their intrenchments. But the Burgundians were so quickly and so numer-
ously reinforced, that Joan ordered a retreat, and in the disorder she was
separated from her party and taken prisoner, after having defended her-
self with a valour and address which would have done no discredit to the
bravest knight among her Burgundian captors.
This event was so unexpected, that the popular humour of the times
attributed it to the treachery of the French officers, who, said the rumour,
were so weary of hearing themselves depreciated by the attributing of
every suci;ess to Joan, that they purposely abandoned her to the enemy.
But besides that there is not a shadow of proof of this charge of treach-
ery, which several historians have somewhat too hastily adopted, the fair
presumption is entirely against it. On the one hand, we cannot imagine
that the private envy of the French officers would thus outweigh alike
their ardour for the cause in which they fought and their sense of their
own safety, which dspended so mainly upon that triumph which the in-
spiring effect of Joan's presence among their men was more than anything
else likely to insure. On the other hand, what more likely, than that a
woman, in spite of the best efforts of her friends, should be taken prisoner
in such a scone of confusion? How many thousands of men had been,
in thflt very war, taken prisoners in similar scenes, without any surmise
of treachery.
A n. 1431. — It is always painful to have to speak of some one enormous
and indelible stain upon a character otherwise fair and admirable. The
historian irresistibly iind almost unconsciously finds his sympathies
awakened on behalf of the great characters whose deeds he describes. It
is impossible to write about the wise and valorous course of the great
duke of Bedford without a feeling of intense admiration; proportionally
paiiitnl it needs must be to have to describe him as being guilty of most
debased and brutal cruelty. Aware how much the success of Joan had
teiwlcd to throw disaster and discredit upon his arms, Bedford imagined
th;it to have her in his power was to secure his future success, and he paid
a considerable sum for her to John of Luxembourg.
It is diffii'ult in our age, when superstition is so completely deprived of
its delusive but terrible power, to imagine that such a man as Bedford
could seriously and in good faith give any credit to the absurd stories that
were related of the demoniac nature of Joan's powers. But it would he
rash lo deny the possibility of that belief, liowever absurd ; for few indeed
were the men who in that age were frefj from the stupefying and degrad-
iii^^ iiilliKMice of superstition. Apart from her alledged dealings with the
priiici' of tlif powers of darkness, there was nothing in the earcer of Joan
vhich snouid have excluded her from the privileges of an honourable pri»
THE TEEASUttY OF HISTOEY.
373
enormous
.ble. The
ympathies
ribes. U
the great
)Ortionally
of most
Joan had
imagined
md he paid
oner. In her interference in the deadly business of war she, it is true, de-
parted from the ordinary usages of her sex ; but, except in wearing armour
and in daring the actual dangers of the fight, she even in this respect only
followed the example left to her by the countess of Mountfort and by Phi-
(ippa, queen of King Edward of England. The gallant and tender feeling
towards the sex, which chivalry made so much boast of, ought to have led
Bedford on this account to have treated her with even more indulgence than
he would have shown to an equally celebrated prisoner of the other sex ;
and the more attentively we notice all the rest of Bedford's condu<n, the
more difficult shall we find it to believe that he could have been guilty of
the baseness and cruelty of which we have to speak, unless under the in-
fluence of a degrading and most powerful impression of superstition. It
is, we repeat, very difficult for us, living in an age not only free from su-
perstition but tending very strongly and very perilously towards the con-
trary extreme, to imagine such a man as Bedford so much deluded ; but
Btill more difficult is it to suppose that any less powerful influence could
have made so honourable a man guilty of a vile and dastardly cruelty.
Joan, being delivered into the power of Bedford, was loaded with chains
and thrown into a dungeon ; and the bishop of Beauvais, on the plea that
she was captured within his diocese, petitioned Bedford that she might be
delivered over to the ecclesiastical power, to be tried on the charges of
impiety, sorcery, idolatry and magic ; and his petition was seconded by the
university of Paris. To the eternal infamy of Bedford, this petition was
complied with ; and, loaded with irons, the high-hearted and admirable,
however deluded, woman was taken before her judges at Rouen, only one
of them, the cardinal of Winchester, being an Englishman. She defended
herself with courage and with a cogency of reply equal to what might be
expected from a man who, to good early training, should add the practice
and experience of a long life. She boldly avowed the great aim and end
of all her public acts had been to rid her country of its enemies, the En-
glish. When taunted with having endeavoured to escape by throwing
herself from a tower, she frankly confessed that she would repeat that at-
tempt if she had the opportunity ; and when asked why she put trust in a
standard which had been consecrated by magical incantations, and why
she carried it at the coronation of Charles, she replied that she trusted
not in the standard but in the Supreme Being whose image it bore, ^iid
that the person who had shared the danger of Charles's enterprise . a'
a just right also to share its glory. The horrors of solitary confinement,
and repeated exposure to the taunts and insults of her persecutors, at
length broke down even the fine proud spirit of Joan ; and, in order to put
an end to so much torture, she at length confessed that what she had been
in the habit of mistaking for visions from heaven, must needs be mere
illusions, as they were condemned by the church ; and she promised that
she would no longer allow them to influence her mind. This confession
temporarily saved her just as she was about to be delivered over to the
secular arm ; and, instead of being forthwith sentenced to the stake, she
was sentenced to the comparatively mild, though still shamefully unjust,
punishment of perpetual imprisonment, with no other diet than bread and
water.
Here, at all events, one might have supposed that the cruel rage of
Joan's enemies would have stopped ; for while her imprisonment rendereJ
it impossible that she should personally do any farther damage to the En-
glish cause, her very detention and confession naturally tended to dis-
abuse her warmest partizans of all further belief in her alledged supernal
ural inspiration. But even now that she was a captive, and wholly pow-
erless to injure them, her enemies were not satiated. Judging, with a
malignant ingenuity, that the ordinary habiliments of her sex, to whicl-
since her capture she had constantly beer, confined, were less agreeable
374
THE TaEASURY OF HISTORY.
to her than the male and martial attire in which she had achieved so ma-
ny wonders and extorted so much homage, they caused a suit of male
attire and appropriate armour to be placed within her reach. As had been
anticipated, so many associations were awakened in her mind by thu
dress, that the temptation to put it on was quite irresistible. As soon as
she had donned the dress her enemies rushed in upon her ; this mere and
very harmless vanity was interpreted into a relapse into heresy, and she
was delivered over to the flames in the market-place of Rouen, though
the sole crime she had committed was that she had loved her country, and
served it.
A. D. 1432. — The brutal injustice inflicted upon Joan whom the nobler
delusions of Greece and Rome would have deified and worshipped, by no
means produced the striking benefit to the English cause that had been
anticipated. The cause of Charles was from rational reflections daily
becoming more popular, and the cruelty of the English served rather to
confirm than to diminish that tendency ; while a series of successes on
the part of the French followed as a matter of course.
The death of the duchess of Bedford very much weakened the attach-
ment of her brother, the duke of Burgundy, both to Bedford personally
and in general to the English cause ; and the coolness which followed this
event was still farther increased when Bedford very shortly afterwards
espoused Jacqueline of Luxembourg. Philip, not without reason, com-
plained that there was a want of decent regard to his sister's memory ex-
hibited in so hasty a contract of a new marriage, and that a personal
afl'ront was ofTered to himself by this matrimonial alliance without any
intimation of it being given to him.
Sensible how serious an injury the continued coolness between these
princes must inflict upon the English cause, the cardinal of Winchester
offered himself as a mediator between them, and a meeting was appointed
at St. Omer's. Both Bedford and Burgundy went to that town, wliich was
in the dominions of the latter ; and Bedford expected that, as he had thus
far waved etiquette, the duke of Burgundy would pay him the first visit.
Philip declined doing so; and upon this idle piece of mere cerer'nony they
both, without a single inrerview, left a town to which they both professed
to have gone with the sole intent of meeting and becoming recoiu-iied.
So great is the effect of idle custom upon even the wise and the powerful!
This new cnuse of discontent to tiie duke of Burgundy happened the
more untowardly, because it greatly tended to confirm him in iiis inclina-
tion to a reconciliation with King Charles. That prince and his friends
had made all possible apology to the duke on account of the murder of the
late duke his father ; and as a desire for the revenge of that murder had
been Philip's chief reason for allying himself with England, the more that
reason became diminished, the more Burgundy inclined to reflect upon
the impolicy of his aiding to place foes and foreigners upon the throne
which, failing in the L'lder French branches, might descend to his own pos-
terity.
A. D. 1435. — These reflections, and the constant urging of the most emi-
nent men in Europe, including his brother-in-law, the duke of Bourbon
and the count de Richemont, so far prevailed with Burgundy, that he con-
sented to attend a congress appointed to meet at Arras, at which it was
proposed that deputies from the pope and the council of Balse should
mediate between King Charles and the English. The duke of Burgundy,
the duke of Bourbon, the count of Richemont, the cardinal of VVincliis-
ter, the bishops of Norwich and St. David's, and the earls of Suffolk and
Huntiiigd(m, with several other eminent persons, met accordingly at
Arras ;ind had conferences in the abbey of St. Vaasl. On the part of
France the ambassadors oflered the cession of Guienne and Norman-
dy, not in free sovereignty, but only as feudal fiefs : on the part of Fng
1.
THE TEBASURY OF HISTORY.
375
kand, whose prior claim was upon the whole of France as rightful pos-
session and free sovereignty, this offer seemed so small as to be wholly
unworthy of any detailed counter-offer; and though the mediators de-
clared the original claim of England preposterously unjust, the cardinal
of Winchester and the other English authorities departed without any de-
tailed explanation of their wishes, but obviously dissatisfied and inclined to
persevere in their original design. Tlie negotiation as between France
and England being thus abruptly brought to an end, the reconciliation of
Charles and the duke of Burgundy alone remained to be attempted by the
mediators. As the provocation originally given to Burgundy was very
great, and as the present importance of his friendship to Charles was con-
fessedly of great value, so were his demands numerous and weighty.
Besides several other considerable territories, Charles ceded all the
towns of Picardy situated between the Low Countries and the Somme,
all of which, as well as the proper dominions of the duke, were to be held
by him during his life, without his either doing homage or swearing fealty to
Charles, who, in pledge of his sincerity in the making of this treaty, solemn-
ly released his subjects from all allegiance to him should he ever violate it.
Willing to break with England with all due regard to the externals of
civility, the duke of Burgundy sent a herald to London to notify and
apologize for this treaty, which was directly opposed to that of Troyes,
of which he had so long been the zealous ^nd powerful defender. His
messenger was very coldly listened to by the English council, and point-
edly insulted by having lodgings assigned to him in the house of a mean
tradesman. The populace, too, were encouraged to insult the subjects
of Philip who chanced to be visiting or resident in London ; and, with the
usual cruel willingness of the mob to show their hatred of foreigners, they
in some cases carried their violence to the extent of murder.
This conduct was as impolitic as it was disgraceful, for it not only
sharpened Philip's new zeal for France, but also furnished him with that
plea which he needed, not only for the world but also for his own con-
science, for his sudden and complete abandonment of his alliance with the
English. Almost at the same time that England was deprived of the powerful
support of Burgundy, she experienced two other very heavy losses, the duke
of Bedford dying of disease a few days after he had tidings of the treaty
of Arras, and the earl of Arundel dying of wounds received in a battle
where he, with three thousand men, was totally defeated by Xaintrailles at
the head of only six hundred.
A. D. 1436. — As in private so in public affairs, misfortunes ever come in
shoals. Just as England requircr' the most active and most disinterested
exertions on the part of those lii whom Bedford's death had left tne direc-
tion of affairs, the dissensions which had long existed between the cardinal
of Winchester and the duke of Gloucester grew so violent, that in their
personal quarrel the foreign interests of the king and kingdom seemed
to be lor the time, at least, entirely lost sight of. A regent of France was
appointed, indeed, as successor to Bedford, in the person of the duke oi
York, son of that earl of Cambridge who was executed early in the pre-
ceding reign ; but owing to the dissensions above-mentioned, his commis-
sion was left unsealed for seven months after his appointment, and the
English in France were, of course, during that long and critical period
f irtually left without a governor. The consequence, as might have been
anticipated, was, that when he at length was enabled to proceed to iiis post,
Paris was lost ; the inhabitants, who had all along, even by Bedford, been
only with difficulty prevented from rising in favour of Charles, having
seized this favourable opportunity to do so ; and Lord Willougliby, with
fifteen hundred men, after a brave attempt first to preserve tiie city and
then to maintain themselves in the Bastile, was at length reduced to such
distress, that he was glad to capitulate on permission to withdraw hin
troops into Normandy.
(1
S76
THE TREASrjRY OF HI6T0EY.
If
Resolved that his enmity to England should not long be without ou^
ward demonstrations, the duke or Burgundy raised an immense but hetero-
geneous and ill-disoiplined army in the Low Countries, and proceeded to
invest Calais, which was now the most important territory the English
had in France. The duke of Gloucester, as soon as the tidings reairhed
England, raised an army and sent a personal defiance to the dul(o of Bur-
gundy, whom he challenged to remain before Calais until the weather
would permit the English to face him there.
Partly from the evident terror which Gloucester's high tone struck into
the Flemings, and partly from the decided ill success which attended two
or three partial attempts which Burgundy had already made upon Calais,
that prince, instead of waiting for Gloucester's arrival, raised the siege
and retreated.
A. D. 1440. — For five years the war was confined to petty enterprises ot
surprising convoys and taking and re-taking towns. But though these
enterprises had none of the brilliancy of more regular and sustained war,
they were to the utmost degree mischievous to both the contending par-
ties and the unfortunate inhabitants. More blood was shed in these name-
less and indecisive rencontres than would have sufficed for a Cressy or ar
Agincourt ; and the continual presence of numerous and ruthless spoilers
rendered the husbandman both unable and unwilling to sow for that har-
vest which it was so improbable that he would ever be permitted to reap.
To such a warfare both the contending parties at length showed them-
selves willing to put an end, and a treaty was commenced for that pur-
pose. France, as before, offered to cede Normandy, Guienne, and Calais
to England as feudal fiefs ; England, on the other hand, demanded the
cession of all the provinces which had once been annexed to England, in-
cluding the final cession of Calais, without any feudal burden or observ-
ances whatever. The treaty was consequently broken off, and the war
was still carried on in the same petty but destructive manner; though a
truce was made as between England and the duke of Burgundy.
For a long time after the battle of Agincourt, England had possessed a
great advantage in all affairs with France, from the captivity of the royal
princes, five in number, who were made prisoners at that battle. Death
had now very materially diminished this advantage ; only the duke of Or-
leans surviving out of the whole five. This prince now offered the large
ransom of fifty-four thousand nobles, and his proposal — like all public ques-
tions at this period — was made matter of factious dispute between the
partizans of the cardinal of Winchester and those of the duke of Glouces-
ter. The latter urged the rejection of the proposal of Orleans, on the
ground that the late king had on his death-bed advised that no one of the
French princes should on any account be released, until his son should be
of age to govern the kingdom in his own person. The cardinal, on the
other hand, expatiated on the largeness of the offered ransom, and drew
the attention of the council to the remarkable and unquestionable fact,
that the sum offered was, in truth, very nearly equal to two-thirds of all
the extraordinary supplies which the parliament had granted for the pub-
lic service during the current seven years. To this solid argument of pe-
cuniary matter-of-fact he added the plausible argument or speculation,
that the liberation of Orleans, far from being advantageous to the French
cause, would be of direct and signal injury to it, by giving to the French
malcontents, whom Charles already had much difficulty in keeping down,
an ambitious and prominent as well as capable leader.
The arguments of the cardinal certainly seem to deserve more weight
than the wishes of a deceased king, who, however politic, could when
giving his advice have formed no notion of the numerous changes of cir-
'jumstances which had since taken place, and which, most probably
would have caused him very considerably to modify his opinion. It was
THE TREASUllY OF HISTORY.
377
weight
lid when
!S ofcir-
)robably
It was
howevei, owing Iflss to the superiority of his advice than of his influence,
that the cardinal gained his point, and that the duke of Orleans was re-
leased after a captivity of five-and-twenty years, the duke of Burgundy
generously assisting him in the payment of his very heavy ransom.
A. D. 1444. — However acquired, the influence of the cardinal was un-
questionably well and wisely exerted in the affair above described ; and
he now, though with less perfect success, exerted it to a still more impor-
tant end. He had long encouraged every attempt at peace-maknig be-
tween France and England, and he now urged upon the council the
impossibility of a complete conquest of France, and the great difliculty of
even maintaining the existing English power there while Normandy was
in disorder, the French king daily gaining some advantage, the English
parliament so incurably reluctant to grant supplies. He urged that it
would be far better to make peace now than when some new advantage
should make the French knig still more unyielding and exigeant in his
humour; and his arguments, based alike upon humane motives and facta
which lay upon the very surface, prevailed with the council. The duke
of Gloucester, indeed, accustomed to consider France the natural battle-
ground and certain conquest of England, opposed the pacific views of the
cardinal with all the violence arising from such haughty prepossessions
increased by his fixed hatred of witnessing the triumph of any proposal
made by the cardinal. The latter, however,^ was too completely in the
ascendant to allow Gloucester's opposition to^be of any avail, and the earl
of Suffolk was sent to Tours with proposals for peace. The pretensions
of the two parties were still too wide asunder to admit of a permanent
peace being concluded ; but as the earl of Suffolk was in earnest, and as
the dreadful state to which most of Charles's territories were reduced by
the long-continued war made some respite of great importance to his sub-
jects, as well as to his more personal interests, it was easily agreed that
a truce should take place for twenty-two months, each party as to terri-
tory remaining as it then was.
As Henry of England had now reached the mature age of twenty-three,
this truce afforded the English ministerb opportunity and leisure to look
around among the neighbouring princesses for a suitable queen for him.
To all the usual difficulties of such cases a serious one was added by the
extremely simple, weak, and passive nature of Henrj'. Without talent
and without energy, it was clear to every one that this prince would reign
well or ill, exactly as he fell under the influence of a princess of good or
bad disposition. Easily attached, he was as easily governed through his
attachments; and each faction was consequently possessed with the
double anxiety of marrying him well, as to itself in the first place and as
to the nation in the next. The first princess proposed was a daughter of
the count de Armagnac ; but as she was proposed by the duke of Glou-
cester, the predominant faction of the cardinal at once rejected her, and
proposed Margaret of Anjou, daughter of Regnier, the titular king of Sicily,
Naples, and Jerusalem, whose real worldly possessions, however, were in
exactly inverse ratio to his magnificent and sounding titles.
Margaret of Anjou, notwithstanding her poverty, had personal qualities,
independent of mere beauty, though she excelled even in that, which made
her indeed a promising queen for a prince who, like the weak and almost
childish Henry, required not a burden but a support in the person < f his
wife. She had great and, for that age, very highly cultivated talents, and
her courage, sagacity, and love of enterprise were such as are seldom found
in their highest perfection even in the other sex. Her own high qualities
and the strong advocacy of the cardinal caused Margaret to be selected, in
spite of all opposition on the part of the duke of Gloucester; and Suffolk
was entrusted with the important business of negotiating the marriage.
In this important negotiation Suffolk proved that his party had by nu nieauH
\f
378
THE TEBASURY OF HISTORY.
overrated either his tact or his zeal. Notwithstanding the high personal
qualities of Margaret, it could not be concealed that she was the daughter
of a house far too poor to offer any dowry to such a monarch as the king
of England ; and yet Suffolk, desirous to prepossess the future queen to
the utmost in favour of himself and his party, overlooking altogether tiie
poverty from which the princess was to be raised by her marriage, con-
sented to the insertion of a secret article in the treaty, by which the prov-
ince of Maine was ceded to her uncle, Charles of Anjou, prime ministei
and favourite of the king of France, who had previously made Charles the
grant of that province — only the grant was conditional upon the wresting
of the province from the English who at present possessed it.
Had any member of the Gloucester faction been guilty of this impu-
dently politic and dexterous sacrifice of his country's interest, he would
undoubtedly have been impeached and ruined for his pains ; but it is most
probabl' that Suffolk had in secret the concurrence or tlie cardinal, for the
treaty was received in England and ratified as though it had secured some
vast territorial advantage ; and Suffolk was not only created first a mar-
quis and then a duke, but also honoured with the formal thanks of parlia-
ment for the ability he had displayed.
As the cardinal and his party had calculated, Margaret as soon as she
came to England fell into close and cordial connection with them, and gave
so much increase and solid support to the already overgrown, though hith-
erto well exerted, authority of Winchester himself, that he now deemed
it safe to attempt what he had long desired, the final ruin of the duke of
Gloucester.
A. D. 1447. — The malignity with which the cardinal's party hated the
duke of Gloucester abundantly shows itself in the treatment which, to
wound him in his tendcrest affections, they had already bestowed upon his
duchess. She was accused of the impossible, but at that time universally
credited, crime of witchcraft, and of having, in conjunction with Sir Roger
Bolingbroke iiiul Margery .Jordan, melted a figure of the king before a slow
fire, with magical incantations intended to (;anse his natural body to con-
sume away simultaneously with his waxen effigy. Upon this preposter-
ous charge the duchess and her alledged confederates were found guilty;
and she was condemned publicly to do penance, her less illustrious fellow-
suflTerers being executed.
The duke of Gloucester, though noted for his hasty temper and some-
what mis|)roud sentiments, was yet very popular on account of his candour
and general humanity ; and this shameful Ireatment of his duchess, though
commitied upon what we may term the popular charge of witchcraft, was
very ill taken by tlie people, who plainly avowed their sympathy witli the
sufferer and their indignation against her persecutors.
The popular feeling for once was well founded as well as humane; but
as the cardinal's parly feared that the sympathy that was expressed might
soon shape itself into deeds, it was now resolved to put ilio iinforluimle
duke beyond the power of doing or causing mischief. A parliament was
ncconliiigly siimiiKined to meet; and, ]c.^t the popularity of the duke in
London should caiisi; any obstruction to the felt designs of his eneiiiies,
the place of meeting was St. Edmund's Ihiry. The duke arrived there
without liny suspicion of the mischief that was in store for him, and was
immediately accused before the parliament of liieh treason. lI|ioii this
elmrge he was cnmmiHed to prison, and shortly afterwards was found
thei'i! (lead in his licil. It is true that his body was publicly ex|)osi'd, and
that no marks of violence could be dctect(>d ; but the same thing bad oc-
curred III the cases of Thomas of Woodstock, duki; of Gloucester, Rii'hard
the Sccctiid, and E<lward the Second, yet does any reader of sane mind
doubt that they weri' nninlered ' Or can any such reader doubt thai tlii?
inirortuniili> prmve was murdered, too. hit encmiea fearing that \u» inililio
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
379
lie ; but
miglil
)rlun!ile
■III was
ilukc ill
iieinips,
'J llll'IO
111(1 w:i»
xm tills
IS foiinil
ii>i|, and
liad DC-
liiclinrd
iiiiiiil
that iliii!
luililiu
execution, though the servility of the parliament would have surely sanc-
tioned it, might be dangerous to their own interests I The death of the
duke did not prevent certain of his suite, who were accused of being ac-
complices uf his alledged treasons, from being tried, condemned, and par^
tially executed We say partially executed, because these unfortunate
men, who were ordered to be hanged and quartered, were actually hanged,
preparatory to the more brutal part of the sentence being executed ; but
just as they were cut down and the executioners preparing to perform their
more revolting task, orders arrived for that part of tiie sentence to be re-
mitted, and surgical means to be taken for the resuscitation of the victims.
And this was actually done.
The unhappy prince who thus fell a victim to the raging ambition of the
cardinal's party was a scholar and a man of intellect, far superior to the
rude age in which he lived. Sir Thomas More gives a striking though
whimsical instance of his acuteness of judgment. The duke while riding
out one day chanced upon a crowd which had gathered round an impostor
who alledged that he, having been blind from his birth, had just then ob-
tained his sight by touching th>- th<;n famous shrine of St. Albans. The
duke, whose learning enabled hini lo see through and to despise the monk-
ish impostures which found such ready acceptance with the multitude,
high as well i!s low, condescended to ask this vagrant several questions,
and, by way of testing his story, desired him to name the colours of the
cloaks of the bystanders. Not perceiving the trap that was laid for him,
tiie fellow answered with all the readiness of a clothier commending his
wares, when tlie duke replied, "You are a very knave, man; had you
been born blind, tiiough a miracle had given you sight, it could not thus
early have taught you accurately to distinguish between colours," and, rid-
ing away, he gave orders that the flagrant impostor should be set in the
nearest stocks as an example.
It was generally considered that the queen, whose masculine nature had
already given her great weight in the dominant party, had at least tacitly
consented to the murder of the unfortunate Gloucester. This probable
supposition had caused her considerable unpopularity, and a circumstance
now occurred by which the ill opinion of the people was much aggravated.
It WDulil seem that that article of Margaret's marria^^e settlement which
cedeil Maine to her uncle was kept secret during the life of the duke of
Gloucester, to whose opposition to the cardinal's party it would of neces-
Bity have given additional weight. But the court of franco now became
80 urgent for its immediate performance, that King Henry was induced
by M.irsfaret and the ministers to despatch an autograph order to the gov-
ernor ol Mans, the capital of that province, to give up that place to Charles
of Aiijiin, TliB governor, Sir I' rancis Surienne, strongly interested in
keeping his post, and probably forming a shrewd judgment of tlio manner
in whieli the king had been induced lo make such an order, flatly refused
lo obey it, and a French army was forthwith led to the siege of the place
by till! celebrated Diinois. Kven then Surienne ventured to hold out, but
l)eiiii{ wli(dly left without succour from Normandy, where the duke of
Somerset had forces, he was at length obliged to capitulate, aiu' lo give
up not only Mans but the whole province, which thus iiiglorionsly wan
transferreil from KiiKlaiid lo ('liarles of Anjoii.
A- 1). Ilia. — The ill effects of the disgrui-eful secret article did not stop
here. Surienne, on beini; suffered to depart from Mans, had two llmn'^and
Ave hundred men with him, wliom be led into Nnrmaiidy, imlnr.illy ex-
pecting to lie allaehed to the force of ihe duke of Somerset. Diit the duke,
"".traiiened in means, and therefore unwilling to have so large an adihlion
to the miiliitude that already depended upon liiin, and biMiig, bcsules, of
the cardiiial's faction, ami therefore angry at llu- disobedience of Siinciinu
•o the orders of the king, would not receive him. Thin suddenly ami en-
3M
TUB TKEASUKY OF HI8T0HY.
tirely thrown upon his own resources, Surienne, acting on the maxims
common to the soldiery of his time, resolved to make war upon his own
account ; and as cither tlie king of England or ihc king of France would
be too potent and dangerous a foe, he resolved to attack the duke of Brit-
tany. He accordingly marched his daring and destitute band into that
country, ravaged it in every direction, possessed himself of the town of
Fougeres, and repaired, for his defence, the dilapidated fortresses of Pou-
lorson and St. Jacques de Beavron. The duke of Brittany naturally ap-
pealed for redress to his liege lord, the king of France ; and Charles, glad
of an opportunity to fasten a plausible quarrel upon England, paid no at-
tention to Somerset's disavowal alike of connection with the adventurer
Surienne and control over his actions, but demanded compensation for
the duke of Brittany, and put the granting of tiiat compensation wholly out
of the question by fixing it at the preposterously large amount of one mil-
lion six hundred crowns.
A. D. 1449. — Payment of this sum was, in truth, the very last thing that
Charles would have desired. He had most ably employed himself during
the truce for a renewal of war at its expiration, or sooner, should fortune
favour him with an advantageous opening. While he had been thus em-
ployed, England had been daily growing weaker; faction dividing the
court and governm'^nt, and poverty and suflering rendering the people more
and more indiflferent to foreign wars and conquests, however brilliant.
Under such circumstances Charles gladly seized upon the wrong done to
the duke of Brittany by a private adventurer us an excuse for invading
Normandy, which no suddenly entered on four different points with as
many well-appointed armies, under the command, respectively, of Charles
in person, the duke of Brittany, the duke of Alcnson, and the count of
Dunois. So sudden was the irruption of Charles, and so coinpletcly un-
prepared were the Norman garrisons to resist him, that the French had
only to appear before a place to cause its surrender; and they at once,
and at the mere expense of marching, obtained possession of Verncuil,
Noyent, Chateau Gaillard, Ponteau de Mcr, Gisors, Nantes, Vernon, Ar-
gentau, Lisieux, Fecamp, Coutances, Belcsinc, and Peurt de L*Arche, an
extent of territory which had cost the English incalculable expense of
both blood and treasure.
Thus suddenly and formidably beset, the duke of Somerset, governor
of Normandy, found it utterly useless to endeavour to check the enemy
in the field ; so far from being able to raise even one numerous army for
that purpose, his force was too scanty even to supply sufficient garrisons;
and yet, scanty as it was, far too numerous for his still more limited
means of subsisting it. He consequently threw himself with such force
as he could immediately command into Rouen, hoping that he might
maintain himself there until assistance could be s(;nt to him from lOug-
land. But Charles allowed no time for the arrival of such aid, but present-
ed himself with an army of fifty thousand men at tlit! very gates ot Itouen.
The inhabitants, already disaffected to the English, now became driven
to desperation by their dread of the scvi.'rities of the French, and tuinul-
tuously demanded that S(MnerHet should instantly capitulate in order to
save them. Thus assailed within .is well as from without, Somerset led
his troops into the castle, hut finding it unteurihle he was at length obliged
to yield it, and to purchase permissn)n to retire to Ilarlleur by sum ndtr-
ing Arqucs, Taiicarville, Uoutleur, and several other places in higher
Normandy, agreeing to pay the Htun of fifty-six thousand crowns, and de-
livering hostages for the failiiful perfornnuuH! of the articles. Among
the hostages was the e.trl of ShrewHhury, li.e aliicst English g(MH'ial in
France, who was now condeniin.'d to detention ami iiiaeiivity at the very
inoincn. when his services were the most needed, by the positi\e rcrnsal
uf tbu governor of Honlleur to give up that place at the order of Sum-
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY
381
crset. Honfleur also gave a refusal, but, after a smart defence by Sir
Thomas Curson, was at length compelled to open its gates to the French
under Dunois.
Succour at length arrived from England, but only to the very insufficient
number of four thousand men, who soon after they landed were com-
pletely defeated at Fourmigni by the count of Clermont. Somerset, who
had retired to Caen in hope of aid, had now no choice but to surrender.
Falaise was given up in exchange for the liberty of the earl of Shrews-
bury; and just one year after Charles's first irruption into Normandy, the
very last possession of the English in that province, the important town
of Cherbourg was surrendered.
In Guienne the like rapid progress was made by the French under Du-
nois, who encountered but little difficulty even from the strongest towns,
his artillery being of a very superior description. Bourdeaux and Ba-
yonne made a brave attempt at holding out, but no assistance being sent
to them from England, they also were compelled to submit; and the
whole province of Guienne was thus reunited to France after it had been
held and battled for by the English for three hundred years. A faint
effort was subsequently made, indeed, to recover Guienne, but it was so
faint that it utterly failed, and war between England and France ceased
as if by mutual consent, and without any formal treaty of peace or even
truce.
of
ny for
isous;
imited
force
uiii^ht
Kng-
■Hcnl-
{ouen.
Irivcn
uniul-
ilcr to
a li'd
iiligi'd
iidtr-
liglier
ml tlo-
.inong
ral in
very
nfiisal
Sora-
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE REION UF HENHV VI. {cOUcluded.)
A. D. 1450. — The affairs of England were as threatening at home as
they were disastrous abroad. The court and the ministerial factions
gave rise to a thousand disorders among the people, besides habituating
them to the complacent anticipation of disorders still more extreme and
general; and it was now only too well known that the king, by whom
both factions might otherwise have been kept in awe, was the mere and
unresisting tool of those by whom he chanced to bo surrounded. To
add to the general distress, the cessation of the war in France, or, to
speak mc :'e plainly, the ignominious expulsion of the English from that
country, had filled England with hordes of able and neiidy men, aceus-
t.oinod to war, and ready, for the mere sak(! of plunder, to iollow any ban-
ner and support any cause. A cause for the civil war which these needy
dr^peradops so ardently desired soon appeared in the pretensions to the
crown put forward by llicliard, duke of V'ork. Descended by liis mother
from the oidy daughter of the duke of Clarence, sctond son of Kdward III.,
the (hike claimed to stand before King Henry, who was descended from
the duke of Lancaster, the third son of Edward III. His claim beiiic,'
thus cogent, and he being a brave and capable nr.in, immensely rich ami
eniiiiecled with numerous noble families, including the most potent of
lliein all, that of the earl of Westmoreland, whose daughter he had mar-
ried, he could not fail to be a most formiditble opponent to so weak and
iiii';ipiibl(> a king iis Henry ; and tlin daily inereasing disorders, sufferings
and discontents of the nation, promised ere long to allbrd him all tlie
opportunity he eonld require of jiressing his claim with advantage.
Though parliament and the pi'oph- at larijii were niiwilling to make any
sacrilices for the defence of the foreign interests of the iiaiioii, and could
not or would not understand that niiicli more exertion and expense are
often necessary to [ireserve than to make <'(Miipii'sts, tliey were not a jot
the less enraged at the losses in France, wlin'h, llioii',di tliey mainly orig-
natcd in the cesiioii of Maine to Charles of Anjou, were consummuted
382
THE TRBASURY OF HISTORY.
•
t
I
through the rigid parsimony which withheld supplies and reinforcements
when they were actually indispensable. The cession of Maine to Cliurles
of Anjou, coupled with his fast friendship to the king of France and his
active exertions in that prince's interest, persuaded the English people
that their queen was their enemy at heart, and that her influence in the
K'nglish council was a chief cause of their disgrace and loss. Already
the partisans of the duke of York busied themselves in preparing to kin-
dle a civil war ; and already the murder of Gloucester began to be avenged
upon its authors, not merely in the bitterness which it gave to the hatred
of the people, but by the loss of the courageous authority of the mur-
dered duke, now so much needed successfully to oppose York and his
seditious partizans.
As the favourite minister of the unpopular Margaret, as the dexterously
unpatriotic ambassador, who, to oblige her had robbed England of Maine,
and as the man most strongly suspected of having brought about the
murder of Gloucester, Suflblk would under any circumstances have been
detested; but this detestation was lashed into something very like in-
sanity by the consideration which was constantly recurring, that this
noble, so powerful that he could aid in murdering the nation's favourite
ruler, and rob the nation to conciliate the favour of a princess who so
lately was a stranger to it, was only a noble of yesterday ; the great
grandson, merely, of a veritable trader ! It was this consideration that
gave added bitterness to every charge that was truly made against him,
and also caused not a few things to be charged to him of which he was
wholly innocent.
Suftolk's wealth, always increasing, as well-managed wealth needs
must be, was contrasted with the daily increasing penury of the crown,
wliich caused the people to be subjected to a thousand extortions. While
he was continually growing more and more dazzling in his prosperity,
the crown, indebted to the enormous extent of jG372,000 was virtiiiiliy
bankrupt, and the very provisions for the royal household were obiaimd
by arbitrary purveyance — so arbitrary, that it fell little short of open rob-
bery with violence.
Aware of the general detestation in which he was held, SulFolk, who,
apart from all the mere exaggerations of the mob, was a " bold, bad niiin,"
endeavoured to forestal any formal attack by the commons' house of par-
liament, by rising in his place in the lords and loudly complaining of llie
calumnies that were permitted to be uttered against him, after he had lost
his father and three brothers in the public service, and had himself livcii
seventeen years wholly in service abroad, served the crown in just (ioubii'
that lunnber of campaigns, been made prisoner, and paid his own heavy
ransom to the enemy. It was scandalous, he contended, that any one
should dare to charge iiim with treachery and collusion with foreign en-
emies, after ho had thus lonjf ami faithfully served the crown, and been
rewarded by high hono\irs and important oflicos.
'I'liough Suffolk's apology for his conduct was professedly a reply only
to the rumours tli;it were current against him among the vulgar, the house
of connnons well understoud his real object in making it to be a desire
to ()r('vent them from originating a formal charge against him; and feel-
ing themselves in some sort ehallended and i)ound to do ho, they sent ii{)
to the |)eers a ch.-irge of high treason ajrainst Suflblk. Of this charsie.
which was very long and (livi(le<l into a great number of clauses, Hume
thus gives a suuniiary : " They insisted tlialhe had persuaded the Freiuli
knig to iiivaiU^ l''.ni;land with an armed force, in onler to depose tlw! Wmn
Henry, ami to pj-ce on the throne his own son, John dn fjakole, wlioiii
h(! intended to inarr\ to Margaret, llic only daughter of the lati^ duke o
Siiinerset, and for whom, he Imagined, hi; woiijil by that means aei{iiire a
title to the crown, that he had contributed to the release of (he duke (^
THE TaEASURY OF HISTORY
383
«, who,
I man,""
of par-
Of till'
liul lost
3lf liVlMl
doiiblf
I'll I'.eavy
any one
L-igu cn-
md been
'ply only
lU! Iiousc
a (Icsirc
ai\il iVcl-
sent lip
c'liarsit'.
, lUnni'
Frcnrli
ihc kmn
wlioiu
(liike ti
aciiuirc a
duke f!*
Orleans, in the hope that that prince would assist King Charles in expel-
ling the English from France and recovering full possession of his king-
dom ; that he had afterwards encouraged that monarch to make open war
on Normandy and Guienne, and had promoted his conquests by betraying
the secrets of England, and obstructing the succours mtended to be sent
to those provinces ; and that he had, without any powers or permission,
promised by treaty to cede the province of Maine to Charles of Anjou,
and had ceded it accordingly, which proved in the issue the chief cause
of the loss of Normandy."
These charges were easily refuted by a resolute and self-possessed man
like Suffolk. As regards the cession of Maine, he justly enough said, that
he had the concurrenee of others of the council ; but he took care not to
add, that though that was an excellent reason why he should not be alone
in bearing the punishment, it was no reason why he should escape punish-
ment altogether. With respect to his alledged intentions as to his son and
Margaret of Somerset, he more completely answered that charge by point-
ing out that no title to the throne could possibly be derived from Margaret,
who was herself not included in the parliamentary act of succession, and
by confidently appealing to many peers present to bear witness that he
had intended to marry his son to one of the earl of Warwick's co-heir-
esses, and had only been prevented from doing so by the death of that
lady. As if they were themselves conscious that the particulars of their
first charge were too vague and wild to be successful, the commons sent up
to the lords a second accusation, in which, timong many other evil doings,
Suffolk was charged with improperly obtaining excessive grants from the
crown, with embezzling the public money, and with conferring ofllces
upon unworthy persons, and improperly using his influence to defeat the
due execution of the laws.
The court now became alarmed at the evident determination of the
commons to follow up the proceedings against Suffolk with rigour, and
an extraordinary expedient was adopted for the purpose of saving him
from tlie worst. The peers, both spiritual and temporal, were summoned
to the king's presence, and Suffolk being then produced denied the charges
made against him, but submitted to the king's mercy; when the king pro-
nounced that the first charge was untrue, and that as to the second, Suf-
folk having submitted to mercy, should bo banished for five years. This
expedient was far too transparent to deceive the enemies of Suffolk, wlvo
dearly saw that it was merely intended to send him out of the way until
the danger was past, and then to recall him and restore him to aulliority.
But their haired was too intense to allow of their being thus easily balllod
in their purpose ; and tlioy hired the captain of a vess(!l and some of his
fellows, wlu) surprised Suffolk near Dover, as he was making forFrunce,
bclieadi'd him, ai\d threw his body into the sea.
.So great a favourite as Suffolk had been of Queen Margaret, it was,
iiowcver, not d(^emed expedient to take any steps to bring his murderers
to JMstiee, lest in the incpiiry more should be disctovered than would I'on-
sist with the possibility of the queen and the house of commons ketiping
up any longer even the simulation of civility and good feeling.
Thougli the (Inkc! of York was in Ireland durnig the whole of the pro-
ceedings against Suffolk, and therefore could not be directly coiineetcHl
with them, Margaret and her friends did not the less suspect hin- of evil
dt'sions against them, and were by no means blind to his aspirinij views
to the erown ; nor ilid they fail to connect him with an insin'reetion which
just now bniiu' out imder the direction of one f'ade. This man, who was
1 native of Ireland, but whoso crimes had obliged hin\ for a considfrable
liiue to find slndler in France, possessed great resolution and no small
Hiare of a rude hut showy al'ility, well calculated to impose upon tin- mill-
ludc. Returiung to Kngiand just as the popular discontent was at its liii;li-
384
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
est, he took the name of John Mortimer, wishing himself to be taken
for a son of Sir John Mortimer, who early in the present reign had
been sentenced to death by parliament, upon an indictment of high
treason, wholly unsupported, and most iniquitously, on the part of
Gloucester and Bedford, allowed to be executed. Taking up the pop.
ular outcry against the queen and minister, this Cade set himself up
as a redresser of grievances ; and partly from his own plausible talents
but chiefly from the charm of the very popular name he had assumed
he speedily found himself at the head of upwards of twenty thous-
and men. Imagining that a very small fovce would suffice to put down
what was considered but a vulgar riot, the court sent Sir Humphrey Staf
ford with a mere handful of men upon that errand ; but Sir Humphrey was
attacked by Cade near Sevenoaks, his little force cut up or scatterred, and
himself slain. Emboldened by this success, Cade now marched his dis-
orderly band towards London and encamped upon Blackheatb, whence he
sent a list of obvious grievances of which he demanded the correction;
but solemnly protested that he and his followers would lay down their
arms and disperse, the moment those grievances should be remedied, and
Lord Say, the treasurer, and Cromer, the sheriff of Kent, against both of
whom he had a malignant feeling, should be coiidignly punished for sun-
dry malversations with which he strongly charged them. Confinina: his
demands within these bounds, and taking care to prevent his fellows from
plundering London, whence he regularly withdrew them at nightfall, he
was looked upon with no animosity, at least, by the generality of men,
who knew many of the grievances he spoke of really to exist. But when
the council, seeing that there was at least a passive feeling in favour ot
Cade, withdrew with the king to Kenilworth, in Warwickshire, Cade so
far lost sight of his professed moderation as to put Lord Say and Cromer
to death without even the form of a trial. As soon as he had thus set the
example of illegal violence he lost all his previous control over the mob,
who now conducted themselves so infamously towards the citizens of
London, that they, aided by a party of soldiers sent by Lord Scales, gov-
ernor of the Tower, resisted them, and the rebels were completely defeated
with very great slaughter. This severe repulse so far lowered the spirits
of the Kentish mob, that they gladly retired to their homes on receiviiiij
a pardon from the archbishop of Canterbury, who also filled the olfiue of
chancellor. As soon as it could safely be done, this pardon was pro-
nounced to be null and void, upon the ground that it had been extorted by
violenire ; many of the rebels were seized and executed, and Cade himself,
upon whose head a reward was set, was killed by a gentleman named Ar-
den, while endeavouring to conceal himstilf in Sussex.
Alany circumstances concurred to lead the court to suspect that this
revolt had been privately set on foot by the duke of York, to facilitate liis
own designs on the crown ; and as he was now returning from Irelaiul they
imagined that he was about to follow up the experiment, and accordiiijjly
issued an order in the name of the iinl)ecile Henry, to oppose his return to
Kugland. Hut the duke, who was far too wary lo iiasten his measures in llii?
way his enemies anticipated, converted all their fears and pnicaufions inti)
ridii'ule, hy coolly lauding Willi no other attendants than his ordinary re-
tinue. Hut as the fears of his eiicniics had caused them lo betray their
real feelings towards him, he now ri^solved to proceed at least one steji
towards his ullimat(! designs. IIitliert<, his title had been spoken of by
his friends only in whispers among thiMiisclves, but he now authorized
them openly to urge it at all times and in nil places.
The pnrtiziins of the reigning king and of the aspiring duke of York,
respectfully, had e;\(di very plaiisiliU? arguiiients ; and though men's minds
were pretty cipcdly divided as lo ilicir r('spi;ciiv(; claims, tlii' supcricirity
which York had as to the favour of powerful noblemen seemed to he more
'Tal, t|„,
'■'Slitv V
"Way wa
\'oi
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
38a
taken
;n had
)f high
part of
he pop-
laeir up
talents
Dsuined
' ihous-
jt down
■ey Staf
irey was
rred, and
I his dis-
hence he
rrection ;
iwn their
died, and
St both of
1 for 3un-
ifiiiin? his
lows from
ghtfall, he
f of men,
But when
favour ol
e. Cade so
nd Cromer
,hus set the
>r the mob,
[citizens of
Scales, gov.
■ly defeated
1 the spirits
|u receiving
lie office of
was pro-
[extovted by
ide himself,
named Ar
let that this
lacililiite his
jrclaml limy
kccordingly
Lis return lo
lisures in tliL'
lautioiis iutii
-irdinary ro-
Ibi'iray ilioit
list one slL';i
[)okcn of by
authorizeil
Ike of York,
Inn'irs niimis
supiTioriiy
kl to be more
tnan counterbalanced by the possession, by the royal party, not only of all
authority of the laws, but also of tliat " tower of strength," " the king's
name." On the side of tiie crown, besides the advantages to which we
have already alluded, there were ranged the earl of Northumberland and
the earl of Westmoreland, and these two nobles carried witii them all the
power and influence of the northern comnies of England; and besides
these two groat men, the cro-"". could reckon upon tiie duke of Souiersnt
and bis brother the duke of Kxeter, the duke of Huckingliam, the earl of
Shrewsbury, the lords Cliff"()rd, Scales, governor oi the Tower, Audley
and a long list of nobles of less note.
A. D. 14.51. — The party of the duke of York was scarcely less strong'
but so far had arts and literature begun to show their civilizing clTecls,
that instead of instantly and fiercely flying to arms, the hostile parties
seemed inclined to struggle rather by art tlian force. The duke of York
was the more inclined to this plan, because lie imagined tliat he had
power enough in the parliament to deprive the weak Henry of the pres-
ence and support of bis friends ; in which case he would have but little
difficulty in causing the succession to be altered by law, or even in induc-
ing Henry to abdicate a throne which he was obviously and lamentably
unBt to fill.
Nor did the parliament which now met fail to confirm York's hopes ;
the first step taken 'jy the house of commons was to petition the king to
dismiss from about his person the duke of Somerset, tiie duchess of Suf-
folk, the bishop of Chester, Lord Dudley, aiiTl Sir .lolin Sutton, and to for-
bid them on any pretence to approach within twelve miles of the court.
The king agreed to banish all named, save the lords, for a whole year,
unless, as the answer written for him very significantly said, he should
iiRpd their services in the suppression of rebellion. Still farther to show
his sense of the temper ol the lower house, the king — or rather his
frieiiiis — refused to consent to a bill of attainder against the late duke of
Sullulk, thoujrh It had passed through all the parliamentary stages.
A. u. U.'J'J. — The mere demonstrations thus made by the house of com.
moiis.even though it had proved but partially successful, was sulHcient to
ciicoinagu the duke to more open advances, and he issued a proclamation
ili'iniindiug a lliorongh reform of the government, and especially a removal
of the duke of .Somerset from all office aiid authority ; !ind he then march-
ed upon liOndon with an army of ten thousand men. Greatly popular as
he knew himself to be in London, where he counted upon an aflTcctioiiate
welcome and a considerable addition to his force, he was astounded to find
tlio gates fast closed against him. Scarcely knowing how to act under
such unexpected and untoward circunislances, he retreated into Kent,
wliitiier he was closely pursued by the king at the head of a far superior
army. In the king's suite were Salisbury, Warwick, and many more fast
frieiiils of the duke of York, who probably thus attended th;; king in hope
of serving York as mediators, or even, should an action lake placi;, turning
tile fortune of the day by suddenly leading tlicir lori-cs to his side. A \v,\v.
ley ensued, and Somerset was ordered into arrest to await a parliann'ii-
lary trial, and York, whom the (Miurt did not as yet dare to ass;r|, was
onlcred to confine himself to liis secluded house at Wigmore in Here-
fordshire.
CiMil and circumspect as he was resolute, the duke of York livc^d qui-
otly ill this relireuient for some time, but was at length called fmui it by
tlic Uirrent of popular indijinalion against the niinislers, which followed a
new and abortive attemiit to reconquer Oascony ; in which ailempt, be-
sides a vast iiuinberof men, the English lost Iheir deservedly beloved gen-
eral, the earl of Shrewsbury, who fell in battle at the age of more than
I'ighty years. This event, and the ipieen giving birlli to a son, which did .
itway with the hope great numbers hud enlcrlaiiied that York might wait "
\'oi<. i.—iH
1^
sJfi I
\ I-
386
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
and succeed to Henry quietly and as next heir, urged the Yorkists beyond
ad' farther power of their chief to control them ; and Henry being, by an
illness, now rendered too completely imbecile even to appear to rule, the
queen and her council were obliged to yield to the torrent of popular feel-
ing, and they consented to send Somerset to the Tower — he being now
hated even more than Suffolk had formerly been— and to appoint tiie duke
of York lieutenant of the kingdom. The friends of the duke of York
might, naturally enough, desire to see him in a situation so favourable to
him and their ultimate views; but the duke's conduct wholly disappointed
any expectations they might have formed of decisive measures on his part,
as he fairly and moderately exerted the proper authority of his office, and
no more.
A. D. 1455. — Margaret and her friends, however well pleased to profit by
the duke's moderation, showed no intention of imitating it. On the con-
trary, the king recovering sufficiently to be again put forward in public as
if ai-ting from his own free will, was made to annul the appointment of
York, and to release Somerset from the Tower, and give him back all his
former power. Uven the moderation of York was no longer able to avoid
open extremities, as it was clear from the hasty annulling of his comtnis-
sion, that he was not safe from being, by some artful device, brought into
difficulty for having even consented to accept it. But even now, thcugh
he called his forces about him and placed himself at their head, he made
no claim to the crown, hut limited his demands to a reformation of the
government and dismissal of the obnoxious ministry.
The hostile forces met near St Alban's, and in the battle which ensued
the Yorkists gained the victory, tlioir enemies losing 5000 men, ini-hiding
the detested Somerset, Stafford, eldest son of the duke of Uuckingham, the
lord Clifford, and many other leading men of the party. The prisoners,
too, were numerous, and, chief of all, the king was among then). His
own utter iniboeility and the mild temper of the diike of York saved the
unfortunate Henry from all annoyance. The duke sliowed him every
possible respect and tenderness; and though he availed himself of Ins
good fortune to exert all the kingly authority, while still leaving uindainied
the empty title of king, Henry was little inclined to quarrel with an nr-
rangemcnt which saved him from what he most of all detested, exertion
and trouble.
TIk! moderate or timid policy of the duke of York, and the spirit and
ability with which Margaret kept togeilier her weakeni'd party, prevented
farther bloodshed for a time, even after this battle had commencen llie
dread war of "the roses;" in which, besides iniuunciable skirinisln's,
twelve pitched battles were fought upon English ground, and whicli for
thirty long years divided families, (k'.solated the land, and eansed a ijss
of life of which some notion may be formed from the simple fiict, that
among the slain were no fewer than eighty princi's of the blood! The
parliainent, seeing the disinclination of the duke of York to grasp the
sceptre whi(di seemed so nearly within his reach, shaped its pnici'ediiigs
accordingly; and wliih., by granting an indemnity to the Yorkists and re-
storing the duke to his otlice of lii'Utenant or protector of the kingiloiii,
they renewed their oaths of allegiance to the unconscious and iinbicilp
king, and limited York's aiipoinlment to the time when the king's son,
who was now made prince of Wales, should attain his majority. Tins
parliament also did good service by revoking all the impolitic and exten-
sive grants which had been made since the death of iIk^ late king, anil
wliii'h were so exti nsive that they had mainly caused the excessive pov
erty into which the crown had fallen.
A. n. 1456.— Margaret was of loo slern ami eager a nature to nefileit any
of the opportunities of strengthening her party which were afforded liy
the singular moderation or iinlecision of York. The king having a teiu-
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
387
porary lucid interval— for his real disease was a sort of idiotcy — slie took
advantage of the duke's absence to parade her unfortunate and passive
husband before the parliament, and to make him declare his intention o'
resuming his authority. Unexpected as this proposal was, York's friends
were wholly unprepared with any reasonable argument against it; and,
indeed, many of them, being sufferers from the recent resumption of thf
jrown grants, were greatly disgusted with their leader on that account.
The king was accordhigly pronounced in posse'sslon of his proper author-
;!y ; and York, constant to his moderate or temporising polity, laid dnwn
Ills office without ;i struggle or even a complaint.
A. D. 1457.— The king, or rather Margaret, being thus agdin in ful' ,)ov
session of power, the court went to pass a season at Cover\trv; w'.ere
York and the earls of Warwick and Salisbury were invited to v'jjt the
kiiii;. Tliey wore so unsuspicious of the real motive of th'i ivivitntion,
that they readily accepted it, and were actually on the roid when they
were informed of Margaret's intention certainly to S'jize urion their per-
sons, and, not improbably, to put them to death. On •.gc'.ving this start-
ling intelligence the friends separated, to prep'vre for their defence
against the open violence which, it seemed pvob'ihle, Margaret would
resort to on finding her treachery discovered ind disappointed ; York re-
tiring to WIgmore, Salisbury to his noble pla':e at Middieham in York-
shire, and Warwick to Calais, of wlreh he had been made governor after
llie battle of St. Alban's, and v/hich m'js sspexially valuable to the York-
ist cause, inasmuch as it cofita-ned the only regular mditary body which
England than supported. Kvei'. now York was not inclined to proceed to
extremitiee ; ai<d a? Ma'garst on her part was doubtful as to the sufficien-
cy of her military strength, and well aware of the very great extent to
which the popular synipaihics were enlisted on the side of York, h pause
ensued, of wliich B<iurchicr, archbishop of York, and some other sincere
lovers of their country, availed themselves, to attempt a mediation by
wliicli the people might be spared the ruinous and revolting horrors of
civil war.
A. u. 1458. — The humane endeavour of these personages so far succeed-
ed, ili'it the leaders of both parties agreed to meet in London for a solemn
and |)ul>lic reconciliation : but the very manner of their meeting-, notwith-
slaiKJiiig the avowed purpose of it, was sutlicient to have convinced all
ai'iurate observers of the lillle reliance that could be placed upon the
frieiiiily feeliiiiis of either party. Both came numerously attended, and
liiitli kept their atteiulants near thciu, and in the same close watch and
serried (lislribuiion as would ho observed in hostile armies encamped upon
tlif same ground at evening, pre[)aratory for the bloodshed and the strug-
gle of the morrow.
Tlioiigh this mnlnal jealousy and dread .lugnred hut ill for the perma-
nence of a fricuilsliip declared under such circumstances, the terms be-
tween the opposing parties were arranged without much ditliculty and
wholly without strife; and the hollow peace having been fully arranged,
the parties went in solemn procession to St. Paul's, that their union iniglu
he eviilciit to the people; York gallantly leading by the hand his truculent
Hiid implacable enemy Margaret, and each of tlie couples who followed
llieni in the procession being (;omposed of a leading man of the opposing
n^iriies respectively.
K. I). U.'jit.— The peace thus patched up was of exactly the frail tenure
thai inigljt li;ive hijcn anticipated. The trivial ai-eiilent of a retainer of
(lie earl of Warwick being insulted led to a general brawl, swords were
<lravvn, the light became serious, and the royal party beinir the more nu-
meidus, Warwick only saved his own life by dying to (/alais. This ori
giiially petty afTiirpntan end to peace; both parties took otf their masks
everywiiere the din of preparation was heard, and it became evident even
388
THE TKFA8LRY OF HISTOHY
to those who most desired peace for their country, that a civil war was
now wholly inevitable.
The earl of Salisbury having raised a considerable force was making
hasty marches to form a junction with the duke of York, when ho was
overtaken at Blore heath, in Staffordshire, by a much larger party of the
royalists under the lord Audley. Salisbury's numerical inferiority was
fully compensated by his superiority of judgment. To reach him the
royalists had to descend a steep bank and cross a stream. Salisbury
caused his men to retreat, as if alarmed at their enemies' number; and
Audley, falling into the snare, gave his vanguard the word to charge and
led them in full pursuit. As the vanguard reached the side of the riv-
ulet, Salisbury suddenly faced about, and having only to deal with a body
inferior to his own, put it completely to the rout, the remaining body of
the royalists, instead of hastening over to support their comrades, be-
taking themselves to flight in good earnest.
York's post was at Ludlow, in Shropshire, and thither Salisbury now
marched his troops, whose spirits were heightened and confirmed by theii
victory. Soon after his arrival York received a new accession to his
numbers, the earl of Warwick joining him with a body of veterans from
the garrison of Calais. York was naturally delighted with this accession
of disciplined men, who, under ordinary circumstances, must necess irily
have been of immense importance ; i)ut their commander, Sir Andrew
Trollope, turned their presence into a calamity instead of an advantage
to the duke's cause. Tiie royal army arrived in sight of the Y'orkists,
and a general action was to take place on the morrow, when Sir Andrew,
under cover of the night, basely led his veterans over to the king. The
mere loss of a large and disciplined body of men was the least mischic'
this treachery did to York. It spread a perfect panic of suspicion and
dismay through the camp ; the very leaders could no longer rely upon
each other's good faith; hope and confidence fled, and the Yorkists deter-
mined to separate and await some more favourable slate of things jre put-
ting their cause to the hazard of a pitched battle. The duke of York re
tired to Ireland, where he was universally beloved, and Warwick returnod
to Calais, were he was from time to time joined by large reinforcements;
York's friends who remained in Kngland continuing to recruit for him as
zealously as though his cause had sustained no check from the recent
treason.
A. D. 1460. — Having completed his own preparations, and being satisfied
from the advices of his friends in England that he might rely upon a con-
siderable rising of the people in his favour, Warwick now sailed iVom
Calais with a large and well-equipi)ed army, and, after capturing sonic o(
the royal vessels at sea, landcti in safety on the coast of Kent, accom-
panied by the earl of Marche, the eldest son of the duke of York, and
the earl of Salisbury; and on his road to London he was joined by the
archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Cobham, and other powerful nobles and
gentlemen.
The city of London eagerly opened its gates to Warwick, w'hose nninlicrs
daily increased so much, that he was able with confidence to advance to
Northampton to meet the royal army. The battle commenced furiously
on both sides, but was speedily decided. The royalists who had liilely
been benefited by treason were now sufferers from it; the lord Grey of
Ruthin, who had the command of its vanguard, leading the whole of liio
troops over to tiie Yorkists. A universal panic spread through the royal-
ists by this base treachery, and the battle became a rout. The slauglitei
among the nobility was tremendous, and included the duke of Bucking-
ham, the earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Egrcmont, Sir William Lucie, and
many other gallant officers. The loss of the common soldiery on tlie
royal side was comparatively trifling; the earl of Warwick and his col-
THE TREA8UKY OF HI3T0H\.
389
war was
[eagfucs directing the Yorkists, both in the battle and the chase, to spare
the soldiery, but to give no quarter among the leaders.
The unhappy Henry, who was far more fit for the quiet seclusion of
some well-ordered country abode, was by the compulsion of his imperi-
ous wife a spectator of this battle, and was taken prisoner ; but both policy
and good feeling led the Yorkist leaders to show every respect and kind-
ness to one whose greatest misfortune was being a king, and whose great-
est fault was a disease of the brain ; whose patient and simple bearing,
moreover, had won him the tender pity of his people.
Warwick marched with his royal captive to London, where the duke of
York shortly afterwards arrived from Ireland, and a parliament was sum-
moned in the king's name to meet at Westminster on the 7th of October.
The real or affected scruples of York were now wholly at an end, and
he had determined to bring forward for the first time an open and positive
claim to the throne. But even now he would only do so through the
medium of a farce which one cannot read of without feeling something
like contempt for him, in spite of the remarkable ability of liis general
conduct. Though the archbishop of Canterbury knew the intentions of
York fully as well as the duke himself knew tiiem, that prelate on seeing
him enter the house of lords and advance towards the throne, asked him,
in a low tone, whether he had as yet paid his respects to the king; and
York answered — as tlie prelate well knew that he was to answer — iliat he
knew of no one to whom he owed the respect due to that title. How two
grave men could unblushingly perform this scene of needless mockery, or
how they could perform it unchecked by the indignant and contemptuous
laughter of their fellow-peers, it really is not easy to imagine.
Having by lliis ridiculous scene made all the preparations that he could
desire, the duke placed himself close to the throne, and addressed a long
speecli to the peers in advocacy of his right to the throne, and in com-
ment upon the treason and cruelty by which the house of Lancaster had
usurped and kept possession of it. So unnecessary was the farce with
wliicli the duke iiad iliought fit to preface the staiemeiit — so well prepared
were at least the majority of the peers present to hear it, that they pro-
ceeded to take the subject into consideration as coolly as their descend-
ants of the present day would resolve themselves into a committee for the
consideration of a turnpike bill. The duke probably was not very well
pleased with the excess of this coolness ; for the spot upon which he had
placed himself and his bearing throughout the scene go to show, that he
expected that the peers would by acclamation place liim upon the throne
against which he leaned.
The lords having invited the leading members of the lower house to aid
them in the investigation of the claim of the duke of York, objections
were made to it, grounded on former parliamentary settlements of the suc-
cession, and upon the fact that the duke, who had always borne the arms
of York, now claimed tlirougli the house of Clarence; but to both these
objections the duke's friends replied by ailedgingthe prevailing power and
great tyranny of the Lancastrians ; and the peers, whom this reply satis-
fiinl— as, no doubt, had been didy agreed upon long before they met in the
house — proceeded to determine tliat the title of the duke of York was
heyoiid doubt just and indefeasible, but that in consideration of Henry
iiiiviiig worn the crown thirty-eight years, he should continue to do so
for ihe remainder of his life, the duke acting during that time as regeui..
The lords further determined that the duke should succeed to the throne
at Henry's decease; that any attempts upon his life should be equally
treason with attempts on the life of the king; and that this new set-
tlement of the crown slur.ild be final, and abrogate and annul ihe
I'eitlemeiit made previously. The duke was well contented with this
iiuiderate settlement of the question ; the weak-minded and captive king
-I?
390
THE TUKA8URY OF HI8TOUY
N*
had of -^urst, no power to oppose it, mid this transfer of the alllriiieiil was
agreed *o by the w hole parliiiineiit with les$t excitement than a triviul party
question has often caused since.
Invested with the fegeiicy, and also h iving the kiiiir's person in his
power, York was now king in ail lint name ; but he too well understood
the audacious and able s|)irit of Queen .Mar;'aret, lo deem hinistdf ptTuia-
nently in possession as li>ng as slie nnnalned in thi^ kingloni ut lilierty.
Anxious 10 get her into his |)ow(-r, that he might either MMprison or banish
her, he sent her, in the name of her husband, a suinnions to join iiini in
London. But iMargaret. who was busy raising forces in Scotland and the
north of Knglaiid, by promising to \\if bravest and most turbulent men in
those parts the spoiling of all the country north of the Trent, instead of
com|)lyiug with this sunnnons, inifuiied the royal standaril, and showed
herself at the head of twenty thousand men, and prepared to fight yet an-
other tiattle against York in despite of ilisadvani.igcons fortune. Wlu h.'r
from some una(!countahle want of jmlgmenl on tin- part of th ; duk<', or
from the exceeding popularity of Margaret among the inhiibitimts i,i t!i,i
nortli, causing him to be wantonly misled as to her resources, the (inke
with (July five thousand men marched against iMarnaret's ar.uy, as though
he h.id merely to put down an ordinary revolt of an uiniisiiplint'd liaijilhil
of men. A fatal nnstake, from whatever cause it arose ! The ilukc had
already led his little army as far as W'aki.'licld, in Y'oikshire, ere lie (lis-
covered his error just in time to throw himself in Snidal (/aslle, in that
neighbourhood ; and even now he might have been safe had he not liecn
guilly of a second error, for which no one but liimself could possilijv be
blamed. He was urged by the earl of Salisbury and llie rest of the friends
who accompanied him, to keep (dose within the castle until his son, the
earl of March, could arrive from the borders of Wales, where he was levy.
iug troops, and thus, when he had something like an equality as to num-
bers, to descend inio the plain and give tin; queen battle. This prudent
counsel the duke wilIi unconceivable folly rejected, upon the ridiculous
plea that he slionld be forever disgraced as a soldier were he to remain
sbut up within a fortress because threatened by a woman. Now the duke
must full well have known, that, spirited and sanguinary as Margaret
undoubtedly was, she was in nierely the nominal command of her army
that she was aided by commanders of whose talents it would be no dis-
grace to him to show his respect; and that finally, her force oulnuinliercd
his in the overwhelming proportion of four to one. But the truth was,
that the duke had more courage as a knight than judgment as a com-
mander: and, in spite of all that could be said by his real and judii'iuu->
friends, he obstinately persisted in descending to the neighbouring plain
and givimr battle to the queen. As might have been anticipated, the ruyal-
ists availed themselves of their vast numerical superiority, and ut ihe
commencement of the action detached a considerable body to fall upoiitlic
rear of the duke's force. This maneeuvre hastened the event, which was
not <lonbtful even from the commencemei!' . ilic Inke's army was com-
pletely routed and he himself was among tlie mini ''' oi' the slain.
'I'hat .Margaret should chose to resist tlu iirwu t ■■ •■ ' ..I'lral, evei> •■,i;,,;
from any doubt she might have felt as ti '.'■: •■'^t';- :/i,yof his claiiu to
that of her husband : but her coiidn(!t aftei li.o l>uttle showed a de|)raved
and virulent feeling, which was at oni^e unwomanly and of evil augury to
the people in the event of her ever being firmly fixed in power. Thehu^ly
of her illustrious opponent, whose triumph would have been secure soin>!
years before had he chosen to push his power to exiremity, was fuui.i
among the slain; and this disgustingly unfeminine queen had the head
Struck off and aflixed to the gate of York castle, a paper crown being lirst
placed > ,)oii the ghastly head, in bitter and cruel mockery of the duke's
unsiicc'jasful endeavours. Margaret's cruel temper seems to have iu'
THE TRKASUaY OK Frrj^TOHY.
351
flupiicod her friends. Thoyoiui^r rarl of RuihuKi.soii t\ftho duke ofYurk,
and then only seventeen years old, being takcMi prisoner ami led into the
presence of Lord Clifford, was by that nolileman's own hand put tu dfiith.
This dastardly butchery of a mere boy is accounted for by the historians
on the ground of Clifford's own father having perished in th^ luittle of St.
Alban's! As though that could have been any justification of his present
butchery of a young prince who at the time of that battle wis barely
iwel'.'e years old! Another illustrious victim was the earl of Salisbury,
who being severely wounded was taken prisoner, carried to Pontefract,
'jid there beheaded.
' ills battle was a terrible loss to the Yorkists, upwards of three thousand
01 whom perished, besides the duke. That prince was only fifty years of
a^i- when he fell, and was reasonably looked upon by his party as btjing
likely to be their support and ornament formany years. He was succeeded
tn his title and pretensions by his eldest son, Kdward ; besides whom he
left two other sons, George and Richard, and three daughters, Anne, Eliza-
beth, and Margaret.
A. D. 1461. — ^Immediately after this action the able and active, thou ^h
most hatefully cruel Margaret, marched with the main body of her army
against the earl of Warwick, who was left in command of the main boi'v
of the Yorkists at London, while she sent a detachment under .lasper Tu-
dor, carl of Pembroke, and half-brotherto her unfortunate husband, against
Edward, the new duke of York, who was still on the Welsh border. The
earl of Pembroke and the duke of York metat Mortimer's Cross, in Here-
fordshire, when the earl was completely routed with the loss of nearly
four thousand men ; the remainder of his force being scattered in all di-
rections, and he himself havinjr no small difliculty in making good his re-
treat. His father. Sir Owen Tudor, who accompanied him to this disas-
trous battle, was still less fortunate ; being taken prisoner and led into the
presence of the duke of York, that prince instantly ordered him to be be-
headed.
Margaret was more fortunate than Pembroke. She encountered War-
wick at St. Alban's, whither he had marched from London to meet her
Warwick's own force was larjje, and he was strongly reinforced by volun-
teers, the Londoners being for the most part staunch Yorkists. At the
commencement of the battle Warwick even had the advantage, but he
was suddenly deserted by Lovelace, wlio commanded under him, and who
led the whole of his men over to the enemy. The consequence was the
complete rout of the Yorkists, two thousand three hundred of whom per-
ished on the field. Many Yorkists also were taken prisoners, as was the
unhappy king, who had been taken to the battle by Warwick, and who, in
falhiig: again into the power of his queen, could scarcely so properly oe
said to be rescued as to be taken prisoner. Unhappy prince ! Into w! >se
hands soever le might pass, the weakness of his mind rendercil him but
the mere tool and pretext of his possessors, who hurried him hitlier and
thither, now vexing his dull intellect with tlie subtle scrhemes of party, and
now stariling liis tame and timorous spirit with the bloody scenes and rude
alarms of the tented field. Unhappy, tlirice unhappy prince!
Margaret here gave a new proof of her sanguinary temper. Lord Bon-
viile. who had been entrusted with the care of the king's person durin<r the
battle, was rather agreeable to the weak prince, who, on tlie defeat of the
Yorkists bogged this nobleman to remain, and assiwed him of pardon and
protection But Margaret, as soon as the confusion of battle allowed ',er
to interfere, ordered him to be beheaded ; and a similar doom was •.■ilirted
upon Sir Thinnas Kyriel, who had greatly distinguished hin'^elf during
tlie wars ni France.
Before Mar^^aret could turn the victory she thus ah-;sed to any practical
iAv^Mdgv, the young duke of York rapidly approached her ; and as she
ffW
392
THE TKliASUllY OF HISTOHY.
was spiisiblo of her disadvantages in being between his arm)' and London,
where he was so popular, she hastily retreated northward ; while Kdward,
whom she but narrowly avoided, and whose army was far more numerous
than hers, entered London m triumph, and to the great delight of his party.
Finding his cause so numerously supported by the Londoners, and greatly
elated by the cordial gratulations which they bestowed upon him, which
he doubtless owed fully as much to his youth, the elegance of his person,
and his kindly though courtly address, he determined to cast aside all tlie
hesitation and delay which had proved so fatal to his father, to assume the
throne in despite of Henry's existence, and to maintain his assuuiptiini
by treating as traitors and rebels all who should venture to oppose it. As,
however, he was desirous of having at least the appearance of the national
consent to his claims, and as the appealing to parliament would be infin-
itely too tedious for his impatience, and might even give time for some
fatal bar to arise to his success, he assembled his army and a great nnd-
titude of the Londoners in St. John's Fields, where an artful and yet pas-
sionale harangue was pronounced in vituperation of the other faction, and
in support of the claims and in praise of the high qualities of Edward liim-
self. Sucli an harangue as this, delivered before a meeting coniposeo
exclMsiv('ly of the friends and partizans of Kdward, could not fail to elicit
applause; and when it was followed up by the question "which king they
would have, Henry of LancastiTor Kdward of York V who can be in doubt
as to the reply with which Ihe multitu<Ie made the very welkin ring. Kd-
ward iluke of York having thus been hailed by "the people" as their king
under the style of Kdward IV., certain peers, prelates, and other inlliicn-
tial personages were next assembled at Baynard's castle, who confirmed
what tiiey ()i)stinately affected to call '' the people's decision ;" and Edward
IV. was duly proclaimed king on the 5th of March, thus putting a formal
end to the reign of the unfortuu.itn Henry, whoso infancy was graced with
two crowns, and hailed by the loyal shouts of two nations, and whose
maiiliiiod had been only one long series of servitude in the hands of
avowed enemies, or of friends whose yoke was quite as heavy, and per-
haps even more painful.
CHAPTER XXXHI.
THG RKIli.N (IK KHWAKD IV.
Thouoii F']dward was now oidy in his twentieth year, he had already
given i)ro(if8 of activity, courage and a very determined |)urpose; to wliicli
we must add. that almusl the very (irsi act of his reign showed that if lie
wci ' inure prompt and rcsiiiule than his fathrr, he was also by far mori'
violi It and sanguinary. A I'iii/en of Liimlon had the sign of the crown
above Ins shop, and jocularly said that his son should he "heir lo tlii)
crown." Anything more haruiless than this jocular speech, or mort^ ob-
vious than the Ir.idi'sm m's real mcamng, it w<puld not be ea>y to imagine
Hut Kdward, jealous of bis lille ami fcehlig himself insecure upon tli(»
throne, 'iavc ;i ircHsoiial)le liiicrprclalioii lo a merry joke, insisted that it
had a dcrisivi allusion to hiinseif, .ind aciiiilly haii the unfortimate man
condiiniied for treason — and cvecuted !
Tins brnlal murder was a filling pridmle lo tho scenes of slaughter with
which the kiiiu'doin w;is soon lilleil ; ah>l plainly |)roclaimeil that .Margaret
had now lo deal with an oppiHiciil lo the full as Irnciileiil .iiid niis|i:iiiflg
Bs herself. The nation was dividecl iiiio Lancastrians and Vorkisis, the
former bearing Ihe s\ mliol of the rcul. the latter of the white rose ; and i»i
though the blood sin 'I in actual liizlil were iiisuHicieiil lo allay the liger-
.ike desire of the principal opponenls, the scilVolds were dyed deeply wi'b
the blood of the prisoners taken t)y either party.
THE TllEASUaV OF HISTOKY.
393
(I wliii'li
;it if lit:
ir iiiDrt'
ClDWIl
to til"
iioii^ ol)-
iiii;iMii>*'
ion till)
lli;il it
itc mail
tcr with
ls|':inllK
isls. Ilic
; mill K»
III' tiu'iT-
ply wi'h
Margaret's popularity in the northern counties had enabled her to get
together an army of sixty thousand men, with which she took post in
Yorkshire, whither Edward and the earl of Warwick hastened to meet
her. On arrivino- at Pontcfract, Edward despatched Lord Fitzwalter with
a detachment to secure the passage over the river Ayre, at Ferrybridge.
Fitzwalter obtained possession of the important post in question, but was
speedily attacked there by very superior numbers of the Lancastrians un-
der Lord ClIfTord, who drove the Yorkists from their position with great
slaughter, Fitzwalter himself being among the slain. When the remains
of the beaten detachment carried these disastrous tidings to the earl of
Warwick, that nobleman, fearing that the misfortune would destroy the
spirits of his troops, had his horse brought to him, stabbed it to the heart
in presence of the whole army, and solemnly swore that he would share
the fatigues and the fate of the meanest of his soldiers. He at the same
time caused public proclamation to be made, giving permission to any sol-
dier who feared the approaching struggle immediately to depart from the
army, and in a similar spirit denounced the most severe punishment upon
any who on the actual day of battle should show any symptoms of cow-
ardice wiiile before the enemy. As the post which had been so disas-
trously lost by Fitzwalter was of great importance, Lord Falciinberg was
sent with a new detachment to recover it ; and, crossing the river at some
miles above Ferrybridge, he fell suddenly upon Lord Clitford's detachment
and routed it, ClifTord himself being among the very considerable number
of the killed.
The opposing armies at length met at Towton. The Yorkists charged
under favour of a severe snow-storm which the wind drove into the faces
of llie enemy, whose half blinded condition was still further turned to ad-
v;uii;ig(' by Lord Falcoiibcrg, who caused a party of his archers, while yet
ill more than ordinary arrow-shot from the opposite army, to discharge a
volley of the light, tar flying, but nearly harmless arrows called flight ar-
rows, and immediately to shift their position. The Lancastrians, (jiiito
unsuspicious of the stralasein, and prevented by the snow from noticing
I licir opponents' change of posiiioii, sent volley after volley of their arrows
ill the ilirection whence they hud been assailed, and when they had thus
bootlessly emptied their ((Uivers the main body of the Yorkists, led on by
Edward himself, made a grand and terribly destniclive charge; the bow
was laid aside on both sides for the sword and battle-axe, and the Lancas-
trians were routed and jiursued all the way to Tadeaster by their enemy.
The Laiicastri:iii loss, in the battle and the scarcely less murderous pur-
suit, was calculated at six and tliirly Ihousaiid men; among whom were
the c-.:rl of Westiiiorcland and his brotlier Sir .loliii Nevil, the earl of Nor-
iliiMilie-land, the lords Dacres and Welles, and Sir Andrew Trollope,
wljose licaehery had formerly been so disastrous to the cause of tlu- York-
ists. 'I he (••iri of Devonshire, who was uniong the jirisoiiers, was carried
hi'fore Mdward, who sternly ordered liiiii to be beheaded and his head to
he suii'k upon the gatt of York castle ; whence the liejids of the late diike
of York and the earl of Salisbury were now taken down Margaret and
her iiiiliappy husband were foriiiiiate enoiiirh to escape to Sroiland, wliillier
they were accoiiip.iiiied by the diike of Somerset and by the diike of I'lxe-
ler, who liml sided iiumnst Ivlward, alllioiisfh he !iad oiarrieil Ins sisier.
Si'oiluud w.Ts so niiK'li torn by faelion that the Seoliish coniicil alVorded
lint lillle eiieoiiraBeinent to Mnrgarel to even hope for assistance, until she
promised lo (jive up Herwick and lo eonlraet for a inarriaire of Inr son
and the sisier of King .lames. Even then the tVieiidsliip of llie Seols did
not Hssuine nil as()ect very threaleiiing to Edward, who traii(|uilly returned
to London imil Auminoned a parlianient.
Kdwanl's Hiiecess rendered this ptrliaineiit very rf idy to recogni«t» hit
» "'o to the throne by descent from the family of Mor'i"«'r it exoie«sed
MM
I
i
394
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
tlin )itniost detestation of what it now called the intrusion of Henry IV.,
annulled all grants made by the Laneiastrians, and declared Kdward's father
rightly seized of the crown, and himself the rightful king from the very
day lliat he was hailed so by acclamation of the soldiery and rabble, which
It complacently termed "the people."
A. p. 1462. — Though Kdward found his parliament thus accommodating,
ho so(Mi per(!eived that he had very great difficulties to contend against ere
he could consider himself secure in his possession of the crown. Not
only were there numerous disorders at home, the necessary result of civil
war, but there were enemies abroad. France, especially, seemed to
threaten Kdward with annoyance and injury. The throne of that country
was now filled by Louis XI., a wily, resolute, and unsparing despot. For-
tunately for Kdward, however, the tortuous policy of Louis had placed him
in circumstances which rendered his power to injure the reigning king of
Kngland very unequal indeed to his will to do so. He at first sent only
a very small body to the assistance of Margaret, and even when that queen
subsequently paid him a personal visit to solicit a more decided and effi-
cient aid, his own (piarrcls with the independent vassals of France only
allowed him to spare her two thousand men-at-arms, a considerable
f<ir('e, no doubt, but very unequal to the task of opposing such a prince
as I'Mward.
Willi this force, augmented bj' nnmerons Scottish adventurers. Margaret
made an irruption into the uoithern counties of Kngland, but she was de-
feated by liiiril Montague, warder of the eastern tnarchcs between Kng-
land and Sciiihind, fir»t at lledgeley Inver, and then at Hexham. In the
latter action .M;iii;nret's force was eoniplclely destroyed. Among the
prisoners were ,Sn' Humphrey Neville, the duke of Somerset, and the
iordn llnnsjerford and l)e l{o(»s, all of wli(»m, wilii many gentleman of less
note, were suniniarily executed as traitors. Henry, who had been as
usual, (oreed to the liatlle-lield, was for a time concealed by some of his
friends in L-ini'iishire, but at the end of alu)Ut a year was given up to Ed-
wviril. who held hiui in too nmch contempt to injure him beyond cuimnit-
liiiL'^ hiin to I'Idsc cnsiody in the Tower of Loudon.
MiirLMret after her esciipe from the fatal field of Hexham went through
advciilnris whicli ri'ad almost like the inventions of roiuanee. iSin^ was
passiiiir ihronuh ii ioresl wiili her son when she was attacked by robbers,
who, Irealnig with conteiiipi hi'r royal rank, robbed her of her vahialije
jewels iiid also |iersonally ill treated her. The (livisi(Mi of their rich lioiity
caused a general (|U.irrel, whieh so much engaged their allentioii that Mar-
carel and her son were eiialiled to escape. She uas agiiii stopped in llu^
foresl by a siiiirji. rubber, to whom — deriving fearlessness frojn the very
desperation of her eircinn^laiii'es — she coiir:i!,'e<Misly said, "Here, lliy
friend IS ilie son of your king ; to your hoiionr I entrust his safely." The
b(d'l ilenieaiioiir of the (pieeii ehaiiced !o cliiine in wilh the robber's liii-
nioiir; he vowed himself to her service, and protected her ihrmigh the
for«'>i 111 the sea co.ist, whence si scaped to her father's eonrl. where
for seu'ral years she lived in a slate of ease and (piieliide slraniiely ill
contrast willi the stormy hie she so long li.id been a<-eiislonied to lea, I,
Margaret |M)weiless, Henry iin|insoMei|, imd L(Miis of I'raiiee (iilly en-
gaijed with quarrels near.T huine, Kdward now tlKnitrht biinselt' siilti-
eit-iitlv seeureil upon bis throne lo lie warraiiteil in indiiluiiig in the t>ay-
Cties anil aiiintiis whieh were so well •'iiiled to his youth and leinpiT-
dineiit. IliM ihiiiiuh his tiallantries were by no means ill t.ikeii by Ilia
good ei|i/eii> of Loiiiloii, and perhaps even iiiaije him more popnhir llian
H priiiee of ur.ner life woiihl have been at th.tt lime, his siiseepliliillly to
the ch.irms of ilie fa r al leiigih inv<dvcd hiin in a sitious ipianel.
The eiirl of Warwick and other powerful friends of Kdward advised
)l<lii lo iiiarr\ , and thus, lly his mairiiiiiHiial alliance, still fartlnr streiigihvii
ear
sta
Lor
con
»IK
Sir
a III
wIk
dee
'I'l
evei
W,,
hi-
IIIIMI
iialii
IMi'l
form
Ve.v;<
heeii
most
disi/ii
hn
deiiiii
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
395
nis throne. Thi! adviite tallit'd well witli Kilwiird's own jiulgiiK'nt, and
tlie earl of Warwick was dispat(diud lo Paris to treat for lliu hand of
Bona of Savoy, sistiff of tliii queen of France, and Warwick siiccoeded
80 well that he returned to Kiijrland wiiii the whole affair r(!a(Iy for for-
niai ratification. Uul during Warwick's absence tii:; fickle ami amorous
mastiM- had been enijajji'd in reiidcrnia; the earl's mission not merely use-
less, but as miscliievons as anything could be thai, was calculated to ex-
cite the hatred and rage of such a prince as Louis XI.
The lady Klizabeth, widow of Sir .loliu Grey, of Groby, who was killed
at the second battle of St. Albans, was, by the confiscation of her hus-
band's estates, for his siding wilii the Lant^astrians, so reduced in her
worldly circumstances, that she and her children were dependant on her
father, in whose house, at Grafton in Northamptonshire, they all lesided.
She was still young, and her remarkable bisnily was little impaired by
the sorrows she had endured; and the king, while hunting, chancing to
visit (Jrafton, the lady Klizabeth look the iip(iorliiiiity to throw herself at
his feet and entreat the restoration of her husband's estates, for the sake
of her unfortmiate children. At sight of her beauty, heigiitened by her
suppliant attitude, the intlammable king fell suddenly and deeply in love
with her. He in his turn became a smtor. and as her prudence or her
virtue would not allow her to listen to dishonourable proposals, the in-
fatuated monaridi privately married her.
When Warwick returned from France with the consent of Louis to the
marriage with Hona of Savoy, the imprudent marriage of the king, iiith-
erto kept quite secret, \v;is of necessity divniged ; and Warwick, indig-
nant and disgusted with the ridiculous part he had been made to play in
wooing a bride fur a prince who was alrc^ady married, left the court with
no amicable feelings towards his wayward master.
A. D. 14(J5. — The mischief of Kdward's hasty and iiu^onsiderate al-
liance did not end here. Like all persons who ari^ raised much above
their original rank, the queen was exceedingly presuming, and the chief
business of her life was to use her intlueiKU! over her still enamoured
husband to heap titles and wiaUh upon her family and friends, anil to
nun those who were, or were -uspecled to be, hostib; to her grasping and
ainbiti<nis views. ILir father, a mere private gentleman, was created
earl of Itivers, made treasurer in the room of the lord Mountjoy, and con-
stalde for life, with sncciession to his son, who, marrying the daughli^r of
Lord Scales, had the title as well as the vast estates of that nohlemmi
cDiiferreil upon him. The queen's sisters wert^ piovidiul with proportion-
silly splendid marriages, and the queen's son by her first marriage, voung
Sir Thomas (irey, was conlr.icted to the heiress of the duke of Kxeler,
a niece of the king, whoso hand had been pnnuised to Lord .Montague,
who, with the whole powerful Neville family, was consequently very
deeply ofTeiided.
'i'lie exorbitant and insatiabb- craving of the (jueeu's family disgusted
every one ; but to no one did it give- such bitter feelings as to the e.irl of
Warwick, who, tliough from his favmir with the crown lie hail made up
his fiMlni'.e to the enormous amount of eighty thousand crowns per an-
iiiiiii, as we learn from Pliilio de ('oinines, was himself of so urasping a
nature thi'.t he wa.s still greedy for more gam, and, perhaps, still more dia-
iiielined to see (itliers in possession of the favour and mlliienee which ho
formerly liad almost exclusively enjoyed. This powerful noble, having
vexi'tioiis of th's kind to imbitler his anger at ilii' way iii whicli be hail
been treated n» rvjarded the marriage, was urged to wishes and projects
tiiost hoi. tile to f'Mward's throne; and as many of the noliility were much
(lisgeBtei'i with K'lward on iiccount of his resumption of ijraiils, Warwick
Iriil MO diinmlty in ti>idinK sympathy in his anger ami assocMtioii in hi*
deit|ir|18.
MM
396
THE TKKASUKV OF HISTORY.
'h
i|
Among all the high personages of the khigdom to whom Edward's ira
prudent marriage and uxorious folly gave offence, none felt more deeply,
perhaps none more reasonably, offended than Edward's second brother,
the duke of Clarence. From his near relationship to tiie king he had
every right to expect the most liberal treatment at his hands ; but so fai
was he from receiving it, that wliile the queen and her recently obscure
relations were overwhelmed with favours of the most costly kind, hia
fortunes were still left precarious and scanty. Warwick, a shrewd judge
of men's tempers, easily descried the wounded and indignant feelings of
Clarence, and offered him the hand of his eldest daughter, who, being
Warwick's co-lieiruss, could bring the duke a much larger fortune tlian
the king could bestow upon him, even liad he been better inclined than
he had hitherto appeared, to mend the slender fortunes of his brother.
Having thus united the influence of the duke of Clarence to his own,
and engaged him inextricably in his projects, Warwick had no difficulty
in forming an extensive and very powerful confederacy against the king.
A. D. 1-1C9. — The unsettled and turbulent temper of the kingdom, and
the preparatory measures of such a confederacy, so headed, could not
fail to produce a state of things in which the slightest accidental occur
rence might lead to the most extensive and dangerous public disorders,
especially as in spite of all Edward's success, and the stern severity with
which he had used it, there was still remaining throughout the country a
strong though a concealed attachment to the ruined house of Lancaster.
A grievance which at first sight ajiijcared little connected with slate
quarrels, and of a nature to be easily settled by so arbitrary a monarch
as Edward, caused the brooding discontents to burst forth into open vie.
lencr .
St. Leonard's hospital, in Yorkshire, like many similar establishments,
had from a very early age possessed the right of receiving a thrave of
corn from every plougiilaiul in the district ; and the poor complained,
most likely with great reason, tliat this tax, which was instituted for tli. ir
relief, was allogetlier, or nearly so, perverted to the personal einolun niil
of the managers of tlie charity. From complaints, wholly treated with
contempt or neglect, the peasantry in the neighbourhood proceeded :> re-
fusal to pay the tax; and when their goods and persons were molesttd for
their contumacy, they fairly took up arms, and having put to death the
whole of the hospital officials, they inarched, full fifteen thousand strong,
to the gales of the city of York. Here tliey were opposed by some
troofis uiide. .he lord Montague, and he liaving taken prisoner their leader,
by name Robert Huldcrne, instantly caused him to be executed, after the
common and disgracc^ful practice of tliose violent times.
The loss of their leader did not in the h^ast intimidate the rebels; they
Btill kept in arms, and were now joined and headtnl by friends of the earl
of Warwick, who saw in this revolt of the peasantry a favourable oppor-
tunity for aiding their own more extensive ami ambitious views.
Sir Henry Neville ami Sir John Conyers having placed liicinselvcs at
the head of the rebels, drew them off from their merely local and loosely
contrived plants and marched tliein southward, their numbers increasiiii;
so greatly during their progress as to cause great and by no means ill-
fouiiiled alarm to tin! government. Herbert, who had obtained the earl-
dom of Pembroke on the forfeiture of .lasper 'I'mlor, was orilered to
march against tiie rebels at the head of a body of Welshmen, reinforced
liy five thoiisanil well-appointed archers commanded by .Stafford, earl of
Hoonshire, who had obti-'iied that title on the forfeiture of the yreat
Coiirlney fiinily. Scarcely had these two noblemen, however, joined
their forces, when a quarrel broke out between them upon some trivial
question alioiil |iriority of right t.i ipiarters, and so utterly forueifnl did
the angei of Devonshire render hiin of the gre.it and impurtant object ul
and
fori IK
from
brave
Was
tlioiigi
poiii!
Ciice,
proiiii;
ed by
want
been
save
oppoii
effeil I
'I'Ikmi
ally,
vet .s
tlle>e
foa b,n
iin|ires>
dis|.,ite|
buii,pi(>i
A. n.
no slLr||,
as W(
froiii I III
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
397
jiflvcs at
i\ loosely
[icrciisiiii}
lusiiis ill-
llU) (Mil-
■rilt'rrd 10
IflllfoKld
III, t'Hil Ol
Mil' unal
i'|-, jiiiiifl
l)it' trivial
\rttflll iliil
Olljl'll ol
i!is comniand, that lie sullenly drew off his valuable force of archers, and
left ilie earl of Pembroke to stand the brunt of the approaching encounter
with lite rebels with his own unaided and inferior force.
Undismayed by this defection of his colleague, Pembroke continued to
approacli the rebels, when the hostile forces met near Banbury. At the
first encounter Pembroke gained the advantage, and Sir Ileiiry Neville
beiuif among his prisoners, he had that popular gentleman immediately
executed. If this severity was intended to strike terror into the rebels
it wholly failed of its purpose. The rebels, so far from being iiitiniidated,
were incited by their rage to a carnage more desperate than, piob.ibl}',
any other means could have inspired tiiem with, and they attacked the
Welsh so furiously that the latter were completely routed, and vast num-
bers perished in the pursuit, the Welsh sternly refusing quarter. Pem-
broke bciii^ uiifoitunalely taken prisoner by the rebels, was by Iliem con-
signed to the same fate which he had inflicted upon their leader. The
king was very naturally excited to the utmost indignation by the fatal
results of tiie obstinacy and insubordination of the earl of Devonshire,
whom he caused to be executed.
Even here the cold butcheries which either party dignified with the
name of executions did not terminate. Some of the rebels, dispatched
to Cirafton by Sir John Couyers, succeeded in capturing the queen's
inollicr, tile earl of Rivers, and liis son, Sir John Grey; and, tlieir sole
crime being that they were related to «the queen and that they were not
piiilosophers enough to refuse to profit by that rclatiiuisliip, they, too,
were " executed'' by the rebels.
Thoiijili tiiere is no ri'asonable ground for doubting that the earl of
Warwick, and his son-in-law, tiie duke of Clarence, were the real liliect-
ors of the revolt, ihey deemed it politic to leave its public mauageinent
to Xi'ville and Couyers— doubtless to be tolerably sure of the result be-
fore they would too far commit their personal safety. Accordingly all
the whde that so much bloodshed had been going on in Kiigluiui, Warwick
and ("larenee lived ill great apjiareut uiii'oncern at Calais, of whicli the
former was siovernor, and, still farther to conceal their ultimate intentions
from the king, Warwick's brother, the lord Montague, was among the
bravest and most active of the opponents of the rebels. So eonliilent
was Warwick that the suspicious of the king could not fall upon him,
ilioush the murder of the earl Rivers was surely a cireuiiislance to have
poiau il to the guilt of that nobleman's bitterest rival, that he and ("^lar-
enee, when the languid rale at which the rebellion progressed seemed to
proiinse a disastrous i>sue to it, canii! over to Knglaiid, and were entrust-
ed by llilward with very considerable commands, wliieli, prolialily from
want of opportiiiiily, they made no ill use of. The rebellion having
been already very considerably (juelled, Warwick, probably an.xioiis to
save as many malcontents as jjossililt! for a fnliire and more f.ivoiiiable
oj)liiiiliiiiity, persuaded Kdward to grant a general pardon, which had the
elVeii of completely dispersing the already wearied and discour.ii;ed rebels.
Tlioiii>h Warwiirk and Montague nave so much outward show of loy-
.illy, aiiil llioiigh the king heaped favours and honours u|)oii the family, he
vet !-ecins to have b(!en iiy no mean unaware of thi' secret fei'lin;4Md"l)ipth
llioe resiless noblemen ; for on one occasion when be aceonipanied them
to a liaiapii't given by their brolhi'r, llu^ arelibishop of York, he was so
inipiesseil with tiie fetdiiig that he intended to take that opjiertiinity of
disiiiitelimt; him by poison or otherwise, tliat hi; suddenly rushed from the
baii.pielinu room aiitl hastily returned to his palace,
A. n. 1 ITtl. — A new rebelliim now broke imt. At the outset there' wert
no si^nis to eonneet I'itlier «'larenee or t!ie ei'rl of Warwick with it; ye
as w(^ know how invit" lately disloyal both the dnke and the earl were
I'rum the uiomcnl th.it Mdward married, and also that as soon as they had
1
393
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
an opportunity, and had reason to believe that the rebellion would oe sue-
cessfiii, they prepared, as will be seen, to add open revolt to the foulcsst
treaciiery. This rebellion coinnienced in Lincolnshire, and in a very
short ti";>' the leader of it, Sir Robert Welles, was at the head oi not fewer
than thiriy thousand men. Sir Robert's father, the Lord Welles, not only
took no part in the proceedings of his son, but showed his sense of both
their danirer and impropriety by taking shelter in a sanctuary. Bui thia
prudent conduct did not save him from the vengeance of the king. The
unfortunate nobhunan was by plausil)le arguments allured from the sanc-
tuary, anil, in company of Sir Thomas Dymoke, beheaded by the kuig's
orders. I'Mward soon after gave battle to the rebels and defeated them,
and Sir Robert Welles and Sir Thomas Launde being taken prisoners,
were iininediately beheaded. So little did ihe king suspect Clarence and
Warwick of any concealed influence! in tiiese disturbances, that he gave
them commissiou- of array to raise troops to opposes the rebels. The op-
portunity thus affor led them of forwarding their treasonaiile views was
too tempting to he resisted, and they at once removed all doubts as to their
real feelings by levying forces against Ihe king, and issuing remonstraru'cs
against the pnl)lic measures and the king's ministers. Tlie defeat of Sir
Robert Welles was a sad discouiagement to them, but they had now pro-
C(!eded loo far to be able! to withdraw, and they marched their army into
FiancMsliire. Here they fully expected the countenance and aid of Sir
Thomas .Stanley, who was the earl of Warwick's brother-in-law, bin find-
ing that luilliertliat iiobltMiian nor the lord .Montague would join them,
they dismissed their army and hastened to Calais (the government ol
Warwick) where' tliey confidently calculated upon finding a sure and safe
refuge. Here again, however, they wen' doomed to be disaiipoiiiled. On
leaving Calais the last time, Warwick had left there, as his depniy gov
ernor, a (iascon named \^iiicler. This gentleman, who was no stran-
ger to Warwick's disloyally, readily judged by the foilorn and ill-attended
style ill which liiat iiolilennin iiiid the duke of Clarence now made llieir
appearain-e before (Calais, that tliey had been unsnccessfnily engaged in
some illegal proceeding ; he therefore refused them admittance, and would
not even allow the duchess of Clarence to land, though she Iiad been de-
livered of a child while at sea, and was in a most pilialile state of ill health.
As, however, he by no means wished to break irremediably with men
whom some ciianci! might sjieedily render as powerful as ever. Vaiicler
sent wine and other stores for the use of the ducliess, and secretly assured
Warwick that li<' only seemed to side against him, in order that lit; might,
by gaining the conlideiKv of the king, be able lo givi- llie fortress up to
the e irl at the first "pporluiiity ; anil he dilaled upon those circunislaiices
of the placi! which rendered it very ini|)robal)le that the garrison and in-
iliiliilaiils would jnsl at ihat lime siitfer it lo be held by Warwick against
the estalili>lie(l government of I'higland. Wliatcxcr might be Waruick's
real opinion of the sincerity of Vaiicler, he feigned to he qinte satislied
Willi Ins condiiel, and having seized nonw Flemish vessels which l;iy od
the coast, he forthwith departed lo try his fortune al the c(Mirl of Krame.
Mere he was well received, for the French king bad fininerly held a close
eorre?'|ioiidence v\iUi the earl, and was just now excreduigly hostile lo
Kilward oil accoinil of Ihe friendship which e.MsIrd between that iiionarcli
and the most tuibiileiil as well as llie most powerful vassal of Kiaiicc,
the diike of Ihiruniidy, Tlioiigli the earl of Warwick had so much reason
to hale the house of Laiii'iister, the king so urgently jiressed hiin lo a re-
conciliiitioii, and lo allein|it lo restore thai lioii>ie to the llirone of Kiig-
land, that at an inlerview with (Jiiceii Marnaret Ihe earl eoiiseiiicd to a
recoiicdiatioii, ainl to doing his nimost lo restore Henry lo his throne (>n
cerlain conditioiiH. The chief of these eoiidilioiis were, ihal the earl o(
Warwick and the duke of (,'larence should ailiniiiisier in Kiijjland during
)lll(l
tie-
ilth.
inoii
iiclcr
ured
i^lit,
ip to
IICCS
in-
lillSl
isli'.'d
iV iitl
■;U\i'i'.
IonO
»' to
m.ircli
;iilfi',
rciisdii
11 rt'-
Iv.m-
1 to w
IIP' on
Mi-l o(
dui'iiig
THE TIlEASUllY OF HISToaV.
301)
llie whole minority of Prince Edward, son and lieir of Henry ; that thai
young prince siioiild marry the lady Anne, Warwick's second d>iun;hter,
a'ud thai, failing issue to them, the crown should be entailed on the duke
of Clarence, to the absolute exclusion of the issue of the reigning king.
I3y way of showing the sincerity of this unnatural confederacy, Prince
Edward and the lady Anne were married immediately.
Edward, who well knew the innate and ineradicable hostility of War-
wick's real feelings towards the house of Lancaster, caused a lady of
great talent to avail herself of her situation about the person of the duke
of tMarence, to inttuence the duke's niind,especialy with a view to making
him doubtful of tlie sincerity of Warwick, and of the probahility of his
long continuing faithful to this new alliance ; and so well did the fair envoy
ex(M'l her powers, that the duke, on a solemn assurance of Kdward's for-
giveness and fuiure favour, consented to take the earliest favourable op-
portunity to desert his father-in-law. Uut wliile Kdward was intent upon
detacliing the duke of Clarence from Warwick, this latter nobleman was
uf) less successful in gaining over to his side his brother, the marquis of
Montague, whose adhesion to Warwick was the more dangcious to Kd-
ward because .Montague was entirely in his <'onfidence.
When Warwick had completed his preparations, Louis supplied him
with men, money, and a fleet; while the duke of Hnrijundy, on the other
h;md, closely united with Edward, and having a personal quarrel with
Warwick, cruised in the channel in the hope of nitercepting iliat nobleman
ere he could land in England. The duke of Ihirgundy, while thus actively
exerting himself for Edwarit's safety, also sent him the most urijent and
wise advice; but Edward was so over confident in his own strength, that
he professed to wish that Warwick mi^^ht make good his landing.
In this respect his wish was soon granted. A violent storm dispersed
the duke of Hurgundy's tleet, and Warwick was thus enabled to land with-
out opposition on the; coast of Devon, accompanied by the duke of Cla-
rence and the earls of O.xford and Pembroke. 'The king was at this time
in the north of England engaged in putting down a revolt caused liy War-
wick's brother-in-law, the lord Filzhugh: and Warwick's popularity being
•inis left unopposed, he, who had landed with a force far too small I'or his
•iesliins, saw himself in a very few days at the head of upwards of sixty
(lionsand men.
The king on hearing of Warwick's lauding hastened southward to meet
liiin, and the two armies came in sight of each other at Nolliiigham. An
action was almost hourly expected, and Edward was still coiirKlcm In his
gooil fortune; but he was now to feel the ill effects of tiii! overweeiiini;
(rust lie hail put in the marquis of Moiilairue. That nohlcinan sndiieiily
got Ins adherents underarms during the darkness of the niifhi lioiirs, and
made their way to the quarter occupietl by the king, shonliiin- llie war-cry
of llie hostile army. Edward, who was awakened hv ibis sudden tuinnll,
uas Informed liy Lord Hastings of the real cause of it, and nrgcii ios;ive
!iinis(driiy lliglil while tiien? was sidl time I'or him to do so. .So well had
(he marquis of .Montague limeil his Ireacherons measure, that Edward had
bandy tune to make his escape on li(»rseback to Lynn, in Noilolk, where
lie got on board ship and sailed from England, leaving Warwick so siid-
lii'iily and rapidly master of the kingdom, (hit iIk! (ickle and licsiiating
('lai'ciice h;id not had time for the cliangt! of sides ho had conlemiilaled,
and wliicli woulil now have been fital to him.
S(i sudden had been Edward's forced departure from his king loin, that
be had not lime to lake money, jewels, or any oiher valuables wiib him ;
and when, after narrowly escaping from (he Manse towns, (hen al at
Willi biidi England ;ind Krance. lie landi'd ;it AhMiiaer, in Holland, he , .id
nothing with which to recompense the master of the ship save a robe richlv
,..#•''
lOT
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
liiif'd with sable fur, which he accompanied with assurances of a more
subsfintial recompense should more prosperous times return.
Tho duke of Burgundy was greatly annoyed at the misfortune of Ed-
ward. Personally and in sincerity the duke really preferred the Lancas-
trian to the Yorkist house; he had allied himself w'llh the latter solely
from the politic motive of beinff allied to tiie reigning house of Kngland ;
and now that the Lancastrians were so triumphant that even the cautious
Vauclcr, who had been confirmed by Edward in his government of Calais,
did not scruple to give that important place up to Warwick — a pretty
certain proof that the Lancastrians were secure for some time at least—
the duke was greatly perplexed by the necessity he was under of invid-
iously giving a cold reception to a near connection who was suffering
from misfortune, or of being at the expense and discredit of supporting a
penniless fugitive whose very misfortunes were in no slight degree attri-
butable to his own want of judgment.
Tho flight of Edward from the kingdom was the signal for Warwick to
give liberty to the unhappy Henry, whose confinement in the Tower had
been chiefly the earl's own work. Henry was once more proclaimed king
with all due solemnity, and a parliament was summoned to meet him at
Westminster, whose votes were, of course, the mere echoes of the in-
sructions of the more dominant faction of Warwick. As had formerly
been agreed between Warwick and Queen Margaret, it was now enucled
by tho parliament that Henry was the rightful and only king of England,
but that Ills inibocility of mind rendered it requisite to have a regency, the
powers of which were placed in the hands of the duke of Clarence and the
earl of Warwick during the minority of Prince Edward, and the duke of
Ch'roncc was declared heir to the throne failing the issue of that younij
p Mcc. As usual, very much of the time of the parliament was occupied
in reversing the attainders which had been passed against Lancastrians
during the prosperity of the house of York. In one respect, however, this
parliament and its dictator Warwick deserve considerable praise — thei;
power was used without that wholesale and unsparing resort to bloodshec
by which such triumphs are but too generally disgraced. Many of tin
IcadliiLf Yorkists, it is true, fled beyond the sea, but still more of thou
were allowed to remain undisturbed in the sanctuaries in which they lool
rofujio; and among these was even Edward's queen, who was delivercc
of a son wliom she had christened by the name of his absent father.
A. n. '171. — Queen Margaret, who was perhaps, somewhat less active
than she had been in earlier life, was just preparing to return to England
with Prince Edward and the duke of Somerset, son to the dnko of that
title who was beheaded after the battle of Hexham, when their journey
was rendered useless by a new turn in the affairs of England ; a turn most
lament:iblo to those Lancastrians who, as Philip de Comines tells us of
tlie dukes of Somerset and Exeter, were reduced to absolute beggary.
The lurn of affairs to which we allude was mainly caused by the impru-
dence of tho earl of Warwick, who acted towards the duke of Burgundy
in such wise as to compel that prince in sheer self-defence to aid the
exiled Edward. The duko's personal predilections being really on the
side of the Lancastrians, it required only a timely and prudent policj on
tho part of tlie earl of Warwick to have secured, at tin; least, the duke's
uoniralliy. But the earl, laying too much stress upon the relationship lie-
twccM Edward anil Burgiuidy, look it for granted that the latter must ho ii
determined enemy to the Lancastrians, and caused him to boconio so by
soiidiiig •' body of four thousand men to Calais, whence they made very
niischicvcins irruptions into tho Low Cotmtries. Burgundy, fearing thf
eonseqiioncos of being attacked at once by France aucl by England, de-
teriniiiod to divert the attention and power of the latter by assisting IiIb
nrotln'r-iulaw. But while determined so to aid Edward as to enable huii
ofLu
ill till
and
hope
the :
govoi
and
corres
Bo
cf the
from I
Th(
U'Mrw
and
liiirnct
'■iioinc
from
«'itli t\
to tho
peace f(
rence
put all
'CcKnl
I'llliMV
v.,
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
401
a moT«
of Ed-
Lancasi-
• solely
ngland ;
:autiou8
[ Calais.
1 pretty
t least—
)f iiivid-
sufforing
porting a
ree atlri-
irwick to
ower had
mod king
et him at
jf the in-
formerly
w euiielcd
' England,
jrency, the
ice and the
he dnke of
that young
,s occupied
aiicastrians
,\vevcr,this
■aise— iheii
) bloodshcc
[any of tin
fc of then
h they tool
s deliverer
Itlic.r.
Irss active
to England
Hike of tliat
li'ir journey
i;i turn n)05t
Is tells us of
ito beggary.
y the nn|ini-
[f Burgundy
I, to aid the
eally oil the
nt poli'-J oil
t, the duke's
[itionshiphe-
T must be ii
■come so by
made very
. fearing tlu'
lEiigland, de-
assisling hif
enable Inn,
to give Warwick's party abundant anxiety and trouble, the duke waa not
the less careful to do so with the utmost attention to the preservation of
friendly appearances towards the English government. With this view
he furnished Edward with eighteen vessels, large and small, together with
a sum of money ; but he hired the vessels in the name of some merchants,
and still further to mislead Warwick, or to give him a plausible reason for
pretending to be misled, no sooner had Edward sailed than the duke pub-
li(dy forbade his subjects from affording any aid or countenance to that
prince either by land or water.
Edward in the meantime, with a force of two thousand men, attempted
to land upon the coast of Norfolk, but was driven off, and he then landed
at Ravenspur, in Yorkshire. Perceiving that here, too, from the care
which Warwick had taken to fill the magistracy with his own pariizans,
the Lancastrian party was far the most popular and powerful, Edward
adopted the policy which had formerly so well served the duke of Lan-
caster, and issued a proclamation in which he solemnly averred that he had
landed without any intention of challenging the crown or of disturbing the
national peace, but had come solely for the purpose of demanding the
family possessions of the house of York, to which he was incontestibly
entitled. This affected moderation caused great rmmbers to join his
standard who would not have done so had he openly avowed his intention
of endeavouring to recover the crown ; and he speedily found himself
possessed of the city of York and at»the head of an army sufficiently
numerous to promise him success in all his designs ; while his chance
uf success was still further increased by the unaccountable apathy of the
marquis of Montague, who had the command of all the forces in the
north, but took no steps to check the movements of Edward, though he
surely could not have been unaware how important and dangerous they
were. Warwick was more alert, and having assembled a force at Lei-
cester he prepared to give battle to Edward, who, however, contrived to
pass him and to make his way to London. Had Edward been refused ad-
mittance here, nothing could have saved his cause from complete ruin ;
but he had not taken so bold a step without carefully and, as it proved,
correctly calculating all his chances. In the first place, the sanctuaries
of London were filled with his friends, who he well knew would join him ;
in the next place, he was extremely popular with the ladies of London,
and indebted to their husbands for sums of money which they could nevei
hope to receive unless he should succeed in recovering the crown ; and in
the third place, Warwick's brother, the archbishop of York, to whom the
government of the city was entrusted, gave a new instance of the facile
and shameless treachery which disgraced thai •■me, by entering into a
correspondence with Edward, and agreeing to betray his own brotiier.
Being admitted into the city of London, Edward made himself master
of the |)erson of the unfortunate Henry, who was tluis once more passed
froni the throne to the dungeon.
Though many circumstances gave advantage to Edward, the earl ol
Wiu-wick was liy no tueans inclined to yield witiiout a fairly stricken field,
•and having collected all the force he could raise tie stationed himself at
Biirnet. Mere he was doomed to the deep mortification of fully experi-
oiicjiig the ingratitude and treacliery of Clarence, who suddenly broke
from his quarters during the night, and made his way o>'er to Edward
with twelve thousand of Warwick's best troojjs. Had Warwick listened
In the dictates of prudence lie would now have closed with the oilers of a
peaceful settlement which were made to him by both Edward and Cla-
rence ; but he was thoroughly aroused and enrage(l, and he resolved to
put all consequences upon the issue of a general action. It commenced
iccordingly, and both leaders and soldiers on each sid- displayed extraor
dininv valour. A mere accident gave a decisive turn to the long uncer
Vol.. 1. ■.'(;
.fh
/"
102
THE TREASUEY OF HISTORY.
tain fortune of the day. The cognizance of the king was a sun, that ol
Warwick a star with rays diverging from it ; and in the dense mist which
prevailed during the battle the earl of Oxford was mistaken for a Yorkish
leader, and he and his troops were beaten from the field with very great
slaughter by his own friends. This disaster was followed by the death
of Warwick, who was slain while fighting on foot, as was his brother
Montague. The Lancastrians were now completely routed, and Edward
giving orders to deny quarter, a vast number were slain in the pursuit as
well as in the battle. Nor was the vietoiy wholly without cost to the
conquerors, who lost upwards of fifteen hundred men of all ranks.
As Warwick had determined not to make terms with l^Idward, his bosl
policy would have been to await the arrival of Queen Margaret, who was
daily expected from France, and whose influence would have united all
Lancastrians and probably have ensured victory. But Warwick, unsus-
picious of Clarence's treachery, felt so confident of victory, that he was
above all things anxious that Margaret should not arrive in time to share
his anticipated glory ; but though he had on that ace. i.nt hurried on tiie
action, Margaret and her son, attended by a small body of French, landed
in Dorsetshire on the very day after the fatal batt'e of B.irnet. IUtc as
soon as she landed she learned Warwick's defeat and death, and tlie new
captivity of her inveterately unfortunate husband ; and she was so much
depressed by the information that she took sanctuary at Beaulieu abbey.
She was here visited and encouraged by Tudor, earl of Pembroke, Coiir-
tenay, earl of Devonshire, and other men of rank and influence, and in-
duced to make a progress through Devon, Somerset, and Gloucestersliiro.
In this neighbourhood her cause appeared to be exceedingly popular, for
every day's march made a considerable addition to her force. She was
at length overtaken at Tewkesbury, in Gloucestershire, by Edward's army
and in the battle which ensued she \»~s completely defeated, with tlie lo.sg
of about three thousand men, amopg whom were the earl of Dcvonsliire
and Lord Wenlock, who were killed in the field, and the duke of Somerset
and about a score more persons of distincjtion who, having taken sanctuary
ill a church, were dragged out and beheaded.
Among the prisoners were Queen Margaret and her son. They were
taken into the presence of Edward, who sternly demanded of the young
prince on what ground he had ventured to invade England. Thc'higli-
spirited boy, regarding rather the fortune to which he was born liian liie
powerless and perilous situation in which the adverse fortune of war !i;ul
placed him, boldly and imprudently replied that he had come to En!,'laiid
for the rightful purpose of claiming his just inheritant'e. This answer so
much enraged Edward, tliat he, forgetful alike of decency and mercy,
struck the youth in the face with his gauntlcted lian<l. .\s thouirli this
violent act had been a preconcerted signal, the dukes of Gloucester aiul
Clarence, with Lord Hastings and Sir Thomas (tray, dragged tin; young
prince into an adjoining room and there dispatched him with their datry;ors.
Tlie unhappy Mariiarel was committed to close confinement in the Tmver,
ill wiiicli sad prison Henry had expired a few days after the battle ol
Tewkesbury. As ILmry's health had long been infirm, it seems quite
likely that his death was natural, but as the temper of the times made
violence at the least probable, Edward caused the body to be exposed to
puliiic view, and it certainly showed no signs of unfair means.
The cause of the liancastrians was now extinguished. The priiii'es ol
that house were dead, the best and most devoted of its friends were eitiier
fugitive or dcjid, and Tudor, earl of Pembroke, who had been riijsiiig
forces ill Wales, now disbanded them in despair, and sought safety, will:
his nephew, the earl of Kichmond, in Brittany. The last efl'ort was iiiiidr
by the bastard of Falconberg, who Icivied forces and advanced to London
but he was deserted by hJs troops, taken prisoner, and executeo
oft;
tilCi
linie
avail
I'iaii
view.'
than
betw(
agree
'o ni;
aioiia
ivliici
side I
luated
Tht
— whi
for iht
THE TKEA8UEY OF HISTORY.
403
Edw.ird, now wholly triumphant, summoned a parliament, which com-
pliantly sanctioned his deeds; and all dangers being now at an end, he
resumed the jovial and dissipated life to wiiieh he owed no small portion
of that popularity which would, most probably, have been refused to a
piince of a higher cast of character and of more manly and diornified
bearing.
Edward, however, was soon recalled from his indulgence in pleasure,
by the necessity for attending to his foreign interests. He was by no
means unconscious of the cold and constrained reception that had been
given to him in his adversity by the duke of Burgundy ; but considerations
of interest now led Kdward to make a league with the duke against the
king of France. By this league it was provided that Edward should cross
ihe sea with not fewer than ten thousand men for the invasion of France,
ui which he was to be joined by the duke of Burgundy with all the force
he could command. The objects proposed by the allies were to acquire
for England the provinces of Normandy and Guienne, at least, and if pos-
sible the crown of France, to which Edward was formally to challenge
the right ; while the duke of Burgundy was to obtain Champagne, witli
some further territory, and the freedom for his hereditary territories from
all feudal superiority on the part of France. Their league seemed the
more likely to be successful, because they had good reason to hope for
the co-operation of the duke of Brittany, and they had the secret assur-
ance of the count of St. Pol, who was constable of France, and held St.
Quentin and other important places *on the Somme, that he would join
ihem when they should enter France.
A French war was always sure to excite the pecuniary liberality of the
English parliament, which now granted the king two shillings in the
pound on all rents, and a fifteenth and three quarters of a fifteenth ; but
tills money was to be kept in religious houses, and returned to the con-
tributors in the event of the expedition against France not taking place.
From this stringent care of the money we may perceive how much the
commons of England had increased, both in power and in the knowledge
how to make efficient and prudent use of it.
A. D. 1475. — So popular was the king's project against France, that all
the powerful nobles of England offered him their aid and attendance ; and
inntead of the stipulated ten thousand men, he was enabled to land at
Calais with fifteen thousand archers and fifteen hundred men-at-arms.
Bu'. to Edward's great annoyance, when he entered France he was disap-
pointed by the count of St. Pol, who refused to open his gates to him, and
by the duke of Burgundy, who, instead of joining Edward with all his
forces, had employed them against the duke of Lorraine and on the frontiers
of Germany. This circumstance, so fatal to Edward's views, arose out of
the fiery temper of Burgundy, who personally apologized, but at the same
time confessed that it would be impossible for him to make his troops
available to Edward for that campaign. Louis XL, that profound politi-
cian who thought nothing mean or degrading which could aid hini in his
views, no sooner learned the disappointmeui which had befallen Edward,
than lie sent him proposals of peace; and a truce was easily concluded
between tiiem, Louis paying seventy-five thousand crowns down, and
agreeing to pay two-thirds of that sum aiuiually for their joint lives, and
to marry the dauphin, when of age, to Edward's daughter. Tlic two
inoiiarchs met at Pecquigin to ratify this treaty; and the prcc;iulions
which were taken to nrevent the possibility of assasshiation on either
side give us but a low notion of the honour by which eitlier prince w as ac-
tuated himself or supposed the other to be.
There was one clause of this treaty — otherwise so disgraceful to Louis
—which was highly creditable to the French king. By it he stipulated
for the sp'" release of the unfortunate Margaret, for whose ransom Louit
«|l#'i
404
THE TREASim» Of HISTORY.
eoMseiited to pay fifty thousand crowns. She vas released accordingly,
and until lier death, which occurred in 1482, she lived in complete seclu-
sion from that world in which she had formerly played so conspicuous
and so unfortunate a part.
There was in the character of Edward a certain cold and stubborn
severity which made it no easy matter to recover his favour after he had
once been offended. His brother Clarence, much as he had done in the
way of treachery towards his unfortunate father-in-law, was far enough
from being really restored to Edward's confidence and favour. The
brooding dislike of the king was the more fatal to Clarence from tliat un-
fortunate prince having imprudently given deep offence to the queen and
to his brother the duke of Gloster, a prince who knew not much of truth
or of remorse when he had any scheme of ambition or violence to carry.
Well knowing the rash and open temper of Clarence, his formidable
enemies determined to act upon it by attacking his friends, which they
rightly judged would be sure to sting him into language that would ruin
him with his already suspicious and offended king and brother.
It chanced that as the king was hunting at Arrow, in Warwickshire,
he killed a white buck which was a great favourite of the owner, a wealthy
gentleman named Burdett. Provoked by the loss of his favourite, the
gentleman passionately exclaimed that he wished the buck's horns were
stunk in the belly of whoever advised the king to kill it. In our settled
and reasonable times it really is no easy matter to understand how — even
had the speech related, as it did not, to the king himself— such a speech
could by the utmost torturing of Iniguage be called treason. But so it
was. Burdett had the misfortune to be on terms of familiar friendship
with the duke of Clarence ; and he was tried, condemned, and beheaded
at Tyburn for no alledged offence beyond these few idle and intemperate
words. That Clarence might have no shadow of doubt that he was him-
self aimed at in the persons of his friends, this infamous murder was fol-
lowed by that of another friend of the duke, a clergyman named Stacey.
He was a learned man, and far more proficient than was common in
that half barbarous age in astronomy and matliematical studies in gen-
eral. The rabble got a notion that su(.'h learning must needs imply sor-
cery ; the popular rumour was adopted by Clarence's enemies, and the
unfortunate Stacey was tried, tortured, and executed, some of the most
eminent peers not scrupling to sanction these atrocious proceedings by
their presence. As the enemies of Clarence had anticipated, the perse-
cution of his friends aroused him to an imprudent though generous indig-
nation. Instead of endeavouring to secure himself by a close reserve, lie
loudly and boldly inveighed against the injustice of which his friends had
been the victims, and bore lesiimony to their innocence and honour.
This was precisely what the enemies of the duke desired; the king was
insidiously urged to deem tlie complaints of ('larence insulting and in-
jurious to him, as implying his participation in tlie alledged injustice done
to tiic duke's friends.
A. D. I47rt. — The unfortunate duke was now fairly in the toils which
haii l)ei;n set for Inm by his enemies. He was committed to the Tower,
and a parliament was specially summoned to try him for treason. The
treasons alledged anainst him, even had they been proved by ilie
most trustworthy evidence, were less treasons th.ui mere pelulaist
speeches. Not a single overt act was even alledged, far less pri)ved
against him. But the king in person prosecuted him, and the slavish
parliament shamelessly pronounced him guilty; the commons adding to
their vilencss by both [)etitioning for the duke's execution and passing a
bill of attaindci'agaiiist him. The dreadl'ully severe temper of Edwa.-d
required no such vile prompting. There was little danger of his showing
mercy even to a brother whom he had once fairly learned to hate! The
Jtole fd\
ed to c);
and unh
whimsic
ofLondc
A. D. 1^
the daup
sion of F
busily en
with a m(
nis reign
Though
was disgrj
might eari
pleasures i
wise, as hi
the good.
Ji-D. 1483.
•Elizabeth Gt
were none tl
s.'eni characi
fies from him
her son the n
'he other iue,
ofthekingdo
ceeding ambii
ne had marrij
»p her family!
'he lords Has
*^lieii Edwl
iioblenieii audi
5"f "() sooner!
aeavoured to f
duke of «i„stl
»'e Miinoritv ol
though Glol
care of the vol
nobleman renj
'he queen, wl/
STeat influence f
to escort the k|
undue coereioij
however, LorJ
op«n oppositioil
force were levil
nie'it of Calais,!
be the actual rel
moiives than ail
such force neeif
to "f^ord the vol
queen, that she!
PfyhisnepheJ
his high rank. ^
THE THEA8UR1 OF HISTORY.
406
HOle favour that he would grant the unhappy duke was that of being allow-
ed to choose the mode of tiis death ; and he made choice of the strangle
and unheard-of one of being drowned in a butt of Muhnsey wine, which
whimsically tragic death was accordingly inflicted upon him in the Tower
of London.
A. D. 1482. — Louis XL of France having broken his agreement lo marry
the dauphin to the daughter of Kdward, this king contemplated the inva-
sion of France for the purpose of avenging the affront. But while he was
busily engaged with the necessary preparations he was suddenly seized
with a mortal sickness, of which he expired in the twenty-third year of
his reign and the forty-second of his age.
Though undoubtedly possessed of both abilities and courage, Edward
was disgracefully sensual and hatefully cruel. (lis vigour and courage
might earn him admiration hi times of difficulty, but his love of effeminate
pleasures must always preclude him from receiving the approbation of the
wise, as his unsparing cruelty must always insure him the abhorrence of
the good.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE RGION OF EDWAHD V.
A. D. 1483. — From the time of the marriage of Edward IV. with the lady
Elizabeth Gray the court had been divided into two fierce factions, which
were none the less dangerous now because during the life of Edward the
stern character of that king had compelled llie concealment of their enmi-
ties from him. The queen herself, with her brother the earl of Rivers and
her son the marquis of Dorset, were at the head of the one faction, while
the other included nearly the whole of the ancient and powerful nobility
of the kingdom, who naturally were indignant at the sudden rise and ex-
ceeding ambition of the queen's family. The duke of Buckingham, though
he had married the queen's sister, was at the head of the party opposed
to her family influence, and he was zealously and strongly supported by
the lords Hastings, Stanley, and Howard.
When Edward IV. felt that his end was approaching he sent for these
noblemen and entreated them to support the authority of his youthful son;
but no sooner was Edward dead than the leaders of both factions en-
deavoured to secure the chief interest with the heartless and ambitious
duke of tiloster, whom Edward IV. most fatally had named regent during
the minority of Edward the Fifth.
Tliouirh Gloster was entrusted with the regency of the kingdom, the
care of the young prince was confided to his uncle the earl of Rivers, a
nobleman remarkable in that rude age for his literary taste and talents.
The queen, who was very anxious to preserve over her son the same
great influence she had exerted over his father, advised Rivers to levy troops
to escort the king to London to be crowned, and to (irotect liini from any
undue coercion on the part of the enemies of his family. To this step,
however. Lord Hastings and his friends made the strongest and most
open opposition ; Hastings even going so far as to declare that if such a
force were levied he should think it high time to depart for his govern-
ment of Calais, and his friends adding that the levying such a fonre would
be the actual recommencement of a civil war. (iloster, who had deeper
motives than any of the oilier of the parties concerned, affected lo think
such force needless at least, and his an fill professions of determination
to nfford the young king all needful protection so completely deceived the
queen, that she alteied her opinion and requested her brother to accom-
pany his nephew to Lor.don with only such equipage as was belittmg
his high rank.
K'
Hi*:':
IW
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
When the young king was understood to be on his road, Gloster set oui
with a numerous retinue, under pretence of desiring to escort him hon-
ourably to London, and was joined at Northampton by Lord Hastings,
who also had a numerous retinue. Rivers, fancying that his own retinue
added to tlie numerous company already assembled at Northampton would
cause a want of accommodation, sent Edward to Stony Stratford, and
went himself to pay his respects to the regent Gloster at Nortliampion.
Rivers was cordially received by the duke of Gloster, with vvliom and
Buckingham he spent the whole evening. Not a word passed whence he
could infer enmity or danger, yet on the following morning as lie. wasenter-
ing Stony Stratford to join his royal ward, he was arrested by order of
the duke of Gloster. Sir Richard Gray, a son of the queen by lier first
marriage, and Sir Thomas Vaughan. were at the same time arrested, and
all three were immediately sentinuler a strong escort to Fontefract castle.
Having thus deprived the young king of his wisest and most zealous
protector, Gloster waited upon him with every outward show of kindness
and respect, but could not with all his art quiet the regrets and fears
excited in the prince's mind by the sudden and ominous arrest of his kind
and good relative. The queen was still more alarmed. In the arrest of
her brother she saw but the first stop made towards the ruin of herself
and her whole family; and she immediately retired to the sanctuary ol
Westminster, together with the young duke of York and the five prin-
cesses, trusting that Gloster would scarcely dare to violate the sanctuary
which had proved her efficient defence aganisl all the fury of the Lan-
castrian faction during the worst limes of her husband's misfortunes, llcr
confidence in the shelter she had chosen was naturally increased by the
consideration, that whereas formerly even a family opposed to hers by
the most deadly and immitigable hostility was not temi)tcd to violate the
sanctuary, she had now to dread only her own brother-in-law, while hei
son, fast approaching the years which would enable him to terminate his
uncle's protectorate, was the king.
Hut ni rfMsoning thus the queen wholly overlooked the deep and dan-
gerous nature of her brotlier-in-law, whose dark mind was daring enough
for the most desperate deeds, and subtle enough to suggest excuses lit to
impose even upon the shiewdcst and most cautious. Gloster saw that
the continuance of his nephew in sanctuary would ojjpose ai\ iusurinouiit-
able obstacle to his abominal)le designs ; and he at once devoted his
powers of subtlety to the task of getting the younir prince from that se-
cure shelter witlnnit allowing the true motive to appear. Making full al-
lowance for the power of the church, lit; represented to the archbishops
of Canterbury and York, that tlw^ (|ueeu in some sort iusulted the church
by ainising, to the protection of lierself and children against the dangers
which existed only in her iiniigiiiatioii, a privilege which was inleiided
only for persons of inature years having reason to fear grievous injury on
account of either crime or debt Now, he argued, could a mere child
lik<^ the l)rotlier of llieir young king be in anywise obnoxious to tlu^
king, of dangers for which alone the riijlit of sanctuary was iiistitiiti'd !
Was not the church as well as the governuuMil concerned in piitling a
stop, even by force if ni ssary, to a course of coinlnet on the part (»f
the (pieeii wliieh was calcii|.ite(l to possess mankind with the most horri-
ble suspicions of those pers(Mis who were the most concerned in the king's
hapjiiness and safety 1 The prelates, ignorant of the dark designs of
(ildster. ami even of his real nature, whicli hitherto he had carefully and
most dextennisly di<*giiised, could scari'ely fail to agree with him as to
(he folly ol the queen's conduct, and its eniiri! Heedlessness for securing
her son's safety. Hiit, careful of the privileges of iIm^ church, they would
«ot hear of the sanctuary being forcibly assailed, but readily agreed to
THE TREA8IJRV OF HISTORY.
407
et out
a hon-
slings,
retinue
1 would
rd, and
niplon.
on) and
;uce he
Lsenter-
irder of
lier first
ted, and
t castle.
zealous
kindness
ind fears
his kuid
arrest of
)f herself
ctnary ol
five prin-
sancluary
the 1-au-
uncs. Her
sed by the
o hers hv
/iolate the
while hei
iiiinate his
ase their person 1 influence with the queen to induce her voluntarily to
abandon alike her retreat and her fears.
The prelates had much difBculty in inducing the queen to allow the
young duke of York to leave her and the protection of the sanctuary.
His continuance there she again and again alhrmed to be important, not
only to his own safety, but to that of the young king, against whose life
it would appear to be both useless and unsafe to strike while his brothel
and successor remained in safety. In reply to this, the prelates, sin-
cerely though most mistakenly, assured her that she did but deceive her-
self in her fears for either of the royal brothers. But perhaps their
strongest argument was their frank declaration that the seclusion of the
young prince was so offensive both to tlie duke of York and the council,
thai it was more than possible that even force might be resorted to should
the queen refuse to yield the point. Dreading lest further opposition
should but accelerate the evil that she wished to avert, the unhappy queen
at length, with abundance of tears and with lamentations which were but
too prophetic, delivered the young prince up, bidding hiin, as she did so,
farewell for ever.
Possessed of the protectorate, which the council, on account of his
near relation to the throne, had at once conferred upon him without wait-
ing for the consent of parliament, and now possessed of the persons of
the young princes, Glosler seems to have deemed all obstacles removed
to his bloody and treacherous purpose, though to any less uncomprom-
ising and daring schemer there might have seemed to be a formidabh? one
in I lie existence of numerous other children of Edward, and two of the
diik(^ of (!;iarence.
The first step of Oloster in his infamous course was to cause Sir Ri-
chard KatclifTe, a tool well worthy of so heartless and unsparing an em-
ployer, to put to death the earl of Uivers and the other prisoners whom
he had sent to Pontefract castle, as before named ; and to this measure
the ivrant had the art to obtain the sanction of the duke of Hnckinghain
uiul Lord Hastings, whom subsequently he most fittingly repaid for their
participation in this monstrous guilt.
(iloster now quite literally imitated the great enemy of mankind— ho
made this first crime of Buckingham's, this participation in one murder
tlij cause and the justification of farther crime. He pointed out to Buck-
iiisham that the death — however justifiably inflicted, as ho affected to con-
eiiTer it — at their suygestion and command, of the queen's brother and son,
was an olTence which a woman of her temper would by no means for-
get ; and that however impotent she might be during the minority of her
son, the years would soon pass by which would brnig his majority : sin;
would tlitMi have both access to and infiuence over him ; and would not
that influence be most surely used to their destruction ? Would it not be
safer fin- Hnckinghain, aye, and better for all the real and anti(iue nolniiiy
of tlie kingdom, that tlie"olTspring of the comparatively niebeian Kh/abeth
Ciriiy should be exehideil from the throne, and that the sceptre should
p;iss into the hands of (iloster himself— he, who was so indissoliiltly the
fiieiiil of BuckinglMin, ainl so well alfeeted to Die true iiobiliiy of the
kingdom? Safely from the consequences of a crime alremly eominitled
ami irrevocable, wiili great and glowiiv^ pros|)ecl of rich benefits to arise
from being the personal friend, the very riKht hand of the king, allieit a
usiirping king, were aruninents prei-isely adapted to the emnpreliension
mid tavoiirof Itiickiiigliam, wlio with but small hesitation agreed to lend
Ills aiii and sanciiim to the iiicasures necessary to convert the duke of
Glosler into King Itielianl 111.
Hiving ihus seenred lluckingham, (Cluster now turned his attention to
Lord llanliiiKS, whose miliienee wa.-< so exlensi\e as to be of vast impor
aneu. Tliruugh the medium of ('alesby, a lawyer much employed b
I
l^\
toe
THE TaEASURY OF HISTORY.
G ost^r wnen chicane seemed the preferable weapon to iictual violence
G ost»=r sounded Hastings; but that nobleman, weak and wicked as hi
had pioved iiimself, was far loo sincerely attached to the children of hi»
late sovereign and friend to consent to their injury. He not only refused
to aid n the transfer of the crown from Iheni, but so refused as to leave
but little room for doubt that he would be active in his opposition. The
mere suspicion was sufficient to produce his ruin, which Glostersut about
instantly and almost without the trouble of disguise.
A council was summoned to meet Gloster at the Tower, and Hastings
attended with as little fear or suspicion as any other member. Gloster,
whose mood seems ever to have been the most dangerous when his bear-
ing was the most jocund, chatted familiarly with the members of the
council as they assembled. Not a frown darkened his terrible brow, not
a word fell from his lips that could excite doubt or fear; who could iiave
supposed that he was about lo commit a foul murder who was sufficieutly
at ease to compliment liishop Morton upon the size and earliness of the
strawberries in his garden at Holborn, and to beg that a dish of them
might be sent to him 1 Vet it was in the midst of such light talk that he
left the council-board to ascertain that all his villainous arrangements
were exactly made. This done, he entered the room again with a die
lurbed and angry countenance, and startled all present by sternly and ab
ruptly demanding what pnnishineni was deserved by those who should
dare to plot against the life of the uncle of the king and the appointed
protector of the realm. Hastings, really attached to Gloster, though still
more so to tlie royal children, warmly replied that whoever should do so
would merit the punishment of traitors.
"Traitors, aye traitors!" said the duke, "and those traitors arc the
sorceress, my brother's wiilow, and his mistress, Jane Shore, and others
who are associated with them." And then laymg bare his arm, which all
present knew lo have been shrivch'd and defcM-med from his earliest
years, he continued, " See to what a condition they have reduced me by
their abominable wiihcraft and incantations !"'
The mention of .lane Shore c.xciicd the first suspicion or fear in the
mind of Hastings, who, subseqniMtt to the death of the late king, had been
inlnnate with the beautiful though gmlty woman of that name.
" If," said Hastings, donbtfidly," they have done this, my lord, they de-
serve th;; severest piuiishment."
" If!" shouted (Jlostcr, "ami do you prate lo nie of your i/s and nndf?
You are llu! chief abettor of the sorceress Shore; you are a traitor, and
by St. Paul I swear that I will not dine until your head shall be brought
to me."
Thus speaking, he struck the tabh; witli his hand, and in an instant the
room was filled with armed men who had already received his orders
how lo act ; Hastings was dragL'c<l from the room and beheaded on a log
f>f wood which chanced to be 1> ing in the court-yard of the 'I'ower. In
two hours after this savage murder, a pioclaination was made to the cit-
i/ens of I.ondoii, apologismg for tlii; sudden execution of Hastings on the
score of the ecpially saidden discovi-ry of nnincrous olTcnces which the
proclamation chargol upon him. 'I'liough (ilostcr had but littl(> reason to
iear any actual outbreak in the city, the lord Hastings was very popiilai
there; and not a few of the citizens, even including those who were tlio
most favourable to (ilostcr, seemed to ayn c wiih a merchant wlio, iKitii"
ing the elabur.ilc composition of the fairly written proclainaticni, and I'on
Irasting it with the shortness of the time which had elapsed from llisiings
murder, slircvdly remarked ihat "ihe proclainalion miglil safely be relied
on, /i/r It u'fj.t (/iiilr Ilium llial it hail h'rn dnurn In/ tlir s/iinl iif pru/i/iri i/.
'I'liough the Wtreme violeuct! of (ilostcr was for the present conlincd to
Uastmgs, us it in retributive Jiislieo upon his crime towards the victinix ol
lipy(
rfunili
uholl
lo the
tniiidc
'0 nia
l)een
duke
and til
duclici
As
mid w,
Were
wa» flr
THE TaEASUIlY OK HISTORY.
409
olencc
I as ht
1 of hi*
refused
to leave
II. The
et about
Hastings
Glosler,
his bciir.
rs of the
)ro\v, not
ulil liave
illicienlly
ss of ilie
I of Ihem
Ik that he
,ngcnients
•ilh a die
ly nnd ab
ho shnulil
appoiiiteil
liough still
ould do 80
irs are the
and others
I, which all
lis earliest
need me by
fear in the
g, had been
rd, they de-
s and nil''''
traitor, and
he hriiughl
instant the
his tn-divs
lied on a lug
Irower. Ill
I,- to tlie cit-
\\\\\rn oil the
vvhieli th«
lie reason to
Lry iiopnlai
llio were (li»
, «',10, llillK'
■in, and eim
III) IM^'liiiK"
|,.|y lie relK'ii
iiMinned to
l„. vie(uii»«>'
Fontefract, the other councillors were by no means allowed to escape scot
free. Lord Stanley was actually wounded by the poli-axe of one of the
soldiers summoned by the treaelierous protector, and only, perhaps, es-
caped being murdered in tlio very preseni.-e of that tyrant by the more
dexterous than dignified expedient of fallnig under the table, and renviin-
ing ilieie till the confusion attendant upon the arrest of Hastings had sub-
sided. He was then, together witli the archbishop of York, the bishop of
Ely, and some other councillors whom (iloster hated for their sincere at-
tachment to ihe family of the late king, conveyed from the council room
of the Tower to its too ominous dungeons.
A new and a meaner victim was now essential to the dark and unspar-
ing purposes of tlie protector. His connection of the murdered Hastings
with the alledged sorceries of the late king's mistress, Jane Shore, render-
ed it necessary that he should appear to be fully coivjneed that she was
guilty of the crimes which he had laid to her charge. The charge of
witchcraft, that upon which he laid the most stress, was so wholly unsup-
ported by evidence, that even the ignorance of the age and the power of
Gloster could not get her convicted upon it ; but as it was notorious that
she, a married woman, had lived in a doubly adulterous intercourse with
the late king, the spiritual court was easily induced to sentence her to do
penance publicly, and aitiredi n a white sheet, at St. Paul's. Her subse-
quent fate was just what might he expected from her former life. Though
111 her guilty prosperity she showed many signs of a humane and kindly
temper, liberally succouring the distresSed and disinterestedly using her
iiifluenee with the king for the benefit of deserving but friendly court suit-
ors, she passed unheeded and unaided from her public degradation to a
privacy of miserable indigence.
IJloster's impunity thus far very naturally increased both his propen-
sion to crime and his audacity in its commission, and he now no longer
inaile a secret of his desire to exclude the present king and his brother
fidin the throne. Heckless of woman's fame as of man's life, Gloster
tuuk advantage of the known luxiiriousiiess of the late king's life to atlirm,
that previous to that prince marrying the lady Klizabetli Gray he had
hnen married to the lady Kleanor Talbot, the daughter of the earl of
Shrewsbury ; that this marria^re, though secret, was legal and binding,
and had been solemnizcid bv Mliliiigton, bishop of Hath; and that, con-
sequently and necessarily, hdward's children by the lady Khzabelh Gray
were illegitimate. The children of Hdward being thus pronounced ille-
i;itiinate, Gloster, by his partisans, maintained that the attainder of the
(lake of ('larence necessarily dispossessed /tit chililren of all right, liut
as assertion In the former case could hardly pass fur proof, and as attaint
had never been ruled to exi'lude frouj the crown as from mere private suc-
cession, Gloster soared to a higher and more damning pitcii of infamy ;
liitlierlo he had impngiu:.' the chastity of his sister-in-law — aow he passed
lioyond all the ordinary villany of the world and inijiuted frequent and
familiar harlotry to Ins o' 'ii mother! To make his right to tlie throne
wholly iiitlepenilcnt cither of the alledged secret marriage of the I ite kill);
to the lady KUNinor, or of the eflTcct upon Clarence's children of the at-
tainder of their father, (Jloster now taught his nnmerous and zealous tools
to niaintain that his mother, the (luches^< of York, who was still alive, had
been repeatedly false to her marriage vows, that both Kdward IV.aiid the
duke of ('larenc(! had been illegitimate and the sons of diirereiit fathers,
ail 1 tliat the duke of Gloster was alone the legitimate son of the duke and
duchess of York.
As if this horrible charge of a son aKanist his mother, who had lived
and was still living in the highest credit of the most irreproachable virtue,
were not gsiilicicntly revolting to all gooil and manly feelings, the subject
wa» flnl bruughl forward t» church; on the occasion of Dr. Shaw preaching
•HfW
410
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
a sermon before the protector. The preacher, well worthy of the patron,
took the significant text, "Bastard slips shall not thrive;" upon which the
preacher enlarged with great zeal in the endeavour to throw the stain of
bastardy upon Edward IV. and his brother Clarence. Though Gloster
was far too free from shamefacedness, as well as from everything in the
shape of " compunctious visiting," to have any objection to being present
during the delivery of the whole of the tirade against his own mother's
chastity, yet from a politic motive it was arranged that he should no!
enter the churc^h until the preacher should finish pronouncing the follow
ing passage. Contrasting the duke of Gloster with the alledged illegiti
mate sons of his mother, the preacher exclaimed, " Behold this excellent
prince, the express image of his noble father, the genuine descendant ol
the house of York ; bearing, no less in the virtues of his mind tlian in the
features of his countenance the character of the gallant Ricliard, once your
hero and favourite. He alone is entitled to your allegiance; he must de-
liver you from the dominion of all intruders; he alone can restore the lost
glory and honour of the nation."
It was intended that this glowing panegyric on the duke of Gloster
should be pronounced at the very moment of the object of it making his
appearance in the church, in the hope that, taken by surprise and urged
into enthusia.st:c feeling, the congregation might be induced to hail tiic
wily and heartless tyrant with the cry of " God save King Richard." Uiit
)y one of tlio.se mistakes which very often occur to throw ridicule upon
.he deepest schemes, the duke did not make his appearance until the
whole of this precious passage had already been delivered. Rather than
his eloquence and the chance of its success should be lost by this accident,
the preacher actually repeated it; but the audience, either from the repe-
tition seeming ridiculous, or its impressing them the more strongly with
the falsehood and villany of the charges insinuated against the duchess of
Vork, witnessed the performance of the disgusting farce with an indiffiT-
ence which probably was more severely felt by Gloster than any other
puiiishiuont would have been.
The preaching of Dr. Shaw having thus failed to eflfect ttie purpose ol
Gloster, recourse was now had to the management of Dr. Shaw's brother,
who at this time was mayor of Ijondon. He calhid a meeting of the citi-
zeiis. to whom he introduced the duke of Buckingham, who exerted to the
utmost his powers of eloquence upon the subject of Gjostcr's great and
numerous virtues, and upon the superiority ol his unquestionable claim
to the throne. Though Buckingham was as earnest as he was eloquent,
he could by no means cominnnicate his own feelings to the bosoms of the
good citizens, who, with most unmoved countenances and lack lustre
eyes heard him in all gravity, and heard the very conclusion of his address
with all silence. At once annoyed by this repulsive silence, and as miicli
abashed by it as so experienced a courtier W(!ll could be by anything, the
duke angrily demanded of the mayor what the silence of the citizens
might mean. The mayor rcjilied, that probably the citizens had not fully
understood the duke, who then repealed the former speech, but still failed
to elicMt any reply from bis auditors. The mayor, in his desire to gratify
the duke, preteiKled that the citiziMis, who were always accustomed to be
harangued by their own recorder, could inily e(Mnpreh(Miil the duke's speech
if delivered to tlitMu through Ihi! medium of tiiat ofiltter.
i'lic recorder, Filzwilliam, was accordingly desired to repeat the duke's
speech, which, being no friend to (Jloster's proji'cts, he took care to do in
such wise that the |)eople could by no inciiis t;ikc the words, though ile-
hvereil by him, to h-avu any echo in his wisht>s ; and he, like the duke,
was heard to tho very last word without any one giving him n word of
renly.
The duke now became too much enraged to refrain from speaking out,
THE TKEA8URY OP HISTORY.
411
ap'l he said, " This is wonderful obstinacy ; express your meaning, my
trien'is, in one way or the other. When we apply to you on this occa-
sion it is merely from the regard which we bear to you. The lords and
commons have sufficient authority without your consent to appoint a king ;
but I require you here to declare, in plain terms, whether or not you will
have tlie duke of Gloster for your sovereign V Tlie earnestness and
anger of the duke, and the example set by some of his and the duke of
Gloster's servants, caused this address, more fortunate tiian the former
ones, to be received with a cry of Gud save King Richard! Tlie cry was
feelile, and raised by people few in numbers and of the humblest rank ;
but it served the purpose of Buckingham, who now, as had been con-
certed, hurried off to Baynard's castle to inform Gloster that the voice of
" the people" called him to the throne !
UuL'kingham was attended to Baynard's castle by the mayor and a con-
siderable number of citizens ; and though the wily protector was most
anxiously expecting this visit, he affected to be surprised and even alarm-
ed at so many persons in company demanding to speak to him ; which
pretended surprise and alarm of the protector, Buckingham took caie to
point out to the especial notice of the thick-witted citizens. When the
prottctor at length suffered himself to be persuaded to speak to the duVe
of Buckingham and the citizens, he affected astoiiishirient on hearing that
he was desired to be king, and roundly declared his own intention of re-
maining loyal to Kdward V., a course of conduct which he also rccom
mended to Buckingham and his other audrtors. Buckingham now affected
to take a higher tone with the protector. That prince, argued Bucking-
iiam, could undoubtedly refuse to accept the crown, but he could not
C(iin[)ei the people to endure their present sovereign. A new one they
would have, and if the duke of Gloster would not comply with their lov-
ing wishes on his behalf, it would only behove them to offer the crown
elsewhere. Having now sufficiently kept up the disgusting farce of re-
fusing that crown for the sake of which he had already waded through so
niiicii innocent blood, and was so perfectly prepared and determined to
commit even more startling crimes still, Gloster now gave a seemingly
rriuctanl consent to accept it ; and without waiting fo.' further repetition
of tins offer from "the people," he thenceforth threw aside even the af
feitiition of acting on behalf of any other sovereign than his own will
and pleasure.
The farcical portion of the usurpation, however, was but too soon after-
ward followed by a most tragical conipletion of Richard's vile crime.
Tortured by the true bane of tyrants, suspicion and fear, Richard fell that
80 long as his young nephews survived, his usurped crown woulti ever
bo insecure, as an oiiponent would always be at hand to be set ii|) against
liiiii liy any noble to whom he might chance to give offence. This con-
siilt ralion was quite enough to insure Itie death of the unfortunate young
princes, and Richard sent ordeis for their murder to the coiistabli' of the
Tower, Sir Uobert Brackenbury. But ihis gentleman was a iii:in of
hoiKKir, and he with a man of honour's spirit and feeling refused to have
auglil to do witli a design so atrocious. The tyrant was, however, not to
!)e li;illk'd by the refusal of one good nnn to bend to his infamous designs,
and having found a more compliant tool in tlie person of Sir James Tyrrel,
it was ordered th;it for one night Brackenbury should surrender to that
person the keys of the Tower. On that fatal night three wretches, named
Slater, Digliton, and Forrest, were introduced to the chamber in wiiirh tlie
two young princes were buried in sinless and peaceful sleep In that
sleep the young victims were smothered by the three assassins just named,
Tyrt'l waiting (Uitside the door while tlie horrid deed was being perpe-
Irited, and. on its completion, ordering the burial of the bodies at the foC
of the staircase leading to the chamber.
i
412
THR TREASURY OF HISTORY.
It may not be quite unnecessary to mention here that doubtt, Ironr
which man's ingenuity allows few truths, however plain, wholly to escape,
have been thrown upon this portion of Richard's guilt ; but the most in-
genious reasoning and the utmost felicity at guessing are but idle when
opposed to plain fact, as in the present case ; something more is requisite
in opposition to the actual confession made by the murderers themseive«
in the following reign.
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE REIO.V OF RICHARD III.
A. D. 148.3. — Having not only grasped the crown, but also put to deatti
the two claimants from whom he had the most reason to fear future an-
noyance, Richard now turned his attention to securing as strong a body
of supporters as he could, by the distribution of favours. And so anxious
was he upon this point, so ready to forget all other considerations in the
present usefulness of those of whose services he stood in need, that he
cast bis shrewd eye upon powerful enemies to be conciliated as well as
devoted friends to be rewarded for the past and retained for the future.
Among those whom Richard the nost carefully sought to keep firm to
his interests was the duke of Duckiii ^ham. Descended from Thomas oi
Woodstock, duke of Gloster, and uncis of Richard II. this nobleman wag
allied to the royal family, and from the same cause he had a claim upon
a moiety of the vast properly of Bohun, earl of Hereford, which moiety
had long been held by the crown under escheat. Buckingham, though
his wealth and honours were already enormous, deemed that the services
he had recently rendered to Riciiard gave him good ground to claim this
property, and also the office of constable of England, which had long been
hereditary in the Hereford family. In the first exultation caused by his
own success, so much of which was owing to Buckingham, Richard
granted all that nobleman asked. But on cooler reflection Richard seema
to have imagined that Buckingham was already as wealthy and powerful
as a subject could be consistently with the safety of the crown, and though
he virtually made a formal grant of the Hereford property, he look care
to oppose insuperable difhculties to its actual fulfilment. Buckingham
was far too shrewd to fail to perceive the real cause of the property being
withheld from him ; and he who had so unr.crupulously exerted himself
to set up the usurper, now felt fully as anxious and resolute to aid in pul-
ling him down. The flagrancy of Richard's usurpation was sucii as to
promise every facility to an attempt to dethrone him, if that attempt were
but headed by a man of adequate jiower and consequence. In truth, the
very success of his usurpation was scarcely more aitributable to his own
daring and unprincipled wickedness than to ihe absence of any powerful
opponent. Kven the lowest and meanest citizens of London had riither
been coerced into a passive admission of his right to the crown than into
an active support of it ; and now that the duke of Buckingham was con-
verted into an enemy of the usurper, ihe longdormanl claims of the Lan-
castrians were pressed upon his attention, and nol unfavourably looked
upon by him. Morton, bishop of Kly, whom Kichiird committed to the
Tower on the day of Lord Hastings' liiiirdcr, had recently been committed
to the less rigorous custody of the duke of Buckingham, and, perceiving
the duke's dis(;ontent, turned his attention to a filling rival to oppose the
tyrant, in the person of Henry, the young earl of Iticiiinond. Through his
mother the young earl was heir of the eider briinch of the house of ISoin-
erBct ; and tliough that claim to the crown would formerly have been look-
ed upon us very slight, the failure of the legitimate branches of the houia
■ ! ?1
"If
THE TREA8URY OK HIrtTOllY.
413
ct Lancaster now gave it considerable importance In the eyes of the adhe-
rents of that hoirse. Even Edward IV. liad been so jealous of the earl of
Richmond's claim upon the throne, that after vainly endeavouring to get
him into his power, he had agreed to pay a considerable yearly sum to the
(iuke of Brittany to keep the dangerous young nohle at his court, nomi-
nally as a guest, but really as a prisoner. The very jealousy thus shown
towards the young earl naturally increased the attention and favour of the
Lancastrians; and it now occurred to the bishop Morton, and, from his rea-
sonings to the duke of Buckingham, that Richard might be dethroned in
fiivour of young Henry. But as the long depression of the house of Lan-
caster had diminished both the zeal and the number of its adherents, Mor-
ton, with profound policy suggested the wisdom of strengthening the bonds
of Henry, and at the same time weakening those of Richard, by the mar-
riage of the former to King Edward's eldest daughter, the princess Eliz-
abeth, and thus uniting the party claims of both families against the mere
personal usurpation of Richard, who was deeply detested by the nation
for his cruelty, and would consequently meet with no hearty support
should he be openly opposed with even a probability of success.
Young Henry's mother, the countess of Richmond, was informed by
Morton and Buckingham of their views in favour of her son ; and the hon-
our intended for him was too great to allow of any hesitation on her part.
Dr. Lewis, a physician who had, professionally, the means of communi-
cating with the queen dowager, who stilf found siielter in the sanctuary
of Westminster, knew that whatever might have been her former preju-
dices against the Lancastrians, they instantly yielded to the hate and dis-
gust with which she thought of the successful usurper who had murdered
her brother and three sons. She not only gave her consent to the pro-
posed marriagr, but also borrowed a sum of money which she sent to aid
Henry in raising troops, and she at the same time required him to swear
to marry her daughter as soon as he could safely reach England.
Morton and Buckingham having thus far met with success, began to
exert themselves among their influential friends in the various counties,
to prepare them for a general and simultaneous rising in favour of Ihe earl
of Richmond when he should land ; and in this respect, too, their efforts
met with an uncommon success, the tyranny of Richard becoming every
day more hateful to all orders of his trampled subjects.
But guilt such as that of Richard is ever suspicious, even where there
is no real cause for suspicion ; and the sudden activity of various men ol
influence could neither escape the sharpened observation of the tyrant,
nor seem explicable to him on any other ground than that of treason
against him. Well knowing that Buckingham was greatly addicted to
political plotting, Richard with many friendly expressions invited the dnkf
to court, where for some time he had been a stranger. Whether the king
really sought a reconciliation with the duke or merely wished to obtain
pussession of his person does not clearly appear. The duke, however,
who well knew with whom he had to deal, interpreted the kind's niessagi-
iii the latter sense, and only replied to it by unfurling the standard of re-
volt in Wales at the moment when Richard was levying troops in the
north.
It happened most unfortunately for Buckingham, that just as he had
marched his troops to the Severn, tliat river was so swollen in conse-
quence of rains of almost unexampled copiousness and duration, as to bt
quite impassable. This unlooked-for check iMst a damp upon the spiritK
of Buckingham's followers, who were st.il farther dispirited by great dis
tress from want of provisions. De.sertions ani< ng them daily became
more numerous, and Buckingham at lentrth findiiiif himself wholly aban-
doned, disguised himself in a mean habit and iii.ulc his way to the house
of an old servant of his family. Even in this obscure retreat, however
114
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
he was discovered and carried as a prisoner to the king, who was then
posted at Salisbury. All the former services rendered by the duke were
forgotten in the fact of his more recent appearance in arms as the avowed
enemy of the king, and he was immediately sent to execution. Several
other though less eminent prisoners fell into the hands of Richard, and
were by him transferred to the executioner ; and one of these, a gentle-
man named Collingbourne, is said to have suffered not for his direct and
open opposition to Richard, but for some miserable doggrel in which he
made it a comolaint that
" The cat, the rat, and Lovcl the dog,
Rule all Eofiland under the hog."
Stupid as this doggrel production was, its stupidity and the heinous of-
fence of playing upon the names of Catesby and Ratcliffe, upon that ol
Lovel and upon the cognizance of the king, seem to have merited a some-
what less severe punishment than death ! The bishop of Ely and the
marquis of Dorset, to neither of whom would Richard have shown any
mercy, were fortunate enough to escape from the kingdom. In the mean-
time the yoimg earl of Richmond with a levy of five thousand men had
sailed from St. Maloes, in igiiorince of the misfortune that had occurred
to his cause in England ; and on arriving there he found that, for the pres-
ent at least, all hope was at an end, and he sailed back to Brittany.
A. D. 1484. — The politic Richard easily saw that the recent attempt to de-
throne him had, by its ill success, and the severity with which he had pun-
ished some of the chief actors in it, very considerably tended to sireii};then
his cause not in the affections, indeed, but in the terrors of the people.
Hitherto, being sensible of the flagrant impudence as well as deep guilt
of his usurpation, he had been well content to rest his right to the throne
upon the tyrant's right, superior strength. But he judged that he now
might safely call a parliament without any doubt of its recognising his
title. His anticipation proved to be quite correct ; the parliament acted
just as he wished, echoed his words, granted him the usual tonnage and
poundage for life, and passed a few popularlaws. With the same purpose
in view ho now addressed himself to the seemingly difficult task of con-
verting the queen dowager from a foe into a friend. He saw that the chief
source of Richmond's popularity was his projected espousal of the prin-
cess Lllizabeth, and he knew enough of human nature to feel sure that a
woman of tlie queen dowager's temper would be far from unlikely to prefer
the union of her daughter with a king in fact, to her union with an earl
who might never be a king at all. True it was that the princess Klizabeth
was solemnly betrothed to his rival and foe, the earl of Richmond, and was
related to Ricliard within the prohibited degrees ; but then Rome could grant
a dispensation, and Rome was venal. Thus reasoning, Richard applied
himstdf to the queen dowager, and met with all the success lie had anti-
cipated. Wearied with her long seclusion from all pleasure and all au-
thority, she at once consented to give her daughter to the wretch wlio Iwui
deprived her of three sons and a brother, and was so coR-oletely coiivertcil
to his interests that she wrote to her son, the marquis jf Dorset, and all
the rest of her connections to withdraw from supporting Richmond, a
piece of complaisance for which she paid full dearly in the next leigii.
Flattering liimsclf that no material danger could assail his throne during
the interval necessary for procuring the dispensation from Rome, Riciiaid
now began to consider himself securely settled on the throne. But dan-
ger accrued to him even out of the very measure on which he nainly
rested for safety. The friends of the earl of Richmond now more liiai!
ever pressed him to try his fortune in invading England, lest the dispen
nation from Rome should enable Richard to complete his project of mar
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
4ir>
rying tlie princess Elizabeth, which marriage would do so much to injure
all the future hopes of the earl, as far as the sympathies of the people were
concerned, in a union of the houses of York and Lancaster. Henry ac-
cordingly escaped from Brittany, where he deemed himself in danger from
the treachery of the duke's confidential minister, and proceeded to the
court of France. Here lie was greatly aided by Charles VIII., who had
succeeded the tyrant Louis XL, and here, too, he was joined by the earl
of O.xford, who had escaped from the gaol into which Richard's suspicions
had thrown him, and who now brought Henry most flattering accounts of
the excellent chance he had from the popular disposition in England.
Richard in the meantime, unconscious or careless of the eHect prmlu
ced on the conduct of Richmond by the expectation of the dispensation
which was to allow Richard to deprive him of his promised bride, tri-
umphed in his fortune of having become a widower at only a short time
before by the sudden death — so sudden that poison was suspected, but
ra:her from the suddenness and from the general character of Ricliard
than from anything like proof— of his wife Anne, widow of that Edward,
prince of Wales, of whom Richard was the murderer. His actual andliis
proximate marriage must, in truth, have led him to believe that the murder
of a lady's male relatives was anything rather than a bar to her favour!
A. D. 1485. — But while Richard was exulting in triumph as to the past
and in hope as to the future, Richmond with an army of two thousand
iren had sailed from the Norman port«of Harflcur, and landed, witiiout
ei.ieriencing opposition, at Milford Haven, in Wales. Here, as he e.v-
pected, the zealous though unfortunate exertions of the duke of Bucking-
ham had prepossessed the people in his favour, and his little army was
increased by volunteers at every mile he marched. Among those who
joined him was Sir Rice ap Thomas with a force with which he had been
entrusted by Richard; and even the other commander of the tyrant. Sir
Walter Herbert, made but a faint and inefficient show of defence for
Richard. Thus strengthened by actual volunteers, and encouraged by
the evident lukewarmness of Richard's partizans, Richmond marched to
Shrewsbury, where he was joined by the whole strength of the great
Shrewsbury family under Sir Gilbert Talbot, and by another numerous
reinforcement under Sir Thomas Bourchier and Sir Walter Ilungorford.
Richard, who had taken post at Nottingham, as being so central as to ad-
mit of his hastening to whichever part of the kingdom might earliest need
his aiii, was not nearly so much annoyed by the utmost force of his known
I'Memies as he was perplexed about the real extent io which lie could
ilcpend upon the good faith of his seeming friends. The duke of Norfolk
Richard had reason to believe that he could securely rely upon; but Lord
and Sir William Stanley, who had vnst power and influence in the north,
were closely connected with Richmond's family. Yet while the usurper
fi'lt the danger of trusting to their professions of friendship and good
'ailh, he dared not break with tliem. Compelled by his situation to au-
iluirize them to raise forces on his behalf in Cheshire and Lancashire, he
I'liihnivoured to deter then; from arraying those forces against him, by
ili'tiiining as a hostage Lord Stanley's son. Lord Strange.
Thou^:'i in his heart Lord Stanley was devoted to the cause of Richmond,
iiic peril in which his son Lord Strange was placed induced him to forbear
from declaring himself, and he posted his numerous levies at Atherstone,
s^i) situated that he could at will join either party. Richard in this con-
ijiict of Lord Stanley saw a convincing proof that the hostility of tliiit no-
nleinan was only kept in check by the situation of his son; and judging
thill the destruction of the young man would be a spell of vi-ry (IKferenl
•'il'i'ct from his continued peril, the politic tyrant for once refused to shed
i/iiioil when advised to do so by those of his friends who discerned the
meaning of Lord Stanley's delay. Trusting that Lord Stanley's hesitation
I .1
tl6
THB TREASURY OF HISTORY.
would lasf long enough to allow of the royal troops dealing only with the
earl of Richmond, Richard approached the army of the latter nobleman
at Uosworth, in Leicestershire. The army of Richmond was only six
thousand, that of Richard douhle the number. Both Richard and the earl
fought in the main guards of iheir respective armies, which had scarcely
charged each other ere Lor/J Stanley led up his forces to the aid of Ricli-
mond. The effect of this demonstration was tremendous, both in en-
couraging the soldiers of the earl and of striking dismay into the already
dispirited troops of Richard. Murderous and tyrannous usurper as he was,
Richard was as brave as a lion in the field. Perceiving that such power-
ful aid had declared for his rival, nothinsr but the de'tth of that rival could
give him any hope of safety for life or throne; Richard intrepidly rushed
towards the spot where Ri(-hmond was ordering his troops, and endeav-
oured to engage with him ii; personal combat, but while fighting with
murderous vigour he was slain, after having dismounted Sir John ('heyn6
and killed Sir William Brandon, Richmond's standard bearer.
The battle ended with the life of Richard, of whom it may with the
utmost truth be said, that "nothing in his life became him like the leaving
of it." Even while under his dreaded eye his soldiers had fought with
no good will ; and when he fell they innnediately took to flight. On the
side of Richard, besides the tyrant himself, there fell about four thousand,
includinir the duke of Norfolk, the lord Ferrars of Chartley, Sir Richard
RatclifFe, Sir Robert Piercy, and Sir Robert Brackenbury; and Calesby,
the chief confidant and most willing tool of Richard's crimes, being taken
prisoner, was, with some minor accomplices, beheaded at Leicester.
The body of Richard being found upon the field, was thrown across a
miserable horse, and carried, amid the hooting and jeers of the people
who so lately trembled at him, to the Grey Friar's church at Leicester,
where it was interred.
The courage and ability of this prince were unquestionable; but all his
eouraye and ability, misdirected as they were, served only to render him
a new proof, if such were needed, of the inferiority of the most brilliant
gifts of intellect without hcnour and religion, to comparatively inferior
talents with them. Low in stature, deformed, and of a harsh countenance,
Richard miglit yet have connnanded admiration by his talents, but for his
excessive and ineradicable propensity to the wicked as regards projects
and the bloody as regards action.
CHAPTER XXXVL
THE REIGN OP UENRY VII.
4.D. 148.5. — The joy of Richmond's troops at the defeat of Richard was
proportioned to the haired with which that tyrant had contrived to inspire
every bosom. Long live King Henry the Seventh ! was il;c c::v.!»'nor cry
which now everywhere saluted the lately exiled and distressed earl oi
Richmond; and his victorious brow was bound with a plain gold coronal
which had been worn by Richard, and had been torn from the tyrant's
forehead by Sir William Stanley in personal coml)at with him when he fell
Though Henry, late earl of Richmond, and now, 1-y possession. King
Henry VIL, had more than one ground upon which to rest his claim,
there was not one of those grounds which was not open to objection.
The Lancastrian claim had never been clearly established by Henry IV.,
and if the parliament had often supported tlie house of Lancaster, so the
parliament had not less frequently — and with just as much apparent sin-
cerity — paid a like compliment to the house of York. Then again, allow-
io the Lancastrian claim to be good ex fonte, yet Richmond claimed oulv
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
41T
from the illegitimate branch of Somerset; and again, it in reality wan
now vested not in him but in his still living mother, the countess o." Rieli-
mond.
On the other hand, it was open to Henry to fix upon himself, by virtue
of his marriage with the princess Elizabeth, the superior and more popu-
lar title of the house of York ; but in this, so far as the York title was
concerned Henry could look upon himself only as a king consort, with
Ihe loss of his authority should ills queen die without issue.
The right of conquest he could scarcely claim, seeing that conquest
was achieved by Knglishmen. On the whole review of his case, there-
fore, Henry's obvious policy was to set forward no one of his grounds ot
claim with such distinctiveness as to challenge scrutiny and provoke op-
position, but to rely chiefly upon the strongest of all rights, that of pos-
session, strengthened still farther by his concurrent circumstances of right
and maintained by a judicious policy at once firm and popular, watchful
yet seemingly undoubting. In heart Henry was not the less a Lancas-
trian from his determination to link himself to the house of York, and
strengthen himself by its means in the popular love. Of the Yorkish
support he was sure while connected with the house of York by marriage,
but tills far-sighted and suspicious temper taught him to provide against
his possible disconnection from that house, and to give every " coign of
'vantage" to the Lancastrians, whose friendship was, so to speak, more
germane to his identity. »
Only two days after the victory of Bosworth field Henry gave a proof
of the feelings we have thus attributed to him, by sending Sir Robert
Willoughby to convey the young earl of Warwick from Sheriff Watton,
in Yorkshire, where Richard had detained him in honourable and easy
captivity, to the close custody of the Tower of London. Yet this un-
fortunate son of the duke of Clarence, inasmuch as his title, however
superior to that of Richard, was not hostile to the succession of either
Henry or his destined bridi might have reasonably expected a more in-
dulgent treatment
Having thus nu ;c every arrangement, present and prospective, which
even his jealous |H>hcy could suggest, Henry crave orders for the princess
Elizabeth bei ig rmvcycd to London preparatory to her marriage. He
himself at the sannc time approached the metropolis by easy journies.
Everywher- he *as received with the most rapturous applause; which
was the nu iv siprcerc and hearty, because while liis personal triumph was
shared by I'lc Lancastrians, his approaching marriage to Elizabeth gave
a share of that triumph to the Yorkists, and seemed to put an end for
ever to those contests between the rival houses which had cost them both
so muL-li sufTeriiig during so long a time. Bat even amidst all the excite-
ment attendant upon the joy with which men of all ranks liailed their new
sovereign, the cold, stern, and suspicious temper of Hem displayed itself
at oiire oflensivcly and unnecessarily. On his arrival a' l.<mdon the mayor
and the civic companies met him in public procession ; but as though he
disdained their gratnlations, or suspected their sincerity, he passed tlirougli
them in a cloce carriage, and without showing the ^ ightest sympathy
with their evident joy.
Tiiougli Henry well knew the importance which a great portion oi nis
people attached to his union with the princess Klizabeth, and, with his
customary politic carefulness, hastened to assure them of his unallered
determination to complete that marriage, and to contradict a report, —
founded upon an artful hint dropped by himself while he was yet nneer-
lain of the issue of his contest with Richard — of his having promised to
espouse the princess Anne, the heiress of Brittany, yet he delayed his
marriage for the present; being anxious, tacitly at the least, to alfinii his
own claim to the crown by having his coronation performed previous t4»
Vol. I.— '.'7
tl8
THE TllEASURY OF HISTORY.
his marriage. Even the former ceremony, however, was for a time de-
ferred by the raging of an awful pliigne, long afterwards spoken of with
shuddering, under the name of the sweating sickness. The sickness in
question, was endemic, and so swift in its operation, that the person at-
tacked almost invariably died or became convalescent within fourand
twenty hours. Either by the skill of the medical men or by some sana-
tory alteration in the condition of the atmosphere, this very terrible visi-
tation at length ceased, and Henry was crowned with the utmost pomp.
Twelve knights banneret were made on occasion of this ceremony ; the
king's uncle, Jasper, earl of Pembroke, was created duke of Bedford;
Lord Stanley, the king's father-in-law, earl of Derby; and Edward Cour-
tenay, earl of Devonshire. The ceremony was performed by Cardinal
Bourchier, archbishop of Canterbury, who had been so much aiding in
Henry's good fortune.
Even in the matter of his coronation Henrj' could not refrain from evi-
dencing that constant and haunting suspicion which contrasted so
strangely with his unquestionable personal courage, by creating a body-
guard of fifty-five men, under the title of yeomen of the guard. But lest
the duty of this guard, that of personal watch and ward over the sover-
eign, siiould imply any of the suspicion he really felt, Henry affected to
contradict any such motive by publicly and pointedly declaring this guard
n permanent and not a personal or leniporary appointment.
Henry now summoned a parliament, and his partizatis so well exerted
themselves that a majority of the members were decided Lancastrians.
Some of them, indeed, had been outlawed and attainted while the house of
York was in the ascendant, and a question was raised whether persons
who had been tlius situated could rightfully claim to sit in parliaineiit.
The judges who were consulted upon this point had but little dilHciilty ; it
was easily to be dealt with as a simple matter of expediency. Accord-
ingly they recoinniciided that the elected members who were thus sitiialed
should not be iillowi-d to take ilicir seats until their former sentciicps
should be reversed by parliament, and there w;is of eoursi; neither dilfi-
culty nor delay experienced in passing a short act to that especial ilVect.
This doubt as to the members of parliament, however, led to a still morn
ini|)()rtaiit one. Hetiry had been himself jittaiiite.d. But lie judges very
soon solved this difiiculty by a decision, evidently founded upon a liinita-
tion of lh(! power of a court of judicature from interfering \»ith the .suc-
cession; a power which, if such court possessed it, might so oficii he
shainefiilly perverted i>y a bad king to the injury of an obnoxious heir to
the throne. The judges therefore put end to this tpiestioii by tieeiiliiij;
" that the crown dikes away all defects and stops in blood ; and that frDiii
the time that the king assumed the royal autlidriiy, the ftMnitain was clear-
ed, and all attaints anil corrimtions of bU)tu\ did cease." A decision, licit
remarked, far more remarkable for its particular justict; than for its logical
correctiU'HS.
I''in(!iiig the jiarliament so diilifidly inclined to obey his will, the kinj;
in his opening speech insisted upon both his hereditary right and u[iom Ins
"victory over his enemies." The entail and the crown was drawn in
r()ual accordance with the king's anxiety to avoid such speeiiil asseriioii
on any one of his groundH orehnin as slioidd bcealenlated to lireed ilis|iii
tati(m; no mention was made of the princess Kli/abeth, and the crown
was settled absohilely and in geiierrl terms upon the king and the lieirJ j(
his body-
It forms a rennukablc nontrast to the general reserve and astuteness ii(
the king, that he, as if not content with all the saiuiions by which he had
iilreaily fortified his possession of the crown, now applied to the pojic for
U eoiillrn)llig bull. This application, besides lieiiiu liable l<i objection a iil'
'inpolillc concession to the mi.sulnevous and nnd)ing anxu'ty of Koiiic I
the (
cans
llOllli
Ml
Ills
aiiiJii,
lo »|
IHcl',
narro
"prici
niieiui
Unl
•y"«
iransa
peace
twonl
I'he
iessioi
CJUIIl
ivere
*hici
A. i>
"•pons
II
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
■119
interfere in the temporal affairs of nations, was still farther iini)0.itic as
ghowing, what Henry ought of all things the most cautiously to liave con-
cealed, his own misgivnip as to his title. Innocent VIII., the then pope,
was delighted to gratify Henry and to interfere in his temporal concerns,
and he immediately obliged him with a hull in which all Henry's titles to
the crown were enumerated and sanctioned, and in which excommunica-
tion was denounced against all who should disturb Henry in his possession,
or his heirs in their succession.
It consisted at once with justice and with sound policy that Honry should
reverse the numerous attainders whicli had been passird against tiic Lancas-
trians. But he went still farther, and caused his obsequious parliament
to pass attainders against the deceased Richard, the duke of Norfolk, the
earl of Surrey, the viscount Lovel, the lords Ferrard of Chaitlos, and up-
wards of twenty otlier gentlemen of note. Tiiere was a sonietliingof the
absurd added to very mucli of tiie tyrannical in these sweeping attainders.
Ricliard, usurper though he was, nevertheless was king de factn, and those
against whom these attainders were passed thus fought /((r the ktm;, and
against the carl of Kiciimond, who iiad not theti assutncd the title of king.
The attainders were fartiier impolitic because they greatly tended to
weaken the confidence of the people in the total ol)livion of the qnarrels
of the roses; to which confidence Henry ought to have been mindful that
lie owed no small portion of security and popularity.
Though Henry did not deem it expedient to add to the numerous de-
mands he had so successfnlly made upon tills obsequious parliament, it
volunliirily confiJrred upon him the perpetuity of tonn;ige and [louiidiige,
which had b(!en just as complacently eonferrcii upon the deceased Itlcliard.
By way of compensation for the spiteful severity witii which he had treat-
ed the leading Irleiuls of ilie deceased kinir. Henry now proehiimed grace
and pardon to all who should by a certain d.iy take the oaths of fiMlly and
alU-jfiance to him. Hut when the earl of Surrey, among the multitude
whom thisproelamaiion drew from their saiictiiarles, prt^sented himself to
the king, he was, instead of being received to <rraee, immediately eominit-
ted to the Tower, liesidea rewarding his iiiiinediat(! supporters by cre-
ating Chandos of Hrittany, e;irl of llaili ; Sir (Jlles Daubeny, I<oril Diiu-
beiiy; and Sir Uobert Wiilonghliy, l<oril Uroke ; the king bestowrd upon
the duke of Uuckingham, who so fiitally to himself had embraced Henry's
cause, a sort of poslliumous reward In milking resiltiitlon of the family
lioiiours and gnial wealth to KdwiM I SialVunl, the duke's eldest son.
.Morton, who had so ably ami under such perilous eircnmstanees proved
his friendship to Henry, was resto, d to the lilshoprie of Kly, and lie and
another clergyman. Fox, now made hlHliop of Kxeter, were the ministers
to whom Henry gave his chief eonlideiiie. Ilnine thinks that Henry's
preference of elerles to laics, as his eonli.leiiliiil advisers, arose from his
narrow and caleiil.iliiig turn, their proiniptioii from poorer to richer bish-
iipries all'ordlng liiiii the means of stimulating and rewarding their zeal less
mieioiisly to hmi!>eir than ('onhl have been the case with laymen of rank.
Hut Hume seems here to have laid a somewhat undue weiuhl upon Wcw-
•y"s general eharaeler, and so to have mistaken his motives to a partienlur
iransiictlon: Henry, though personally brave, was emphatleally a lover of
.leaee; he preferred the eoiupiesl of the iiilelleel to the coiiipiesl of the
sword. He was himself, so to speak, intellectually of a clerical nmiild.
riie learnii i; and the intelleilual mastery of the ilay wi'ri' ehlelly in pos-
(esslmi of the clergy; and we need look im dei per llian that fai't to ac-
cjunt for Ins preference of them, that fiel snfliiiently proving that they
ivere best adapted to the eauliuiis, lortiKMis, tlKinghtfiil, and deep pidity
ivhieh lie from llii^ first determined to follow.
A. i>. Mrtti. — Henry's eniphatie declaration of his unaltered intention to
Aspnuse the princess Klizabeth did not wholly quiet the aDprchensions of
t :>
i?0
THE TllKASURY OF HISTORY.
ilie people upon that head. The parliumeiit, even when showing its trim
fulness or him and its zeal for his pleasure in granting jjini the tonnaK>!
and poundage, expressed strong wishes upon the subject; and though they
concealed their real motives under a general declaration of their desire
that they siiould have heirs to succeed him, his own comparative youth
must have sufliced tu convince so astute a person tliat the parliament had
other and stronger reasons for its anxiety. This very conviction, how-
ever, was but an additional reason for his hastening to comply ; and the
nuptials were now celebrated with a pomp and luxury surpassing even
those which had marked his coronation. The joy of the people was con-
.spicuously greater in the former than it iiad b(;en in llu 'dlter .taso ; r.iid to
tiie brooding and anxiously suspicious niii\d of Henry tiiiti new and plain in-
dication of the warmtii of affection with which the liouse of York was still
looked upon by a great portion of liis subjects, was to tiie iiiglicst degree
painful and offensive. Publicly his policy prevented tliis from appe;iring,
but in his domestic life it caused him to treat tlu! queen with a haishnetis
and coldness which her amiable temper and the extreme K\ibmissiveness
of her bearing towards her husband by no means appear to have deserved
Soon after his marriage Henry determined to make a progress through
the northern counties, in tiie view of awing some and concilialing tiic rest
of the partizans of the late king and his house, who were more numerous
in that part of the kingdom tiian elsewhere. He had already reached Not-
tingiiam when he received information that Sir Humphrey Stafford, his
brother, and the viscount Lovel had loft the sanctuary at Colchester, in
which they had found shelter since the battle; of Hosworth field. Unheed-
ing, or at any rate not fearing tiie consequences of this movement, he con-
tinued Ins progress to York, where lie learneil lliat Visiionnt Lovel, with a
force three or four thousand sirong, was marching to York, wliile i^nothet
army, under Sir Humphrey Stafford and iiis brother, was iiasti'iiing to be
siege Worcester. The uprising of such enemies at the very nioinep
when he was in the centre of precisely tliat part of Knjjiand which was
the mo.sl disaffected to him miglit have paralysed an ohhiiary mind ; but
the rt'sinirces of Henry's intelli^et and courage rose in ai-cordaiK-e willi
the demands on them. The mere retinue witli which lie travelleil formed
no mean nucleus of an army, and he actively and succes.sfully eng.iged
himself in adding tj their numbers. The force thus raised was of ncces
sity ill found in either arms or the munilions of war ; and Henry therefore
charged the duke Hetlford, to whom he entrusted the chiif coinniand, to
avoid any instant general en;,'agemeiit, and to ilevoli; his chief e.verlioii.i
to weakening Loved by seducing his adherents liy promises of p.irdoii.
Tills ptdicy was even more snccessful than Henry could have anticipatcil.
Conscious of the great effect wlii(di the king's oilers were likely to pro-
dnee upon rude inmils, already by no means zealous in the cause which
(hey had embraced, Lovel was so lerrifieil with tiie tliimght of being aban-
doiieil, and perhaps even made prisoner by his niolley levy, thai he fiiirly
ran away from his troops, and after some dilUciilty escaped to Flaiulrra,
where he was sheltered by the duchess of Iturguiidy. Aliandoiied by lliilr
lender. Lovel'^ troops gladly siihmilled to the king in ai'cord.ince with his
(lifers of mercy ; and the utter fiilnre of this liraneh of tlu; revolt so terri-
fied the revolted who were befori! Woreesler, thill lliey hastily raised llie
»ifigi' of that place and ihspersed. The .StalVonis, llnis deserted by llieir
troops :ind unable to find iiisliinl me;iiiH of escaping beyond si'a, took shel-
ter in the (dinrcli of Colnliam, near Abingdon. It turned out, however,
that this cliureh was one wliieh did not possess the right of saiietnary, and
the iiiiforlnnate Stiilfords were dragijeil forth. The elder was exeeiiteil
as a traitor anil rebel at Tyburn; the younger was pardoned (ui Ihr grniiu I
of Ins having lieeii misled by his idder hrotlier, who was presume I to li r.r
It (/u(i.(i ptiturnal infliieneu over his mind.
still
prna
Tl
Willi
reina
ill que
iilnOMn
lllP;isii
prelci
bcrl
srre.ii
'l(iiiht(
I'lersoii
U'hose
''ceoim
fully
vailed
llMll S(i
•"COIlj
illslnie
If" Won
•f that
'lis liisk
;>oliiis I
l;ave (•„
ih.n shr
THE TKKASURY OF HISTORY.
431
H tru»t
• desire
youth
cut had
11, how-
and the
)g even
.■ilS coii-
; iv.iJ to
plain in-
was still
I degree
)pe;\ring,
larshnesb
ssiveness
deserved
3 tlirough
g the rest
numerous
clied Not-
ifford, his
•\iesler, in
Unheed-
lU, he eon-
,v(d, with a
ile I'.nolhe*
iiing to he
ry nroniei'
vvhieli was
mind ; hm
liinre willi
lied formed
ly engaged
lis of nict'S
|ry llicrefore
iinmand, to
f exerlioii.s
,)f piirdoii-
;m\ici|>att'd.
ely H> 1»"-
■iiuse which
\,fing abiUi-
hal he fairly
U) I'landrrs,
„„.,\ liy ilii;r
Hire Willi Ins
voU HO lerri-
Iv raised tin'
rled hv ihfir
].;i, took sliil-
Lit, however,
liictiiary, n"''
I'as exi'iiili'l
Fill ituglOUU'l
liiniel loh.i^'i
To the joy which the dissipation of this threatening revo.t diflfused
among the friends of Henry was now added that excited by the delivery
of the queen of a son and heir, on whom was conferred the name of Ar
Ihur, both in eompliment to the infant's principality of Wales, and in allu
sion to the pretended descent of the Tudors from the far-famed Prince
Arthur
The success of the king \n putting an end to the late revolt had arisen
chiefly from the incapacity of Lovcl for the tisk he had ventured to under-
take ; and there was still a strong under-current of ill-feeling towards tlin
king, to which he was daily, though, perhaps, unconsciously, adding
strength. To the vexation caused by Henry's evident Lancastrian feeling,
as manifested by his severities to men of the opposite party, and espe-
cially by his stern and harsh treatment of the qneen, much more vexation
. was caused by the sufferings of manv principal Yorkists from the resump-
tion by the crown of all grants macie by princes of the house of York.
This resumption was made by Henry upon what appears really to have
been the just plea that it was absolutely necessary for the remedy of the
great and mischievous impoverishment of the crown. This plea has all
the more appearance of sincerity from the fact that by the very same law
all the grants made during the later years of Henry VI. were resumed;
" resumption which injured not Yorkists but Lancastrians. But losing
i are rarely reasonable men ; and as the balance and injury was heavi-
on the side of the Yorkists, they savy in this a new proof of the Lan-
..sirian prejudice of Henry, which had caused him to imprison in" Ju-
lius' bloody tower," in the very plai-e where his unfortunate cousin had
been butchered, the young oarl of Warwick. Faction is deprived of none
of its virulence or activity by the admixture of pecuniary interests ; and
tliose who were injured by the resumption of grants were not ill disposed,
events soon proved, to countenance, at the least, aught that promised
injure the gaoler of the earl of Warwick, and the harsh spouse of the
iirincrss of the house of York, who, merely beoansn she was such, was
Btill uncrowned, though the mother of a prince of Wales, and wholly irre-
proachable whether as queen, wife, or mother.
Tlie great and growing unpopularity of Henry's government combined
with other circumstances to suggest to a priest of Oxford ono of the most
remarkable and audacious impostures recorded in our history. The priest
in question, Richard Siiinin, well knowing how slroiiR the Yorkist feelinw
among the peoiilc was rendered by th(^ king's unpopular manners and
niPasiircs, formed apian for disturbing Henry by bringing forward, as a
pretender to the crown, a very handsome and graceful youth named Lam-
bert Siinnel. This youth, though Ih! was only the son of a baker, added
*rr;it shrewdness and address to his extern. il advantages; and Simon
lioiilitcd not, by careful iimtrnction, of being able to form this yoiilli to
personiite liichard, duke of York, llie younger of the murdered princes,
whose escape from the Tower and from the fate of his elder brother had
liccoinc a matter of rather <'xlensive belief Hut while Simon was care-
fully giving young Sjinnel the necessury insiriictioiis and information to
I'liiiiiie liim ti) siijiport ijie part of tin- duke of York, a new rumour jire-
viiilcd that the earl of Warwick lia<l escaped from llie Tower. "On this
liiiil spitke the prii'st ;" the name of ihe e;.fl of W irwick would he as good
!<> conjure with as that of Hiclmnl, duke of York and Simnel was now
instructed in all such [larticiilars of tlic life and i.i ily of yoniig Warwick
IS wiMild hi> ncecHsary to enable liiiii to hear Ihe i" I'siiouiiig ol'the frieiuU
•f that family, .'^o I'xecllenlly was the young impostor "crammed," for
'us lask, HO well informed did he aflerw'inls iippcar to be upon certain
;i(»iiitH of the private Insiory of the royal family, that I'oiild by no mcaui
i;ave come within ihe observation of an olisciire priest like Ins inslrncior,
llial shrewd Huspicions were eiileriaincij that certain of the royal I'uiiiily c'
423
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
York must themselves have aided in preparing the youth for his mission
of imposture. The qufcn dowager was among the personages tlius sus-
pected. She and her dauglUer were both very unkindly treated by Henry,
and the dowager was precisely of that busy and aspiring turn of mind
which would render neglect and forced inaction sufficiently offensive to
prompt the utmost anger and injury ; and she might safely promote the
views of the impostor in the first place, in the full confidence of being able
to crush him whensoever he should have sufficiently served the views of
herself and of her party.
Aware that, after all the pains he had taken to prepare the apt mind of
his promising young pupil, m;iny chances of discovery would exist in Eng.
land which would be avoiiled by commencing their nefarious proceedings
at a distant , Simon determined to lay the opening scene of his fraudulent
drama in Ireland. In that island Warwick's father, the late duke of Clar-
ence, was remembered witli the utmost affection on account of his per-
sonal character, as well as of his many pubhc acts of justice and wisdom
while he had been governor. The same public officers now held their sit-
uations there who had done so under Clarence, and under so many favour-
able circumstances Simon, probably, could not better have chosen the
scene of ihe first act of his elaborate and very impudent imposture.
Henry, on getting the alarming intelligence from Dublin, consulted '.vith
his ministers, and among the first measures taken was thai of seizing upon
all the propiTty of the queen dowager, and closely cinifining her in the
nunnery of Hermoinlsey. Tins rigorous treatment of the queen dowager,
occurring, too, at this particular time, seems to leave no doubt that she
had l)(!en discovered to have inaleri.illy aided the im[)osture of Simon and
Siinnel. The alledged reason of the king for thus severely dealing with
one with whom he was so closely connected, was her having shown so
mucli favour to the deceascii tyrant Richard, as to place herself and her
daughters in his powiT when she was safe within lier sanctuary, and to
consent to his marriage with the princess Klizalietli. Hut it was quite
cl(Mr to every man of discernment, that the king's subsequent marriage to
the princess was a complcie condonation of all that ImcI previously pa.ssed
between liim and the dowager which could materially off(!iid him: nor
was he of a temper so long to have, suffered his avarict' and hisvengeunce
to remain in abi'yaiice, had that really been llii! ground of his otrence.
That he disliked, not to say haled, his motlier-iii-law, had long been cer-
tain ; and it seems no less so, from his pn^seut proceeding with respect
to her, that he now hail iliscovtTcd reason to fear her, as being important-
ly aiding and abetting in an imposture, which had been emiiienily suci'(>s9-
ful in Ireland, and which he was by no me.ms sure «ou!d not be eipially
so ill l''nglaiid. Having secnridy guarded against any future mischief fiiiin
the ([ueeii dowager, by thus consigning her to a poverty and seclusion
which termiiiat(!d only with her life, the king now gave his Knglisli siil).
jccis the very best possible proof of the impnulence and filstdiood of Sim-
nel's assumptiim of the title and (•haractiir of the earl of Warwick, by pro-
ducing that unfortunate young nobleman himself at St. Paul's, and caus-
ing many jiersons of rank who had intimately known him to have free
conversation with him; aiiil thus not only demonstrate tliat the preteii-
■KMis of Siinnel were false, but also that they were even founded upon ii
false report, the earl's escape from the Tower, which Simon and his abet-
tors h. I tiio hastily believed on the strength of popular rumour, never hav-
iiiB actually taken place.
In liOiidon and in Kngland generally this judicious measilre was com
pletely decisive of the popular belief, and all who were acipiainted with
ihe king's tortuous mind, easily miderstooil that he hiinsclf hadcaiiseil tin
rumour of the young earl's escape, for the purpose of saving himself I'niir
wit
and
m(<r
of I
els.
mail
visc(
also
supp
and
life
der i
his.'
kill
pric'
nuiii
falc
tauie
THE TREA8UEY OP HISTORY.
423
Seiiig importuned to relea:ie him, and also to prevent any plots being
formed for that purpose.
Henry's bold temper would probably have prompted him to go over to
Ireland, carrying with him the real Warwiclt. But, in the first place, he
knew that the consummate assurance of Simon and his friends had led
them, even after the imposture liad become a mere mockery in England,
to protest that the real Warwick was the youth in their compaiy, and that
the Warwick whom Henry had so ostentatiously produced w is tiic only
impostor. And, in the next place, Henry from day to day had i iformation
which made it quite certain that too many powerful people in England
were his enemies, and inclined to aid the impostor, to render it safe for
him to be absent from the kingdom for even a brief space of time. He
therefore resolved to await the farther proceedings of the impostor, and
contented himself with levying troops, which he placed under the com-
mand of the duke of Bedford and the earl of Oxford, and throwing into
confinement the marquis of Dorset, not on account of any actual overt act,
but lest he should be inclined to treason by the hard measure which had
been dealt out to his mother, the queen dowager.
Having pretty nearly worn out their welcome in Ireland, and having, be-
sides numerous Irish adventurers, been supplied by the dowager duchess
of Burgundy witii about two thousand veteran Germans headed by a vet-
eran commander, Martin Schwartz, Simon and Simncl made a landing at
Foudrey, in Lancashire, not doubling that the Yorkists, whom thoy knew
to be so numerous in the northern coi.hties, would join them in great num-
bers. In this respect they were grievously disappointed. The well known
courage and conduct of tiie king, the general impression even among the
Yorkisvs of England that Simnel was a mere impostor, and the excellent
military arrangements and large military force of the king, caused the in-
habitants of the northern counties either to look on passively or to mani-
fest their loyalty ^y joining or supplying tlie royal army.
John, earl of Lincoln, son of .lohn de la Pole, duke of Suffolk, and ol
Elizabeth, eldest sister of Edward IV., had for some time past been resid-
ing with the king's bitter enemy, the dowager duchess of Burgundy ; and
he now appeared at the head of the mingled crew of impostors, rebels, and
their foreign and hireling mercenaries. Tiiis nobleman perceiving that
nothing was to be hoped from any general rising of the people in favour
of the pseudo earl of Warwick, resolved to put the fate of tlii! cause upon
the issue of a general action. The king was equally ready to give l)attle,
and the hostile forces at length met at Stoke, in Nottinghamshire. 'I'lie
rebels, conscious that they fought with halters around their necks, fought
with proportionate desperation. The action was long ai\d sangniniiry;
and though it at length terminated in favour of the king, his loss was far
mere extensive than could have been expected, considering his advaiilaBC
of numbers and the ability of his officers. TUv loss on l\w siile of the rel)-
els, also, was very great. The earl of Lincoln. Uroiigliton, and the (Jer-
man, Schwartz, were among (out thousaml slain on (liat side; anil as the
viscount Lovel, the runaway of the fornuT and less saiiguiinry ri'voll, who
alsd took a part in this, was missing and never afterwards li^'ard of, it was
supposed that he, too, was among lh(! slain. Both the impi stor Sjninel
and his tutor Snnon fell into the hands of the king. The pr est owimI his
lif(^ to his clerical character, but was seiilence'l to pass the whole reniain-
der of it in conflnemeiit ; and Henry, both niercifiilly anil wisely, signified
his eoiileiu|)t of the boy Siinind, liy making lijni a scullion in the royal
kilrhen. In this capacity, better suited to his origin than llie part the
priest had so uselessly (aught him to play. Simnel ciiiiihu'ted himself so
numbly and satisfactorily, that he was afterwards a(lv;iiic('d lo the rank of
falconer, a rank at that time very far higher than could ordinarily be at-
(uned bv one so humbly born.
Vi4
THE TREASUHY OF HIsrOH-Y.
Having freed himself from a danger wliLcK had at one time been nf d
Httle alarmiiij}', Henry now turned his attention towards making it, as-^e
loved to make everything, a source of profit. Few perished on the scaf-
fold for this revolt, but vast numbers were heavily fined for having taken
part in it. And lest the mulcture of actual combatants should not suffi-
ciently enrich tlie royal treasury, Henry caused ail to be fined who were
proved to have given circulation to a rumour, which had somehow got
into circuhiiion before the battle of Stoke, that the rebels were victorious,
and tiial Henry himself, after seeing his friends cut to pieces, had only
secured his safety by flight. To our modern notions, the mere crediting
and reporting of such a statement seems to be somewhat severely pun-
ished by heavy pecuniary fine ; but Henry perhap.s, thought that in most
of the cases "the wish was father to tlie thought," and that many who
had given circulation to the report would not have been violently grieved
had it turned out to be "prophetic, though not true."
Warned by much that had reached his cars during the absurd and mis-
chievous career of Sininel, Henry now determined to remove at least one
cause of dissatisfaction, by having the queen crowned. This was accord-
ingly done ; and to render the ceremony the more acceptable to the peo-
ple in general, but especially to the Yorkists, Henry graced it by giving
liberty to the young marquis of Dorset, sou of the queen dowagej;.
CHAPTER XXXVn.
TUB RRIGN OF HGNRV VII. (CONTINUED.)
A. D. 1488. — Henrv's steadfast .ityle of administering the affairs of his
kingdom, and the courage, conduct, and facility with which he had de-
livered iiiniself from the (hmgerous plots and revolts by which he had been
hreateiied, acquired him mucli consideration, out of his own dominions
as well as in them. Of this fact he was well aware, and internal peace
now siMMiiing to be permanently secured to hirn, he prepared to exert his
influence abroad.
Tlie geographical circumstances of Scotland rendered it inevitable, that
so long as that kingdom remained politicidly indepc ndent of Kngland the
former must always remain either an open and troublesome enemy, or an
unsafe, because insincere, friend to the latter. The character of James
HI. ulio now filled the Scottish throne, was precisely of that easy and
indoleiit c;ist which, whili! it encouraged a turbulent nobility to wasste
the country and vex tlu^ people, would have encouraged a king of Knglanil
addicted to war and conquest nierely for their own sake, toprosecuie war
with Seotlainl ni the assured trust of making a final and ('om|)lete conquest.
Hut Henry, lliongh he could look with nni)leni'hed cheek ii|)on the most
sanguinary battle-field, was ])rofonndly sensible of the blessings of peace.
He tli( refore now sent ambassadors to Scotland to propose a permanent
and luinorable peace between the two countries. .I.nmes on his part would
lavc well liked to conclude such a peace, hut bis nobility had other views,
mil all that came of this embassy was a somewhat sullen airrecment for a
• even year's truce; but it must have been eviilent to a far less keen ob-
(•erver than Henry, (hat <'ven that tnice would b(' very liki'ly to be broken,
lilioidil the breach be inv.ted by any peculiarly unfavourable eircuinslances
',n the situation of Kngland. With this truce, however, sullen and insin-
cere as the Scottish tempiT very evidently was, Henry determined to con-
lent himself; and from Si'otland he now turned his attention to France.
FiOuis \I. was some time dead, and his son and heir was loo yoiiiiij for
iile,<>|iei'ially in a kiiigdnin more than any other in Kiirope obnoxiou' to
disturbance from the turbulence and ambition of powerful vassals. Hut
and
raisin
ly and
So C0(
i)eeii
ter— |]
fact,
eliaiic(
upon I
lived
iiui.st
Was ei
:il\vay.>
had on
oppres.'
sheer i
talil(!
iie con
forbidd
proceei
flow III
keepin;
deep vi
'M a sp(
THE TREASUllY OF HISTOllY.
435
iible. tlial
huiii the
|iiiy, or ;in
of Jiiiiies
ciisy iind
to \v;isln
vuw war
fouqiu'st-
\\u\ most
of |)f;ice.
icrmaiKMil
virl \\o\\\i\
jhcrvit'ws,
inciil for rt
keen ob-
|\»i' broken .
iiinslaiKes
Bill! iiisin-
,r(\ to <'on-
rrimcP.
yomm f<'T
liioxio"^ 10
isals. But
l,oiiis, a profound judge of human dispositions and talents, had well provided
for the juvenile incapacity of his son, by committing the care of the king-
dom, during his minority, to his daughter Anne, lady of Beaujeu, a prin-
cess of masculine talents and courage. This lady became involved in
many and serious disputes with Brittany, which disputes were greatly
fomented by the duke of Orleans, and so far involved France with other
provinces, that at this time the lady of Beaujeu felt that the issue of the
struggle in which she was engaged, greatly, almost enti'cly, depended
upon the part which might be taken by the powerful, prosperous, and sa-
gacious king of England. The subjection of Brittany by France seemed
quite certain did not England interfere ; and Anne of Beaujeu sent am-
bassadors to England, ostensibly with the chief purpose of congratulat-
ing Henry on his success over Simnel and the partizans of that misguid-
ed youth. The real purpose of this embassy was, in fact, to engage
Henry to look on without interfering, while his benefactor, the duke of
Brittany, should be plundered of his territory. Henry, who well under-
stood that, and who really wished to serve the duke of Brittany, but who
mortally hated the expense of war, endeavoured by polity and mediation
to put an end to the strife. As will be seen in the history of France, boti)
mediation and warfare were tried in vain until the year 1491, when the
young duchess of Rennos being besieged in Rennes by the French, was
Bonipelled to surrender, and restored the duchy to peace by giving her
hand to the French monarch.
Tliis termination of ^.i aftair in vvhicli he had lost the benefit of much
thought and money, by not being more liberal both of money and vigour,
vexed Henry cxce 'igly; bu , with a most philosophic creed, he resolv-
ed to turn even • /ailure to profit. The loss of independence to Brit-
tany really affec.a Henry very deeply, and the more so as he had been
in some sort outgeneralled by Charles VHI. of France. But it was
Henry's care to a|)pear more deeply hurt than he really was, and he loud-
ly and |/assionately declared his intention to go to war. He well knew
that the acquisition of Brittany to Fr.mce was to the last degree offensive
to the people of England, and a war with France proportionally popular,
and he took his measures accordingly. He issued a commission for the
raising of a benevolence, which species of tax had, however, been formal-
ly and positively abolished by a law of the tyrant Richard, though now
so coolly laid on by a king who wolud have deemed it strange had he
been called a tyrant. Of the extent of the extortion — for it was no bet-
ter—practised upon this occasion, sonie notion may be formed from the
fact, that London alone contributed upwards of 10,000/. Morton, the
clianiu'llor, and now archbisliop of Canterbury, was disgracefully [jleasant
upon the occasion, directing the commissioners to take no excuse ; if men
livtii liandsotuely and at expense it was only fair to conclude that they
must he wealthy, and if they lived after a mean and miserable fashion, it
was eipMlly sure that their means must be hoarded ! The dilemma is not
always a figure of logic even for a chancellor ; the archbishop's dilemma
h.id one horn very faulty, for it is quite certain that badness of trade and
oppressiveness of' taxation might m;:ke many a man live meanly, from
sheer necessity, who, nevertheless, would far rather have furnished his
table with viands than his .strong bo.t with gold. Having raised all that
he could by way of benevolence, that is to say, by a violence expressly
forbidden by a law made even during the reign of a bad king, Henry now
proceeded to suminon his parliament together, for the purpose of seeing
iiow nineh mon^ money could be extracted in a more resjiilar way. Still
Ueepinn in view tlie warlike character of his people, and their recent and
deep vexation with Kranee, Henry now appealed to the national feelings
'!) a spe(!ch to parliament, which is so ciirnms a specimen of the art of
U'iii|{ eloquently insincere, that we transcribe Hume's summary of tlia
4!26
TliK TREASURY OP HISTORY.
speech. He told them tlint " France, elated with her late successes, liad
even proceeded to a contempt to England, and had refused to pay th»<
tribute which Louis XI. had stipulated to Kdward IV. ; that it oecame so
warlike a nation as tlie Eiig^lish to be roused by this indignity, and not to
limit tiicir pretensions merely to repelling the present injury. That for
his part, he was determined to lay claim to the crown itself of France,
and to maintain by force of arms sojiist a title transmitted to him by his gal-
lant ancestors. That Cressy, Poitiers, and Agincourt were sufficient to in-
struct them in their superiority over the enemy, nor did he despair of ad
ding new names to the glorious catalogue. That a king of France had
been prisoner in London, and a king of England had been crowned in
Paris; events which should animate them to an emulation of like glory
with that which had 'jeen enjoyed by their forefathers. That ihe domes-
tic dissensions of England had been the sole cause of her losing these
foreign dominions, and tiiat her present internal union would be the effec-
tual means of recovering them ; that where such lasting honour was in
view, and such an important acquisition, it became not brave men to re-
pine at the advance of a little treasure: and that, for his part, he was
determined to make the war maintain itself, and hoped by the invasion of
so opulent a kingdom as France, to increase rather than to diminish the
riches of the nation."
How profoundly Henry seems to have known human nature! How
skilfully docs he a|)peal to the vanity, the fierceness, the high
courage, and the cupidity so inherent in man's heart! "Warlike na-
tion," "just title,'' "gallant ancestors," "Cressy, Poitiers, and Agin-
court," "lasting honour," and "important acquisition," how admirably are
they all pressed into service, in the precise places where best calculated to
aci at once upon the good and the evil feelings of those whom he addres-
ses ! And then, with what a sublime contempt of all filthy lucre does he
not dehort " brave men " Irom curing about " the advance of a little
treasure !"
If all mcu were gifted with the far sight of La Ftochefoucault into the
human heart, perhaps such a speech as this of Henry would defeat itself
by the very excess and exquisitness of its art. Unt all men are not so
gifted, and never was man belter aware of that fact than Henry was. He
knew the instruments lie had to work with, and he worked accordingly.
Though liiere were many circumstances in the state of I'lurope whicli
ougiit to have made the parliament chary of advancing hard cash for a
war with l''rinice ; though that country was strengthened by the very feu-
dal ficfs which had so fafilly weakened it when ilie gallant ancestors of
Henry had deeply dyed with French blood those fatal fields, to which
Henry so proudly and so efl^eciually alluded ; thoug;h even on the very
edge (if England, to wit, in Scotland, a new and warlike monarch, James
IV. had succeeded to the indolent James HI. and was so much attached
to the iiiicrests of France, th-it he was nearly sure to evince his attach-
ment by making war on England whenever Henry should lead Hk^ Mower
of England's forces to the shores of France, the parliament hailed Henry's
boasifnl promises with delight. Two fifieenilis were readily voted to
him, anil an act was passed to enable the nobility to sell their estates; hy
which Henry accomplished the double purpose of having wciilthy vcduntcers
defray many unavoidabh; expenses, and of grt-ally diminishing tliat liaro-
nial power which even yet trod closely npoii the kibes of Ei.glish royally.
A. D. 1-llt','. — As Henry had anticipated, many powerful nobles, inflaincd
with a (leMrc of making in France ricli territorial acquisitions, such us
their Nitrnitn ati'estois hail made in England, avaded themselves of his
politic an, and sold or pawmd their bnMil lands to raise troops for the in-
vasion of the (Jaliii' Dorado, ."^c widl, in shoit, were Henry's well-fei;,'ni"l
desires seconded that on the Glhof October in this year, he was enabled
Hei
ofi
the I
The
tera
the I
quis
him
treat
in thi
recei
alteiii
and
poset
feigni
peace
down
might
tions
maint
iSca
cesjsfi
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
427
to land at Calais, with a splendidly equipped army of twenty-five thousand
infantry and sixteen iiundred cavalry, the whole c(nnnianded, under the
king himself, by the earl of Oxford and the duke of Bedford, and officered
by some of the very first men in England. Many a bright vision of
avarice and of nobler ambition was dreamed among that mighty host ; hut
like other splendid dreams, they were as fallacious and short lived
as they were brdliant. The truth is, that, nobly as the kin^ hail de-
nounced wrath to France and promised wealth to Kngland, he had from
the very first not the slightest intention of firing a gnu or drawing a
sword. His object was, snnply, to obtain money; the only sincere part
of his speech was that in which he professed his hope of making the war
maintain itself; and he so managed the affair, witli boih friend and foe, that
he really did make the war not only pay its own expenses, but uontrib.ite
a very handsome surplus to the royal treasury.
It was whispered among shrewd men. that October was a singular sea-
son at which to invade Prance, if a real war of conquest was intended.
Henry heard or guessed this rumour, and he hastened to contradict it, by
professing his conviction thiit to conquer the whole of France would not
cost him a whole summer, and that as he had Calais for winter quarters
the season of his arrival was a matter of perfect indifference.
Yet at the very lime that Henry maile this boast, which would have
been marvellously silly and vain-glorious had it not been entir(dy insincere,
and made only for an especial and temporary purpose, a secret correspon
dence for a peace had for some time been carried on by Henry and the
king of France. The landing of Henry in France, with a numerous and
well-appointed army, had, as he had foreseen, grciilly strengthened the
desire for peace on the part of 'lie king of France, and commissioners
were now very speedily appointed to s 'itle the terms.
Any other man but Henry would have been much puzzled for even
plausible reasons by which to acrcount to his subjects for so early and sud-
denly agreeing to treat for peace, after making such magnificfcnt promises
of a war of actual conquest; promises, loo, which had caused so many of
his subjects very larg(dy to invest their fortunes in his service. But to
Henry this was no difficult matter. He had represented himself as sure
of large aid from the Low Countries; he now caused Maximilian, king of
(he Romans, to send to inform him that such aid could not then be fur-
nished. Spain, too, was at war with PVance, and Spain suddeiiiy received
the counties of Rousillon and Cordagiie, and concluded peace with France!
These alterations in the state of affairs would naturally suggest some al-
teration in the proceedings and hopes of Henry! He gav(,' full time for
the cinudation of the news through his camp, and then he caused the mar-
quis of Dorset, and numerous other nobles in his confidence, to petition
him to do precisely what he had from the first intended to do — to make a
treaty with France! Strangely enough, too, they were made to allcdge
in their petition, that very lateness of the season which the king had so
recently affected to be entirely without importance, and the difficulties
attendant upon the seige of Boulogne, which he had only just commenced,
and which no one with a partiide of common-sense could ever have sup-
posed to be an undertaking without its difficulties! Henry, with well-
feigned reluctance, suffered himself to be persuaded ; and France bought
peace by the payment of seven hundred aiul forty-five thousand crowns
down, and a pension of twenty-five Ihonsaiul crowns yearly. Well indeed
might the money-loving Henry consider, now, that l)(!lwe(Mi the contribu-
tions of his subjects and those of France, the war had indifferently well
maintained itself.
Scarcely had Henry concluded this singularly cool and as singularly suc-
cessful endeavour to convert a glaring; political blunder into a means oi
1!
128
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
raising a liirgc sum of money, than he was once more called upon to de.
fend liis throne against a daring and impudent pretender.
The duchess of Burgundy, whose hatred of Henry was by no mcani)
decreased by the ease and perfect suecoss with which he had baffled the
designs of Simnel, once more endeavoured to disturb Henry's throne.
She caused it to be given out, that Richard, the young duke of York, es-
caped from the Tower when his young brother and sovereign was mur-
dered by Richard, duke of Gloster, who afterwards usurped the throne.
Improbable as it was that the younger of the two brothers should have
escaped from the monstrous and unsparing murderer of the elder, the tale
was eagerly and credulously listened to by the people, who seem to have
received no warning from the former impudent imposture of Simnel.
Perceiving that the fund of public credulity was far from being exhausted,
the duchess eagerly looked around lier for some youth qualified to sustain
the part of that young duke, of whose approaching re-appearance emissa-
ries were now instructed to hold out expectations. The youth she desired
soon presented himself in the person of Perkin Warbeck, the son of a
christianized Jew. Young Perkin was born during the reign of the amor-
ous monarch, Edward IV., who was a frequent visitor to the house of the
wealthy Jew. This circumstance, and the singular likeness of young
Perkin to the king, had occasioned not a little scandalous remark as to the
actual parentage of the boy. The youth, who had removed with his father
to Touniay, the native country of the latter, was subsequently thrown
upon his own resources, and caused by the change of fortune to visit a
variety of places ; and travel had thus added its benefits to those of nature
and the advantages of a good education. The youth was naturally very
quick-witted and of graceful manners, and the singular likeness he bore to
Edward IV. was thus rendered the more remarkable, especially when,
having been introduced to the duchess of Burgundj', and by her instructed
in the part it was desired that he should play, he designedly made the ut-
most display of those qualities which hitherto he had enjoyed almost un-
consciously. The rapidity and completeness with which he mastered all
that it was deemed necessary to teach him delighted the duchess, who,
however, in order to give time to the reports of her emissaries to spread
among the populace in England, sent the pseudo duke of York to Portu-
gal under the care of Lady Brampton. FromPortugal he was recalled on
the breaking out of what Henry hail called the " war" with France; and,
as his predecessor in imposture had formerly been, he was sent to make
the first public essay of his powers of impudence in Ireland. His success
there was sufficient to cause a groat interest and curiosity not only in
England but also in France;, to which country he was invited by Charles
VIII., who received him with all the honours due to distressed royalty,
assigning him splendid apartments, and giving him a personal guard of
honour, of which the lord Congrcsal was made the captain.
The personal resemblance of young Warbeck to Edward IV., his grace-
ful exterior and really remarkable accomplishments, added to the air of
entire sincerity which Charles — with the politic design of embarrassitig
Henry — afTected in his treatment of the impostor as the genuine duke of
York, rendered the imposition so far successful, that upwards of a hun-
dred gentlemen, some of them (as SirOeorge Nuvil and Sir John Taylor),
of considerable eminence, actually travelled from England to Paris to olTei
their swords ami purs es to the duke of York.
In the midst of a tide of good success, which must have astonished
himself more than any one else, Warbeck met with an unexpected check
in consequence of the peace that was so suddenly concluded between
France and England. Ilenry, indeed, on this occasion tried to induce tiie
king of France to give Warbeck up to him ; but Charles, with a degree of
spirit which did him grea* honour, replied, that no matter what was tliu
Vork
niakins:
who hii
Nir Jail
I'odies
actual I
THifi TRKASUBY OS HI3T0EY.
429
real character of the young man, he ought to go free from France, to wliicli
Charles had himself inviled him. Warbeck accordingly, to the great vex-
ation of his friends, was dismissed from the court and liingdom of Charles ;
and he now made his first public appearance before the duchess of Bur-
gundy, whose instructions he had hitiierto so well obeyed. With a gravity
which did infinite credit to her talents as an actress, the duchess, affecting
to have been but too well instructed by Simnel's affair ever to give credit
again to mere plausible stories, received Warbeck with a coolness whicli
would speedily have terminated his suit had he been other than an impos-
tor, and not quite as well aware as the duchess herself was of its motive.
Well knowing that her ultimate countenance of his pretensions would be
valuable precisely in proportion to her seeming unwillingness, at the out-
set, to grant it, the duchess publicly and witli much seeming severity ques-
tioned Warbeck upon his pretensions to llic title of York. As qufsslion
after question was answered with a correctness far beyond the power of
any mere impostor — of any impostor unless assisted, as Warbeck was,
by the du(Oiess or some other member of the royal family — the duchess,
by admirably regulated gradations, passed from scornful doubt and indig-
nation to wonder, and from w mder to conviction and a rapture of delight,
is, all her doubts removed, she embraced him as the marvellously pre-
served son of Edward, the true scion of the Flantagenets, the only right-
ful heir to the tiirone of England, her own long lost and miraculously re-
stored nephew ! The scene, in short, was excellently performed, and was
as pathetic to those who were not in the secret, as it assuredly must liave
been wearisome to those who were.
The duchess of Burgundy, having thus with difficulty and reluctance
satisfied herself of the truth of her sni disant nephew's pretensions, as-
signed him a guard of honour, and not oidy intimated her desire that he
should be treated with the utmost respect by all her court, but herself set
the example, never mentioning him but with the honourable and endear-
nig title of the white rose of England.
A. D. 1493 — The English of high rank were not behind the Flemish
populace in giving credence to Warbeck's pretensions. Men easily be-
lieve that which they have learned to desire; and the firm rule of llc^nry,
ami the great and obvious pains he took to depress the nobility, and to
elevate, at their expense, the middle and trading (dasses, disposed very
many men of power and consequence to assist Warbeiik in the struggle
lie meilitated for the English throne. Even Sir William Stanley who had
done so much to secure Henry's elevation, now began to look with
coniplaceni'y upon his possible dethronement by thf. pseudo duke of York-
and Sir Robert Cliffyrd actually went to Flanders to join the pretender,
and wrote tlionco that he could personally vouch that the youth in ques-
tion was really that Richard, diike of York, who had so long been sup-
posed to have been murdered by his uncle, the late king. The high rank
and respectable character of Clifford made this assurance of his exten-
Bively and inisclii(H'ously influential; causing many, who would have dis-
dained to assail, Henry's throne for the sake of an impostor, to join in the
wide spreading conspiracy in favour of the supposed duke of York.
In these circnmstaiices the king's best safeguard was his own politic
ond vigilant temper. Well served by his lunnerons spies, both in England
and on the continent, he was thoroughly informed of every important stej'
that was taken by iiis enemies. Being morally certain tliat the duke ol
York had been murdered by the late kitiLf, he took the necessary steps fof
making that fact appear from the stateiiu'nt of those who were still living
will) had personal cognizance of it. These persons were two in nmnber ;
Sir .lames Tyrrel, who had superintended the murder and seen the diMid
bodies of the murdered youths, and Dighton, who had been one of I lie
actual murderers; both of whom stated the murder to have bci ii com"
Hi .
130
THE TaEASUaV OF HI8T0aY.
mitted on both the princes ; and their separate statements agreed with the
utmost accuracy in every particular.
The next point that Henry was anxious to clear up, was the identity ol
the pretended duke of York. That he was an imposlor whs beyond all
doubt ; but it was very important that Henry should be able to say, not
only who he was not, but who he was and whence lie had sprung, to aim,
by a daring imposture, at the English throne. With this view he sent
spies into Flanders, and instructed some of them to pretend the utmost
zeal against him, and to join the opposite party. By this plan he became
aware of the number and rank of Warbeck.'s adherents ; and upon these
new spies were set, until Henry, by slow degrees, and through the instru-
mentality of men against whom he feigned the most ungovernable indig.
nation, possessed himself of every passage in the history of young War-
beck from his very childhood. The tidings thus obtained Henry took
great pains to circulate throughout England ; and the clearness with which
every step in the impostor's career was traced greatly tended lo diminish
the popularity of his cause, and to weaken the zeal of his parlizans, upon
whom Henry determined to take ample vengeance at his own leisure and
convenience.
A. D. 1494. — Having taken all prudent measures for disabusing the
minds of his own subjects as to the real history of the pretended duke of
York, Henry made a formal complaint to llie archduke Philip of the en-
couragement and shelter which so notorious an impostor as VVarbeck had
met with in Flanders; and as Philip, at the instigation of the duchess
dowager of Burgundy, coldly replied that he had no authority over the
demesne of that princess, Henry banished all Flemings from England, and
recalled all his own subjects from the Low Countries ; feeling satisfied
that the injury thus done to the trade of so commercial a people as the
Flemings, would soon urge them into such revolt as would abundantly
revenge him upon their sovereign.
In the meaniime Henry suddenly and simultaneously seized upon those
of his own subjects who had been the most zealous in conspiring against
him, and some were speedily tried and executed. Others, among wliom
was William Worsely, the dean of St. Paul's, escaped with short impris-
onment. But a more important victim was yet to be sacrificed. Stanley
the lord chamberlain, was accused by Clifford, who was directed to come
to England, kneel to the king for pardon, and accuse .Stanley. The im-
mense wealth of the latter, who had forty thousand marks in ready money
and valuables, and a yearly revenue of three thousand pounds, by no
means tended to diminish the king's desire to convict him. Bui Henry
feigned the utmost astonishment and incredulity, expatiated upon the very
great improbability that Stanley, connected with Henry and holdjnji the
important office ol chamberlain, should be guilty of treason, and even sol-
emnly exhorted Clifl^urd to beware that he did not wrongfully accuse an
innocent man. Clifford, in spite of all this pretended anxiety on the part
of the king, persisted in his statements of Stanley's guilt, and the accused
was confronted with him. Either from a high sense of honour which
deemed every suffering and danger preferable to the baseness of falsehood,
or from a weak notion that his great services to the king in former dayi
would prove liis safeguard now, Staidey did not affect to deny his guilt.
A. D. 149r).— Even now, though Henry could not have a doubt of Stan-
ley's guilt, and was fully resolved not to spare him, six weeks were suf-
fered to elapse before the prisoner was brought to trial; a clclay by which
it probably was intended to give the public a notion, that the king was
unwillini; to proceed to extremities against a man who had formerly been
so serviceable to him. At length he was tried, and the part of his comluct
which gave the most offence was his having said to Clifford, that if he
were quite sure that the young man who claimed to be the duke of York
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
431
really waa so, he never would bear arms against him. This speech, as show-
ing a preference to the house of York, was far more unpardonable, in the
judgment of Henry, than the oflence of siding with a mere nameless pre-
tender, and probably was more conclusive against Stanley than the actual
assistance which he gave to Warbeck in the way of money and advice.
As he did not even attempt to show himself innocent, a verdict was of
course returned against him ; and the king, who previous to the trial had
pretended so much reluctance to believe aught against him, did not allow
much time to elapse between the sentence and execution, being chielly
influenced, it would seem, by the lai'ge forfeiture which accrued to the
crown.
The execution of Stanley, high in rank, holding an i .>portant office, and
having unlil so late a date enjoyed so large a share c-. the king's favour
and confidence, naturally struck terror into the confederates of Warbe -k,
as Henry intended that it should. And not only did tiiis expectation warn
them that mercy was out of the question, should any be con\i(;ted, '.ut
the mere appearance of Clifford as the king's informer wa- well calc':lated
to strike terror into the guilty, who must now be aware that ihcj had
no longer any secrets from the cold-blooded and resolved king, against
whom they had plotted so much mischief. Each of the conspirators now
learned to look with dread and suspicion upon his neighbour. Many were
thus impelled into withdrawing from the support of the pretende- while
they still had an opportunity to do so ; and tiiongh rumors and lih . .s ull
continued to dismay the king, a very gpneral and wholesome opiiion w 13
formed of the great extent of the king's secret information, an., of his
resolute determination to crush the guilty.
Even while punishing conspirators, the king seemed far more bent upon
increasing his wealth, by whatever arts and schemes of extortion, than
apon conciliating the affections of his people, and thus arraying them in
lefence of his throne against the arts and efforts of open pretenders or
secret conspirators. His extortions were perpetual, shameless, and mer-
ciless ; the very laws which ought to have been tlie safeguard of l!ie peo-
ple, were made the means of extorting money from the wealthy. Sir
William Capel, a London alderman, had information laid agamst him
which involved him in penalties to the enormous amount of two thousand
seven hundred and forty-three pounds, and he actually had to pay near
two thousand by way of compromise. The lawyers were encouraged to
(ay informations against wealthy men, and the guilt or innocence of the
parties seems to have been far less considered tiian their willingness and
ability to enrich the king, by compounding with him for theiroffcnces, real
or imaginary. Aided by his financial agents, Ki j.j. : ;\ and Dnijky, to
whose unscrupulous misconduct we shall by and I y i\- i? to recmr, Henry
in this way fleeced the great and the wealthy of enoii;!Ous sum-;, and thus
forwarded his double design of depressing the somewhat dangerous power
of the great, and of increasing his own vast treasure.
Tiiough the king oppressed the wealthy l)eyii;ul measure, the main body
of the people had but little cause to complain of him, for it might most
truly be said of him that he would allow no oppressor in his kingdom
except himself. In spite, therefore, of numerous acts of particular op-
pression, the king's authority was daily more and more respected by the
people at large ; and Warbeck, fearing that a longer delay would but in-
creas(! the difficulties of liis design, at length determined to make a descent
upon England. Having collected an army of somewiiat less than a liiou-
sand men. consisting cliicfly of men equally bankrupt in ciiaracter and in
m'!ans, Warbeck took advantage of the absence of the king, who was
making a state progress through the north of England, and made his a|)-
pearance off the coast of Kent. But the care with which the king had
exposed the real character and connections of Warbeck, and the sad fate
Jl
\'^ p\
432
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
of Sii William Stanley, caused the Kentish gentry to be on the alert, iint
to join the impostor, but to oppose him. Wishing, however, to make iuiu
prisoner, they told the messenger whom he sent ashore that they were
actua.ly in arms for him, and invited him to land and place himself at
their head. Warbeck was too suspicious to fall into the snare ; and the
Kentish men finding that they could not induce him to trust himself ashore,
fell upon those of his retainers who had landed, and took a hundred ant'
fifty prisoners, besides putting a considerable number to death. This ae
lion drove Warbeck from the coast; and the king, who wars thoroughly
determined to put down the revolt witii a strong and unsparing hand, or
dered the hundred and fifty prisoners to be put to death, without an ex
ception !
A singular and very important law '.vv>s just now enacted, by which it
was provided tliat no man should be attainted for aiding the king dcfnclo,
whether by arms or otherwise. Henry probably instituted this law for the
purpose of giving increased coiifidence and zeal to his own partizaiis, by
making it impossible that even liis fall could involve them in ruin. As the
first and most important end of all laws is to secure the peace of the com-
nmnity, and as the defenders of tlie de facto king are usually such by their
attachment to public order, tlie law was a very |)roper one in spirit ; but it
was one which in the case of any violent revolution was but little likely
to be respected in practice, especially as nothing could be easier than for
the dominant party to cause it to be repealed.
Of the invasion of Italy by France, and the league formed to cheek the
French king's ambitious schetnes, we need only barely make mention here ;
for th(nigli Henry was a member of that league, he was a mere honorary
member of it, neither the expenses nor the trouble of warfr.ie on so dis-
tant a scene suiting with his peace-loving and rigidly economical tempci
CHAPTKR XXXVni.
THE REION OK HKNIIV VII. (concluded.)
A. D. 1495. — Wahheck, on perceiving the treatment that was beslowcd
by the Kentish p(!ople upon those of his adherents who had been st) unlor-
tnnate as to land, sincerely congratulaled himself upon the snspi(aun
which had arisen in his mind at the regular and discijiluied a|)jiearanee oi
the men who pretended to be newly l< vied, and with an es|)e('i.il view to
his service, lie had, however, gone too far to recede, and was, besides,
without tlie funds nei-essary to sn|i|i(irt his iMiiiierotis followers in idleness.
Ireland had ever been ri'ady to war ag.iinsi the king of I'liiHland on any or
oil no pretext, and 10 Ireland he ai'ctMilinijly steered his course, llnl, as
we have nunc |)ariu'nlarly nieniiDiied nnilir (lie history of that country
Poyninn's law and other good measures had so far stren({ih(Mied llie royal
uullKiniy, that even in the nsnally turlinlent Irelam! the adventurer eoiiM
obtain no support, f'ertain lii>spitahtie^, indeed, lie ex[)erieneed at the
haiiils III' Kmw of the ehieflains, but then > oarse fare and rude lialnls were
bill little to Ins taste, and he left them toiiy his forluiie in Scothiiid. Tliu
king of France, in rt^venge for the juiiein.n of Henry with the other (i|)-
poiieiils of the ambitions sehemes of I' ranee, and the kin;; of the Itoinaiis,
III revenge fur Henry's proliiliiiimi of all eoinnieree with ih<^ Low ('oiiii-
tries, secretly liirni^hed Warlieek with stnnig reeinnineniialions to tlie
king of Seotland, .laini's IV. That (diivalrie [)riiice seems at (irst to have
■uspeeied the truth of Warheek's story; for while he reeeiveil Inin otlic-
wiic kindly, he soineahat pointedly told hini that be whoever or « hairvrf
he might he should never repent ii.iviiig trusted to a kinii of Seotliiiid, a
remark which he 'AouUI m:urci'ly bavn made had he fell any cuiili^'.iiio
iiijiire
tlie
of an
M'as I
of the
that I
tile S'c
"cirei
ur.l
lies of
""inintit
'Seoitj
•■> profit
'lis terr
on this
'"if fin
eoiiili
"lein to
"ley W(
A. n.
linie le
■'le \■,xf^^^
"■•'Kill cci
''y hiin
^itlOll.
VJ
THE TaBASURY OF HISTORY.
433
it, nnt
ke lull)
y were
isell' al
md the
■ashore,
red am'
riiis ac
roughlj'
and, or
It an ex
which il
dcfndo,
w for the
,izaa3, by
1. \s the
■ the coin-
\\ by their
irit ; but il
ittl<! likely
it than for
, cljcck the
nliouhcre;
c liouorary
:; on so iIh-
ical lempci
18 bot>lo\v(d
'.j.,! so uiilor-
M- siispu'iun
[npe.iriuice 01
Vi.il view to
lv;is. besiiles,
s ill iiileliess.
111,1 oil ■.ii>y "'
Ue. nm, »*
lie.l the roy.d
Li(ur<r . (iiiM
tlie.Ml ill till-
,. li.ilntr'xvfrP
•oilaiwl. 'riic
ill,. i.iUeroii-
l)„. llmiv.iii!*.
. l,,i\v ("ouii-
liitions 10 il"'
[l riint tob;'^''
.,.,1 liiui olUc,-
If or wbui'Vit
Lf s>Millm>'l> a
|„y colli. ' luO
tnat he was really the duke of York. But the king's suspicions did not
long hold out against the fascinating manners and numerous acomphsh-
ments of the young adventurer. So completely did James become the
dupe, and so far was that kind-hearted monarch interested in the welfare
of the young impostor who practised upon his credulity, that he actually
gave him in marriage the lady Catherine Gordo;i, daughter of the earl of
Huntley, and not very distantly related to the king himself.
A. D. 1496. — That James of Scotland really did give credence to the ela-
borate falsehoods which were told him by young Warbeck seoms certain,
or he would scarcely have given him, in marriage, a young and beautiful
iady of a noble family and even related to the crown. But policy had,
probably, still more to do in producing James' kindness to the adventurer,
than any considerations of a merely humane and personal nature. Injury
to .''nglaud, at any rate and under iiiiy circumstances, seems to have been
the invariable maxim of the Scottish kings and of the Scottish people ; and
James, deeming it prob''hle that the people of the northern counties of
England would rise in favour of Warbeck, led him thither at the head of a
strong and well appointed army. As soon as they had crossed the border,
Warbeck issued a proclamation in which he formally stated himself to be
that duke of York who had so long been supposed dead, claimed to be the
rightful sovereign of Kngland, and called upon all his good and loyal sub-
jects to rise and aid him in expelling the usurper who laid heavy burdens
upon them, and whose oppressions of men of all ranks, and especially his
studied degradation of the nobility, had, said the proclamation, justly
caused him to be odious to all men. But besides that the men of the north
of Kngland were but little likely to look upon a Scottish army as a re-
commendation of the new comer, there were two circumstances which
prevented this proclamation from being much attended to ; every day taught
men to look with increased dread upon the calm, unsparing and iinraliering
temper of the king; and Warbeck's Scottish friends, by their tasie for
plunder, made it somewhat more than difficult for the Kniflish borderers
to look upon them in any other light than that of plundering foeiiioii.
Warbeck was conscious how greatly this practice of the Scots leiuled to
injure his cause amongthe English, and he remonstrated with James upon
llic subject. But James, who now clearly saw the little chance there was
of any rising in favour of Warbeck, plainly told him that all his sympathy
was tlirown away upon enemies, and nil his anxiety for the preservation
of iho country equally wasted, inasmuch as it seemed but too certain that
thill country would neverown his sway. In fad, but for their nlundcring,
the Scots would literally have crossed the border to no earthly pin pose,
scarcely an Knglishman being by their cominij induced to join the stand
aril of Warbeck. Ilrnry was so confident that the inaramliiig iintpensi
ticH of the Scots would make Warbeck's cause unpopular in the northern
counties rather than the contrary, that he was by no means sorry lor the
Scottish irruption. Nevertheless, true to his constant maxim of making
a profit of everything, he alfecled to he very imiiirnaiit at this violiiiion of
liis territory, and he summoned a parliament to listen to his complaints
on this hemi, ami to aid him in obtaining redress for so great ami atfront-
iiiK an injury. The pathetic style in which Henry so well knew how to
couch his coui|)laintH, so far prtnailed with the parliament as to induce
thein to vote liiin asulisidy of a hundred and twenty thousand pounds, sinil
lliey were then dismissecl.
A. n. 1497. — The people, r>lways shrewd judges of character, had by this
lime learned to nmlerstand that of Henty. Comparing the frequency and
ilie largeness of the grants made to him by the parliament with his own
rcijiil economy and personal s'.iiiiriness, Iliey easily calculated that he had
hy him a treasure of sutncicnt extent to spare Ins Biihjects this new iiupo-
ntion. It followed that, though the parliainrnt had so willingly granted
Vol,. I. -'J8
I H
i
4i
434
THE TRBA8URY OP HISTORY.
ihe subsidy in the mass, the people were by no means so willing to pay
it to tjie tax collectors in detail. This was more especially the case in
Cornwall. Far removed from any inroads of the Scots, the people of that
part could not or would not understand why they should be taxed to repel
an enemy whom they had never seen. The popular discontent in Corn-
wall was still farther increased by two demagogues, Joseph and Flam-
mock. The latter especially, who was a lawyer, was much trusted by the
populace, whom he assured that the tax laid upon them on this occa-
sion was wholly illegal, inasmuch as the nobility of the northern counties
held their lands on the express condition of defending them against all
inroads of the Scots ; and that it behoved the people promptly and firmly,
but peaceably, to petition against the system under which their burdens
bade fair to become quite intolerable. It is scarcely worth while to in-
quire how far the demagogues were sincere in their exhortations to
peaceable agitation ; the event showed how much easier it is to set a mul-
titude in motion than to control it afterwards. The country people hav-
ing their own opinions of the illegality and injustice of the tax confirmed
by men of whose talents and information they had a very high opinion,
gathered together in great numbers, most of them b(;ing armed with the
impleiiH'iiis of their rural labour. This numerous and tumultuous gather-
ing chose Flamniock and Joseph for their leaders, and passing from Corn-
wall through Devonshire, they reached Taunton, in Somersetshire, where
they killed one of the collectors of the subsidy, who.se activity anil, j)rr-
haps, S(!verity had given them niuc h offence. From Taunton they marched
to Wells, in the same county, where they got a distinguished leader in the
person of the lord Audley, a nobleman of aniieiit family, but very prone
to popularity-hunting. Headed by this silly nolilcman, the rebels marched
towards London, breathing vengeaiice against the principal ministers of
the king, lliough upon the whole toi r'I'ly innocent of actual wrong or vi-
olence during the latter part of tlieir .iiarcli. Though the Kcntish-nien
had so lately shown by the course they had adopted towards Warhi'ck
how little they were inclined to involve? themselves in a quarrel with the
king, Flaminock had persuaded the rebi'ls that they were sure to he Joined
by the Kentish people, because these latter had ever maintained tiieir lib
erly even against the Norman invaders. Tlie turn sr(/inhtr was either not
perceived hy the multitude or not considered of much importance, for into
Kent they marched in nursuance of rianmiock's advice, and took u|i their
position on a hill at lOltliam, a very few miles from London. So Car wan
the advice of Flammoek from being well founded, that there jjrohahly wac
not at that moment a singh; spot in the whole kingdom where tiie rebeiit
were less likely to meet with supi jrt than in Kent. Fvery where tliioiiyh-
out the kingdom there was considerable discontent arising out of the ex
tortionate measures of the king, but everywhere there was also a great
respect for the king's power, to which was iidded in Kent eoiisideral)!*
kindly feeling springing out of the favour and ('(iiisideration with whicli
he had acknowledged the service done to hiin when Warbeck appearcii
off the coast. Of this feeling th(! earl of Kent, Lord Aliergavenny, and
Lord Colihiim so well availed themselves, that, though tlie rebels made
every iieaeefiil endeavour to recruit their ranks, none of the Keniish men
would join them.
On tins, as indeeilon all other eniergeneies, Henry showed liino'eiri'ijuai
to the occasion. IJi^ dctachod the earl of Surrey to hidd in cheek or lieal
back the Scots; tind having posted liiinself in .^t. (Jeorge's fields at ill*
head of OIK' body of troops, he despatclied liie earN of Oxford, Siill'ulk. ami
Kssex, at the heail of another, to lake the rehejs in the rear ; while a third
under Lord Danheny eharged them in front. 'I'lie more eoinpletcly t"
tiike the reJieU by surprise, Henry had carefully spread a report thai lif
•bould nut attack them for several days ; iiii'dnl he give; the wind to P .ii-
THE TREASUEY OF HISTORY.
43fi
to pay
;a8e in
of that
,0 repel
(1 Corn-
1 Flam-
i by the
is occa-
couiitics
;aiiist all
'd firmlyi
burdens
lile to in-
ations to
iel a m jl-
ople liav-
confirmed
;i opinion,
Iwith the
,u3 gather-
roin Corn-
lire, where
y and, per-
;y marched
lader in the
very pro»e
ids marched
ministers ol
wrons or vi-
;cnlish-n»<'"
ftis Vvarhick
■rel vvilUtlie
to be ioincd
lu'd tlii'ir lib
M filli'T iiol
[iiu'i'. !">»' '"'"
,imk ui> Ihi'ir
So tar wi>»
iirobaldy wai
re till- vcbi'is
lu'ic tlivovitih-
lul of the ex-
also a ureal
oou^idcriil)!"
with vvhu'h
,-ck ai)\iean-'t
avenny, ■>»''
rcbelH uiiulf
Kentish men
ll,imseU.'.iual
,.l„M-k or (x'ivl
, n.dds ;il 'h«
|\, Suffolk, ami
1 vvlide a tiiitd
feomi>\el-W '"
' word to \>.>
oeny'a division to advance until so late an hour in the day that the rebels
could have no idea of being attacked. They had a small advance at Dept-
ford bridge, which Daubeny easily put to flight, and pursued them so
closely that he charged upon their main body at the same time that they re-
joined it. Daubeny charged the rebels gallantly, but allowed his contempt
of their want of discipline to cause him to undervalue their number, in
which respect they were far from despicable, being above sixteen thous-
and. The rash gallantry of Daubeny actually caused him to be for a few
moments taken prisoner, but he was speedily rescued by liis troops, whose
discipline soon prevailed over the raw numbers of the rebels, and the lat-
ter were put to flight with the loss of two thousand killed, and many
thousands prisoners ; the flrst division of the king's troops having aided
Daubeny so that the rebels were completely surrounded, but a compara-
tively small number of them succeeded in cutting their way through.
Among the numerous prisoners, were the lord Audley, Flammoek, and
loseph, all of whom the king sent to immediate execution. Josepli actu-
ally exulted in his fate, which, he said, would insure him a place in the
history of his country. To the other prisoners the king gave their liber-
ty ; partly, perhaps, because he deemed them to have been mere dupes in
the hands of their leaders, and partly because, however much they liad
exclaimed against the oppressions of his ministers, tlicy had in nowise
throughout the whole revolt called in question his title, or showed any dis-
position to mix up with their own causes of complaint the pretensions of
the pseudo duke of York. Lord Surrey and the king of Scotland, mean-
while, had made some few and inefficient demonstrations which led to no
important result, and Henry took an early opportunity to get Hialas, the
Spanish ambassador, to propose himself— as if without the knowledge of
Henry— to mediate between the two kings. When Hialas was agreed
to as mediator, the flrst and most important demand of Henry wa i that
Warbeck should be delivered up to him, a demand to which, to liis eternal
honour, James IV. replied that he could not pretend to decide upon the
young man's pretensions ; but tliat having received him and promised him
his protection, no imaginable consideration should evi^r induce him to be-
tray ihm. Subsequently a truce of a few months having been agreed to
between England and Scotland, James privately begged Warbeck to seek
some safe asylum, as it was very evident that while he remal'ied in Scot-
land Henry would never allow that country to have any j)erinanent peace.
The measures of Henry, meantime, as regarded the 1' lemings iiad pro-
duced exactly the result which he expected from them ; the I'leinlsh mer-
I'hant.s and artlfu-ers had siitlered so much from his system of non-lnler*
loiirse, tiiat tliey iiad in a manner forced liieir arehdiiko to make a treaty
by wlhcii all English rebels were excluded from the F.ow Countries, and
the demesnes of the dowager duchess of liurgundy were especially and
[KiMitedly inclmled in this treaty. Warlieck, therefore, on being requested
to leave Scotland, found himself by this treaty completely shut out of the
Iiow ('onntries, too, and he was fain once more to take rcfege among the
bugs and mountains of Ireland.
Even here, such were the known vigilance, art, and power of Henry
the unfortunate impostor did not leel himself secure. Mis fear on that
head, and Ins dislike of the nidi* ways and scanty fare of his entertainers
induced him to follow the advice of three needy and desperate adherents,
Aslley, Heme, and Skelton ; and he landed in (^iirnwajl, wlierolie eiidea-
mured to profit by the still prevalent disposition to di'^content and riot
in that nelolibourhood of hardy, turbulent, and ignorfint men. On his
laiiiling at liodmin, Warbeck was joined by ujiwards of lliiee tiiousand
men; and so much was ho encouraged by even this e(|iiivoi'al appearimce
of popularity, tha' he now. for the liist time, assumed the title of king of
Kngland by the name ot Uichurd IV. He next marched his courageoun
I
ml
i
436
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
buf wholly undisciplined men to Exeter, where the inhabitants wisely, as
v»< 1 as loyally, shut their gates against him, dispatched messengers to the
king, a' .. made all preparations Tor sustaining such a siege as Warbock,
df .titiite of artillery and even of ammunition, might be expected to carry
on against them.
Henry rejoiced to hear that the pretender who had so long eluded and
amazed him, had, at length, resolved to take the field. Tlie lords Daube-
ny and Broke, with the earl of Devonshire, the duke of Buckingham, and
many other considerable nobles, hastily raised troops and marched against
the rebels ; the king, at the same time, actively preparing to follow with
a numerous army.
Warbeck had shown himself unfit for rule, by the mere elation of spirit
into which he was betrayed by the adhesion of three thousand ill-armed
and undisciplined men; he now showed himself still further unfit by utter
want of that desperate courage which, if it often betrays its possessor into
s.luations of peril, no less frequently enables him, as if by miracle, to ex-
tricate himself with advantage even where his ruin appears inevitable.
The zi'al of the king's friends was so far from destroying the hopes of
Warbeck's supporters, that in a very few days their number increased
from three to about seven thonsand. But the encouragement afforded by
this enthusiasm of his friends could not counterbalance in the mind of this
unworthy pretender to empire, the terror excited by the number and rapid
approach of his foes. He hastily raised the siege "of Kxelerand retired to
Taunton ; and thence, while numbers were joining him from the nurroinid-
ing lUMghbourhood, he made a stealthy and solitary flight to the sanc'.unry
of Beaulieu, in Hampshire. Deserted by their leader the Cornish nun
submitted to the king, who used his triumph nobly. A few leading iiiul
particularly obnoxious offenders were executed, but the majoiity were
dismissed uninjured. In the case of VV'arbeck's wife, Catlierine Gordon,
Henry behaved admirably. That lady being among his prisoners, he not
only received and pardoned her, as being far more worthy of pity ilian of
blame, but even gave her a highly reputable post at court.
A. 1). 14!)8 — The long annoyance caused by VVarbcck induced Henry's
advisers to urge, him to seize that impostor even in (iefiiiiici' of the eliiiicli.
But Henry, who over loved the tortuous and the subth^ belter iliaii ilic
openly violent, caused his emissarii-s to persuade VVarbcck volinitiirlly lo
leave his shelItT and throw himself upon the king's mercy. This lie ar
cordiiijily did, and after having been led m i r'lorkery of regal stale to
London, he was compelled to make a formal iwid detailed coiifessinii ol
the whole of Ins strangt; and hyjiocritical life, and was then coininiiicd to
close custody.
A. n. H!)!). — He might now have lived securely, if irksomely; but he
had so long been accnstoined to intrigue and the activity of illlno^llll•c,
that lie spi edily took an opportunity to elude the vigilance of Ins ki < pcrs
and escajie to a saiieiuary. Here the prior of the monastery medialcij lor
hull, and the king coiiseiiled oiiee more to spare his life; I 'it set linn la
the slocks, at VV'estiniiisli'r and at (.'heapslde; compelled him in tli;it dis
graceful situation, to read almid his confession, and then coiiiiiiiitcd liliii
to cliise custody in the Tower of l.ondoii. Kven now, this restless iicr.^oii
could not snbinil to his fate. He <'ontriv<'rl lo seduce some of the i*cr-
Viinis of the governor, and to associate with himself in the projec of cs-
ca|ie the unfoiiunato young earl of Warwick, whose long imprisoiiiiieiit
h'ld so weakened his iniiid. that no artifice was too gross to impose ii|i(in
him. It wonlil almont seem that this hopeless scheiiM' innst, iinlirccllv,
li.ive been suggested to the advcnlnrers by the king hiin.self, that he iiii^fil
have a sufficiently (dansdilc reason for pulling Warheck lo death. Nnr is
it any answer lo this opinion in say. that Iwii of the conniving servaiils cl
the governor were put to death for their share in the project; for lleiny
THE TREA8UEV vf HISTORY.
437
teas not of a character to allow his scheme to fail for want of even such a
Bacrifice as that. Both VVarbeck and Warwick were executed; the latter
on the ground of his intention, which he did not deny, to disturb the king's
government.
The fate of the unfortunate Warwick excited universal indignation
against Henry, who certainly sinned no less against policy than against
humanity in this gratuitous violence upon so inoffensive a character.
A. D. 1501. — Henry had always been anxious for a friendly and close
connection with Ferdinand of Arragon, whose profound and successful
polity, in many respects, resembled his own. He now, accordingly, ex-
erted himself, and with success, to unite Ferdinaufi's daughter, the prin-
cess Catherine, to hi« own eldest son, Arthur, prince of Wales, the for-
mer being eighteen, the latter sixteen years of age.
A. D. 1502. — Scarcely, however, had the king and people ceased their
rejoicings at this marriage, when it was fatally dissolved by the death of
(he young prince. The sordid monarch was much affected by the loss of
his son, for it seemed to place him under the necessity of returning the
large sum of two hundred thousand ducats which had been received as the
dowry of the princess. Henry exerted himself to bring about a marriage
between the princess and his second son, Henry, who was only twelve
years of age, and whom he now crsated prince of Wales. The young
prince was as averse to this match as so young a prince could be ; but his
father was resolute in the cause of his beloved ducats, and that marriage
was celebrated which was afterwards the cause of so much crime and
suffering; the prime cause, probably, why Henry VIII. is not by far the
most admired of all the monarchs of b^ngland.
The latter years of the king were chiuHy spent in the indulgence of that
detestable vice, avarice, which seems not only to incirease by enjoyment,
hut also to grow more and more craving in exact proportion to the ap-
proach of that hour in which the wealth of the world is vain. His excel-
lent but far from well treated queen having died in child-bed in 1503, Hen-
ry, from that time, seems to have been haunted with a notion that no trea-
6ure could be too immense to guard him against the rivalship of his son,
'he priiico of Wales. Conscious that the late queen's title was better
than his own, Henry probably thought that if the prince were to aim at the
crown in right of his mother he would not be without support, and that, in
such case, the successful side would be that which had t'.ie best supply
ol" money. Upon no other principle can we account for the shameless
and eager rapacity with which, by means of benevolences extorted from
parliament, and oppressive fines wrung from individuals through the arts
of the infamous Dudley and Empson, the now enormously wealthy mon-
arch contiiuied to add to his stores, which, in ready money alone, arc said
to have approached the largo sum of two millions. Even when he was
rapidly sinking under a consumption, he still upheld and employed his
merciless satellites in their "i'e attacks upon the property of innocent
men. The heaping up of gold, hov ever, could not slay the ravages of his
fearful disease, and he expired at nis palace at liichni >!id at the compar-
atively early age of fifty-two years, and after a prosperous reign of twen-
ty-three years iind eight mouths, on the twenty-second of April, 1501).
Cold, cautious, resolute and stern, Henry was an arbitrary and unjust
mon;irch ; yet for the mass of the people his reign was a gond one. To
tht! wealthy his Jwarice was a scourge; to the haughty and to the high-
born his firm and vigilant rule must have been ternlile. Uut he allowed
no one to plunder but for him ; no one to tyrannize but in obedience to his
orders. The barbarotis tyranny of the feudal nobles was forever stricken
down; the middle classes were raised to an importance and intlufiice pre-
viously unheard of in England; and, apart from his arbitrary and reiilly
impolitic, because needless, extortions of n >i)ey, the general strain of hii
m
438
THE TEEASURY OF HIS 'i 01:."!
laws tended not only to the making of a iesputic monarch, bu. tli » if a
well rogulated nobility >tiid an e;:terpri8ii'; pr )S|:er.',s i;-: ie, •< !i.r.( m-
terprisM and whose prosperity, iiaviiig- no ■.liock except t'ie uesp.v ;■; ^ ^wer
of the monarch, could not fail sooner or la^i r to curb that one despotism
which .'I'lii so farbem uiicful that i: had free<; hem from the many->ieadoi'
despotism of the nobilliy
CHAPiEK XXXIX.
THE KEKS* OF IJE^NRY VIM,
it. D. 1509. — It is a sad but a jertuia truth 'hat thi; 'i iss of luankind
have but a ionse and deceptive lo-iraliiy ; they cok ratliei- to tUe niaiiiiei
than to the extent of crime when iormiiig liitir judgments. The splendid
tyranin.'s of an Edward were rather admired than deplored ; even the
giftod ferocity of the usurping third iiichard was thought to be in some
scr'. redeemed by the very excess of subtlety in the plan, and of mere an-
inrd daring in the execution, by thai nation which now scarcely endeav
ouied to conceal its joy at the dece;!se of the cold, avaricious Henry.
Yet, bad as much of Henry's conduct was, and very contemptible as iveli
as hateful as excessive avarice unqu(>uonably is, Richard, nay even Ed-
ward, would not for an instant bear n mparison with Henry if the public
judgment were not warped. It was nni so much tiie vices of Henry VII.
that the people hated him for, as his cold and wearisome firmness of
rule; could he sometimes have been niUi impunity sinned against, he
might have sinned ten times as much a:, lie did, without being nearly so
much hated as he was.
The cautious policy of Henry VH., the severity of his punishments, and
his incurable cupidity, gave no small adv^inlage to the commencement ol
the reign of his successor, who ascendti! the throne with probably as
many prepossessions in the hearts and minds of ills people as any moimn;ii
in our iiistory.
Young, handsome, gay, skilled in all manly exercises, and far belter ed-
ucated, scholastically speaking, than was usual even among princes at
that time, Henry Vlll. had the still farther and Inestimable advantages nf
having never been in any degree assoclati'd in men's minds with the cru^
elties or the extortions of his father, whose jiNilousy had always kept the
young prince unconnected with the management of public affairs. Wih
all these advantages, and uniting in his own person the claims of both
York and Lancaster, Henry VIII. may most truly be said to ii.iti; coin-
menccil his reign with the universal love and admiration of 'ils [irople.
His grandmother, the dowager countess of Richmond ...-.1 Derby, was
still alive, and Henry had the good sense and fortune to be guided by
her shrewdness and rxperifiice in the important matter of forming liis
first ministry. The ability of ibc ministers of I' c late king was beyond
all cavil, and it was Henry's obvious poliry to rrtaiii as much of the tHJi'iit
which h,id aided his father, with as linle as possible of either the wirkid-
ness or the unpopularity. Tin; numberless and severe sulTeriiigs wbirii
had been liiflieted U(ioii men of wealth during the last men, causeil a |ini-
portlonately loud and general cry to Im now raised against the inforini'is,
particularly against thi^ noted Dudley an.i Enipsoii, who had so siiccrss'iilly
and unscrupulously served the late king; and though the justice of llmry
VI H. did not induce him to part with any portion of the treasure wliii'b
his father had so Iniquitoiisly obtained, so neither did it prompt lilin to ilr-
fend bis father's tools. Roth Dudley and Eni|)si)ii were seized and CDia-
mitted to the Tower, amid ihe joy aiiilexeerations of the peo|)le ; aUlinii<.di,
as we shall in n few words be able to sb'-w, the very criniinalitv ul
^^ -^
iSS^Sii
THE TREASURY OF HISTOEY.
439
ic power
espotism
y-lieadei'
• mankind
life mauuei
le splendid
; even the
le in some
}f mereiin-
ly enduav
)us Henry,
ible as well
V even Kd-
fihe public
Henry V 11.
firmness of
iigainsi, he
iig nearly so
shments.and
lencemenl oi
probably as
ny mouari!li
Which these men were accused, was not more flagrant or hateful than
that which was now committed against them. When they were summon-
ed before the council, aud called upon to show why they should not
be punished for their conduct during the late reign, Empson, who was a
fluent speaker and a really able lawyer, mane a defence of his own and
his colleague's conduct, which, had the king been just and the people rea-
vonable, would have led to such alterations in the laws as would forever
after have rendered it impossible for unprincipled informers to ruin the
wealthy subject, while pandering to the greediness of a grasping and un-
just king. He very truly argued that he and his colleague had acted in
obedience to the king, and in accordance with laws which, however
ancient, were unrepealed and therefore as authoritative as ever ; that it
was not at all to be marvelled at if those who were punished by law
should rail at those who put the law in force ; that all well-regulated states
always made the impartial and strict enforcement of the laws their chief
boast, and that that state would, inevitably, fall into utter ruin, where a
contrary practice should be allowed to obtain.
This defence, which clearly threw the blame upon the state of the laws
and upon the evil inclinations of the late king, did not prevent Dudley and
ilmpson from being sent to the Tower. They were soon afterwards con-
victed by a jury, and this conviction was followed up by an act of attainder,
which was passed by parliament, and Empson and Dudley were executed
amid the savage rejoicings of the people, whose demeanour on this occa-
sion showed them to be truly unworthy the liberty they so highly valued.
We do not palliate the moral feelings of Empson and Dudley, but, legally
speaking, they were murdered; they were put to death for doing that
which the law directly authorised, and indirectly commanded them to do.
In compliance with the advice of his council, and of the countess of
Richmond and Derby, Henry completed his marriage with the princess
Catiierine, the widow of his brother Arthur; though it seems certain, not
only that Henry had himself no preference for that princess, who was
plain in person and his senior by six years, but no less certain that his
father on his death-bed conjured him to take the earliest possible oppor-
tunity to break the engagement.
Though Henry VIII. had received a good education, and might deserve
the praise of learning and ability, even without reference to his high rank,
he was far too impetuous, and too mucii the creature of impulse, to de-
servcth'. title of a great politician. At his coining to the throne, the state
of Europe was such that laissez alter would have been the best maxim for
all the sovereigns; and England, blest with domestic peace, and little con-
cerned in the affairs of the continent, ought especially to have kept aUjof
from interference. Italy was the theatre of strife between the powers of
Spain and France; Henry's best policy clearly would iiave been to let these
great powers waste their lime and strength against each other ; yet, at the
very commencement of his reign, he allowed Pope Julius II. to seduce
him into the grossly impolitic step of allying himself with that pontiff,
the emperor .Maximilian, and Henry's fatiier-in law, Ferdinand, to crush
ami trample upon the conmionwealth of Venice.
A. D. 1510. — Having succeeded in engaging Henry in this league, to
which neither his own honour nor the interests of his people obliged the
young monarch, Julius was encouraged to engage him in the more am-
bitious project of freeing Italy from foreigners. The pontiff accordingly
sent a llatt;.'ring message to Henry, with a perfmnr ii and anointed rose,
and he held out to Henry's nmhassador at Home. Hainbridge, archbishop
of Yoik, a cardinal's iiat as the reward of his exertions in his interest.
This done, he persuaded Ferdinand and the Swiss cantons to join him,
and declared war against the duke of Ferrara, the ally and friend of ll"
French
140
THE TKEASUaV OF HISTORY.
A. D 1511 — The emperor Maximilian still hold to his alliance with
Louis, and they, with some maU^ontent cardinals, now etideavourcd to
check the ambition of Julius, by calling a general council for the purpose
of reforming the church. With the exception of ome French bishops, the
cardinals had scarcely any supporters, and they were so ill received at
Pisa, where they first met, that they were obliged to r.djourn to Milan.
Even here, though under the dominion and protection of France, they
were so much insulted, that they again adjourned to Lyons; and it was
evident that they had but little chance of success against the pope, who,
besides being extremely popular, did not fail to exercise his power of ex-
communicating the clerical attendants of the couni:il, and absolving from
their allegiance the subjects of the inonarchs who protected them.
A. D. 1512. — Henry, who at this period of his life was far too impet-
uous to be otherwise than sincere, was really anxious to protect the sov-
ereign pontiff from insult and oppression, and he was strengthened in
this inclination by the interested counsel of his father-in-law, and by his
own hope of being honoured with the title of Most Christian King, which
heretofore had belonged to the king of France. He consequently allied
himself with Spain, Venice, and the pope, against the king of France, and
not merely sent an embassy to dehort Louis from warring against the
pope, but also demanded the restoration to Kngland of Anjou, Maine,
Guienne, and Normandy. This demand was considered tantamount to a
declaration of war, and was supported by parliament, which granted
Henry a very liberal supply.
Ferdinand, who had his own ends to serve, afTected to be extremely
anxious to serve Henry, md sent a fleet to convey the Kiiglish troops, to
the number of ten thousand, to Fontarabia. The manpiisof llnrset, ac-
companied by the lords Broke and Howard, and maiiyotfiit yiiting iiolile-
men ambitions of warlike fame, commanded this force, which was ex-
tremely well appointed, though it chiefly consisted of infantry, llm
Dorset very soon found that Henry's interests were not ('(uisiihcd by Fer-
dinand and his generals ; and, after much idle disputation, the Knglish
troops broke out into mutiny, and the expedition returned wiilioul
achieving anything. Henry was much annoyed by this egregious fail-
ure, and Dorset had great difTiculiy in convincing him of the exclusive-
ly selfish nature of Ferdinand's designs.
Uy sea the English were not nmch more prosperous than by land. A
fleet of forty-five sail was encoinilered ofT Brest by thirty-nine sail of
the French; the French admiral's ship caught fire, and I'rimaugei, the
commander, resolutely grappled with the English admiral, and both ves-
sels blew up together, the enraged crews combating to the last. The
French, notwithstanding the loss of their admiral, made good their escape
with all the rest of their ships.
But though Henry acquired no glory or advantage by these operations
against France, he did liOuis serious mischief by compelling him to retain
in France troops whose presence was absolutely necessary to his interests
in Italy. But for this circumstance Louis would probably have prospered
there. His young and heroic nephew, (laston de Foix, even with tlie
shMidcr forces that cimhl be :spared to him, during a few months of a
career which a great modern poet most truly calls "brief, brave, and
glorious,"' obtained signal advantages ; but he fell in the very inomen' o(
victory over the army of the pope and Ferdinand, al Ravemia, His geiiinj
had, in a great degree, compensated for the nunu^rical inferiority of the
French ; but directly after his death (jciioa and Milan revolted, and Louis
was N[)eedily di^prived of every foot of his newly-acquired Italian con-
quests, exce[)l some isolated and coniparatively unimportant fortresses.
A. D. 151.3.— Pope Julius H. had scaicel\ tioie to exult over his sue*
■;e8»es against the arms of FjOiiis when that pontiff died, and wus sue*
coini
lanir
of 1)01
was (
'his
heliiiK
'hus
deposi
qi'arte
Tl.,
tfirnw
wouid
up to
THE TREASURY OK HISTORY.
441
3 with
ircd to
lurpose
jps, the
iveil at
Milan.
;e, they
1 it was
!(!, who,
■r of p\-
ng from
II.
iinpet-
tlie sov-
lieiicd ill
nii by I'.is
ig, wliich
lily ai\i('(i
mice, and
lainst tlie
)U, Maine,
louiit to a
li granted
extremely
1 troops, to
Dorset, ac-
iiing nolile
h was ex-
nitrv. Ihil
icd'liy Fer-
ic Knglish
.,1 williout
cgious fiiil-
. exclusive-
|)y land. A
line sail "1
laiiiiei, the
Id both ves-
lasl. The
jlieir escape
operations
till to retain
Tiis interest*
le prospered
T^n with the
[lonVhs of a
brave, and
monien* of
Uisuenins
lority of the
and Louis
ftlalian eon-
fortresses.
v,.r his sue*
[id \>a3 siif
eeeded by John de Medicis. who, under the title of Leo X., is famed in
history no less for his patronage of the arts and sciences, than for his
profound political talents. Leo X. had no sooner ascended ti.e papal
throne than he dexterously withdrew the emperor Maximilian from the
French interests; and, by cheap but flattering compliments to Henry and
his leading courtiers, greatly increased the popularity of the papal cause
in Fngland, where the parliament imposed a poll-tax to assist the king in
his (Icsigns against France. While Henry was eagerly making his pre-
parations, he (lid not neglect his dangerous enemy, James of Scotland.
That prince was much attached to the French cause, and sent a squadron
of vessels to aid it; and, though to Henry's envoy he now professed the
most peaceable inclinations, the earl of Surrey was ordered to watch the
borders with a strong force, lest Kngland should be assailed in that direc-
tion during the king's absence in France.
While Flenry was busied in preparing a large land force for the invasion
of France, his fleet, under Sir Edward Howard, cruised in the channel,
and at length drew up in order of battle off Brest and challenged the
French force which lay there ; but the French commander being in daily
expei-latioii of a reinforcemimt of galleys under the command of Prejeant
(ie Uidoux, would not allow any taunts to draw him from his security.
The galleys at length arrived at Conquet, near Brest, and Bidoux placed
himself beneath a battery. T "> lie was attacked by Sir Edward, who,
Willi a Spanish cavalier and sev .;en English, boldly boarded Bidoux^s
own vessel, but was killed and thrust into the sea. The los.s of their ad-
miral so discouraged the English thai they raised their blockade of Brest
harbour, and the French fleet soon after made a descent upon the coast
of Sussex, but was beaten off.
Ki^jht thousand men under the comr and of the earl of Shrewsbury,
and six thousand under that of Lord '^lerbert of Cherbury, having em-
barked for France, the king now prep;; "J to follow with the main army.
He had aires' y made the queen regeiii, during^ his absence; and that she
might be in the less danger of beiig disturbed by any revolt, he now
caused Edmund de la Pole, earl of Suf vik, who had been attainted during
the last reign, to be beheaded in the T.wer of London.
Oil arriving at Calais Henry found that the Rid afforded him fell very
far short of what he had been proniiaed. Maxi'. ili;in, who was to have
brought a reinforcement of eight thousand men i.i return for a hundred
and twenty thousand crowns which Henry had advanced him, was unable
to fulfil his engagement. He hosvever made the best amends in his power
by joining with such scanty force as he could command; and he enlisted
hiinsi'lf under Henry as his officer, with a salary of one hundred crowns
per day,
The carl of Shrewsbury and the lord Herbert immediately on their
arrival In France had laid siege to Terouane, a town on the borders of
Picardy, w hicli was gallantly defended by two thousand men uniler the
command of Creqiii and Teligni. The strength of the place and the gal-
lantry of the garrison bade defiance to the besiegers ; but a dreadful want
of both provisions and ammunition was soon felt in the place. Fontrailles
was detached by Louis from the army at Amiens to carry some relief to
this place. He took eight hundred horsemen, each of whom -arried
behind him a sack of gunpowder and two quarters of bacon, and, though
thus encumbered, this gallant cavalry cut their way though the English,
deposited their burdens in the fosse of the Icwn, and returned to their
quarters with scarcely any loss.
Tl>c same gallant Footrailids was shortly afterwards again about to
throw 80, ne relief into Terouane; and as it was judged that the English
would now be on the alert, a strong bodv of French cavalry was ordered
up to protect him. Henry sent out a body of cavalry to hold hem Ir
III
!42
THB TB,EA8I;RY OP HISTORY.
check, and, strange to relate, though the French vvere picked troops, con«
sisting chiefly of gentleman who had fought gallantly and often, they
were seized with a sudden panic at the approach of the English, and fled
in spite of the attempts io rally them which were made by such men ai
the chevalier Bayard, the duke of Longueville, anc. other distinguished
oflBcers who were among the number taken prisoners. This battle, from
the panic flight of the French, is known as the Battle of Spurs. Had
Henry immediately after this pushed his advantages, he might easily have
marched to Paris, where both friends and foes fully expected to see him ;
but he allowed Maximilian to persuade him into the besieging of Tournay,
which, after much delay, was taken. Henry then relumed to England,
having gained some reputation as a chivalrous soldier, but certainly with
no increase of his reputation as a politician or a general.
During Henry's absence the Scots acted precisely as had been antici-
pated. James, with an army of flfty thousand men, had crossed the bordei
and taken several castles, ravaging and plundering the country in every
direction around them. Having taken the lady Forde prisoner in hci
castle, James was so much charmed with her society that he lost much
precious time, and his disorderly troops took advantage of his negligence
and retreated to their hom^s in great numbers with the plunder they had
obtained from the Southrons. The earl of Surrey, after much difliciilly,
came up with the Scots, who by these desertions were reduced to some-
what nearer his own force of twenty-six thousand men. James in person
commanded the centre division of the Scots, the earl of Huntley and Lord
Hume the ri^'ht, the earls of Lennox and Argyle th^"^ left, while the earl
of Bolhwell had charge of the reserve, i ne i'lnglish centre was com-
manded by Lord Howard in the first line, and by ihe gallant earl of Surrey
himself in the second; the wings by Sir Edmund Howard, Sir Marmaduke
Constable, Lord Dacre, and Sir Edward Stanley. The right wing of tiie
Scots commenced the action, and fairly drove the English left wing ofl" the
field ; but the Scottish left, in the meantime, broke from all discipline,
and attacked so impetuously, but in such disorder, that Sir Edward Howard
and the lord Dacre, who profited by their confusion and received them
coolly, cut them to pieces ere they could be rescued by James's own divi-
sion and the reserve under Bothwell. Though the Scots sustained this
great loss, the presence of the sovereign so much animated their courage,
that they kept up the engagement until night put an end to it. Even then
it was uncertain which side had, in reality, sustained the greater loss.
But, on the following day, it was discovered that the English, as well as
the Scots, had lost about five thousand men; the former had suffered
almost exclusively in the ranks, while the latter had lost many of their
bravest nobles. The king of Scotland was himself among the missing
from this fatal " Flodden i'ield." A body, indeed, was found among the
slain, which from the royal attire was supposed to be the king's, and it
was even royally interred, Henry generously pretending that James, while
dying, expressed his contrition for that misconduct towards the pope
which had placed him under the terrible sentence of excommunication.
But though Henry was evidently convinced that he was thi's doing honour
to the body cf his trother-in-law, the Scots were equally convinced thai
he was not. : id thai James did not fall in the battle. By some it was as-
serted that the monarch, escaping from the field, was put to death by order
of Lord Hume; while others no less believed that he escaped to the Holy
Land, whe.ice they long subsequently continued to expect him to retnrn.
The event of the battle of Flodden having released Henry from all feaf
of his northern border, at least for that time, he made no difficulty about
gratiting peace to his sister Margaret, who was now made regent ofScot-
land during the minority of her son.
A. D. 1514. — Henry rewarded the chief instruments in obtaining himthli
fH.a THBA8UHY OF HISTORY.
441
)8, con-
n, they
mA fled
men ai
iguished
le, from
,. Had
jily have
3ee him ;
rournay,
EnglHnd,
iiily with
en antici-
he bordei
in every
ler in hei
,ost much
legVigcnct
r they had
1 difficulty,
d to some-
5 in person
y and Lord
lie the earl
was com-
rl of Surrey
Marmaduke
wing of the
wing off the
, discipline,
ard Howard
eived them
's own divi-
suiined this
ir courage,
Kvcn then
reater loss.
1^ as well as
(id suffered
iny of their
the missing
among the
ng's, and it
ames, while
\s the pope
munication.
oing honour
[winced that
le it was as-
ath by order
to the Holy
Im to return.
Ifrom all feaf
iculty about
lent of Scot"
liing him ihii
splendid victory, by conferring on the earl of Snrrey the title of duke ol
Norfolk, which had been forfeited by that nobleman's father, who sided
with Richard HI. at Bosworth Field; upon Lord Howard the title of the
earl of Surrey ; on Lord Herbert that of earl of Worcester ; upon Sir Ed-
ward Stanley that of lord Monteagle ; and upon Charles Brandon, earl of
Lisle, that of duke of Suffolk.
At the same time the bishopric of Lincoln was bestowed upon the king's
chief favourite and prime minister, Thomas Wolsey, whose part in this
reign was so important as to demand that we should presently speak of
him at some length.
The war with Scotland being fortunately terminated, Henry again turned
his whole attention to France. There, however, he found little cause of
graiuicition. His father-in-law, Ferdinand of Arragon, having obtained
possession of the petty frontier kingdom of Navarre, had eagerly made
peace with Fiance, and induced the emperor Maximilian to do the same ;
and the pope, in whose cause Henry had sacrificed so much, had also ac-
cepted of the submission of Louis.
The truth was now more than ever apparent, that, however great Henry's
"ther qualities, he was by no means skilled in the wiles of politics; and
lis present experience of that truth was the more embittered, because lie
found that Maximilian had been induced to abandon him by an offer of the
daughter of France to the son of that prince ; though that son Ciiarles
had already been affianced to Henry's own younger sister, the princess
Mary, who was now fast approaching the age for the completion of the
contract.
Thus doubly duped and injured, Henry would, most likely, have re-in-
vaded France, no matter at what sacrifice, but that the duke of Longue-
ville, who had remained a prisoner ever since the memorable " battle of
spurs," suggested a match between the deserted princess Mary and Louis
of France himself. It is true that monarch was upwards of fifty years of
age, and the princess not quite sixteen; but so many advantages were
offered to Henry, that the marriage was concluded at Abbeville, whither
Louis proceeded to meet his young bride. Their happiness and the re-
joicings of the French people were of but short duration, the king sur-
viving the marriage only about three months.
The young queen dowager of France had, before her marriage, shown
some partiality for the duke of Suffolk, the most accomplished cavalier of
the age, and an especial favourite of Henry ; and he now easily persuaded
her to shorten the period of her widowhood. Henry was, or fi i ^ned to
be, angry at their precipitate union; lull his anger, if rei.i, was only of
short duration, and the accomplished duke and his lovely bride v,tce soon
invited to return to the English court.
CHAPTER XL.
THE REIGN OF HENRY vin. {continued).
As Henry VIII. was, in many respects, the most extraordinary of ou
monarchs, his favourite and minister, the cardinal Wolsey, was at the very
head of the extraordinary men, even in that age of strange men and
.«! range deeds. He was the son of a butcher in tlie town of Ipswich, and
displaying, while young, great quickness and intelligence, he had a learned
education, with a view to his entering the church. Having, at the con-
clusion of Ins (iwn education, been employed in teaching the children of
the marquis of Oorsel, he gave so much satisfaction that that nobleman re
commended him to Henry VIII., as his chaplain. As the private and
public servant of that monarch, Wolsey gave equal salisl'aclioii ; and when
i
m
444
THE TREASURY OF HI8T0R\.
Henry VIII., a gay, young, and extravagant monarch, showed a very en
dent preference of the earl of Surrey to the somewhat severe and eco
nomic Fox, bishop of Winchester, this prelate introduced VVolsey to the
king, hoping that, while his accomplishments and pliability would enable
him to eclipse the earl of Surrey, he would, from his own love of pleasure
if not from the motives of gratitude, be subordinate in all matters oi
politics to the prelate to whom he owed his introduction. The difference
between the actual conduct of VVolsey, and the expectations of the pre-
late, furnishes a strlknig illustration of the aptitude of otherwise able men
to fall into error when they substitute their own wishes for the principles
inherent to human nature. Wolsey fully warranted Fox's expectation!!
in making himself even more agreeable to the gay humour of the king
than the earl of Surrey. But Wolsey took advantage of his position to
persuade the king that both the earl and the prelate, tried counsellors oi
the late king, felt themselves appointed by him rather than by their present
royal master, to whom th^y considered themselves less servants than
authoritative guardians and tutors. He so well, at the same time, showed
his own capacity equally for pleasure and for business, and his own readi-
ness to relieve the king from the weight of all irksome details, and yet to
be his very and docile creature, that Henry soon found it impossible to do
without him, in either his gaieties or in his more serious pursuits ; and
Wolsey equally supplanted alike the courtier and the graver man of busi-
ness, who, in endeavouring to make him his tool, enabled him to become
his superior. Confident in his own talents, and in the favour of Henry,
this son of a very humble tradesman carried himself with an all but regal
pomp and haughtiness; and left men in some difficulty to pronounce
whether he were more grasping in obtaining wealth, or more magnificent
in expending it. Supercilious to those who affected equality with him,
he was liberal to the utmost towards those beneath him; and, with a sin-
gular inconsistency, though he could be ungrateful, as we have seen in
the case of the unsuspecting bishop of Winchester, no man was more
prone to an exceeding generosity towards those who were not his patrons
but his tools.
A. D. 1515. — A favourite and minister of this temper could not fail to
make many enemies ; but VVolsey relaxed neither in haughtiness nor in
ambition. Well knowing the temper of Henry, the politic minister ever
affected to be the mere tool of his master, though the exact contrary
really was the case ; and by thus making all his acts seem to emanate
from Henry's will, he piqued his vanity and wilfulness into supporting
them and him against all shadow of opposition or complaint. Made
bishop of Lincoln, and then archbishop of York, Wolsey held in com-
mendam the bishopric of Winchester, the abbey of St. Alban's, and had
the revenues at very easy leases of the bishoprics of Bath, VVorcester,
and Hereford. His influence over the king made the pope anxious to ac-
quire a hold upon him; W'olsey, accordingly, was made a cardinal, and
thenceforth his whole energies and ambition were (ie.oted to the endeavour
to win the papal throne itself. Contrary to the custom of priests,the precious
metals ornamented not only his own attire, but even the saddles and furni
tureof his horses; hi» cardinal's hat was carried before him by a man of rank
and laid upon the altar when he entered chapel ; one priest, of noble stat-
ure and handsome countenance, carried before him a massive silver cross,
and another the cross of York. Warham, archbishop of Canterbury,
also held the office of chancellor, and was but ill fitted to contend with so
resolute a person as Wolsey, who speedily worried him into a resignation
of the chancellorship, which dignity he himself grasped. His emoluments
were vast, so was his expenditure magnificent; and, if he grasped at
many offices, it is but fair to add that he fulfilled his various duties with
rare energy, judgment, and justice. Wolsey might now be said to be
lot fail to
ess nor in ■
lister ever
contrary
emanate
(upporting
111. MailB
[d in cam-
and had
Vorcoster,
ious to ac-
dinal, and
endeavour
le precious
and furni
lanofrank
noble slat-
ilver cross,
anierhury,
lid with so
resignation
moUiments
[grasped at
luties with
said to be
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
445
Henry's only minister ; fox, bishop of Winchester, the duke of Norfolk,
and the duke of Suffolk being, like the archbishop of Canterbury, unable
to make head against his arbitrary temper, and driven from the court by
ft desire to avoid a useless and irritating conflict. Fox, bishop of Win-
chester, who seems to have been greatly attached to Henry, warned him
against Wolsey's ambition, and besought him to beware lest the servant
should become the master. But Henry had no fear of tiie kind ; he wiis
far too despotic and passionate a person to fear that any minister could
govern him.
The success which Francis of France met with in Italy tended to ex-
cite the jealousy and fears of England, as every new acquisition made by
France encroached upon the balance of power, upon which the safely of
English interests so greatly depended. Francis, moreover had given of-
fence, not only to Henry, but also to Wolsey, who look care not to allow
his master's anger to subside for want of a prompter. But though He.nry
spent a large sum of money in stirring up enmities against France, he
did so lo little practical effect, and was easily induced to peace.
A. D. 1516. — Ferdinand the Catholic, the father-in-law of Henry, died in
the midst of a profound peace in Europe, and was succeeded by his grand-
son Charles. This event caused Francis to see the necessity of bestirring
himself to insure the friendship of England, as a support against tlie ex-
tensive power of Spain. As the bast means of doing so, he cau^-ed his
ambassador to make his peace with Wolsey, and affected lo ask that
haughty minister's advice on the most confidenliul and important sub-
jects. One of the advantages obtained by Francis from this servile flat-
tery of the powerful minister, was the restoirtiion of the important town
of Tournay, a frontier fortress of Prance and the Netherlands ; Francis
agreeing to pay six hundred thousand crowns, at twelve equal annual in-
Blalments, to reimburse Henry for his expenditure on the citadel of Tour-
nay. At the same time that Francis gave eight men of rank as hostages
for the payment of the above large sum lo Henry, he agreed to p:iy twelve
thousand livres per annum to Wolsey as an equivalent for the bisliopric
of Tournay, to which he had a claim. Pleased with this success, Francis
now became bolder in his flatteries, terming Wolsey governor, tutor, and
even father, and so winning upon the mind of Wolsey by fulsome affecta-
tions of humility and admiration, that Polydore Virgil, who was Wolsey's
contemporary, speaks of it as being quite certain that Wolsey was willing
to have sold him Calais, and was only prevented from doing so by the
general sense he found to be entertained of its value to England, and by
his forming closer connections with Spain, which somewhat cooled his
attachment to France. The pope's legale, Campeggio, being recalled on
his failure to procure a tithe demanded by the [xjpe from the English cler-
gy, on ihe old and worn-out pretext of war with the Infidels, ileiiiy pro-
cured the legatine power to be conferred on Wolsey. With this new dig-
nity, Wolsey increased the loftiness of his pretensions, and the magnifi-
cence of his habits; like the pope, he had bishops ami mitred abbots to
serve him when he said mass, and he farther liad nobles of the best fam-
ilies lo hand him the water and towel.
So haughty had he now become thai he even eornphiined of Warham,
archbishop of Canterbury, as being guilty of undue familiarity in signing
himself " Your loving brother;^' which caused even the meek-spirited War-
ham to make the bitter remark, "this man is drunk with loo much pros-
perity." But Wolsey did not treat his lefjatine appointment as being a
mere matter of dignity and pomp, but forthwith opein^d what he called the
legatine court; a court as oppressive and as expensive in its authority as
the Inquisition itself. It was lo inquire into all matters of morality and
>:on.science, and, as it was supplementary to the law of the land, its au;hor.
ty was, in reality, only limited by the conscience of the judge The first
|g
m
w iw
(4l>
THE THEA8UEY OP HISTORY.
iudge appointed to this anomalous and dangerous court was John Allen, d
man whose life was but ill spoken of, and who was even said to iuivo been
convicted by Wolsey himself of perjury. In the hands of sticii a man as
this, the extensive powers of the legatine court were but too likely to be
made mere instruments of extortion; and it was publicly reported that Al-
len was in the habit of convicting or acquitting as he was unbribeil or
bribed. Wolsey was thought to receive no small portion of the sums thus
obtained by Allen from the wickedness or the fears of the suitors of his
court. Much clamour was raised against Wolsey, too, by the >iliiio8t
papal extent of power he claimed fur himself in all matters concerning'
wills and benefices, the latter of which he conferred upon his ereatureii
without the slightest regard to the monks' right of election, or the lay gen-
try and nobility's right of patronage. This miquity of Allen at length
caused him to be prosecuted and convicted; and the k.vag, on thai occa-
liion, expressed so much indignation, that Wolsey was ever :\fter more
cautious and guarded in the use of his authority.
A. 1). 1519.^1mmersed in pleasures, Henry contrived to expend all the
huge treasures which accrued to him on the death of his father; and lie
was now poor, Just when a circumstance occurred to render his pusses
>>iun of treasure more than usually important. Maximilian, the eni-
|)eror, who had long been declining, died; and Henry and the kings of
I'rance and Spain were candidates for that chief place among the princes
of Christendom. Money was profusely lavished upon the electors by both
t-'harles and Francis; but Henry's milliliter, I'ace, having scarcely any
luiiimand of cash, found his enorts everywhere useless, and Charles
gained the day.
A. D. 1520. — In reality Henry was formidable to citht^r France or the
i-mperor, and he could at a moment's warning, throw his wiMght into the
one or the other scale. Aware of this fact, Francis was an.\ious for an
opportunity of personally practising upon the generosity and want of ('(miI
jiuignieiit, which he quite correctly imputed to Henry, lie, therefore,
proposed that they should meet in a field within the I'hiKli.sh pale, near
Calais ; tlie proposal was warmly seconded by Wolsey, wlio was as easier
as a court beauty of t)ie other sex lor every occasion of pe.'r.sonal splendour
and costliness. Ea' n of the monarchs was youni;, gay, lastel'til, and niii^'-
nilicc!!' : and go well did their courtii^rs enter into their feeling of gor-
geous rivalry, that some nobles of both nations expended on tliecereni(iiiy
and show of a few brief days, sums wliicli iiuolved their families in strait-
ened circumstances for the rest of their lives.
The emperor (Charles no sooner heard of the proposed interview between
the kings, than he, i)eing on I'.is way from .Spain to the Netiierlands, pan!
Henry ilic compliment of laiiiliiiL! at Dover, whither Henry at once pro-
ceeded to iJieel hull, ('iiarles not only end(>avoured in evi^ry possible
way to please and llatlcr Henry, but he also paid assidious court to Wol-
sey, and hound that aspiring personage to his interests by promising to
aid hiin in reaching the papacy ; a promise which ('Iiarles fell the less dif
licuKy about making, becaiiHe ihi^ reigning pope l.eo X. was Junior to V\i.l-
•(!y by some years, and very likely to outlive liini. Henry was perlecll\
well aware of the pains Charles look to concdialo VVcd.Hcy, but, siraii;;*'
to say, felt rather llatlered than hurt, as though the compliment were ulii-
niatelv |iaid to his own pcMoii and will.
V "11 the ein|)cror had taken his Lieparturc Henry proceeded to France,
will .e the meeting took place bet vvecu hiru and Francis. Wolsey, who
had the regulation of the cereiiioiiial, so well indulged his own and lii>
masier's lo\c of iiiagmlieenee, thai the place of meeting was by the coiU'
iiioii coiifieiil of the delighted spectators hailed by Ihe gorgeous title ol
I'lirfin'ii of the clath of golil. dolil and j"W('ls aliollllded ; and li<illi tlif
monarchs and tliiMr niinieroiis courts were a|iparelled in the mob> cor
THE TEEASURY OF HISTORY.
447
geous and picturesque style. The duke of Buckingham, who, though very
WBHllhy, was not foud of parting with his money, found the expenses to
which he was put on this occasion so intolerable, tliat he expressed him-
self so angrily towards Wolscy as led to his execution some time after,
though nominally for a different oflfcnce.
The meetings between the monarchs were for some time regulated with
the most jealous and wearisome attention to strict etiqueile. At lougth
Francis, attended by only two of his geutlemen and a page, rode into
Henry's quarters. Henry was delighted at this proof of his brother-mon-
arch's confidence, and threw upon his neck a pearl collar worth five or six
thousand pounds, which Francis repaid by the present of an arniUjt worth
twice as much. So profuse and gorgeous were these young kings.
While Henry remained at Calais he received another vi^5ll from the cm
penir Charles. Tiiat artful monarch had now completed ilie good imprcs
sion he had already made upon both [lenry and Cardinal Wolsc^y, by of-
fering to leave all dispute between himself and France to the arbitration
of Henry, as well as by assuring Wolsey of the papacy at some future
day, and putting him into instant possession of the revenues of the bish-
oprics of Uadajos and Placcncia. The result was, tiiat the emperor made
demands of the most extravagant nature, well knowing tiiat France would
not comply with them; and when tiio negotiations were thus broken off,
a \reaty was made between the emperor and Henry, by whii-h the daughter
of the latter, the princess Mary, was tjetrothed to the former, and Fngjand
was bound to invade France with an army of forty lliousand men. Tins
treaty alone, by the very exorbilaiuiy of its injuriousncss to Kiiifland,
would sulTicieiitly show at once the power oi Wolsey over his king and
the extent to which he was r(^ady to exert that power.
The duke of Huckingham, who had imprudently given oflTenee to the
all-powerful cardinal, was a man of turbulent temper, and very imprudent
in ex|iri'ssing himself, by which means he afforded abundant evidence for
his own rum. It was proved that he had provided arms with tlie intent
to disturb the government, and that ho liadcven threatened the lilV; of ttm
kiufj, to whinn he thought himself, as being descended in the female line
frem the youngest son of Kdward the Third, to be the riglilful successor
should the kt .g die without issue. Far less real gnlli than this, ai led by
the enmity of such u man as Wolsey, would have sullieed to ruin Uiick-
ingliiini, who was condemned, audi to the great discontent of tlit; people,
executed.
A. n. My'^X, — We have already mentioned .hat Henry in his youth had
been jimlously secluded from all share in public business, lie derived
from this eireumslance ihe advantaj't! of far more seludaslie leaniiiiij than
eoniinonly fell to tin; lot of princes, anil eircumstanees now oeinnred to
set Ins literary attainments and prop'osities iii a sinking lijiht. I, en X.
Iiiiving published a general iniiilgeiice, cireumstanees of a nieiily per-
soiiiil interest caused Vreendioldi, a (!( iioese, then a liislinp but urieiiially
a merehant, who fanned the collccliiui of the nioiiey in S;ix(iiiy mid iliu
coiiiilries on the Hallie, to cause the preaelimg for the ilidulgeiiees to liu
((iven to the Doiiiiiiicans, instead of to the Aiigiisiincs who had iisiiiilly en-
joyed that privilege. Miirlin r.iitlier, an Augiisliiie Ciiar, feeling liiiiisidf
an I Ins whole (u-der allVonted bv lliis chaniie, preaetied auMinst il, and in-
veighed againsi eertiiin vices of life, of wliieli, pr ibably, Ihe DoniinieanB
re;illy were guiliy, Ihoiigli not more so than liie Atiijiisliiie His spirited
and e(i;irse eensures provoked the eensined order lo reply, and as they
dwelt iiiiieliiipoii the p:i|ial aull.orily, as an .ill-siiHicii'iit ansv.erlo !jU-
Iher, he was iiidiieed lo (piesiioii diat auiliiMity ; and as lie extended his
reailiiii; he found iMiise for more ami iiiot<' exiciided eomnlauit ; sv» that
lie w lio at fr I had merely > onifdaiiied of a v rung done to .1 jiarti. iilaror-
der ot cliurchnien, sjiecdily dielared himself ajjiii nt iniicli of ll.ii doolrm#
t
446
THE TREASI/RY OP HISTORY
pa pill
and discipline of the church itsplf, as hcing corrupt and o( merely human
invention for evil human purposes. From (iermHny the new doctiines of
Luther quickly spread to the rest of Kurope, and found many proselytes
»i Knjrland. Henry, however, was the last man in his dominions who
was likely to assent to Luther's arguments; as a scholar, and as an ex-
tremely (lespjtic monarch, he was alike shocked by them. He not only
exerted himself to prevent the Lutheran heresies, as he termed and no
doubt thought them, from tiikiiig root in Kngland, but also wrote a book
in Latin against them. This book, which would have been by no means
discreditable to an older and more professional polemic, Henry sent lo the
pope, who, charmed by theabihty liisplayed by so illustrious an advocate of
tlie papal cause, conferred upon him the proud title of Defender of the Faith,
which has ever since been borne by our nionarchs. Luther, who was not
of a temper to qnail before rank, replied to Henry with great force and
with but l;ltle decency, and Henry was thus made personally as well as
scliolaslically an opponent of the new doclrincs. But those doctrines in-
volved so many consequences favourable to hump.n liberty and flattering
to human pride that neither scholastic n^r kingly power could prevent
their spread, which was much fiicilitaled by the recent invention of print-
ing. Tlie progress of the new opinions was still firllier favoured by the
dealli of the vigorous and gifted Leo X., and by the succession to the papal
throne of Adrian, who was so fir from being inclined to go too far in the
8up|iort of the establishment, that he candidly admitted the necessity for
mucli reformaiion.
A. n. Vri'i. — The emperor, fearing l.'st Wolsey's disappoinment of the
)1 llniMie should injure ihc imperial liilcresis in Kiigland, again came
■r. pn)ff.-,sc(lly only on a visit of compliineiit, but really to forward his
political inleresls. He pari ■i^^sidmnis court, not only lo Henry, but also
to VVolsi'v, lo whom he ikhiiU'iI out that the age and infirmities of Adrian
remlered another vacancy likely soon to occur on tlie papal throne : and
VVolsey saw it to be his interest to dissemble the indignant vexation his
disMiipoiiitinent had really caused him. The emperor in cinistMiueiiC!' suc-
ceeded in his wishes of reiaiiiiiig Henry's alliance, and of causing him to
declare «ar against I'Vanee. Lord Surrey j'litered Fiance with an army
which, Willi reinforcements from the Low ('ouiilvies, nuinbere(l eighteen
Ihonsaiid men. Hut the operations by no means corres[unided in impor-
tance lo the force assembled ; and, afler losing a great iiiirnber of men by
sickness, .Surrey went into winter quarters in the month of October will^
out having made himself master of a single (ilaee In France.
When Frani'i! was at war with Kiiglaiid, tli> re was but little probability
of Scotlanil reinaiuing quiet. Albany, who lind arrived from France es-
pecially with a view lo vexing the northern frontier of Fiigland, summoned
all the Scottish force that could be rau-ied, inarched into .\iiiiandale, and
prepared to cross into Fngland at Solway IVith. Ihit llie storm wh!
averted from Knglandby the discontents of the Scottish nobles, who co.n.
plained that the interests id'.Sciul and shtnild be exposed to all llie dinger
of a contest wiiti so superior a power as Knirl.md, merely for the advan-
age of a foreign power. So strneiily, indeed, did the (iordcms anil other
powerful clansnien I'Xpress their (lisciMileiils (ni this hcarl, that Albany
made a truce with the Fuglish warden, the lord Dacre, and returned to
France, taking llii' precaution of sending thither f(ne him the earl of
Angnsi, husband of the iiuccn dowager
A. ». l.'i'.'n. — With only an infant king, nnd with their regent absent
frnm (he kiiigdiiin, the Scots lahonred under the additional disadvaulaye
of being divided into almost :'.s luanv factious ;iv they numbered pnteiil
and noble familieM. Taking advaniat'c cdlhis nielaiicli y «tale of l!img!>
III Scoiland, Henry sent to that eounlry a powerful force etider the i ,irl o,'
Surrey, who innn'hed witlKuil oppiisitioii into the Merse am' Teviotit.ilr,
THE raEASUIlY OP HISTORY.
aid
burned the town 'it Jedburgh, and ravaged the whole country round.
Henry endeavoured to improve liis preKeni superiority over the Scots, by
bringing about a marriage between his only daughter, the yoniig princess
Mary, and the infant king of Scotland; a measure wliich would at once
have put an end to all contrariety of interests as to the two countries, by
uniting them, as nature evidently intendeil them to be, into one state.
But tilt; friends of France opposed this measure so warmly, that the queen
dowager, who had every possible motive for wishing to comply with it,
both as favouring her bnitlier, and promising an otherwise tmattalMablc
prosperity to the future reign of her son, was unable to bring it about.
The pirtizans of Knghmd and France were nearly equal in power, if not
in number ; and while they still debated the (lucstion, it was decided aguinst
England by the arrival of Albany. He raised troops and made somi' show
of battle, but there was little actual fighting. Disgusted with the factions
into which the people were divided, Albany at length retired again to
France ; and Henry having enough to do in his war with that country, was
well content to givi? up his notion of a Scottish alliance, and to rely upon
the Scdis being busy with their own fends, as his best security iigainst
their licnceforlli attempting any serious diversion in favour of France.
In truth. Hi-nry, as wealthy as he had been at the commenci'inent of
Ills ri'igii, had been so profuse in liis pursuit of pleasure, that he hid now
1)0 means of prosecuting war with any considerable vigour even against
France alone. Though, in many re^spects, possessed of actual despotic
power, Henry had to suffer the usual inconvenience of poverty. At one
time he issued privy seals demaiiiling loans of certain sums from wealthy
men; at another he dtMiuinded a loan of five shillings in the pound
from the clergy, ami of two shillings in the pound from the laity.
Though nominally /'xi/n, these sums were really to be eonsidertd as
gtfls ; impositions at once so large, so arbitrary, and so liable to
be repeated at any period, necessarily caused much discontent. Soon
after this last e.\pedient lor raising money without the consent of parlia-
ment, he suinmoiii'd a coiivoeation iiul a parliiinent. From the former,
Wnlsey, r(dying upon Ins high power and infiience ■' = cardinal and arch-
jisliiip, (lemanded ten sliilliiigs in the poun ' on tlu • ■■ esiaslical revenue,
to be lcvi(!d in five ytars. The clergy nvrimired, bi, , as Wolsi y had an-
icipateil.a few sharp wm-ds from him sileiici'd all oli'.eelions, and what ho
deiiKinded was granted. Having thus far sn< ceedi d. Wolsey now, ai-
teiidecl by several lords, spiritual and temporal, a<'drf ssed the housi; of
cnminons ; dilating upon the wants of ttie king, and unon tht disadvan-
tngeoiis position ill which those wants phued him willi rcs|)ei't to both
Fr;iii( r ami Scotland, lut denianiied a yfran f two hundred llioii'-irid
poun Is per annum fm- four years. After iini.li liesitHtion and muriiining,
theeiMnmons granted only one half the rc" ired sum; and here ('(■■iirrcd
a sinking proof of the spirit of indi'penilence, whiidi, though it was very
long III growinif to its present height, hail already been produced in tliC
house of commons by its possession of the pnver of the purse. Wol.sey,
oil liMMinig how little the ciunmons had voi' d towards wh;ii he I, id de-
inaiiiled, HMinired to be allowed lo "nasou" with the liouse, bul wis
gravi ly, ;nid with real dignity, informed, tluit lie house of cominoiix ' oidd
reas.in only .iiiioug ii!< own miiiil its. nut f^'-nrv sent for Kdward Mon-
tague, ,111 iiirtiientiil member, and coar-ejy llire it 'md hiiii that if ilic (om-
inous did not vote !<< ler on the fo||owin)f day, ^l"lll tj^iie iMvrMiId Is hi!»
head. This threat e.iimii! the eoinmoiis lo .I'lvanec tiniiirwhat n i' ir
fxriner olVers, tli.iug'.th' y Ktill fell far short of the sum ori({Jii;(ll
It may be presmnecl that Henry ^/nn partly goaled to his vi :. ,: !
iiruiiil threat lo Month' , in by v, ry iir((rni necessily ; iiinong the items .'f
llie I iionijt i-raiiit I, wai n levy of three sIiiIIhi/s in ihr p«>iinfl on all ,•.
poM^css^..| fitly pounds per 1111111101, and though Dm wan Co b** (<*v;' I ni
Vol. I.— aa
4ft0
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
four years, Henry levied the whole of it in the very year in which it was
gianted.
While Wolsey— for to him the people attributed every act of the king-
was thus powerful in Englfind, either very great treachery on the part ol
the emperor, or a most invincible misfortune, rendered him constantly un-
successful as to the great object of his ambition, the papal throne. It now
again became vacant by the death of Adrian, but this new awakening of
his hope was merely the prelude to a new and bitter disappointment. He
was again passed over, and one of the Do Medicis ascended the papal
throne under the title of Clement VII. Wolsey wa= well aware that this
election took place with the concurrence of the imperial party, and he,
therefore, determined to turn ITcnry from the alliance of the emperor to
that of France. When wo consider how much more preferable the French
alliance was, as regarded the interests and happiness of millions of human
beings, it is at once a subject of indignation and of self-distrust to reflect,
that the really profound and far-seeing cardinal was determined to it, only
by the same paltry personal feeling that might animate a couple of small
squires in a hunting field, or their wives at an assize ball. But he never
really coin/irehaids the teachings of history, who is not well informed upon the
jiersnnal feelings, and ten/ cnjiahlc of making allowance for the personal errors
of the i<;-eat actors in the drama of nations.
Disappointed in the gr<'at object of his ambition, Wolsey affected tlie
utmost approval of the election which had so imich mortified him, and he
applif 1 to Plement for a continuation of that lepatine power which had
now been ciitnisted t > him by two popes, and Clement granted it to liim
for life, a greiit and most unusual compliment.
A. n- l-'i^ri. — Tliough Henry's war with France was productive of much
expense of both blood and treasure, the Fnglish share in it was so little
brilliant, that there is no necessity for our entering here into details, wiiicji
must, of necessity, be given in another place. We need only remark
that the defeat and captivity of Francis at the great battle of Favia, in the
previous yi'ar, would have lieen improved by Wolsey, to the prohiilile
concjuest of France, but for the ilecp olfeiiee he had received fnun llie
emperor, which caused liini to represent to llcmry the importance to him
of France as aeounterlialaufing |)Ower to the emperor. He suce('.«^i',i!!y
appealcfl 10 the jiowerftil pa^isions of Henry, by pointing out proofs of
cohlnt'ss and of increased assumption in the style of the emperor's letters
Bubsequi'iit t.) the battle of Favta : and Henry was still more deterniiiied
by iiii-> '"'.evely per^.fual argument tlian he had been by even the cnirent
political one. The result was that Hciiry made a treaty with the moilier
of Francis, who had Ix'cn left liy him as regent, in wliicdi he undertook to
procure the liberty of Francis i«i reascuiable terms ; while she '"I'kiiowl-
»«'lKeil Henry ereciiior of France «i thi' amotini of nearlv two .nillions o|
crowns, which she uii'Vriook to pay at the rate of (iflv Ihous.ii. i in ev(>ry
fix moittli!«. Wolsey. besides gra^fving Ins splfsfit itjfnnst the i'm|ieior
in brimrni'j about this treaty with I'luk-c, prociir^^rt th* iiore s(tliil ';raii-
fiealiou of a hundred th<««iaiKl pounds, paid to him uihler the name el
arrears of a pf union aritnted to linn on the giving up of 'rournay, as men-
tioned in Its prop«r ptae* m this hickory.
As It wan very priibabl' that lliw treaty witli Frani" would lead to a
war with the emperor, H- nry issunt a commission for levyjug a las ol
four sliillings m the ponu'l up(m the '•lergy, and llirt i' aiKt-tourpeiicc ii{hiii
llie laity. As this heavy demand e^nsert gUMt miniim'-ing, lie look care
to have it made known that he il-sir»'d this money oiii* in the way of k-
t^pTitlrnrr. Hut people. l»y ibis iiin*' j^Klerstood that lonn hfiinolrnn , aiiit
t^r Wfff oidy different iwmeK for the 'nv mAti' matter of ready men"/, aiMi
lh« iwi'irirnriiig diH iM <-fu»r lt« (M>me pnrii« of the eountrv the iieo|i|e,
indeed, Wtjiko out iiH« »p«'n revolt ; but as Ifny bad no wealthy or mllu
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
451
ential leader, the king's officers and frienis put them down, and Henry
pardoned the ringleaders on the politic pretence that poverty, and not
wilful disloyalty, had led them astray.
A. D. 1527. — Tiiough Henry had now so many years lived with his queen
ni all apparent cordiality and contentment, several ( ircunistances had oc-
curred to give him doubts as to the legality of their marriajjc. When llie
emperor Charles had proposed to espouse Henry's daughter, the yoimg
princess Mary, the states pf Castile objected to her as being illegitimate ;
and the same objeclioH-was subsequently made by France, when ii was
proposed to ally her to the prince of that country.
It is, we think, usual too readily to take it for granted that Henry was,
from the first, prompted to seek the dissolution of litis marriage, tnerely
by a libertine and sensual disposition. It is quite true that the queen was
considerably older than he, and that her beauty was not remarkable ; and
it may be quite true that those circumstances were among his motives.
But ii should not be forgotten that he had studii'd deeply, and that his fa-
vourite author, Thomas Aquinas, spoke in utter reprobation of the marry-
ing by H man of his brother's widow, as denomiced in the book of Leviti-
cus. The energetic reprobation of an author of whom he was accustomed
to think so reverently was, of course, not weakened by the rejection of
his (laughter by botii Sjjain and France, on the ground of the incestuous
marriage of her parents, anl Henry at length biniame so desirous to have
some authoritative settlement of hisiloubls, tliat he caused the question to
be mooted before the jjrelates of England, who, witii the single exception
of Fis'ier, bishop of Roi^lieslcr, subscribed to tlie opinion that the mar-
riage uas ah tncepto illegal ;ind null. While Henry's conscientious scru-
ple was thus strongly coiitinncd, bis desire to get bis marrnige formally
and eHV'ctually annulled was greatly incii ised by his failing in love with
Anne Boleyn, a ynuiia, lady of great beauiy and aeeomplishments. Her
parents were coiiiiectiwl with some of the best fiimilies in the nation, her
father bad several times been honourably eiiiployeii abroad by the king,
anit the young lady iierself, to her very great inisfortmie, was, at this time,
one (il'tiie maids of linnoiii to the (jueen. Tiiat we "are corriu-t in believ-
ing Henry to lie less the mere and willing slave of passion than he lias
generally been represented, seems to be clear from the single fai t, that
there is no mslaiiee of his shouiiig that contempt for the virtue of
the court females so conimon in the ease of monareliH. He im snoner saw
Aiiue Hideyii than he desired her, not as a mistress, liul as a wife, and
that (if'sire maile bun more than ever anxious hi dissolve bis marriage with
Catherine. He now, therefore, Mpplie<l to the popi' for a divorce, upon the
ground, not merely of the ineesiiioiis nature of the marriage — as that might
have seemed tiMpieslioti or to linul the dispensing jjower nf Home — lint
oa tlie ground that the bull which had aullKuiseil it bad liei n obtaiiu'd un-
der false pretences, wlueli were cleaiiy |)ii)veii . a ground which had al-
ways been leld by Komi to hi' suflieient to tiiithorise the imllifynig of a
biili. Clement, the pope, whs, at this time, a prisoner in the bands of the
emr.eror, and bis cnief liope of ol)t:iiiuiig his ridease on such terms as
would render it desirable nY honourable rested on the exertions of lli iiry,
Francis, and the states with which ihey were in alliance. The popo,
therefore, was desirous to conc:iiat(MIenry's favour; but bf! was timid,
v.ieilliitinii, an Itaban .oul an ailept in that ibssimiilation w bich is so char-
ai'ieristie of men who add constituiional imnibty to inlelleetnal power.
Anxious to conciliate llemy by graiitmg the divorce, be was fearful li'st
he sliouldei\rage the emperiir— Queen Catbeniie's nephew— by domg s,, ,
tlie coiisequenee was, a long ;<erie« of expcilieiils, delays, promises, and
di»i!i|)poinlments, ledions to rivul of in even the mo- 1 elaborate histories, and
wliieh, to relate here, would be an injitrioiis waste of sniiee mid time.
The eardiiial rainpegijiii was at length joined with NVolscy in a com-
452
THE TREASURY OF HrSTORY.
mission to try the affair in England. The two legates opened their couri
in London ; both the queen and Henry were summoned to appear, and a
most painful scene took place. When their majesties were called by name
in the court, Catherine left her seat and threw herself at the feet of the
king, recalled to his memory how she had entered his dominions, leaving
hU friends and support to depend upon him alone ; how for twenty years
she had been a faithful, loving, and obedient wife. She impressed upon
him the fact that tlie marriage between her and his elder brother had, in
truth, been but sutdi a mere formal betrothal as in innumerable other cases
bad been held no bar to subsequent niarriag" ; that both their fathers, es-
teemed the wisest princes in Christendom, had consented to their marriage,
which they would not have done unless well advised of its propriety ; and
she concluded by saying, that bei'v^r well assured that she bad no reason
to expect justice from a court ai (he disposal of her enemies, so never
more would she appear before i'..
After the departure of the (lueen the trial proceeded. It was prolonged
from week to week, and from month to mcntli. by the arts of Cam[)eijgio,
acting by the instructions of Clement, who i .nployed the time in making
his arrangements with the emperor for tiis n-vn benefit, ami that of the
De Medicis in general. Having succeoi^ed in doing this, lie, to Henry's
great astonishment, evoked the 'Muse to I'ome on the queen's appeal, just
as every one expected tlie lega- 's to pronounce for tlie divorcer HtMiry
was greatly enraged at Wolscy on account of this result. He had so long
been accstonied to see the cardinal successfil in whatever he attempted,
that he attributed his present failure rather to treachery than to want of
judgment. Tlie great seal was s'>orlly taken from him and given to Sir
Thomas Mori, -md he was ordered to give up to the king his stalely and
gorgeously furnished palace called York-House, which was converted into
a royal residence, under the name of Whitehall. The wealth seized in
this one residence of the cardinal was immense ; his plate was of regal
splendour, and included what indeed not every king could boast, one per-
fect cupboard of massive gold. His furniture and other •'fleets wvvf nu-
merous and cosily in proportion, as may be judged f"- ;n tlie single item
of one thousand pieces of fine FioUand cloth! The 7 .-isessor of all ilijs
wealth, however, was a ruined man now ; in the privacy of his coinpara-
tively mean country house at Esher, in Surrey, he was unvisiied and un-
noticed by those courtiers who had so eagerly crowded around him while
he was yet disiinguished by ihe king's favour. Hut if the ingiatituili' ol
his friends left him undisturbed in bi.s sitlitude, the aclivity of his fmsdid
not let him rest even there. The king had not as yet deprived hini ol
his sees, and h;id, morecver, seiil him a ring and a kind nicssage.
His enemies, therefore, fearful lest li(^ should even yet recov(!r his lost I'a-
vour, .iiid so ae(|uin' the power to repay iht'ir ill services, took every
intihod to prejudice him in the c^yes of the king, who at length abaiiiliiiicd
him to the power of parln'ineiit. The lords passed Ibity-foiir ariieles
against him, of wbicii it ,s not too much lo say that there was not oiif
whii'h might not lue • been exiilained away, had anything like legal liirni
or () roof been called Tor or eoiiMdered. Ainu! the general and >hanierul
abandonments of Wolsey by Ihosf who had so hilely fawned upon liini,
it IS (lelightriil to have to record, thai when Ihesi articles were sent dnwn
to the house of commons, the oppressed and ahandoiied cardinal was
warmly and ably defended by 'I'honias (^roinwidl, whom his |)ati'onai;e
had raised from a very low origin. All del'ence, liowe\er, was vain ; the
iiarliament |iroiiouni'ed "That he was out of the kinii's proleelioii ; thai
nis lands ami goods were forfeited ; and that Ins person inigiil be coiniiiit
ted to ee.,ti((l;. ."
From Ksher, Wolsey removed to P.iclimoiid, hut hiw enemies had liii''
jrdered lo Voikshire, where he lived m great modesty at Cawood. iii.t
THE TREASUHY OF HISTORY.
453
.le king's differences with Rome were now every day growing greater,
i!id he easily listened to those who assured him that in finally shaking off
ill connection with the holy see, he would encounter powerful opposition
from the cardinal. An order was issued for his arrest on a charge of high
treason, and it is very probable that his death on the scaffold would have
been added to the stains upon Henry's memory, but that the harrassed
frame of the cardinal sunk under the alarm and fatigue of his arrest and
forced journey. He was conveyed by Sir William Kingston, constable of
the Tower, as far as Leicester abbey. Here his illness became so extreme
ihat he could be got no farther, and here he yielded up his breath soon
after he had spolten to Sir William Kingston this memorable and touch-
ing caution against an undue worldly ambition :
"I pray you have me lieartily recommended unto Ms royal majesty, and
beseech iiim, on my behalf, to call to his remembrance all matters that
have passed between us from the beginning, especially with regard to his
business with the queen, and then he will know in his conscience whether
1 liave offended him. He is a prince of a most royal carriage, and hath a
princely heart ; and rather than he will miss or want any part of his will,
he will endanger the one half of his kingdom. I do assure you that I
iuive often kneeled before him, sometimes three hours together, to per
suade him from his will and appetite, but could not prevail. Had I but
served God as diligently as I have served the king, he would not have
given me over in my grey hairs. But this is the just reward that I must
receive for my indulgent pains and Study, not regarding my duty to God,
but only to my prince. Therefore, let me advise you, if you be one of
the privy council, as by your wisdom you are fit, take care what you put
into the king's head, for you can never put it out again." Touching and
pregnant testimony of a dying man, of no ordinary wisdom, to the hollow-
iiess with which all the unrighteous ends of ambition appear clad, when
ilie votary of this world >p'. L-ives the final and irrevocable summons to the
blighter and purer world beyond !
-W
It
CHAPTER XLI.
THE REIGN OK HCNIIV VIIl. (CONTINUED.)
Xatl'ram.v too fond of authority to feel without impatience the ncavy
yoke of Koine, ttie opposition he had so signally experienced in the mat-
ter of liis divorce had eiir,iged Henry so much, that he gave every eneour-
agenient to the parliament to abridge the exoroitant privileges of the
clergy; in doing which, he eijually pleased himself in mortifying Home,
luiil in paving the way for that entire independence of the pajjal power, of
which every day made him more desirous. The parliament wa.s ('qually
ready to depress the clergy, and several hills were passed which tended
to make iIk; laity more iiKlependeiil of them. The parliament, about ihis
time, passed anotlnT bill to acquit the king of all claimH oo account of
tliose exactions wIikIi he had speciously called loans.
While Henry was agitated between the wish lo break with Rome, and
the opposing uiiwiljlngm'ss to give so plain a coiilradietion to all that he
had adv;iiiced in tlie book which had proiiired him thr flatteiing title ot
Di/mder nf tlir Failli,\\v was iiii'onncd that !)i. Cninmer. a fellow of Jesus'
rojlcge, Cambridge, and a man of yood repii.e, hotli as lo life and leaniiiig,
■lail suggested that all the uiiivi isilies of lairopi- should be ennsulled as
Co the legality of Henry's marriage ; if the deeision were in fa»oiir ol it,
the king's qualms of eoiiseieiice must needs ilisappear bt-lDfe such a liont
of learning and jiidgiiieiit ; if tlie (i|iiiiion were against n. equally must
til', hesitation nf Kdine us lo granting tli^ divorce be shamed awav. Oil
'";ui;i.ii;
m
THE TREA8'JRy OF HISTORV.
hearing this opinion Hoary, in his bkiflf way.yxclaiuied that Crantner h;i,1
takcM) the right sow by t!ie ear, sent for him to ourt, and was so well
pleased witli liini as lo employ him to write in favour of the divoree, ; 'vl
to superintend the course he h id himself sugjrested.
A. I). 153.?.— The measures taken by parliament, with the evident i,'ood«
will of the kin. were so obviously tending towards a total separatio:,
from Rome, that Sir Thoin'as More, the chancellor, resigned the great
seal; t';t able man being devotedly atlaehed to the pupal authority, and
clearly s' eingthat he could no longer retain office but at the risk of being
called upon to act against the pope.
At Rome the nieasure.i of Henry were not witnessed without auxiet} ;
and wiiile the emjieror'.-; agents did all in their |)ower to determine the pe^'ii
against Henry, the more cautiiuis nii'nibers of tlu^ eonelave advisisd that a
iavour often granted to meaner princes, should not be denied to him wlio
had heretofore been so good a son of the cliurch, and who, if driven to des-
peration, might wholly alienate from the i)apacy the most precious of all
the states over which it hidd sway.
Hut the time for conciliaiing Henry was now gone by. He had iii
interview with ihe king of Fraiux', in ..liieh they renewed their personal
friendship, and agreed upon liie measures of mutual defence, and Henry
privately married Anne Uoleyn, whom he had previously created coinitess
of Pembroke.
A. I). 1.53.3. — The lieu- wife of Henry proving pregnant, Cranmer, now
arcliliisliop of ('anli i'.a'y, was directed lo hold a court at Dunstable to
decid(! on the invalidity of the marriage of Catherine, who lived at Anipt-
hill in that neighbourhood. If this court were anything tuit a more mock-
ery, reasonable men argued, its decision should surely have preceded and
not followed the second marriage. But t!ie king's will was absolute, and
the opinions of the universities and the judgment of the eoijvocations liav-
ing been formally read, and both opinions and judgment being ag.iinsl
Cathiaine's marriage, it was now solemnly annulled. Soon after, the new
qui'eii was didivered of a daughter, the afterwards wise and powerful
Qui.'cn HiizaliiUh.
Notwithstanding all the formalities that had been brought to bear against
her rights. Queen Catherine, who was as resolute as she was otherwise
amialile, refusi'd to be styled aught but (pieen of England, ami lo the day
of her death, eoniptdled her servants, and all who had the privilege of ap-
proaching her, to address and treat her as their qni^en.
The enemies of Henry at Romi- urged the po|ie anew to pronounce sen-
tence of ex( ommunication against liim. But Clement's niece was now
married to the second sop of the king of France, who spoke fo the (lope in
Henry's f.iv ur. Clement, therefore, for the present, confined his severity
to issuing a s(;nti,'nee nullifying Cranmcr's sentence, and the marriage of
Henry to Xnw Uoleyn, and threatening to (•xcommumcato him shoull
he not restore Ins affairs to their former footing by a certain day.
A. D. \!}'V>. — .\s Henry had slill some strong leanings to the church, and
as It was obviously nuudi to the interest of Kome not wholly to lose its
intluence over so wealthy a nation as England, there even yet seenied
to be some chance <if an amicable termination of this (juarr(d. By l\v:
good olfKU's (>f th(^ king of France, the pope was induced to promise to
proiionu(;e in favour of the divorce, on the receipt ofa certain promise of lh(>
king to submit his cause to Uome. The king agreed to make this proini.se
ami actually dispatched a courier with it. .Somedel.iys ofthero.ad prevt'iu.'d
the arrival of the important document at Uome until two days after the
proper iiww. In the iuti'rim it v\'as re|)oried at Home, probiilily by .some
i>f till' imperial agents, that the pope anil e.irdinals had been ridiculed in a
tiiree th.it had been oerformi'il befori; Henry ami bis (Muirt. Knragcd v
!l»is iiitelliijeiiee, the pope and caidiii.ils viewed it as sure proof that Ilea
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
455
(l-.iy
(; of ap-
nrc meli-
us now
;)i)po ill
ipverily
T,\gi' of
sllOlllit
I'll, ami
I' ils
sccmi'il
By the
misc to
of llip
iromiso
vi'iiii'd
Tier tlin
some
I ill A
ry 8 promise w. s not intended to he kept, and a Bfiitence was immediately
pronounced in '...our of Catherine's marriage, wiiile Henry was threat-
ened with excommunication in the event of that sentence not being sub-
aiitted to.
It is customary to speak of the final breach of Henry with Rome as
Having been solely caused by this dispute with Rome about the divoi :e ;
all fact, however, is against that view of the case. The opinions of Lu-
ther had spread far and wide, and had sunk deep into men's Hearts ; and the
bitterest things said against Rome by the reformers were gentle when com-
pared to the testimony borne against Eoine by her own vcnalit)' and her
gciieral corruption. In this very case how could the validity of Cathe-
rine's marriage he afTected by the real or only allcdged performance of a
ribald farce before tiie English court above a score of years after it 1 The
very readiness with which li;'" nation joined the king in seceding from
Rome, shows very clearly tlia. inder any possible circumstances that se-
cession must have sliortly taken place. We merely glance at this fact,
because it will be put beyond all doubt when we come to speak of the ac-
cession of Queen Elizabeth ; for notwithstanding all that Mary had done,
by the zealous support she gave to the church of Rome and by her furious
persecution of the lleformer i, to render the subserviency of England to
Rome both permanent and perfect, the people of this country were re-
joiced at the opportunity it afforded them of throwing off the papal authority.
The houses of convocation — with only four opposing votes and one
doubtful voter — declared that "the bishop of Rome had by the law of God
no more jurisdiction in England than any other foreign bishop ; and tlic
authority which he and his predecessors have here exercised was only by
usurpation and by the sufferance of th<; English princes.' The ccni'oca-
tion also ordtired tliat the act now passed by the parliament against all ap-
peals to Rome, and the appeal of ilie king from the pope to a general
council should be affixed to all churcli doors througliout the kingdom.
That iiotliii^- might be left undone to convince Rome of Henry's resolve
upon an entire separation from the church of which he had been so ex-
tolled a defender, the parliament passed an act confirming the iiivulidity
of Henry's marriage with Catherine. anJ the validity of that willi Anne
Doleyn. All persons were requirei! to take the oath to support the suc-
cession thus fixed, and the only pers its of consequence who r^'fuscd were
Sir Thomas More and bisliop Fishc , who were both indicted and com-
mitted to the Tower. The parliament having thus completely, and we
may add servilely, complied with all llie wishes of the king, wiis for a
sliort time prorogued.
The parliament had already given to Henry the reality, and it now pro-
ceeded to give him the title of supreme head of the church; and thai Rome
miglit have no doubt that the very exorbitancy with wliicli she iiad pres-
sed her pretensions to authority in England iiad wholly transferred that
.uUliority to the crown, the parliament accompanied tliis new and sigiii-
ficaiit title with a sraiit of all tlie annates and tithes of benefices wiiich
had hitherto Ix^eii paid to Rome. Af r-ibli; and practical iiliistratimi of
(lie sort of supremai-y which Henry iateiided that himself and liis sticces-
sms should exercise, and one whi(di showed Rome that not in(>rely in su-
perstitious observances but also in solid matters of pecuniary tribute, it
(vus Henry's determination that iiis people should l)e free from ()apal dom
inntioii
Hoth in Ireland and Scotland the king's affairs were just at this moment,
whi'ii he was carrying matters wit!i so high a hand with Rome, siiidi as to
cause him some anxiety, but his main can! was wisidy bestowed upon his
own kiiigd. 11(1. The mere si'ci'ssion of that kingdoai from an authority
so timeiuiuoured and hitherto so drci.iled and so arlntrary as Rome, w is,
even lo so powerful and resolute a monarcli as Henry, an experiiii^'iit of
456
THE TllEASUllY OF HISTORY.
some nicety and danger. Might not they who had been taught to rebel
against the church of Komc be induced to rebel against the crown itself?
The conduct of the anabaptists of Germany added an afRrmative of expe-
rience to the answer wliich reason could not fail to suggest to this
question. But besides that there were many circumstances which ren-
dered it unlikely that the frantic republican principles which a few re-
forming zealots iiad preached in Germany, would talie a hold upon the
hardy and practical intellect of Englishmen long and deeply attached to
monarchy, there was little fear of the public mind, while Henry reigned,
having too much speculative liberty of any sort. He had shaken off t!ic
pope, indeed, but he had, as far as the nation was concerned, only done
so to substitute himself ; and though the riglit of private judgment was one
of the most important principles of the Reformation, it very soon became
evident that the private judgment of the English subject would bi: an ex-
tremely dangerous thing except when it very accurately tallied wilii that
of his prince. Opposed to the dis(!ipline of Rome, as a king, he was no
less opposed to the leading doctrines of Luther, as a theologian. His
conduct and language perpetually betrayed the struggle between these
antagonistic feelings, and among tiie ministers and frequenters of the
court, as a natural consequence, "motley was the only wear." Thus the
queen, Cromwell, now secretary of state, and Craniner, arclibishop of
Canterbury, were attached to the reformation, and availed themselves of
every opportunity to forward it, but they ever found it safer to impugn the
papcuy liian to criticise any of the doctrines of catholi(Msm. On the other
side the duke of Norfolk, and Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, both of
whoni were high in authority and favour, were strongly attached to
the ancient faith. The king, flattered by each ol" the parties upon a portion
of his principles, was able to play the popi! over both his catholic and his
proiesiant subjects, and liis stern and liea'!strong style of both speech and
action gieatly added to the advantage given him by the anxiety of each
parly to have him for its ally against the other.
In the meantime it was no longer in the power of eitherking or ministei
to prevent the purer principles oI'iIk! Reformation from making their way
to the hearts and minds of the people. Tindal, .loyce, and other learned
men who had sought in the Low (countries for safety from the king's
arbitrary temper, found means to smuggle over vast numbers of tracts
and a translation of the scriptures. Tliese got extensively circulated and
were greedily perused, although the catiiolic portion of the ministry aided
— however singular the phrase may sound — by tlie catholic portion of the
king's v> ill, made great endeavours to keep them, but especially the bible,
from the i yes of the people.
A singular anecdote is related of one of the attempts made to suppress
the l)ibl(!. Tonstal, bishop of London, a zealous catholic, but humane
man, was very anxious to prevent the circulation of Timlal's bible, and
Tindal was himself but little less anxious for a new and more accurate
ediii')!). Tonstal, preferring the preveiuion of what he deemed crime to
the jumishment of offenders, devoted a large sum of inone^y to purchasing
all iiie copies that could be met with of Tindal's bible, and all the copies
thus obtained were solemnly burned at the Cross of Cheap. Uotli the
bishop and Tindal were gratified on this occasion ; the former, it is true,
destroyed the lirsi and incorrect edition of the bible by Tindal, but he at
the same time supplied that zealous scholar with the pecimiary means, ol
which 111! was otherwis(,' destitute, of bringing out a second and more per
feci as well as more ext( nsive edition.
Oiliers were less humane in their desire to repress what they lieemed
heresy, and few were more severe than Sir Thomas .More, who succeeded
W'olscy as chancfdior, and of whose own imprisonunMit we have already
Hpukeu, as presently sve shall have to speak of his death. Though a
salvatii
ed.
but the
detestei
than to
more lii
moilerat
temper
.\t Aid
inoilly
iiitliienc
her jgno
iiis|)irati
proving
limt for
of Kent
great di
self, wli
chapel
profit's I
I'roin oil
of the :
iiartoii I
image
\i (n-
merely
THE TUKASUllY OF HISTOttY.
457
man of elegant learning and great wit, and though in spcrulative opin-
ions he advanced much which the least rigid protestant might justly con-
demn as impious, yet, so true a type was he of the motley age in which
he lived, his enmity to all opposition to papacy in practice could lead him
to the most dastardly and hatofi v 'I'o speak, in detail, of the
errors of a great man is at all ioasant ; we merely mention,
"'13 gentleman, a student
p accused of heing con
if the reforrx'd doctrines
not deny his own part ir
refused to give any testi-
00k place in thecliancellor's
therefore, his treatment of Jami
of the Temple, was during Moi
cerned with others in aiding in ii
It appears that the unfortunate gi
tlie acts attributed to him, but huaouratiy
mony against others. His first examination
own house, and there, to his great disgrace, he actually had the high-
minded gentleman stripped and brutally wliipped, the chancellor in person
witnessing and superintending the disgusting exhibition. Dul the mis-
taken and maddening zeal of iMore did not stop even here, b^nraged at
the constancy of his victim, he had him conveyed to the tower, and there
saw him put to tlie torture. Under this new and most terrible trial the
(Irinnessof the unhappy gentleman for a time gave way and he abjured
his priiuriples ; but in a very short time afterwards he openly returned to
them, and was burned to death iii" Smithfield as a relapsed and confirmed
heretic.
It will easily be supposed that while so intellectual a catholic as More
was thus furious on behalf of Rome, the mean herd of persecutors were
not idle. To teach children the Lord's prayer in English, to read the
scriptures, or at least the New Testament in that language, to speak
against pilgrimages, to neglect the fa;sts of the cluircli, to attribute vice to
the old clergy, or to give shelter or encouragement to the new, all these
were ollences punishable in the bishop's courts, some of them even capi-
tally. Tiius, Thomas Uilney, a priest, who had embraced and, under
tliieais, renounced the new doctrines, emtraced them once again, and went
llinjiigh Norfolk zealously preaching against the absurdity of relying for
salvation upon pilgrimages and images. He was seized, tried, and burn-
ed. Tiius far ilie royal severity had chiefly fallen upon the reformed ;
but the monks and friars of the old faith, intimately dependant upon Home,
detested Henry's separation and assumption of supremacy far too much
than to be otherwise than inimical to him. In their public preachings they
more than once gave way to libellous scurrillity, which Henry bore with a
moderation by no means usual with him, but at length the tiger of his
temper was thoroughly aroused by an extensive and Impudent (;onspiracy.
.\t Aldington, in Kent, there was a woman named Klizabeth llarion, coni-
inoiily known as the /10/y maii/o/ Jftvjt, who was subject to fits, under the
iiilhience of which she unconsciously said oddandiiieoherentlliings, which
iier ignorant neighbours imagined to be the result not of epilep.sy but ol
inspiration. The vicar of the parish, Richard Masters, instead of re-
proving and enligiitening his ignorant Hock, took their igimrant fancy a.sa
innl for a deep scheme. He lent his authority to ilie report that the maid
of Kent spoke by theiiiSi)iration of the Holy («li03t, and he had not any
great diliiculty in acquiring the most entire authority over the maid her-
self, who ihencefortli spoke whatever he deemed fit to dictate. Having a
chiipt'l ill which stood an image of the Virgin, to which, for his own
profit's sake, he was anxious to withdraw as many pilgrims as possible
from other shrines, he entered into a confederacy with l)r. Hocking, one
of the ciinons of Canterbury cathedral, and under their direction Klizabeth
|{art(m pretended to receive a supernatural direction to proceed to the
image in (jiiestioii and pray there for her cure.
\l lirst, It seems quite clear, the unforliiiiate woman was truly and
merely an epileptic ; but ignorance, poverty, and perhaps some natural
m
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L<9
M8
THE TREA8UHY OF HISTORY.
cunningf, made her a ready and unscrupulous tool in the hands of the |)I<it.
tnig ecclesiastics, and auer a series of affected distortions, which wuulj
have been merely ludicrous liad their purpose not added something of the
impious, she pretended that her prostrations before the image had entire-
ly freed iier from her disease.
Thus far the priests and their unfortunate tool had proceeded without
any interference, the severity with which the king and the powerful cath-
olics treated all enmity lo pilgrimages and disrespect to shrines, being of
itself sufBcient to insure their impunity thus far. But impunity as usual
produced want of caution, and the priests, seeing that the wondering
multitude urged no objection to the new miracle which they alledged to
have been wrought, were now, mostlucklessly for themselves, encouraged
to extend their views and to make the unfortunate Elizabeth Burton of
use in opposing the progress of the reformed doctrine, and against Henry's
divorce from Catherine. Hence the ravings of the maid of Kent were
directed against heresy, with an occasional prophesy of evil to the king
on account of the divorce ; and the nonsense thus uttered was not only
repeated in various parts of the kingdom by monks and friars who, most
probably, were in concert with Masters and Bocking, but were even col-
lected into a book by a friar named Deering. Tlie very industry with
whicii tlie original inventors of this grossly impudent imposture caused it
to be noised abroad compelled the king to notice it. The maid of Kent
with her priestly abettors and several others were arrested, and without
being subjected to torture made full confession of their imposture, and
were executed. From circumstances whitii were discovered during the
investigation of this most impudent cheat, it but too clearly appeared that
the so called holy maid of Kent was a woman of most lewd life, and that
imposture was by no means the only sin in which Masters and Bocking
had been her accomplices.
A. D. 1535. — The discoveries of gross immorality and elaborate cheating
whicii {Jwere made during the investigation of tlio affair of the maid
of Kent seems to us to have been, if not the very first, at all events the
most influential of the king's motives to his subsequent sweepuig and
cruel Mupprcssion of the monasteries. Having on this occasion suppress-
ed tlirec belonging to the Observantine friars, tiie very little sensation
their loss seemed to cause among the common people very naturally led
him to extend his views still fartlier in a course so productive of pecu-
niaiy profit.
But Ht present he required some farther satisfaction of a more terriHe
nature for the wrong and insult that had lately been done to him. Fisher,
bisiiop (if lloclie.ster, in connnon with Sir Thouias More, had been, us we
alrea<ly mentioned, connnitted to prison for objecting lo take the oath of
succressionas settleilby the arbitrary king and the no less obsequious par-
liament. Uniiappily for the prelate, though a good and even a learned
man, be was very credulous, and he had been among the belit-vers and,
to a ctrlaiii cxttmt, among the supporters of the impudent Elizuixtli Uar-
t(in. Still more uniiappily for thcngi^d prelate, wliile he already lay so
deeply in tluj king's displeasure, and after ho had for a whole year been
oontiiied with sucT. severity that he was often in want of conimon ikm-us-
tarieM, the pope cr»at(Hl him a (cardinal. This decided the fate of the un-
fortinnile. jirelate, who was at once indicted under the act ■ ( supremacy
and lii'iu'iiiled.
The dialh of Fisher was almost instantly foUowed by that of the learn-
ed, tlioufjh, as V " have seen, bigoted and sometnnes cruel Sir Thomas
More. Ills objcctiDUn to taking the new oatli of siiceession seem to have
been prrfcctly sincere and wtTe perfectly insuperable. We leuni from
himself that it was intimated to him by Cromwell, now in high fivoiir,
that unless he could show him reasons ''or his determined refusal, it would
'^W"
THE TttEA.SUHY OP HISTORY.
439
li and
ppress-
:;iis;ttion
lly led
peou-
tcrrihle
Kislier,
us we
:ith of
HIS par-
anied
I mid,
I Dar-
av so
ir been
IKM-eS-
ht' uii-
■eiiiacy
Icarii'
liiiiiian
ti have
fi'iini
[:i\(llir,
wiiiild
most probably be set down to the account of obstinacy. His own version
of the dialogue between himself and Cromwell is so curious that we ex-
tract the following fro:Ti it.
More said (in reply to the above argument of Cromwell) " it is no ob-
stinacy, but only the fitar of giving offence. Let me have sufficient war-
rant from the king that he will not be offended and I will give my
reasons."
Cromwell.—" The king's warrant would not save you from the penal-
ties enacted by the statute."
More. — " In this case I will trust to his majesty's honour ; but yet it
thiiikclh me, that if I cannot declare the causes without peril, then to
leave them undeclared is no obstinacy."
Cromwell. — " You say that you do not blame any man for taking the
oath, it is then evident that you are not convinced that it is blanieable
to take it ; but you must be convinced that it is your duty to obey the
king. In refusing, therefore, to take it, you prefer that which is uncertain
to that which is certain."
More. — "I do not blame men for taking the oath, because I know not
their reasons and motives . but I should blame myself because I know
that I should act against my conscience. And truly such reasoning
would ease us of all perplexity. Whenever doctors disagree we have
only to obtain the king's commandment for either side of the question and
we must be right."
Abbot of Westminster. — " But you ought to think your own conscience
erroneous when you have the whole "ouncil of the nation against you."
More. — " And so 1 should, had I not for me a still greater council, the
whole council of Christendom,"
More's talents and character made him too potent an opponent of the
king's arbitrary will to allow of his being spared. To condemn him was
not difficult; the king willed his condemnation, and he was condemned
accordingly. If in his day of power More, uiil'i'miately, showed that he
knew how to inflict evil, so now in his fall he si owed the far nobler pow-
er of bearing it. In his happier days he had bceh noted for a certain jocu-
lar piiraseology, and this did not desert him even in the last dreadful
scene of all. Being somewhat infirm, he craved the assistance of a by-
slander as he mounted the scaffold ; saying, " Friend, help aie up, when
I come down again you may e'en let me shift for mys^ if." W'lien tl;e
ceremonies were at an end the executioner in the custom. iry terms begged
his forgiveness ; " I forgive you," he replied, "but you will surely get no
credit by the job of l)eheading me, my neck is so "short." Even as he
laid his head upon lh(^ block he said, putting aside the long beard he wore,
"Do not hurt my beard, that at least has committed no treason." These
words uttered, the executioner proceeded with his revolting task, and
Sir Thomas More, learned, thotign a bigot, and a good man, though at timc^
a persecutor, perished in the fifty-third year of his age.
A. D. 1.'>3G. — While the court of Rome was exertiiiB itself to the utmost
to show its deep sense of the indignation it felt at ttie execution of two
Buih men as Fisher and More, an event took place in Kiigland whicli, in
Chrihtian charity, we are bound to lielieve gave a severe shock even to
the hard heart of Henry. Though the divorced Catherine hail resolutely
persisted in being treated as a queen by all who approaclied her, she
liad suffered with so dignified a patieiici! that she was the more deeply
sympathized with. But the stern effort with which she bore her wrongs
w;is too much for her already broken consiitntion. Perceiving that
her days on earth were numbered, slu! besought Henry that she iniglu
onco more look u|)on her child, the princess Mary ; to the disgrace of our
common nature, even this request was sternly denied. Slie then wrote
liun u letter, so ufTecting, that oven he shod tears over it, in which she,
460
THE TRBA3UKY OF HISTORY.
gentle and submissive to the last in all save the one great point of her
wrongs, nailed him her "dear lord, king, and husband," besought his affec-
tion for their child, and recommended her servants to his goodness. Her
letter so moved him that he sent her a kind message, but ere the bearer
of it could arrive she was released from her suffering and wronged life.
Henry caused his servants to go into deep mourning on the day of her
funeral, which was celebrated with great pomp at Peterborough cathedral.
Whatever pity we may feel for the subsequent sufferings of Queen
Anne Buleyn, it is impossible to withhold our disgust from her conduct on
this occasion. Though the very menials of her husband wore at least
the outw'ird show of sorrow for the departed Catherine, Anne Boleyn on
that day dressed herself more showily than usual, and expressed a per-
fectly savage exultation that now she might consider herself a queen in*
deed, as her rival was dead.
Her exultation was as short lived as it was unwomanly. In the very
midst of her joy she saw Henry paying very unequivocal court to one of
her ladies, by name Jane Seymour, and she was so much enraged and as-
tonished that, being far advanced in pregnancy, she was prematurely de-
livered of a still-burn prince. Henry, notoriously anxious for legitimate
male issue, was cruel enough to reproach her with this occurrence, when
she spiritedly replied, tiiat he had only himself to blame, the mischief be
ing entirely caused by liis conduct with her maid.
This answer completed the king's anger, and tliat feeling, with his new
passion fur Jane Seymour, caused ruin to Anne Boleyn even ere she had
ceased to exult over the departed Catherine.
Her levity of manner had already enabled her foes to poison the ready
ear of the king, and his open anger necessarily caused those foes to be
still more busy and precise in their whisperings. Being present at a lilt-
ing match, she, whether by accident or design, let fall her handkerchief
exactly at the feet of Sir Henry Norris and hor brother, Lord Rooliford
who at (hilt moment were the combatants. At any other time it is likely
that Henry would have let so trivial an aceid !is unnoticed. But his
jealousy was already aroused, his love, such >vas, had already burnt
out, and, above all, he had already cast his on Jane Seymour, and
was glad of any excuse, good or bad, upon whicn to rid himself of Anne.
Sir Henry Norris, who was a reputed favourite of the queen, not only
raised the handkerchief from the ground, but used it to wipe his face, be
ing heated with the sport. The king's dark looks lowered upon all pres-
ent, and he instantly withdrew in one of those moods in which few cared
to meet him and none dared to oppose his will. On the next morning
Lord Uochford and Sir Henry Norris were arrested and thrown into the
Tower, and Anne herself, while on her way from Greenwich lo London,
was met by Cromwell and the duke of Norfolk, and by them informed
that she was accused of infidelity to the king; and she, too, was taken to
the Tower, au, charged with being her accomplices, were Brereton, Wes-
ton, and Sineaton, three gentlemen of the court.
Well knowing the danger she was in when once cliarged with such an
ofTem^e against such a husband, she instantly became hysterical ; now de-
claring her innocence with the bitterest tears, and anon relying upon the
impossibility of any one proving her guilty. "If any man accuse me,"
said she to the lieutenant of the Tower, " I can but say nay, and they can
bring no witnesses."
Anne now had to experience some of that heartless indifference which
■he had so needlessly and disgracefully exhibited in the case of the unfor-
tunate and blameless Catherine. At the head of the commission ot
twenty-six peers who were appointed to try her, on the revolting charge
of gross infidelity with no fewer than five men, including her own half
brother, tiiis unfortunate lady had the misery to see her own uncle, tha
THE THKASURY OF HISTOEY.
4G1
an
de-
the
me,"
CUll
II
ot
ii.iir
tll8
dOKe of Norfolk, and to see, too, that in him she had a judge wlio was fiir
enough from heing prejudiced in her favour. She was, as a matter of
course, found guilty and sentenced to death, the mode by fire or by the
ixe being left to the king's pleasure.
We have seen that Anne had in her prosperity been favourable to the
refurmed ; and as Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, was well known
to have great influence over Henry, the unhappy Anne probably hoped
that he would exert it, at the least, to save her life. If she entertained
such hope, she was bitterly disappointed. Henry, who seems to have
feared aome such humanity on the part of Cranmer, sent to him to pro-
nounce sentence against — as formerly he had pronounced it for — the
original validity of Anne's marriage with Henry. Cranmer, learned and
pious, wanted only moral courage to have been a thoroughly great and
good man ; but of moral courage he seems, save in the closing act of his
life, to have been thoroughly destitute. Upon whatever proofs the king
chose to furnish for his guidance, he, afler a mere mockery of trial, and
with an affectation of solenmity and sincerity which was actually impious,
pronounced the desired sentence ; and thus declared against the legitimacy
of the princess Elizabeth, as he had already done in the case of the prin-
cess Mary.
Anne was not allowed to suflTer long suspense after her iniquitous con
demnaiion ; iniqnitons, even if she really was guilty, inasmuch as her trial
was a mere mockery. She was kept for a few days in the Tower, where,
with a better spirit than she had formerly shown, she besought the for-
giveness of the pvinccss Mary for the numerous injuries she had done her
through her deceased mother ; and was then publicly beheaded on the
Tower green, the evecutioner severing lier head at one stroke.
Of Henry's fecliiiga on the occasion it is unnecessary to say more than
that he put on no mourning for the deceased Anne, but on the very morn-
ing afler her execution was married to Jane Seymour.
As U) Anne's •;iiilt, we think it most likely that both friends and foes
juJged .amiss. Her general levity and many circumstances which would
be out of place here, forbid us to believe her wholly innocent ; and we
are the mure likely to err in doing so, because our chief argument in her
favour must be drawn from the character of her husband, of whom it must
not be forgotten that once at least he certainly ivas wronged by a wife.
On the other hand, to believe her as guilty as she has been represented,
is to tlirow aside all considerations of the uUcr impossibility of her hav-
ing thus long been so, without being detected by the numerous enemies
with whom her supplanting Catherine and her patronage of the reformed
faith must needs have caused to surround her during the whole of her ill-
fated elevation.
A new parliament was now called to pass a new act of succes>-ion, by
which the crown was settled on such children as he might hive; by his
prcsciii queen, Jane Seymour ; and failing such, the disposal of the crown
was left to Henry's last will signinl by his own hand. It wan tlmught
from tills last named clause that Henry, f(;arliig to leave no legitimate
inalc! suvcessor, wished in that case to have tlie power of leaving the
crown to his illegitimate son, young Fit/roy, who, however, to Hciry'*
great sorrow, died shortly afterward.
Henry seems to have been much grieved by the death of Fitzroy, but he
W.1S |irevented from long indulging in tliat grief by a very formidable in-
surreialon which broke out in the October of this year. The apathy wlili
which the people had witnessed the dissolution and forfi-ilnre of three
monasteries on occasion of the deleclioii of the fraud of Fllzalicth Uarton,
hjcl naturally encouraged Henry to look forward to that sort of suniinary
justice i\« a sure and abundant source of ri^venue. So exlended was his
influence that he had even fouml memliers of convocation to projiosi' iliu
i^2
THE TEEASIiRY OF HISTORY.
surrender of tlie Icsaer monasteries into his hands. It was probably one
of the chief causes of his determined enmity to his old tutor and council
lor, Fisher, bisliop of Rochester, that that excellent prelate made a very
pithy, though quaint opposition to this proposal, on the ground that it
would infallibly throw the greater monasteries also into the kinpr's hands
Subsequently to the affair of the maid of Kent, the king and his ministei
Cromwell had proceeded to great lengths in dissolving the lesser monas-
teries, and confiscating their property. The residents, the poor who had
been accustomed to receive doles of food at the gates of these houses,
and tiie nobility and gentry by whom the monasteries had been founded
and endowed, were all greatly offended by the sweeping and arbitrary
measures of the blacksmith's son, as they termed Cromwell, and the re-
trenchment of several holidays, and the abolition of several superstitious
practices which had been very gainful to the clergy, at length caused an
open manifestation of discontent in Lincolnshire. Twenty thousand men,
headed by Prior Mackrel, of Barlings, rose in arms to demand the putting
down of '• persons meanly born and raised to dignity," evidently aiming at
Cromwell, and the redress of divers grievances under which they stated
the church to be labouring. Henry sent the duke of Suffolk against this
tumultuous multitude, and by a judicious mixlure of force and fair words
the leaders were taken, and forthwith executed, and the multitude, of
course, dispersed.
But in the counties further north than Lincolnshire the discontents
were equally great, and were the more dangerous because more distance
from the chief seat of the king's power rendered the revolted bolder.
Under a gentleman named Aske, aided by some of the better sort of those
who had been fortunate enough to escape the breaking up of the Lincoln-
sliiie confederacy, upwards of forty thousand men assembled from the
counties of York, Durham, and Lancaster, for what they called the pilgrim-
age of grace- For their banner they had an embroidery of a crucifix, a
chalice, and the five wounds of the Saviour, and each man who ranged
himself under this banner was required to swear that he had "entered
into the pilgrimage of grace from no other inotive than his love of God,
care of the king's person and issue, desire of purifying the nobility, of
driving base persons from about the king, of restoring the church, and of
suppressing heresy."
But the absence of all other motive may, in the case of not a few of
these revolters be very reasonably doubted, when with the oath taken by
each recruit who joindd the disorderly ranks we take into comparison the
style of circular by which recruits were invited, which ran thus : — " We
command you and every of you to bo at (here the particular place was
named) on Saturday next by eleven of the clock, in your best array, as
you will answer before the high judge at the great day of doom, and in tiie
lain of pulling down your houses and the losing of your goods, and your
odies to be at the captain's will."
Confident ir. ilieir numbers, the concealed, but real lenders of the en-
rerjjrise caused Aske to send delegates to the king to lay their deinaiiiis
bel^on! him. The king's written answer bears several marks of the an-
noyance he felt that a body of low peasants should venture to trench upon
subjects upon which he flattered himscdf that he was not unequal to tiie
most learned clerks. He told them that he greatly marvelled how sudi
ignorant rhiirh should speak of thmlogical .whjrcis to him who something had
been noted to be learnid, or oppose the supjiression of monasteries, as if it
W(T(^ not better to relieve the head of the church in his necessity, lliiui to
support the sloth and wickedness of monks." As it was very n'lpiifilc,
however, to break up as peaceably as possible, lui assemblage wliicli its
mere numbers would rcinier it somewhat diflicult as well as dauHrrotis to
disperse by main force, Henry at the same time [iroinised that he woulJ
C;
THE TREASUaY OF HI8T0H\
463
)\y one
:ouncil
a very
that It
i hands
niiiustei
raonas-
vho had
houses,
founded
arbitrary
1 the re-
;rsiitiou3
aused an
and men,
le putting
aiming at
ey stated
ainst this
'air words
Ititude, of
iscontents
e distaiwe
ed bolder,
irt of iliose
e Lincoln-
1 from the
the pilgrim-
crucifix, a
vho ranged
j "entered
ve of God,
nobility, of
rch, and of
)t a few o(
li taken by
narison the
:u8-.-"NVe
I- plaec was
St array, as
, and in the
"s, and your
of the en-
|ir demaiuls
of Ihc an-
irench upon
i'qual to tlie
: liow s\»ch
mcihi'ia Aerf
rics, -.IS if il
ily, llr.m to
y rt'<{ni»'iie.
e wlii<'li i*s
imgerous to
t he woulJ
remedy such of their grievances as might seem to need remedy. This
promise being unfulfilled, the same counties in the following year (1537)
again assembled their armed masses. The duke of Norfolk, as com-
mander-in-chief of the king's forces, posted himself so advantageously
that when the insurgents endeavoured to surprise Hull, and, subsequently,
Carlisle, he was able to beat them easily. Nearly all the lending men
were taken prisoners and sent to London, where they were shortly after-
wards executed as traitors. With the common sort, cf whom vast num-
bers were taken prisoners, there was less ceremony used ; they were
hanged up "by scores," says Lingard, in all the principal towns of the
chief scene of revolt. When by this wholesale shedding of human blood
the king had at length appeased his wrath and that appetite for cruelty
which every year grew more and more fierce, the proclamation of a gen-
eral pardon restored peace to the nation.
The chief plea for the late insurrection had been the suppression of the
lesser monasteries. That Henry had from the very first, according to
the shrewd prophecy of Fisher, bishop of Rochester, intended to go from
the lesser up to the greater, there is no doubt ; and the part which the
monasteries had taken in encouraging the pilgrimage of grace, only made
him the more determined in that course. The ever obsequious parlia-
ment showed the same willingness to pass an act for the suppression of
the remaining and greater monasteries that had so often been shown in
far less creditable affairs ; and of twenty-eight mitred abbots — exclusive
of the priors of St. John of Jerusalem and Coventry — who had seats in
the house of lords, not one dared to raise his voice against a measure
which must have been so distasteful to tiicm all.
Commissioners were appointed to visit the monasteries. That there
were great disorders in many of them, that the burden they inflicted upon
the capital and the industry of the country far outweighed the good done
to the poor of the country — a class, be it remembered, which the monastic
doles had a most evil tendency to increase — and that they ought to have
been suppressed, no reasonable man in the present state of political
science will venture to deny. It may be, nay it is but too certain, that the
innocent and the guilty in some cases were confouiuled ; that numbers of
people were thrown out of employment, and that with a vast amount of
good some evil was done ; that Henry even in doing good could not re-
frain from a tyrannous strain of conduct ; and that much of the pr()|)erty
thus wrested Crom superstition was lavished upon needy or upon profligate
courtiers, instead of being, as it ought to have been, maile a permanent
national property in aid of the religious and civil expenses of the niition.
But after admitting all this, it is quite certain that, however prompted or
however enacted, this suppression of the monasteries by Henry VIII. was
the most important measure since the Norman conquest, and wa.f the
measure which gave the first impulse to England in that march of reso-
lute industry which has long since left her with scarcely a rival upon the
earth, whether in wealth or in power.
While, however, we for the sake of argument admit that Henry was
arbitrary iii his conduct towards the monasteries, and that his conmiis-
sinners were infinitely less anxious for truth than for finding out or invent-
ing causes of cnnfisc.ition, we are not the less bound to assert that, even
for the single sin of imposture, the monasteries required the full weight of
the iron hand of Henry. Of the gross frauds which were conniiilted for
the purpose of attracting the attention and the money of the credulous to
particular monasteries, our space will only allow of our mentioning tv.o,
which, indeed, will sufTiciently speak for the rest.
At the monastery of Hales, in (Jloiicestershire, the relic upon which the
monks relied for profit — every monastery having relics, some of which
must have had the power of ubiquity, it bemg a fact that many monasteries
4tfi
THB TREASURY OP HISTORY.
at home and abroad have pretended to possess the same especial toe or
finger of this, that, or the oilier saint! — was said to be some of the bl lod
of our Saviour wiiich had been preserved at the time of the crucifixion.
In proportion to the entiiusiusm which such a pretence was calculated to
awaken among people who were as warmly and sincerely pious as they
were ignorant, was the abominable guilt of this imposture. But the mere
and naked lie, bad as it was, formed only a part of the awful guilt of these
monks. They pretended that this blood, though held before the eyes of
a man iu mortal sin, would be invisible to him, and would continue to be
BO until he should have performed good works sutBcient for his absolutio«.
Such a tale was abundantly sufficient to enrich the monastery, but whea
the " visitors" were sent thither by the king, the whole secret of tlie im-
pudent fraud at once became apparent. The phial in which the blood was
exhibited to the credulous was transparent on one side, but completely
opaque on the other. Into this phial the senior monks, who alone were
in the secret, every week put some fresh blood of a duck. When the pil.
grim desired to be shown the blood of the Saviour the opaque side of ilie
phial was turned towards him; he was thus convinced that he was in
mortal sin, and induced to "perform good works," i. e., to be fooled out
of his money, until the monks, finding that he could or would give no
more at that time turned the transparent side of the phial to him, and sent
him on his way rejoicing and eager to send other dupes to the monks of
Hales.
At Boxley, near Maidstone, in Kent, there whs kept a crucifix called the
rood of grace, the lips, eyes, and head of whi(^h were seen to move when
Ihe pilgrim approai^hed it with such gifts as were satisfactory; at the desire
of Hilscy, bishop of Rochester, this miraculous crucifix was taken to Lon-
don and publicly pulled to pieces at Paul's cross, when it was made clear
that the image was filled with wheels and springs by which tlie so-called
miraculous motions were regulated by the officiating priests,literally as the
temper of their customers required.
How serious a tax the preteiitled miraculous images and genuine relics
levied upon the people of tlic whole kingdom, we may judge from the fact,
that of upwards of six hundred monasteries and two thousand chantries and
chapels wliich Henry at various times demolished, comparatively few were
wholly free from this worst of impostures, while the sums received by
some of them individually may be called enormous- For instance, the
pilgrims to the tomb of St. Thomas a Becket paid upwards of nine hun-
dred pounds iu one year— or something very like three thousand pounds
of our piosent money ! The knowledge of such a disgraceful tact as this
would of itself have justified Henry in adopting moderately strong mea-
sures to put an end to the " Pilgrimage to Canterbury." But moderation
was not Henry's characteristic, and Ihicket was a saint especially halcftil
to him as having fought tlie battle of the triple crown of Rome against the
king of Kngland. Not content, thiirufore. with taking the proper measures
of mcrt! policy that were recjuiretPlo put an (Mid to a sort of pluiKhM- so dis-
graceful, H.jury ordered the saint who had reposed for centuries in the
toml) to be formally cited to appear in court to answer to an information
laid airainst him by the king's attorney! " It had been suggested," says
Dr. liingani, " that as long as the name of St. Thomas of Canlcrhury
shouhi ri'inaii) in the calendar men would be stimulated by his example to
brave the erciesiastical authority of their sovereign. The king's attorney
was therefore instructed to exliil)it an information against him, and Tho-
mas i\ Uecket, somfitimc archbishop of Canterbury, was formally cited to
app(!ar iii <H)urt and answer to the charge. The interval of tliiriy dnys
allowed by the canon law was suffered to elapse, and still the saint
neglected io (|iiit the tomb in which he had reposed for two ccniiineR and
t half, and judgment would have been given against him by default, imd
TUB TREASURY OF HISTORY.
465
not the king of his special grace assigned hini counsr.l. Tlie court sat at
Westminster, the attorney-general and the a(lvo(;ate of the accused were
heard, and sentence was finally pronounced that Thomas, sometin)e arch*
bishop of Canterbury, had been guilty of rebellion, contumacy, and treason,
that his bones should be publicly burned to admonish the living of their
duty by the punishment of the dead, and that the offerings which had been
made at his shrine, the personal property of the reputed saint should be
forfeited to the crown. A commission was accordingly issued, the sen-
tence was executed in due form, and the gold, silver and jewels, the spoils
obtained by the demolition of the shrine were conveyed in two ponderous
coffers, to the royal treasury. The people were soon afterwards informed
by a royal proclamation that Thomas h Becket was no saint, but rather a
rebel and a traitor, and it was ordered to erase his name out of all books,
under pain of his majesty's indignation, and imprisonment at his grace's
pleasure."
We have selected Lingard's account of this matter because that histo-
rian has a very evident leaning to the catholic side of every question of
English history, and yet he, unconsciously, perhaps, in the words of the
above passage which we have printed in italics, goes far towards justifying
Henry's measures against the monkish superstitions and impostures, no
matter what his motives may have been. What! gold, silver, and jewels
thus abstracted from the wealth of the nation and made perpetually incon-
vertible and unproductive, and yet the keepers of the shrine of the pre-
tended saint and mira(;le-worker still so insatiate that they drew nearly
a thousand pounds of the money of that time in a single year! The pal-
triest smattering of true political economy would tell us that such a state
of things, existing as it did all over the kingdom, if unchecked fur but a
few years by the sovereigti, would have been terminated by a most san-
guinary revolt of the ruined people, whose hungf r would liave been too
strong for both their own i]L;norance anri the villainy atid ingenuity of their
dehulers. And it is to be remembered that although Henry was unwisely,
nay, wickedly profuse of the property which he recovered from a set of
vile corporations which had obtained possession of it by false Miiuences,
it was of only a part of this property that he thus improperly , ..'osed.
Kvcry monk who was dispossessed of an idle ease which he ought never
to have had, received a yearly allowance of eight marks, and every abbot
and prior had a yearly allowance proportioned to his character and the in-
come of his abbacy or priory. Making these provisions must have con-
sumed a large portion of the money realized by the s izures of monastic
property ; but, besides these, the king made and endowed, from the same
source, six new bishopricks, Weslmiuisler, Oxford, Peterborouiih, Bristol,
Chester, and Gloucester. When these facts are taken into the account,
the "profit" derived by the king, that the vulgar and more violently pa-
pistical writers are fond of talking about, will be found to amount to little
indeed.
Cardinal Pole, a near kinsman of Henry, and eminent alike for talents
and virtue, had long resided on the continent, and to his powerful and ele-
gant pen Henry attributed many of the forcii)lc, eloquent— ami sometimes
we may add, scurrilous — declamations which the papists of Italy contin-
ually sent forth against him whom the popedom had once hailed and flat-
tered as the defender of the faith, but whom it now denounced us anolliei
Julian alike in talents and in apostany. Henry, unable to decoy the as-
tute cardinal into his power, arrested and put to death first the brother?
and then the mother of that emincnl person, the venerable countess of Sal
isbury. Heal charge against this lady, then upwards of seventy yeart ol
age, there was none ; but the ever obsequious parliament passed an act
attaintmg her in the absence of any trial or confession, .\ftcr two yean
of riguniiis conlincnienl in the Tower of London the countess was brougD
Vol. 1 — :U)
«66
THE TBRA8URT OF HISTORY.
ovx for execution ; and as she refused to lay her head upon the block, the
executioner's assistant had to place her and keep her there by mnin force,
and even as the axe descended on her neck she cried out " Blessed are
they who suffer persecution for righteousness sake."
At the dictation of Henry the parliament now passed a bill which de
dared " That in the cucharist is really presented the natural body of Chris
under the forms and without the substance of bread and wine ; that com
munion in both kinds is not necessary to the soul's health ; that priests
may not marry by the laws of God; that vows of chastity are to be ob-
served ; that private masses ought to be retained ; and that the use of
auricular confession is expedient and necessary." Heavy penalties were
denounced on any who should act contrary to the above articles ; and
Cranmer, who liad for many years been married, could only save himself
from the effects of this act — to the passing of which he had made a stout
but ineff"ectual opposition — by sending his wife, with their numerous chil-
dren, to Germany, of which country she was a native.
The frequent changes which had, duriiig a quarter of a century, taken
place in the theological opinions of the king himself, did not by any means
mspire him with any merciful feeling towards those who chanced to differ
from his temporary opinion ; he had thrown off" the clerical pope of Rome
only to set up quite as "infallible" a pope in the person of the king of
England. A London schoolmaster, named Lambert, was unfortunate
enough to contradict a sermon of Dr. Taylor, afterward bishop of Lincoln,
in which sermon the doctor had defended tiie prevalent Catiiolic doctrine
of the "real presence." Lambert had already been imprisoned for his
unsound opinions, but having learned nothing by the peril he had so nar-
rowly escaped, he now drew up formal objections, under ten heads.
These objections he made known to Dr. Barnes, wlio was a Lutheran and
who consequently was as obnoxious to the existing law as Lambert, whom
he caused to be cited before Cranmer and Latimer. They, however much
they might agree with him in their hearts, did not dare publicly to oppose
themselves to the standard of opinion which the arl)iirary Henry had set
up under the protection of shocking penalties, but they took a middle
course, and endeavoured to prevail upon Lambert to save his life by a
timely recantation ; but he appealed from their judgment to that of the
king himself. Henry, ever well pleased to e.xerciso his controversial
powers, caused it to be made as public as possihle that he would in per.son
try the soundness of Master Lambert's opinions. Westminster Hall was
fitted up for the occasion with scaffoldings and seats for such as chose to
be present, and the king took his seat upon the throne, clad in wiiite silk
robes, and surrounded by the bishops, the judges, and the chief officers ol
state. LarMbert's articles being read, the king in a set s|)eech replied to
the first; ■ ranmer, Gardiner, and others following in refutation of other
articles, and at the conclusion of arguments which lasted five hours, and
in which the king was as grossly flattered as the poor vain schoolmaster
was unfairly brow-beaten, Henry asked the poor man wliether the argu-
ments had cleared his mind of doubts, to which question he added the no
less interesting one, "Will you live or die!" Lambert, unconvinced by
all that he had heard, noticed only the last part of the king's speech, and
replied, that for his life he would hold it at his maj(,'sty's gracious mercy ;
to whicli Henry ungraciously, not to say cruelly, assured him, that he was
not minded to show himself the patron of JHUctics, and Cromwell was
ordered to pass sentence on the prisoner, whose chief olfence scorns to
have been his folly in cravnig the notice of the king l)y a most gratuitous
and useless display of opinions which no earthly power could have pre-
vented him from enjoying in safety, had he conscntctl to do so in si't-rci'v
The unfortunate man was burned to death, and as he was supposei! to be
personally obnoxious to Hi^nry from having ventured publicly to dispiiti
Trul or Lambcrt reforii UcNnr VIII. in Westminster Hall.
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
467
with him, the cruel executioners purposely made the fire so slow tnat his
legs and thighs were gradually consumed before the flames even ap-
proached any vital part. The long tortures to which this poor man was
subjected at length so greatly disgusted some of the guards, that with their
halberts they threw him farther into the flames, and he tiiere perished,
exclaiming with his last breath, " None but Christ, none but Christ !"
Many other cruel executions took place about this time.
In August, 1537, Henry's third queen, the lady Jane Seymour, gave
birth to a prince, to the great delight of the king, whose joy, however, was
much dimmished, when, in a few days, this best beloved and most amiable
of all his wives died. He soon after commenced negotiations for a new
marriage, but being disappointed in his views on the duchess dowager of
Longueville, and being then refused by Francis permission to choose be-
tween the two sisters of that lady precisely as he would have chosen sheep
or oxen, ho was persuaded by Cromwell to demand the hand of Anne oi
Cleves, lister of the reigning duke. Her portrait, of course a flattering
one, from the pencil of the celebrated Hans Holbein, caused Henry to
fancy himself very much enamoured of her, and when he learned that she
had landed at Dover, he actually rode as far as Rochester in disguise, that
he might unseen, or at least unknown, have a glance at her to, in his own
phrase, " nourish his love." This glance, however, " nursed" a very dif-
ferent feeling. The difference between the delicate limning of Hans Hol-
bein, and the especially vast person and coarse complexion of the lady,
so disgusted and surprised Henry, that he passionately swore that they
had chosen him not a woman and a princess, but a Flanders mare ; and
he would have fain sent her back without a word said to her, but that he
was afraid of offending the German princes connected with her brother,
and thus raising against himself a too powerful coalition. Detesting the
very sight of Anne, and yet feeling obliged to marry her, the king was not
long ere he made the full weight of his indignation fall upon the head ot
Cromwell. That too servilely obeiMent minister now had to feel in per-
son the very same injustice which, at his instigation, the detestably syco-
phantic parliament had so recently inflicted upon the venerable countess
of Salisbury. He was accused of high treason, denied a public trial, niul
a bill of attainder passed both houses, without even one of the many whom
he had befriended having the generous courage to show that gratitude to
him which he, under similar circumstances, had shown to Cardinal Wol-
scy. Having got judgment passed against Cromwell, Henry now turned
his attention to obtaining a divorce from Anne of Cleves. Even he could
(Scarcely make it a capital offence to have coarse features and an awkward
figure ; moreover, the influence of Anne's brother was such as to make it
unsafe for Henry to proceed to any thing like violent steps against her.
Fortunately, however, for the comfort of both parties, if he viewed her
with disgust, she viewed him with the most entire indifference ; and she
readily consented to be divorced on Henry giving her three thousand
pounds per annum, the royal palace of Richmond for a residence, and such
precedence at court as she would have enjoyed had she been his sister
instead of being his divorced wife.
Six days after the passing of the bill of attainder against Cromwell, that
minister was executed, no one seeming to feel sorrow for him ; the poor
hating him for the share he had taken in the suppression of the monaste-
ries, and the rich detesting him for having risen from a mere peasant birth
to rank so high and power so great.
As if to show that he really cared less for either protestantism or popery
than he did for his own will and pleasure, the king ordered just now the
e.\ecution of Powel, Abel, and Featherstone, catholics who ventured to
deny the king's supremacy, and of Barnes, Garret, and Jerome, for the
apposite offum^e of being more protestant than it pleased the king that
J
66
THE TRBASURY OP HISTOKY.
they should be ! And to render tliis impartiality in despotism the more
awfully impressivp, the protestant and catholic offenders were drawn to
the stake in Siniihticid on the same huidle !
A. n. 1341. — Though the king had now been married four times, and,
sertainly, with no such happiness as would have made marriage seem so
very desirable, the divorce from Anne of Cleves was scarcely aceom-
plisiied ere his council memoralised him to take another wife, and he
complied by espousing the niece of the duke of Norfolk. Tiiis lady, by
name Catherine Howard, was said to have won the heart of the king'' by
her notable appearance of honour, cleanliness, and maidenly belntv-
iour," and so well was the king at first satished with this his fifth wife,
that he not only behaved to her with remarkable tenderness and respiMt,
but even caused the bishop of London to compose a form of thanksgiving
for the felicity his majesty enjoyed. But the new (jueen, being a caiholir,,
had many enemies among the reformers ; and intelligence was koou
brought to Cranmer of such conduct on the part of Catherine before nuir-
riage as he dared not conceal from the king, though it was by no means a
safe thing to speak upon so delicate a matter. In fact, so much did Cran-
mer dread the violent temper of the king, that he committed the painful
intelligence to writing. Henry was at first perfectly incredulous as to the
guilt of a woman whose manners and appearance had so greatly impused
upon him. He ordered her arrest, and while in durance, she was visited
by a deputation from Henry and exhorted to speak the truth, in the assu-
rance that her husband would rejoice at her innocence, and that the laws
were both just and strong enough to protect her. As she hesitated to
answer, a bill of attainder was passed against her, and then she confessfd
that her past life had b(!en debauched, to an extent that cannot with de-
cency be particularised. It -nust suflice to say, that the revolting and
gross sliamelessness of her conduct before marriage, as dejwsed by oth-
ers, and in general terms confessed by herself, render it scarcely possible
for any one acquainted with human nature, and the laws of evidence, to
place the slightest reliance upon her assertions of the iinioccnce of her
post-nuptial (conduct ; though, as she belonged to the catholic |)arty, the
liistoiiaus of that parly have taken some pains to justify her, The must
abandoned of her sex ini^'lit blush for the shameless guilt of which she
had, by her own confessiiiii been guilty; and the historian of any |);iny
must have a Strang" nntion of the tenets of his parly, and of the true na-
ture of his own vdiMiion, who seeks for parly sake to prop up a character
80 loalhsoine.
A. D. I'll.;. — Having put the shameless wanton to deatli, by the tyran-
nous mode of attainder, together with her paramours and tier conliilmite,
thai tnipriucipleil l;idy Kochfort, who had tak(>n xo principal a part in the
death of Anne Holeyn, Henry caused a l.iw to he passed, that any woni:'.n
who should marry him, or aay of his successors, should, if incontinent
before marriage, reveal that disgrace on pain of deatii ; on the passing of
whiidi law tin! people jocosely remarked that the king's best ])lan would
be to tiike a wiilow for his next wife.
Henry now employe. I soiiu- tune in mitiirating the severe six articles
90 far as regardtu) the marriage of priests , Iml In? made, at the same tnee,
considerable inroads upon tht; proixirty of both the regular and secular
elcri:y. Still bent upon u|)hoMing and exerting his supremacy, he also
encouraged appeals from the spiritual to the civil courts, of wliieh Htnne
as pithily as justly says that it was "a happy innovation, tliouijh at fnsl
invented for arbitrary purposes." lie now also issued it small volume en-
titleil"Tlie Insiitnlioii of a (^lirisiian Man," in which in his usual arbi-
trary style, and wilhoul the least ap|iareiit eonseinnsni'ss of tiie iiicoiisi»t
riit veering he had dis|)layed on tlieologieal suhjeils, he prescrilied to hit
people how they shtnilii believe and think upon the delicate mattets ul
THE TKEA3URY OF HI8T0EY.
10 iyr;ui-
niliil'iiiie,
rl iu the
WDIlll'.ll
IlltlllClll
,11) WOlllli
\rliflt's
lime liii'i-'i
soculiir
lie iilso
•li lliimo
(r|l III (iisl
)hiini! (Ml-
isu;iliirl)i-
jiii'(»nsi»l
licil loliii
)u<tific4tio'i, free-will, good-works, and grace, with as much coolness as
though his ordinances had concerned merely ihe fashion of a jerkin, or the
length of a cross-bow bolt. Having made some very inefficient alterations
in the mass-buok, Henry presently sent forth another little volume, oilled
the " Erudition of a Christian Man." in this he flatly contradicted the " In-
stitution of a Christian Man," and that, too, upon matters of by no means
secondary importance; but he just as peremptorily and self-complacently
called upon his subjects to follow him now as he had when just before he
pointed a directly opposite path !
The successful rivalship of his nephew, James of Scotland, in the aflec-
ttons of Marie, dowager duchess of Longueville, gave deep offence to
Henry, which was still farther irritated into hatred by James* adhesion
to the ancient faith, and his close correspondence with the pope, the em-
peror Charles, and Francis, of which Fienry was perfectly well informed
by the assiduity of his ambassador. Sir Ralph Sadler. These personal
feelings, fully as muc'.i at any political considerations, caused Henry to
commence a war which almost at the outset caused James to die of over-
excited anxiety ; but of this war we shall hereafter have to speak.
The king in his sixth marriage made good the jesting prophecy of the
people by taking to wife Catherine Parr, widow of Nevil, Lord Latimer.
She was a friend t(» the reformeo, but a woman of too much prudence to
peril herself injudiciously. He treated her with great respect, and in 1544,
when he led a large and expensive expedition, with considerably more
eclat than advantage, he left her regent during his absence from England.
Subsequently, however, the queen, in spite of her prudence, was more
than once in imminent danger. Anne Askew, a lady whom she had
)penly and greatly favoured, imprudently provoked the king by opposi-
(ion upon the capital point of the real presence, and chancellor Wriuttts-
ley, who had to interrogate the unhappy lady, being a bigoted catholic, it
was greatly feared thatliis extreme severity might induce her to confess
how fiir Catherine and the chief court ladies were implicated in her obnox-
ious opinions. Young, lovely, and delicate, the poor girl was laid upon
the rack and questioned, but torture itself failed to extort an answer to
the questions by which the chancellor endeavoured to come at the queen.
So enraged was that most brutal offii;er, that he ordered the lieutenant of
the Tower to stretch the rack still farther, and on his refusing to do so,
" laid hia own hand to the rack and drew it so violently that he almost tore her
body asunder.*^ This diabolical cruelty served no other purpose than to
make his own name mfamous while the annals of England shall rcniiiin.
The heroic girl bore her horrible torture with nnflinthing fortitude, and
was carried to the stake in a chair, her body being so maimed and dislo-
cated that she could not walk. She sufferecl at the same lime with John
Lasiellcs, of the king's household, John Adams, tailor, and Nicholas Die-
nun, a priest.
Subsequently the queen was again much endangered. Though she had
never pretended to nilerfere with his conduct, she would occanionaliy
fearfully bloated,
und an ulcer in his leg caused him so much agonv that "ho was as furious
argue « ilh him in private. He had by this time become fearfully bloated,
as a chained tiger." Tlis natural venomence and intolerance of opjiosition
were ooiisoqiiontly much increased under such circumstaiicos ; and Cath-
erine's argunients at length so offended him, that he i'OMi|ilaini'd of hci
conduct to (iardiner and VVrioitrslcy. Thoy, bigoted fnoiuis to the oalh-
olic pnrty, were proportionally inimical to Catherine as a friend of the
'eformed; and they encouraged his ill temper, and so dexterously argued
upon the peculiar necessity of putting down heresy in the high places
that he actually gave orders for her beiii,'} sent to the Tower on llie (bl-
lowing day. She was fortunate enough to get information of what was
In store for her, and her cool temper and shrewd woitian's wit sulRicd to
HnRo
170
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
flave her from her enemies. She well knew that as lust had been the
crime of Henry's manhood, so vanity— that vanity which cannot endure
even the pettiest opposition — was the great spring of his actions now that
his eye was growing dim and his natural force abated. She paid him her
usual visit that day, and when he tried to draw her into their common
course of argument, she said that arguments in divinity were not proper
for women ; that women should follow the principles of their husbands, as
she made a point of following his ; and that though, in the belief that it
something alleviated his physical sufferings, she sometimes pretended to
oppose him, she never did so until she had exhausted ail her poor means
of otherwise amusing him." The bait to his inordinate vanity was easily
taken. " Is it so, sweetheart V he exfiaimed, " then we are perfect friends
again," and he embraced her affectionately. On the following day the
chancellor and his far more respectable myrmidons the pursuivants went
to apprehend the queen, when the sanguinary man was sent away with a
volley of downright abuse, such as Henry could bestow as well as the
meanest of his subjects when once his temper was fully aroused.
A. D. 1547. — In almost all Henry's persecutions of persons of any emi-
nence, careful observation will generally serve to discover somntliiiig of
that personal ill-feeling which in a man of lower rank would be called
personal spite. Thus the duke of Norfolk and his son, the earl of Surrey,
were now arrested and charged with various overt acts which caused
them — as the charges ran — to be suspected ofhigh treason. Their real, and
their only real crime was their relationship to Catherine Howard, his fifth
queen. The very frivolous nature of the charges proves that this was the
case, but the despicably servile parliament, as usual, attended only to the
king's wishes, and both Norfolk and his son were condemned. The pro-
ceedings in the case of the latter, from his being a commoner, were more
ipecdy than that of his father, and the gallant young Surrey was execu-
ted. Orders w<'re also given for the execution of Norfolk on the niorniiiR
of the 29th of January, 1547 ; but on the night of the 28th the furious king
himself died, in the thirty-seventh year of his arbitrary reign and in the
fifty-sixth of his age; and the council of the infant prince Edward VI.
wisely respited the duke's sentence, from which he was released at the
accession of Queen Mary.
That the character of Henry was per se bad, few can doubt that have
read his reign attentively ; but neither will any just man deny, that h'-, so
gny and generous, so frank and so great a lover of literature in youth,
owed not a little of his subsequent wickt^dness to the grossly servile adu-
lation of the great, and to the dastardly suhmission of the parliament.
Wliat could be expected from a man, naturally vain, to whuni tin; able
(Tromwell could say, that " he was unable, and he believed all men were
unpble, to describe the imutteral)le (|irilities of tlu! royal mind, the sul)-
lime virtues of the royal heart ;" to whom Kich could say, that " in wis-
dom he was enniil to Solomon, in strength and courage to Samjison, in
beauty and address to Absalom ;" and what could be expected from a man,
naturally violent and contemptuous of human life, who found both honsca
of parliament vile r nough to slay whoever he plcascil to denounce ? An
arbitrary reign was that of Henry, but it wroiiulit as much for the perma-
nent, religious, and moral good of the nalioii, as the storms anil tempests,
')eneath which wo cower while they last, work for the physical atmosphere
CHAPTKR XMI.
THE RRinN OK CinVAHn vi
T). 1547. — Hknht's will fixed the majiu'ily of his son
Kdwanl VI , at the tire of ei>>hteen.
and siircesior
riie young prince at the time of his
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
471
Ihat have
lat lu', so
n youth,
j!e adu-
i;uiit'nt.
\\\v. able
pii were
111' sill)-
111 wis-
npsoii ill
im a mail,
til liousra
1 All
le piTiua-
(Mlipi'Sl*.
iKisplu're
»u( ccnior
im' of lii*
father's death was but a few month's more than nine, and the government
was during his minority vested in sixteen executors, viz., Cranmer, arch-
bishop of Canterbury ; Lord Wriottesley, chancellor ; Lord St. John, great
master; Lord Russell, privy seal ; the earl of Hertford, chamberlain; Vis-
count Lisle, admiral ; Tonstall, bishop of Durham ; Sir Anthony Browne>
master of the horse ; Sir William Paget, secretary of state ; Sir Bdward
Forth, chancellor of the court of augmentations; Sir Edward Montague,
chief justice of the common pleas; Judge Bromley, Sir Anthony Denny,
and Sir William Herbert, chief gentlemen of the privy chamber; S»r td
ward Wotton, treasurer of Calais ; and Dr. Wotton, dean of Canterbury.
Not only did Henry VIIL name these councillors, some of whom were
in station at least, far below so important a trust, but he laid down a course
of conduct for them with a degree of minuteness, which shows that to the
very close of his career his unbounded vanity maintained its old ascend-
mcy over his naturally shrewd judgment, and that he expected that his
political and religious supremacy would be respected even when the eartlv
worms and the damps of the charnel-house should be busy with his inani-
mate body. The very first meeting of the councillors showed the fallacy
of the late kin.g's anticipations. He evidently intended that the co-ordinat«
distribution oi the state authority should render it impracticable for the
ambition of any one great subject to trouble or endanger the succession o(
the young Edward ; and this very precaution was done away with by the
first act of the councillors, who agreed that it was necessary that some
one minister should have prominent and separate authority, under the
title of protector, to sign all orders and proclamations, and to communi-
cate with foreign powers. In a word, tliey determined to place one of
their number in precisely that tempting propinquity to the throne, to guard
against which had been a main object of Henry's care and study. The
earl of Hertford, maternal uncle to the king, seemed best entitled to thin
high office, and he was accordingly chosen, in spite of the opposition of
Cliancnllor Wriottesley, who from his talents and experience had antici-
pated that he himself, in reality though not formally, would occupy this
very position.
Having made this most important and plainly unauthorised alteration
in Henry's arrangement, the council now gave orders for the interment
of the (li'ccased monarch. The body lay in state in the chapel of ■White-
hall, which was hung with fine black cloth. Kighty large black tapers
were kept constantly burning; twelve lords sat round within a rail as
nionriicrs; and every day masses and dirges were performed. At the
comiiieiiceineiit of each service Norroy, king-at-ariiiL". cried in a loud
voice, " Of your charity pray for the soul of the high and miifhty prince,
our late sovereign lord, Henry the Kiglith." On the Uih of February the
body was removed to Sion house, and thence to Windsor on the following
Jay, and on the 16th it was interred near tiiat of Lady Jaiii; Seymour in a
vault near the centre of the choir. (laniiiier, bishop of Winchester, per-
formed the service and preached a sermon. As \w scattered eaitli upon
the I offiii and pronounced, in Latin, the soleinii words, " Ashes to aslies
and dust to dust," certain of tlu! principal attendants broke their wands of
oflice iiiid three parts, above their ln'ad», and llir<'w the pieces upon the
-olTiii. The solemn psalm r/p ;>ro/uri(/i.« was tlicn recited, and garter king
at arms, attended by the archiitihop of ('anterlnirv and the bishop of Dur-
ham, pioclaiined the style and titles of Kihvard V'l.
The coronation next f(dlowe<l, hut was much abridged of the usual cere-
niony and "pliMidour, chiefly on accnunl of the delicate state of (he king's
heallh. The executors of the late king, though lliey had sci imporlaiitly
departed frmn the express directions of the will upon some |Miiiits, were
very exact in fidlowiiig it u|mmi other.?. Thus, Henry had charged them
*o make certain creations or promotions in the petrugc ; and Hertford
172
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
was now made duke of Somerset, marshal and lord treasurer ; his oppo-
nent, the chancellor Wrioliesley, ear! of Southampton ; the earl of KssfX,
marquis of Norlhampton; Viscount Lisle, earl of Warwick; Sir Tliomas
Seymour, Lord Seymour of Sudley and achniral of Knirland ; and Sirs
Richard Rich, William Willoughhy, and Kdmund Sheffield, barons. Som-
erset and some of the other peers were at tlie same time, to enable iliein
to support their dignity, gratified with deaneries, prebends, and other spir-
itual benefices ; a most pernicious precedent, and one which has caused
and enabled so much church property and influence to be placed in tlio
hands of laymen, many of whom are avowedly and flagrantly dissenters
from the doctrine of the church, and foes to her establishment.
Wriottesley, earl of Southampton, was greatly disappointed that he, in-
stead of Somerset, had not been chosen protector ; and this feeling teuchid
greatly to exasperate the political opposition which had ever existed
between them. Wriottesley, with a want of judgment strangely in con
trast with his usual conduct, gave to Somerset an opportunity to distress
an' rtify him, of which that proud noble was not slow to avail hiiiis II.
Dci.i.iia to give the utmost possible amount of time to public business,
and as far as possible to share and check the authority of the protector,
Southampton, merely upon his own authority, put the great seal into com-
mission, empowering four lawyers to execute the office of chancellor for
him ; and two of the four lawyers thus named were canonists, which gave
some appearance to his conduct of a desire to show disrespect to the com-
mon law. Somerset and his party eagerly caught at this indiscretion of
their noble and resolute opponent, and easily obtained from the judges an
opinion to the effect that Southampton's course was illegal and unjusti-
fiable, and that he had forfeited his office and even laid himself open to
still farther punishment. Southampton was accordingly summoned before
the council; and, though he defended himself acutely, he wascondenined
to lose the great seal, to pay a pecuniary fine, and to be confined to his
own house during pleasure.
Having thus opportunely removed his most powerful and persevering
opponent, Somerset immediately set about enlarging his own power and
alterins; its foundation. Professing to feel a delicacy in exercising the
extensive powers of protector while holding that office only under the au-
thority of the executors of the late king's will, he obtained from the young
king Kdward a patent which gave him the protectorate with full n^gal
powers, and which, though it re-appointed all the councillors and execu-
tors named in Henry's will, with the sole exception of Southampton, ex-
empted the protector from his former obligations to consult thein or to be
bound by their opinion.
Aided by Cranmer, the protector, in spite of the strong and able opposi-
tion of Gardiner, made considerable advances in religious rcformaiiDn;
yet m ide them with a most prudent and praiseworthy tenderness to the
existing prejudices of the mass of that generation. Thus, he appointed
visitors, lay and clerical, to repress, as far as might bo obvious, iinposinii'S
and flagrant immoralities on the part of the catholic clergy ; hut he at the
same lime instructed those visitors to <leal respectfully with such cereuin-
nials as were yet unabolished, and with such images ami shrines as were
unabused to the purpose of idolatry. While thus prudent, in tenderness
to the inveleriile an:J ineradicable piejuilices of iIk; ignorant, he with a
very sound polii'y look measures for wi-akcuing the mischievous elfi'ds
of the prcMching of the monks. Many of these men were phiceil in vacimt
cliMrchi's, that so the excheau<'r might be relieved, /(m tunin, of the |);iv
ini'iit III' the anmiiiies settled upon tlicin at the sn|)|)ression of rcliuioiiij
houses. As it was found that tluiy took advantnire of their posiliini to in-
stil into the minds of the ignorant the worst of thi^ old superstitions ami a
tierce hatred of the reforiMation Somerset now eompi^iled them to avoid
THE TUEASUKY OF HWTORY
473
that ooivliict, by enjoining upon them llie reading of certain homilies hav-
ing precisely the opposite tendency and l)y strictly forbidding them to
preach, unless by special mdnlsjence, anywhere save in their own parish
churches. 'I"he monks being thus siricity L-onftned in their own parish
chundies, and limited. in their liberty of preaching even there, while the
proteslanl clergymen could always insure a special license for peripatetic
preaching, was a sysiem loo obviously favourable to the reformation to
pass uuceiisnred by the principal catholic champions. Bonner at the out-
set gave the protector's measures open and strong opposition, but subs -
quenily agreed to them. Gardiner, a less violent but far firmer and more
consistent man, because, probably, a far more sincere man, was staunch
in his opposition. He was of opinion that the reformation could not be
carried any farther but with real and great danger. " It is," said he, "a
dangerous thing to use too much freedom in researches of this kind. If
you cut the old canal, the water is apt to run farther than you have a mind
to ; if you indulge the humour of novelty, you cannot put a stop to people's
demands, nor govern their indiscretions at pleasure. For my part my sole
concern is to manage the third and last act of my life with decency, and
to make a handsome exit off the stage. Provided this point is secured I
am not solicitous about the rest. I am already by nature condemned to
death : no man can give me a pardon from this sentence, nor so much as
procure me a reprieve. To speak my mind, and to act as my conscience
directs, are two branches of liberty which I can never part with. Sincerity
in speech and integrity in action are enduring qualities; they will sli(;k by
a man when everything else takes its leave, and I must not resign them
upon any consideration. The best of it is, if I do not throw these awi'y
myself, no man can force them from me ; but if I give them up, then am
1 ruined by myself, and deserve to lose all my preferments." Desid s
the obvious danger of going loo far and making the people mischievously
familiar with change, Gardiner charged his opponents with an unnecessary
ind presumptuous assumption of metaphysical exactitude upon the doc-
trines of grace and justification by faith, points not vitally necessary to
any man, and beyond the real comprehension of the multitude. The
ability and the firmness with which he 'iressed these and other grounds of
opposition so highly enraged the protestor, that Gardiner was committed
to the Fleet, and there treated with a severity which, his age and his
talents being considered, reflected no little discredit upon the protestjiit
parly. Tonstal, bishop of Durham, who sided with Gardiner, was expelled
the council, but allowed to live witliout farther molestation.
The active measures of Somerset for promoting the reformation in
F.ngland gave force and liveliness to the antagonist parties in .Scotland
also. The cardinal Beaton, or Bethune, was resolute to put down ihe
preaching, even, of the reformers; while these latter, on the other hand,
were daily becoming more and more inflamed with a zeal to which mar-
tyrdom itself had no terrors. Among tlie most zealous and active of the
reformed preachers was a well-born gentleman named Wishart, a man ol
great learning, high itioral character, and a rich store of that passioiciie
ind forcible, though rude, eloquence which is so powerful over llu; minds
af enlhiftiastic but uneducated men. The principal ^cene of his preach-
ing was Dundee, where his eloquence had so visible and stirring an effcci
upon the multitude, that the magistrates, as a simple mailer of civil po-
lice, fell bound to forbid him to preach within their jurisdiction. Unable
to avoid retiring, Wishart, however, in doing so, soletiinly invoked and
prophesied a heavy and speedy calamity upon the town in which his
|)reaching had thus been stopped. Singularly enough, he had not long
been banished from Dundee when the plague burst out with great violence.
Post hoc, crffo prnplir hoc is ever the popular maxim ; men loudly declared
that the plague was evidently the consec lencc of VVishart's banishment
474
THE TREA8UEY OP HISTOaV.
i ^.
and that the hand of the destroying angel would never be stayed until the
preacher should be recalled. Wishart was recalled accordingly; and
taking advantage of the popular feelings of dismay, he so boldly and pas-
sionately advocated innovations, that Cardinal Beaton caused him to be
arrested and condemned to the stake as a heretic.
Arran, the governor, showing some fear and unwillingness to proceed
to the extremity of burning, the cardinal carried the sentence into execu-
tion on his own anthority, and even stationed himself at a window from
which he could behold the dismal spectacle. This indecent and cruel
triumph was noted by the sufferer, who solemnly warned Beaton that ere
many days he should be laid upon that very spot where then he triumphed.
Agitated as the multitude were by the exhortations of their numerous
preachers of the reformed doctrine, such a prophecy was not likely to
fall uiilieeded from such a man under such circumstances. His followers
in great numbers associated to revenge his death. Sixteen of the most
courageous of them went well armed to the cardinal's palace at an early
hour in the morning, and having thrust all his servants and tradesmen out,
proceeded to the cardinal's apartment. For a short time the fastenings
defied their power, but a cry arising to bring fire to their aid, the unfortu-
nate old man opened the door to them, entreating to spare his life and re-
minding them of his priesthood. The foremost of his assailants, James
Melville, called to the others to execute with becoming gravity and de-
liberation a work which was only to be looked upon as tlie judgment of
God.
" Repent thee," said this sanguinary but conscientious enthusiast, " re-
pent thee, thou wicked cardinal, of all thy sins and iniquities,, especially of
the murder of Wishart, that instrument of God for the conversion of thene
lands. It is his death which now cries vengeance upon thee : we are
sent by God to inflict the deserved punishment. For here, before the Al-
mighty, I protest that it is neither hatred of thy person, nor love of thy
riches, nor fear of thy power, which moves me to seek thy death, but only
because thou hast been and still remainest an obstinate enemy to Christ
Jesus and his holy gospel."
With these words Melville stabbed the cardinal, who fell dead at his
feet. This murder took place the year before the deathof Henry VHI.,to
whom the assassins, wiio fortified themselves and friends, to the number
of a hundred and forty, in the castle, dispatched a messenger for aid.
Henry, always jealous of Scotland and glad to cripple its turbulent nobili-
ty, promised his support, and Somerset now, in obedience to the dying in-
junction of the king, prepared to march an army into Scotland, for the
purpose of compelling a union of the two countries, by marrying tlie minor
queen of Scotland to the minor king of Kngluiid. With a fleet of sixty
sail and a force of eighteen thousand men, he set out with the avowed
purpose of not listening to any negotiation, unless based upon the (condi-
tion of the marriage of the young queen of Scotland to Kdward of Kng-
land; a measure which he urged and justified at great length in a pam-
phlet published by him before opening the campaign.
Except as a means of justifying his own conduct in commencing the
war, it would seem that so well informed a statesman as SomerHel ';oul(l
surely have expected little efTect from this manifesto. The queen dowa-
ger of Scotland was wholly influenced by France, which could not but be
to the utmost degree opposed to the union of Scotland and England ; and
she was also far too much attached to the catholic religion to look with
any complacent feelmg upon a transfer of Scotland into the hands of the
known and persevering enemy of that religion. From Berwick to Edin-
burgh Somerset experienced but little resistance. Arran, however, liad
taken up his position on the bunks of the Eske at about four miles from
Edinburgh, with an army double in number to that of the English. In u
I
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
470
until the
(ly; and
and pas-
im to be
( proceed
,0 execu-
low from
md cruel
11 that ere
iumphed.
numerous
likely to
followers
the most
an early
isincn out,
fastenings
B unforiu-
ife and re-
its, James
y and de-
ilgment of
siast, " re-
pecially of
on of tlie8G
e : we are
"ore the Al-
ove of thy
h, but only
T to Christ
lead at his
_ VIII., to
ho number
r for aid.
nt nobili-
liying in-
nd, for the
tiic minor
t of sixty
w avowed
the (rondi-
irdof Kng-
in a pam-
nnicinR the
irset i:oulii
\wv\\ dowii-
not but be
gland ; and
look with
luids of the
jk to Kdin-
iwever, luid
miles fritin
(jlish. In a
cavalry affair of outposts the Scots were worsted, and Lord Hume
geverely wounded, but Somerset and the earl of Warwick having recon-
noitred the Scottish camp, found that it was too well posted to be assailed
with any reasonable chance of success. Somerset now tried negotiation,
otTering to evacua: : the country and even to make compensation for such
mischief as had already been done, on condition that the Scots should en-
gage to keep their young queen at home and uncontracted in marriage
until she should reach an age to choose for herself. This ofler, so much
in contrast with the determination with which the protector had set out,
caused the Scots to suppose that, intimidated by their numbers or moved
by some secret and distressing information, he was anxious to get away
upon any terms, and the very moderation of the terms offered by him was
the cause of their being rejected. Whoever will carefully and in detail
study the great campaigns and battles, whether of ancient or of modern
times, will find that at once the rarest and the most precious gift of a '^"^
eral-in-chief is to know how to refrain from aclion. The Fabian policy ..
suitable onlv to the very loftiest and most admirable military genius ; not
because of the physical difliculty of remaining tranquil, but simply because
to do so in spite alike of the entreaties of friends and the taunts of foes,
requires that self-conquest which is to be achieved only by a Fabius or a
VVelliiiglon. On the present occasion the Scot's leaders had to contend
not only against tlieir own mistake as to Somerset's circumstances and
motives, but also against the frantic eagerness of their men, who were
wound up to the most intense rage by the preaching of certain priests in
their camp, who assured I hem that the detestable heresy of the English
made victory to their arms altogether out of the question.
Finding his moderate and peaceable proposal rejected, Somerset saw
that it was necessary to draw the enemy from their sheltered and strong
position, to a more open one in which he could advantageously avail him-
self of his superiority in cavalry. He accordingly moved towards the
sea; and as his ships at the same moment stood in shore, as if to re-
ceive him, the Scots fell into the snare and moved from their strong posi-
tion to intercept him. They entered the plain in three bodies, the van-
guard commanded l)y Angus, the main body commanded by Arran, and
some light horse and Irish archers on the left flank under Argyle.
As tlie Scots advanced into the plain, they were severely galled by the
artillery of the Knglish ships, and among the killed was the eldest son of
Lord Graham. The Irish auxiliaries were thrown into the utmost disor-
der, and the whole main body began to fall back upon the rear-guard,
wliicii was under the command of Huntley. Lord Grey, who had the
command of the English cavalry, had orders not to attack the Scottish
vail till it should be closely engaged with the English van, when he was
lotiike it in flank. Tempted by the disorder of the enemy, he lU'glected
this order, and led the English cavalry on at full gallop. A heavy slough
and broad ditch threw them into confusion, and they were easily repulsed
by tiie long spears of the Scotch ; Lord (Jrey himself 'vas severely wound-
ed, the protector's son. Lord Edward Seymour, iiad his horse killed
under him, and the cavalry was only rallied by the ulmosl exertion and
presence of mind on the part of Sir Ralph Sadler, Sir Ralph Vane, and
liie protector in person. The English arclujis and the Englisii ships
(failed the van of the Scots so severely that it at length gave way, and
tlie English van being, at that critical monient, led on in gooti order, the
S(;ots and their Irish auxiliaries took to ftl>>lit. How short and unequal
(he night was, and how persevering aiul murderous tlie pursuit, may be
judged from the fact, that the English loss was short of two hundred, and
that of the Scots above ten thousand! Full fifteen hundred were also
made prisoners at this disastrous battle of Pliikey.
Somerset now took several castles, received the submission uf the coun«
fir
«76
THK TREASURY OF HISTORY.
ties on the border, destroyed the shipping on the coast, and was in a sit-
uation to hiive imposed the moot onerous terms on the Scots, could he
have followed up his advantiigos ; but inTormation reached him of in-
trigues going on in England, wliii.-h obliged him to return, after having ap-
pointed Berwick for the placte of conference of the commissioners, whom
the Scots, in order to gam time and procure aid from France, affected to
wish to send lo treat for peace.
On Somerset's return to Kngland he assumed more state than ever,
being elated with his success in Scotland. He caused his nephew to dis-
pense Willi the stittute of precedency passed in the late reign, and to grant
to him, the protector, a pnient allowing him to sit on the throne, upon a
stool or bench on the right hand of the king, and to enjoy all honours and
privik'ges usually enjoyed by any uncle of a king of England.
While thus intent upon his own aggrandizement, Somerset was, never,
theless, attentive also to the ajueliorating of the law. The statute of the
six articles was repealed, as were all laws against Lollardy and heresy—
though the latter was still an undefined crime at common law — all laws
extending the criiue of treason beyond the twenty-fifth of Edward HI.,
and all the laws of Henry VIII. extending the crime of felony; andno
accusation founded upon words spoken was to be made after the expira-
tion of H month from the ailcdged speaking.
A. D. 1548 — The extensive repeals of which we have made mention are
well described by Hume as having been the cause of "some dawn of both
civil and religious liberty" to the people. For them great praise was dut
to Somerset, who, however, was now guilty of a singular inconsistency;
one which shows how difficult it is for unqualified respect to the rights
of the multitude to co-exist with such extensive power as that of the pro-
tector. What Hiiine, with terse and significant emphasis, calls " that law,
the destruction of all laws, by which the king's proclamation was made of
equal force with a statute," was repealed; and yet the protector continued
to use and uphold the proclamation whensoever the occasion seemed to
demand it; as, for instance, forbidding the harmless and time-hallowed
■uperstitions or absurdities of carrying about candles on Candlemas day,
ashes on Ash Wednesday, and palm branches on Palm Sunday.
Aided by the French, the Scots made many attempts to recover the
towns and castles which had been taken from them by Somerset, and with
very general success. The English were reduced to so rhuch distress,
and so closely kept within Haddington by the number and vigilance of
their enemies, that Somerset sent over a reinforcement of eighteen thou-
sand English troops and three thousand German auxiliaries. This large
force was commanded by the earl of Shrewsbury, who relieved Hadding-
ton, indeed, but could not get up with the enemy's troops until they were
80 advantageously posted near Edingburgh, that he thought it imprudent
to attack them, and marched back into England.
We nmsl now refer to those intrigues of the English court to which the
Scots owed not a little of their comparative security. Between the pro-
tector and his brother, the lord Seymour, a in:ui of great talent and still
greater arrogance and ambition, inere was a feeling of rivalry, which
was greatly increased and inibittered by the feminine rivalry and spile
of their wives. The queen dowager, the widow of Henry VIII., marrjtd
Lord Seymour at a scarcely decent interval after her roy;il husband's
death ; the queen dowager, though married to a younger brother of the
duke, took precedence of the duciiess of Somerset, and the latter used all
her great powi^r and inllneni-e over her husband to irritate him against hi?
brother. When Smnersel led the English army into Scotland, Lord .Sev
mour took the opportunity to endeavour to strengthen his own cabal, 'w
distributing his liberalities among the king's councillors and servaius,
and by improper indulgence to the young king himself. Secnitary Paget,
THE TREA8IJEY OF HISTOEY.
07
who well knew the bitter and restless ri"alry of the two brothers, warned
Lord Seymour to beware, that, by encouraging cabals, he did not bring
down ruin upon tliat lofiy state to which both himself and the protector
had risen, and which had made them not a few powerful foes, who would
but little hesitate to side with either for a time for the sake of crushing
both in the end. Lord Seymour treated the nMnonstrauces of Paget with
neglect; and the secretary perceiving tlie evil and danger daily to grow
more imminent, sent the protector such information as caused him to give
up all probable advantage, and hasten to protect his authority and inter-
ests at home. The subsequent departure of the young queen of Scotland
for France, where she arrived in safety and was betrothed to tiie dauphin,
made Somerset's Scottish projects comparatively hopeless and of Utile
consequence, and he subsequently gave his undivided attention to the
maintenance of his authority in England.
Not contented with the degree of wealth and authority he possessed, as
admiral of England and husband of the queen dowager. Lord Seymour,
whose artful complaisance seems to have imposed upon his nephew,
caused the young monarch to write a letter to parliament to request that
Lord Seymour might be made governor of the king's person, winch office
his lordship argued ought to be kept distinct from that of prototttor of the
realm. Before he could bring the affair before parliament, and while he
was busily engaged in endeavouring to streniftlien his party, Lord Sey-
mour was warned by his brother to desist. The council, too, threatened
that it would use the letter he had obtained from the affection or weak-
ness of the young king, not as a justification of his factious opposition to
the protector's legal authority, but as a proof of a criminal tampering with
a minor and a mere child, with intent to disturb the legal and .-leated gov-
ernment of the realm, ft was further pointed out to him, that the council
now knew quite enough to justify it in sending him to the Tower: and
the admiral, however unwillingly, abandoned his designs, at least for the
time.
Somerset easily forgave his brother, but the ambition and aching envy
of that turbulent and restless man was speedily called into evil activity
again, by a circumstance which to an ordinary man would have seemed
a sufficient reason for lowering its tone. His wife, the queen dowager,
died in giving birth to a child, and Lord Seymour then paid his addresses
to the lady Elizabeth, as yet only sixteen years of age. As Mary was
the eldest daughter, and as Henry had very distinctly excluded both Mary
and Elizabeth from the throne in the event of Iheir marrying without the
consent of his executors, which consent Lord Seymour could have no
chance of getting, it was clear that Seymour could only hope to derive
benefit from such an alliance by resorting t(» absolute usurpation and vio-
lence. Tliat such was his intention is fiirtluT rendered probable by the
fact, that besides redoubling his efforts to obtain influence over all who
had access to the king or power in the stale, he had so distrilmted his fa-
vours even among persons of comparatively low rank, that he calculated
on being able, if it were necessary, to muster an army of ten thousand
men. For this number, it seems, he had actii;\lly provided arms ; he had
farther strengthened himself by protecting piratcH, whom, as admiral of
England, it was his especial duty to suppress ; iiiid he had corrupted Sir
John Spurington, the master of the mint at IJristol, who was to supply
Iiiin with money.
Well informed as to his brother's criminal projects, the protector, both
by intreaties and by favours conferred, endeavoured to induce him to
abandon his mad ambition. But the natural wroiig-headediicss of Lord
Seymour, and the ill advice of Dmiiey, earl of Warwick, a man of great
talent and courage, but of just such [iiiiu'iplcs as might be exp( ' ted from
the 80U of that Dudley, the extortioner, who was colleague of Empson
478
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
in the reign of Henry VII., rendered the humane efforts of the protector
vain. Hating both the brothers, Warwick dreaded the Lord Seymour the
more for his aspiring temper and superior •"lents; and seeing him only
too well inclined to seditious practices, the treacherous Warwick urged
him on in his guilty and foolish career, and at the same lime secretly ad-
vised the protector to take stern means of putting a stop to the practices
of a brother upon whom kindness and good counsel were completely
thrown away. By Warwick's advice the protector first deprived hin
brother of the office of admiral, and then committed him, with some of his
alledged accomplices, to the Tower. Three privy councillors, who were
sent to examine the prisoners, reported that there was important evidence
against them ; and even now the protector offered liberty and pardon to
his brother, on condition of his retiring to his country houses, and con-
fining himself strictly to private life. Undaunted by all the appearances
against him. Lord Seymour replied only by threats and sarcasms ; and,
urged by his personal and political friends, real and pretended, the pro-
lector consented not only that his brother should be proceeded against, but
also that he should be refused a free and open trial which he indignantly
demanded, and be proceeded against before that ready instrument of sove
reign vengeance, the parliament.
A. D. 1549. — On the meeting of parliament a bill of attainder was origi-
nated in the upper house. By way of evidence, several peers rose and
stated what they knew or professed to know of the criminal designs and
practices of the admiral ; and upon this evidence given, be it observed, by
judges in the case, that house of peers in which the deluded man had sup-
posed himself to have so many fast friends, passed the bill with scarcely
a dissenting voice, and, as Hume observes " without any one having eithct
the courage or equity to move that he miy:ht be heard in his defence ; thai
the testimony against him should be delivered in a legal manner, and that he
should be confronted with the witnesses." Contrary to what might have
been anticipated, a better spirit was exhibited in the lower house, wliere
it was moved that the proceeding by bill of attainder was bad, and tliai
every man should be present and formally tried previous to condemnation,
A message, nominally from the king, but really from the council, how
ever, terminated this show of spirit and equity, and the bill was passed by
a majority of four hundred to some nine or ten. .Shortly afterwards the
admiral was beheaded on Tower-hill, the warrant of his execution being
signed by his brother Somerset ! or rather the condemnation. After tlif
trial of Lord Seymour the most important business of this session was
ecclesiastical ; one act allowing priests to marry, but saying in the pre-
amble that " it were better for priests and the ministers of the church t"
live chastely and without marriage, and it wort much to be wished that
they would of themselves abstain;" another prohibiting the use of flrsli
meat in Lent ; and a third permitting and providing fora union of irurpsiii
the city of York. .Many of these cures, it was stated in the preamble, were
too much impoverished singly to support an incumbent ; an impoverish-
ment wliicli no doubt arose from the transfer of the ecclesiastical reven-
ues into the hands of laymen and abstnitecs. There was now a very gen-
eral outward conformity, at least, with the doctrine and liturgy of the re-
formation. Hut both Bonner and Gardiner were imprisoned for niaiiit:iin-
Ing the catholic doctrine of the real presence, the princess Mary wao
threatened by the council for persisting to hear mass, and obtained ;in
indulgence through the influence of the emperor. A still farther am!
worse |)n)of was given that the duty of toleration was as yet but very im-
pel fecily understood by tin; reformers, by the proseeulion of a wornm
named .loan Bocher, or Joan of Kent, for heresy. The coinieil eondcn-
ned the poor creature to the flames. Tor some time the young kintir wouM
not sign the warrant for her execution. Cranmer — alas ! that Cranine
lormidahli
In \ori
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
47!>
should have less of Christian charity than his infant king ! — argued him
into compliance : but a compliance accompanied by tears and by the re-
mark that upon Cranmer's head would the deed lie for good or evil. The
execution of this woman was followed by that of a Dutch arian, named
Von Paris, who suffered his horrible death with apparent delight — so ill
»dapted is persecution to make converts !
CHAPTER XLIII.
THE REIGN OF EDWARD VI. (continued)
To deny that a great reformation was much needed in the church at tne
time when it was commenced by Henry VHI. would be utterly and ob-
stinately to close one's eyes to the most unquestionable evidence. Nev-
ertheless it is no less certain that the wealth which was justly taken from
the monks was quite as unjustly bestowed upon laymen. It was not be-
cause corrupt men had insinuated or forced themselves into the church,
that therefore the church should be plundered ; it was not because the
monks had diverted a part of the large revenues of the church from the
proper purpose, that therefore the king should wrongfully bestow a still
larger part. The laymen upon whom Henry bestowed the spoils of tlie
ffreater and lesser houses had in few cases, if any, a single claim upon
those spoils save favouritism, not always too honourable to themselves
qr to the king ; yet to them was given, without the charge of the poor, that
property upon which the poor had been bountifully fed. The baron or the
knight, the mere courtier or the still worse character upon whom this
property was bestowed might live a hundred or even a thousand miles
from the land producing his revenue — from that land upon wfiich its for-
mer possessors, its resident landlords the monks, employed the toiling
man, and fed the infirm, the helpless, and the suffering. Nor was it
merely by the hind who laboured, or by the needy man who was fed in
iiharity, that the monks were now missed ; the monks were not only res-
ident landlords, they were also liberal and indulgent landlords. They for
a great portion of their low rents took produce; the lay landlords de-
manded higher rents and would be paid in money ; the monks lived among
their tenants and were their best customers ; the lay landlord drew hin
money rents from Lincoln or Devon, to spend them in the court revels at
London or in the wars of France or Scotland. Many other differences
might be pointed out which were very injurious to the middle and lowei
dass of men; but enough has been said to show that however necessary
the change, it was not made witii duo precautions against the impoveris!'
meat and suffering of great bodies of men, and great i-onseqiiont dangci
of state disturbances. Kven the iron hand of Henry VIII. would not have
been able to prevent both suffering and murnniring ; and when under i)if
milder rule of the protector Somerset the people were still farther distress
I'd by the rage for grazing, which caused the peasantry to be driven in
lierds not only from the estates upon wliich tiiey had laboured, hut eves
fnim their cottages and from the commons upon which t'ley liad f(!d their
I'ows or sheep, the cry of distress became loud, general, and appalling.
Tlie protector issued a commission to inquire into the state of the rur;d
people, and to find out and remedy all evils conneeted with enclosures.
But tlie poor in various parts of the country rose in arms before tliecon>-
mission had time even to make inquiries; Wiltshire, Oxford, Gloueester,
Hants, Sussex, and Kent rose sinndlaneously, hut were speedily put ilown,
:'hie(ly by Sir William Herbert and Lord (fray of Wilton, Hut the most
rormidalile rioters made their appearauec iti Ncnfolk and Devonshire.
In Norfolk above twentv thousand assembled, and from their original
«80
THB TEEA8URY OF BlSTOP.y.
demand for doing away with the enclosures, tliey passed to demanding
the restoration of the old reli<!:iun, the plai-iii); of new councillors about
the king, and the utter abolition of all gentry ! A bold and rulfiaidy fel-
low, one Ket, a tanner, took the command of this assemblage, and exer-
cised his authoriiy over such of the gentry as were unlucky enough to be
within ins reach, in the arbitrary and itisolent style that might be antici-
pated, holding his court bencatli a great oak on MouscholU Hill, which
overlooks the city of Norwi(;h. Against this detnagogue and his de-
luded followers tlie marquis of Northampton was at first sent, but Ik; whs
completely repulsed, and Lord Sheffield, one of his officers, was killed.
The earl of Warwick was then sent against Kei with an army >■! six
thousand, which had been hivind to go lo Scotland. Warwick, w'.m hh
usual courage and conduct, beat the rebels; killed two thou.sriid of them,
hanged up Ket at the castle of Norwiiili, and nine ol' the other ringlead-
ers on the boughs of the oak tree on iMousehold hill.
In Devonshire as in Norfolk, though the coniplaiuts made by the people
originated in the injustice of ilie enclosures and in very real and widely-
spread misery, demagogues, among whom were some priests of Sainpford
dourtenay, artfully caused them to make a return to the old religion a
chief article of their demand ; and ttie insurrection here was tlie more
formidable, beeaase ma ly of the giMitry, (m account of the religious de-
mands, joined the rebels. Among the gentlemen who did so was Elnni-
phrey Arundel, governor of St. Michael's Mount, chiefly by whose
means it was that the rebels, though ten thousand in number, were brought
into something of the regular onler of disc^iplined troops. Lord Russell,
who had been sent against ihein with but a weak force, finding them so
numerous and determined, and in such good order, endeavored to get
thcin n 'iisperse by affecting to negotiate with them. He forwarded
their extravagant demands to the council, who returned for answer that
tliey should be pardoned on tlieir immediate submission. This answer so
much enraged the rebels that t!iey ei.deavoured to storm Exeter, but
were repulsed by the citizens. Tliey llu'ii sat down before Exeter and
endeavored to mine it. By this time Lord Russell was reinforced by
some German horse under .Sir Willinin Herbert and Lord Gray, and some
Italian infantry under Hallista Spiuoli. and he now marched from his
itMrters at Honiton to the relief of Exeter. TIk; rebels suffered dreiid-
ully both in the battle and subsequent to the retreat. Humphrey .\run-
del and other leading men wen; seized, carried to London, and there ex-
ecuted ; many of the rabble were executed on the spot by martial law,
anil the vi(rar of St. Thomas was hanged on the top of his own steeple
in the garb of a popish priest.
The stern and successful severity with which the more formidalde re-
bellions of Norfolk and Devonshir'; had been put down, caused weaker
parii(!S in Yorkshire and elsev re t i !ake the alarm and disperse; .nnd
the pri ii ctor both wisely and hnm.ntelv ; j-'ered this sr>irit of re!:ii;.,;ig
obedience by proclaiming a g' i :.■! ! : v ^, ly. Hut h ,, j the terrihle
loss of life which these insur. (e ■ co. in the spot, they caused great
losses both in Scotland and in France. In the former country the want
of i]w force of six thousand men, which Warwick led to put down the
Norfolk men, enabled the French and Scotch to capture the fortress of
Hroughty and put the garrison to the sword, and so to waste the coinitry
for miles round Haddington, that it was found iiecess iry to dismantle and
abandon that important fortress and carry the stores to Berwick.
Tlie king of Fruicc was at the same tiiiu! leiniiled by the deplorable
domestic disturbances in England to make an cffurt to recover Uoulogiie,
whiidi had been taken during the reign of Hi'iiry \'I!I. M(^ took several
fortresses in the neighbourhood, but while prcparii'.;; to attack ni)iiloi;m!
itself, a pestilential distemper broke out in liisc.im|i. The autumnal raiim
?.
THE TaEA^*lJRy OF HISTORY.
481
) demanding
cillors about
rulRanly fel-
ge, and exer-
eiiough to be
ghl be aniici-
d Hill, which
I and his dp
it, but h'- ^vi'
g, was Willed.
I army -l six
,v'ick, vv'.''i 1 '•
i.sr.nd of them,
nh!.'r i-iuglead"
; by the people
lal and widely-
its of Sampford
old religion a
was tlie more
le religious de-
j so was Hum-
pfly by whose
3r, were brought
Lord Russell,
'finding tliem so
ideavorcd to get
He forwarded
for answer that
This answer so
;,rin Exeier, but
jfore Exeter and
us reinforced by
Gray, and some
iirched from his
, suffered dread-
flumphrey .\run-
n\, and there ex-
, by martial law,
his own steeple
re formidable rc-
„ caused weaker
liid disperse; mA
irit of rc'.ni.iiig
, . , the terrible
they caused great
[•ountry the want
to put down tlio
ire the fortress of
■aste the country
to dismantle and
Berwick,
iv the deplorable
■[.(•over Boulogne,
He took several
) iittack Uoidosine
he luitunuial raiin'
lulling with great rjolence, Henry of France lost all iiisiant hope of tak-
ing Boulogne, and returned to r»aris, leaving (taspar de Ciiia'iiy, so well
known as the admiral Coligny, to conunaiul the troops ami to form Iho
siege as early as possible in the following. H|)rins- rolii^fiiy even went be-
yond these orders by making some dashing altrmpts during the winter,
but they were all unsuccessful. The protector having in vain a tempted
to procure the alliance of the emperor, he turned his thoughts o making
peace with both France and Scotland. The young queen ol' Scotland,
for whose hand he had chiefly gone to war, could not now be inarri( li to
Edward of England, however much even tlie Scots might licsirc it ; and
as regards the French quarrel, Henry VUI. having agreed to give up
Bouhigne in 1554, it was little; worth while to keep up an expensive war-
fare for retaining the place for so few years as had to elapse to that date.
But Somerset, though a man of unquestionable ability, seems to have
been singularly ignorant or unobservant as to tlie real light in which he
was regarded by the council, and still more so of the real fharacler and
views of Warwick. He gave his reasons, as we have given them above;
and sound reasons they were, and as humane as sound; but he did not
sufliciently take into calculation the pleasure which his enc les derived
from the embarrassment caused to him, and the discontent h ^cly to arise
in the public mind on account of the state of our affairs, at once inglo-
rious and expensive, in France and Scotland.
Besides having the personal enmity of Warwick, Southampi m, whom
the protector had restored to his place in the council, and otlu council-
lors, Somerset was detested by a great part of the nobility an gentry,
who accused him, perhaps not altogether unjustly, of pnndiasing popular
jiy at the expense of their fcafety, by showing such an excessive uid un-
fair preference of the poor as encouraged them in riot and robbeiv. As
an instam^e of this, it was objected that he had erected a court of re-
quests in his own house for the professed relief of the poor, and even in-
terfered with the judges on their behalf. The principles of constitii'ional
liberty such as we now enjoy were at that time so little understood, that
it was not the mere interference with the jiulges, which we should now
very justly consider so indecent and detestable, that caused any dis- ust;
but Somerset had interfered against the very persons, the nobles and gen-
try, upon whom alone lie (;ould rely for support, and he was now to en-
dure ilie consequences of so impolitic a course. His execution ol Ins
own brother, however guilty that brother, his enormous acquisitions of
church property, and above all, the magnificence of the palace he was
building ill the Strand, for wliich a parish church and the houses of three
bishops were pulled down, and the materials of which he cliiell> got hr
dismantling a chapel, with cloister and charnel-iiousc, in Si. Paul's
c' iirchyard, after his labourers had been by force of arms driven from an
aiiempl to tear down St. Margaret's, VVestmiiistcr, for that purpose ! —
lliese things, and tlif^ overweening pride which was generally allril)uted
to iiim, were skilfully taken advantage of by his enemies, and he was
everywhere des(;ribrd as the main cause of all the recent public calamities
at iioine and abroad. Warwick, with Southampton, .\rundel, and five of
the councillors, headed by Lord St. John, president of the council, formed
themselves into a sort of independent couikmI. Taking upon themselves
the style and authority of the whole council, they wrote letters to all the
cliief nobility and gentry, asking for their support and aid in remedying
the public evils, which they affected to charge entirely upon Somerset's
mnladmiiustraiion. Having determined on their own scheme of reme-
dial measures, they siuit for the mayor and aldermen of London and the
heuteiiaiit of the Tower, and informing them of the plans which they
proposed to adopt, striirtiv enjoined them to aid and obey them, in desfiito
'if aught that Somerset inight think fit to order to the contrary. Soiner
\ Ml,. I.— :il
182
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
!
\
get was now so unpopular, that obedience was readily promised to tliis
command, in llio face at once of liie king's patent and of the fact that
these very councillors, who now complained of the protector's acts as
illegal, had aided and encouraged him in whatever had been illegally
done— Ills original departure from the wil! of the late king! No farther
argument can be requisite to show that personal and selfish feeling, and
not loyalty to the young king or tenderness to his suffering people, ac-
tuated these factious councillors. But faction has an eagle eye where-
with to gaze unbliukingly upon the proudest and most brilliant light of
truth ; and tlie self-appointed junto was on the following day joined by
the lord clianccllor Rich, by the marquis of Northampton, the earl of
Shrewslmry, Sir Thomas (^hcncy, Sir John Gage, Sir Ralph Sadler, and
the chief justice Montague. And when the protector, seeing the innni-
nent peril in which he was placed, sent Secretary Petre to treat with the
councillors at Kly-house, that craven personage, instead of performing
his ilnty, took his seat and sided vvith the junto.
Consulting with Cranmer and Paget, who were the only men of mark
and power that still abided by his fortunes, the protector removed the
young king to Windsor castle, and gathered his friends and retainers in
arms around him. But the adhesion to the Junto of the lieutenai\i of the
Tower, and the unanimity with which the common council of London
joined the mayor in promising support to the now measures, caused the
speaker of the liouse of commons and the two or three other councillors
who had hitlK-rto remained neuter to join t*ie ascendant party of War-
wick; and Somerset so completely lost all hope and confidence, th;it he
now began to apply to his foes for pardon. This manifestation of his
despair, which would have been inexcusable had it not, unhappily, been
uuavoid.ihic, was decisive. Warwick and his frienils addressed the king,
and with many prolesiatious of tlieir (;.\ccedimr loyalty and tin; misdiicv-
ousness of the protector's measures, solicited that they might \w adniitted
to his majesty's presence and conliilence, and thai Somerset be disuiissid
from his high oflii'c. The fallen stali'sman was accordingly, with several
of his liiends, ini'ltidiiig Cecil, the afterwards renowned and aihiiiral)le
Lord Ihirleigh, sent to the Tower. But though the junto thus pi-ononnced
all that Somerset had done to l)e illegal, they appcMUied as council of re-
gency, not tlir persons named in the lal(^ king's will, but, for the most
pari, tlu^ same men who had been appointed by Somerset, and whose acts
mider his ap|)oinlmcnt, supposing it to be illegal, ought clearly to hiive
dis<]ualined them now. Such is faction!
When till' govcrnmeiU bad thus been, virtually, vested in the ambitious
and unprincipled Warwick ; when hi" had snitched the ofTice of earl uiar-
slial, l.onl St. .loliii that of treasurer, the maripiis of Norlbamplon th:it of
great idiamlicrlain, Lord Weiitwoitli that of cli'iml)erlain of tlu^ bonsclioM,
besides the manors of Stepney ami Hackney wliich were pluudereil iVoin
the bishopric of Lomiou, and Lord Uussill the earldom of Hedl'iMil. the li<it
patriotism of W.arwick was salislicd. The hiimlileil Souii'rset having tlias
ii.aile way for his enemies, and having stiiojied to ihc degradaliou of mik-
inif to them apologies ami snlinnssions which Ins admirers must evci
lauicul, he was restored to liberty and forgiven aline of .C.'ooo a year in
laud which hail been inllicled upon bim. As though even this liuuulialinii
were not enough, Warwick not only re-aihuilied bim to the council, Im'
gave his son, Lord Pudlcy, in marriage to Somerset's d.iughter, the lady
.lane Seymour.
A. n. i')')!*. — The new governors of Knglnud, though they had insidiously
refused to aid Somerset in his wise and reasonable |)roposals lor m ikiiii;
jieaec with I' ranee and Scotland when he was di'sirons to do so, now
eagirly cxcrtcil themselven for the same end. Having, to colour ovei
their factiuim oppositM)U to Somerset, maile proposals for the warlike ki*
m
THE TEEASDRY OF HISTORY.
lised to this
llic fact thiit
tor's acts lis
een illegally
No farther
1 feeliii},', and
g people, ac-
3 eye where-
lliaut light of
lay joined by
1, the earl of
h Sadler, and
ng \hc inimi-
ireat witli tlie
of performing
men of mark
■ removed the
id retainers in
utenant of the
(cil of London
es, eaiised the
her eouni'illors
parly of W'lr-
Idence, that he
ii'statiDii of his
inhappily, heen
ressed itie king,
d \\w miscliirv-
jjht he admitted
ct he ihsmisscd
ly, will' several
.uid admirahle
HIS prononneed
, eoiineil of re-
I, for tlie most
rind whose acts
(dearly to have
II the ambitious
iiT of e.irl Miar-
Hiamplon that of
If the hoiisclinld,
plunderiMl rrcin
Jodt'oid. the hot
irsel haviiiL; ihnu
adatioM of ni d^-
iiTs must eve!
COOOO !i year in
tins Inimdialimi
til,, comied. hat
Inijhter, till' I'ldy
had insidiously
|s:ds for nnl^ui«
I,) do no, now
lo (■(dour tivei
the warlike kin
489
tf the emperor, which aid they well knew would be refused, they agreed
lo restore Boulogne for four thousand erowns, to restore Lauder and
Douglass to Scotland, and lo demolish the fortresses of Roxburgh and
Eymbuth. This done, they contracted ihe king to Elizabeth, a daugli er
of the king of France, the most violent persecutor of the prolestants ; hut
lluiugh all the articles were settled, this most shameful marriage treaty
came to nothing.
In the history of public affairs there is scarcely anything that is more
startling, or that gives one a lower opinion of the morality of those public
men who most loudly vaunt their own integrity and decry that of their
opponents, than the coolness with which they will at the same instant of
time propose two measures diametrically opposed to one and th(! same
principle. We have seen that Warwick and his friends had agreed lo
marry the proteslant Kdward, their sovereign, to the daughter of Henry of
France, the fiercest persecutor of the protestaiits. But even while they
were thus proclainting their friendship with the chief upholder of the right
of Catholicism to persecute, they visited several of the most eminent of
their own catholics with severe punishment, not for persecuting protest-
ants, but merely for a natural unwillingness to he more speedy than was
unavoidable in forwarding the proteslant measures. Gardiner, as the
most eminent, was the first to be attacked. For two long years he was
detained in prison, and then Somerset condescended to join himself with
Secretary Fetre, by wIkmii ho had himself formerly been so shamefully
deserted, as a dc^putation to endeavour to persuade or cajole the high-
minded and learned, however mistaken prelate, into a eomplianl mood.
More than one att(!inpt was made ; but though (i.irdincr showed himself
. very ready lo comply to a certain and becoming extent, he would not
confess that his conduct had been wrong ; a eonfession of which he
clearly saw that his enemies would make use to ruin him in charaelcr as
well as fortune; and a commission, c ynsisting of Cramner, the bishops of
London, I'ily, and Lincoln, Secretary I'etre, and some lawyers, sentenced
lilin lo he (lc|)rivt;d of his bishopric and committed to close custody; and
lo make this iiii(|uitous sentence the more severe, he was deprived of all
hooks and papers, and was not only denied the comfort of the visits of two
friends, Iml even of their letters or message's.
A. II. 1551. — Several other prelates were now marked out for persecu-
tion; some because they wer(! actually disobedient, others because they
wei(' suspected lo be not cordial in llicir ohedienee. L.irne sums of money
were thus wrung from them ; and, under the pretence of purginu: the lihra-
rles of Westminster and Oxford of superstitious hooks, the dominant p(di-
tical parly — for religi(Hi really had nothing to do with the motives of War-
wick and his lay friends — destroyed inestmiiible literary treasures for the
mere sake of the C(miparalively small scims lo be (d)laiiie(l by the gold and
silver Willi which, unforlunately, the hooks ami inaiiiisiripts were adorned.
Much as we shall have occasion to blame Ihe Queen Mary for her mer-
ciless abuse of power, it is not easy to ''..dii admiring the c(dil, stern, mi-
hleiieliiiig mien with whudi the priiici ss .M;iry at this time of peril defied
all attempts at making her how to the doniiicii.l parly. Deprived of her
chaplains, and (U'dered lo read prolesiani hooks, she calmly professed her
readiness to endure marlyrdoni rmher than prove false to her faith ; and
this coMiliict she steadfastly maintained, allhoiigh il was only from (ear of
the warlike iiiierrerence of the em|ieidr that her persecutors were with
lielil fnmi olTering her personal violence.
Kven in the imdsi of thi se i/iki.ii rt ligious vexatiimR, some very useful
measures were taken for promoiiiig industry, especially by revoking
sundry most impolitic |)aleiils, by which Ihe trade in (doth, woid, anil
ni;iny other eominodities had been almost eiitinly thrown into the haiidi
•ii loieijriiein. 'riie mercli mis of iln' Ilanse towns lon'W rxcl.iimed
494
THE THKASURY OF HISTORY.
-i
against this "new measure;" but Warwick and his friends — this al least
is to their credit — were firm, and a very sensible improvement in the Kng-
lish spirit of industry was the immediate consequence. Is it to looii too
curiously into public cause and effect to ask whether our present high
commercial fortune may not be greatly owing to this very measure, though
nearly three centuries have since elapsed \
Bui Warwick could not long confine his turbulent and eager spirit to
the noble and peaceable triumphs of the patriot. Self was his earthly
deity. The title and the vast estate of tiie earldom of Northumberland
were at this time in abeyance, owing to the last carl dying without issue,
and his brother. Sir Thomas Percy, having been attainted of treason. Of
these vast estates, together with the title of du/ce of Northumberland, War
wick now possessed himself, and he procured for his friend. Lord Si. John,
the title of marquis of Winchester, and for Sir William Herbert that of
earl of Pembroke.
Nortliumberland's complete triumph and vast acquisitions could not but
be very distasteful to Somerset, who not only cherished the most violent
intentions towards him, but was even stung into the imprudence of avow-
ing them in the presence of some of his intimate attendants, among whom
was Sir Thomas Palmer, who appeared to have been placed in his service
as a mere spy of Northumberland's. Somerset, his duchess, and several
of their friends ami attendants, were suddenly arrested ; and Somerset
was accused of high treason and felony; the former crime as having pre-
pared for insurrection, the latter as having intended to assassinate North-
umberland, Northampton, and Pembroke.
The marquis of Winchester, the friend, almost the mere follower of
Nortlinniberland, was appointed high steward, and presided at ti)e trial of
Somers^cl ; and of the t\venty-S(!ven peers who made the jury, three were
Norlliuiuberland, Noriliain|)lon, and Pembroke, the very men whom lie
had threatened ! He was arquilted of treason, but found guilty of felony,
to the great grief of the people, among wlioni Somerset was now pop\ilar.
A. 1) l.O.'iv!. — As it was not to be supposed that a mild and toward youiiu
prini'e like Kdward VI. «ould easily, if at all, be brought to turn a deiif
ear to his uneh^'.-s soliciiatioii for mercy, great can; was taken by Nortli-
imilierliiiid to prevent ail access to the king of the friends of Somersel,:iiid
that unhappy nobleman after all his services as regent, and after his almost
pateni:il goodness as guardian of the kind's person, was exeeuleil on
rower-liill ; the grieveij people di|>|)ing tlieir handkerchiefs in his blood
as mementos of his martyrdom. Ills friends, Sirs Tlioinas Aninilcl,
Michael Stanhope, .Miles Partriilge, and Ualph Vane were also executed .
Paget, eli;iiii'ellor of the diieliy of Lancaster, was deprived o( Ins oiliee
and of the garter, ami fined jL'i!,Oi)l) : and Lord Rich, the chancellor, w.m
also ileprivcd of ollire for the eriiiie of luing the friend of Somerset, whosi!
chief faults seem to have been an overweening ainlnlion, co-existiiig wiili
rather less than more than the averaije sagaeit- and firmness of those vvla.
lake the lead in troiililoiis and unsellied tun".
A. II. \M'.\ — A lieu session of piirliame*' rt as held imm('(liate|y after tliu
pxeciilion of Somerset, in wliieli sever:'' ennlalioiis were m.ule thai wcki
ealeiil.ited lo advaiiei; the cause of t!..- reforinatioii. lint the eoiiiiiioiH
haviiii: refused to p.iss a lull of dep:<valioii auMiiisl the universally respui'l
ed Toiistal, bishop of Durli iin, a new parliament w as Hiiininoiied ; ami to
secure one favourable lo Ins v.ews Norilininlicrland caused the kiiiii, eer
tainly, and most proh.iliJv .ne majority of the coiineillors and piers, to
recommend particular snitlemeii to he sent up for partieiilur eoiiiilie*.
The parliameiil. iliiis conveniently composed, readily eoiilirined the ili'|iri-
valioii arliilranly pronomieeil ii|ion 'roiislal, and iwo liishoprics wereere-
Hleil (Mil of til ilof Durham— :he rich reifalilies of that see being eoiil'i iird
upon Norlhumlierluiid himself. Insatiable, wholly insatiable, Norihu.n-
'W
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
486
berland induced the king to bestow the dukedom of Suffolk upon the mar-
quis of Dorset ; and having persuaded the new duke to giiVe his daughter,
the lady Jane Grey, in marriage to Northumberland's fourth son, the Lord
Guildford Dudley, next proceeded to persuade Edward, who was in an in-
firm condition, to pass by hiH sisters Mary and Elizai>eth, both of whom
had been pronouneed illegitimate, and the former of whom, as well as the
young queen of Scots, was a papist, and to settle the crown on the mar-
chioness of Dorset (duchess of Suffolk) whose heiress was the lady Jane
Grey. By a variety of arguments, some of which were both specious and
solid, but all of which, as proceeding from so ambitious a man, ought to
have been looked upon witli suspicion, Northumberland prevailed upon
the young king. It was in vain that the judges and the most eminent law
officers protested against being compelled to draw out a patent ; it was in
vain they urged that they would subject themselves to the pains and pen-
alties of treason should they do so; Northumberland gave Montague,
chief justice of common pleas, the lie ; swore he would fight any man in
liis sliirt who should deny the justice of lady Jane's succession ; and was
so successful that the crown was accordingly settled upon lady Jane ; her
mother, the duchess of Suffolk, very willingly allowing heiself to be
passed by.
This patent was by many looked upon as the death-warrant of Edward
VI. signed by himself. His health daily grew worse, and his physicians
being dismissed in favour of some ignorant woman, her quack medicines
brought on symptoms at once fatal and very symptomatic of poison, and
he died in the ICth year of hia age and tlie seventh of his reign.
The whole life; and reign of this prince was spent literally in stntupupil-
tari; but so far as he could in suidi a slate manifest his disposition, he
s( cms fully to have deserved the affection with which even to this dav
he 16 spoken of.
CHAPTER XI.IV.
THK RKIU.N or MARY.
aflcrllit)
Ihal wt'i«
(iiiiMi'iai
icspui'V
|; ami t"
liiiU. >''r
llllllll*.
!■ ilcpri-
HTCCIC-
iiiil't'iii'J
LttUuiat-
A. n. 1553. — TiiK artful prei-autions taken by Northumberland to secure
the throne to his young and accomplished daughter-in-law, by no means
rendered the success of the project — for which he had certainly toiled
much, and for which, we fear, he hail sinned no little — so seeuri^asat first
sight it might seem. In ilie first place, young Kd ward's reign had been so
short and eomplelely a reign of tutelage, tliat his will had none of that
force with the multiludc which was possessed by the will of his bluff and
.Ton-hanil(>(l futhcr. Henry Vlll. had, it is triu', bastardized both his
laughters, but he had suliscipu-utly restored them to the succession; and
;hepc()[)lc were too much accustoincil to regarding Mary as tin; rightful
successor to Kilward, in the event of his dying without issue, to allow
of the almost dying act of the young king speedily changing their o|)in-
ion and direcling their loyalty lo the lady Jane. Again, the catholics,
far more inmuMinis secretly" th;in might be ninigincd, were to a nnin
parlizans of Mary; and if the |ii(ilestanls had amne misgivings, founded
on her known bigotry in favour of her own faith, they yet feared even
the bigot f.ir less than tiii' lady Jane, who, as they well knew, could
he and would lie a mere puppet in the hands of Northumherlaud, who
hy this lime had contrived to ri'iidcr himself at once the most powerful,
the most dreaded, ami the iiiost detested man in the whole nation. And
it is worthy of observation also, that so nearly balanced were the par
<'<:iiiH of the respective religions, tliat each stood in dread of the olbei
lint Noilliuinl)erlaud was far too wily a personage to be ignorHul <■'
486
THK TllKASUHV OF HISTORY.
the weight which, with the mrtjorily of the people, detustation of him
self and respect for the memory of Henry VIII. woiilJ have in i]ecidin§
between Ihe princess Mary and the lady .lane. When, therefore, he
perceived that the speedy death of Kd ward was inevitable, Norliiuniberlaud
caused the princesses Mary and Klizabetii to be sent for, as though the
young king had been desirous of seeing them. Mary had reached Hod-
desden in Hertfordsl.ire, only about seventeen miles from London, when
the king died. Norlhimiberland, an.xious to get her into his power,
gave orders that tlie melancholy event .should be kept a secret ; but the
earl of Arundel sent her warning of Nortiiumberland's deceit and pro-
bable designs, and she hastily retreated to the retirc^d fishin;i town of
Frainlingham, in Suffolk, whence she .sent letters to the council and to
the principal nobility, informing them of her knowledge of her brother's
death, promising indemnity to all who had thus far aided in concealing
it, but calling upon them forliiwitii to proclaim her as queen. While
thus active in asserting her right, she carefully provided, also, for her
flight into Flanders, in the event of her elTorts proving unsuccessful.
When Northumberland found tli.ii Kdward's death was known to the
rightful queen, he at once threw off all l.sgnise. Lord and the lady .lane
Dudley were at this time resiiling at Sion House ; and Northumberland,
with James' father, the earl of Pembroke, and other noblemen, approached
her with all the form and respect due from subjects to their sovereign.
Young, gifted with singular talents for literature, and with a scarcely less
singidar propensiou towards literary pursuits, Jane viewed the throne in
its true light as a dangerous and uneasy eminence. Even now when her
father, her still more powerful and dreaded father-in-law, and the very
chiefest men in the kingdom, with all the emblemsof slate, pnssed her to
assume the authorily of queen, she recoiled from it as an ev of the first
magnitude. Her husband, though, like herself, but little i lore than si.\-
teen years of age, had been l.iit loo skilfully tutored by li > wily father,
and he seconded that ambitious maii'.s entreaties so well thai, overcome
though not convinced, the nnfortuii.Tle Jane consented. Slie was imme-
diately escorted to the Tower, the usual rtisidence of the English sove-
reigns on their first accession ; and Norlhnmberland took care that she
should lie accompanied thither, not oidy by his known and fast friends,
but also by the wlude of the councillors, whom he thus, in effect, made
prisoners and hostages for the adhesion of their absent friends. Orders
were now issued to i)roelaim Queen Jane throughout ,.ie kingdom, but it was
only in Louilon, where .Northundierland's aulhority was as yet loo firm to
be opeidy resisted, that the orders wire obeyed. And c^ven in liOndon the
majority listened to the proclamation in a sullen and ominous silence;. Some
openly scoffeil at Jane's prelensions, and one unfortunate hoy, who was a
vintner's servant, was severely punished for even this verbal, and perhaps
unreasoning opposition to the wdl of the haughty Northumberland.
While the people of London were thus cool towards their nominnl
queen, and even the protestants listened withdut conviction to the prea(!li-
iiigs of Ridley and other eminent protestatit churchmen in her favour, Miry
in her retreat In Snff(dk w,is ai'tively and ably exerting herself for Ihe pro-
tection of her birthright. She was surrounded by einiiu'ut and influential
men Willi their levies of tenants or hired adherents; and as she strouijly
and repeatedly iirofessed her detcrniinalion not to infringe the laws of her
brother with respect to religion, even the protestants thr(Mighont .Suffolk,
equally wilh llu! catholics, were enthnsi isiir in her cause. Nor w. is the
feeding in favour of Mary exhibited merely in her own neiglibonrhood, or
iiniiuig those who might be called her personal friends. Northumberland
conimisHioned Sir I'Mward Hastings, brother of the cui of Hunlingdon, td
levy men in Kuckinghamsliire on behalf of Jane. Sir Ivlward executed
the eommiHsion with great readiness and success as far as related to levy-
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
87
\v;is
■in to
l\w
Dino
;is a
hiips
in;il
•,u!ti-
Miry
pro-
•iitirtl
)i\i,'ly
ii'r
ilTolk,
the
I. or
•rl.iinl
)i). til
•iiii'il
levy-
;1ir
ingthemen; but he no sooner fouiul himself at the iu'ad of a force of
nearly four thousand strong than he marched in to the aid of Mary. With
Ilia marine the duke was not more fortunate than with the land forces ; a
fleet was sent by him to cruise oflf the Suffolk coast, to cut Mary off from
iier retreat to Flauders, should she attempt it, and was driven by stress of
weather into Yarmouth, where it immediately declared in favour of Mary.
Perplexed and alarmed, Norlhumberlaud yet determiucd not to give up
the grand prize without a stout effort for its preservation, lie determineJl
to remain with Jane at the Tower, and to commit the command of the
troops he had levied to her father. But the imprisoned councillors, clear-
ly understanding both their own position and his, astutely per.suadcil him
that he alone was fit to head the forces upon which so much depended,
uiid they, at the same time, successfully worked upon the fears of Jane on
behalf of her father. The councillors were the more sueces.sful ni per-
suading Northumberland to the almost suicidal act of taking the command
of the troops, because, while he naturally felt great confidence in hi^ own
well-tried valour and ability, he was well aware of the inferiority of Suf-
folk in the latter respect at least.
Northumberland accordingly set out to combat the forces of the enemy,
and was taken leave of by the councillors with every expression of at-
tachment and confidence of his success ; and Arundel, his bitterest enemy,
was by no means the least profuse of these expressions. Scarcely, how-
ever, had Northumberland marched out of London ere he perceived a bo-
ding and chilling sullenness among all ranks of men; and lu! remarked to
Lord (irey, who accompanied him, " Many come out to look at our array,
indeed, but 1 find not one who cries ' Oud speed your eiilcrprisc.'' "
Arrived at Bury St. Edmund's, the duke found that his army did not
really exceed six thousand men, while the lowest reports of the opposite
Tce gave double that number. Aware of the immense importance of the
rst encounter, Northumberland resolved to delay his proposed attack, and
tent an express to the councillors lo send him a large and instant rein-
forcement. But the councillors had no sooner icceived the duke's ex|)ress
than tliey left the Tower, on the pretext of obeying his order; and assembled
at Haynard's castle, the house of Pembroke, to delilierate, not upon the
means of aiding Northumberland, lint upon the best nuMiis of throwing off
his yoke, and of dethroning the puppet queen he had set over them. Arim-
del, whom Northumberland had wild a nio.st unaccountable weakness left
behind, expatiated warmly and eloquently upon all Northumberland's
vices and evil deeds, and exhorted the olher.s, as the only just or even
priiilcnl course, to join him in at once throwing their weight into the scale
of Mary, and tuns insuring not merely her pardon for their past involun-
tary olliiices, but also her favour for their present and prompt loyalty.
Penilinike loudly applauiled the advice of Arundel, and, laying bis hand
upon iiis Hword, expressed his readiness lo light on the instant any man
will) KJiiiuld pretend to op|)ose it. Tiie nuiy.ir and aldermen of London
beinij sent for to attend 'his <'(Mifereiice, slioued the utmost alaerity to
pro(i;iiin M.iry, and the proclamation was accordingly made ainiil the
nio.t rapturon.s ajipjaiises of llie popiilaci'. The reign of Jane, if a lonely
and anxious coiifineinenl in tlu' Tower for leu days could be callc'd a
reii!ii, was now at an end; and she retired lo her |)rivat(! residence and
private siation, with a readiness as great as the reluctance she had shown
to liMve them.
Tlie councillors having thus eonipletely beaten Northumberland in
his cliief oronly slroiinhold, sent inessengers to demand that lie should
lay down his arms, di.sliand his troo|>s, and sii .mil liiinself lo the mercy
of Ins riirhiful sovereign, (iiieen Mary. 'I'lie message was needless;
Noi'ilininberlaiKl, reci'ivmg no reinlorrement from l.oiiilon, saw ilie iin-
nofsii)ilily of resisting the hourly iiicreas;iig force of >Liry, and liniling
f'i
488
THE TilEASOllY OF HISTORY.
himself fast deserted by his handful of foreigners, had already proclaim.
edQucL'u Mary with as much apparent heartiness and zeal as though he
iiad not aimed at her crown — and probably her life.
Miiry, on receiving the submission and hypocritical adhesion of Nor-
thumberland, set out for London. Her progress was one continued and un-
broken triumph. Everywhere she was met by multitudes of the people
invoking blessings upon her ; her sister, the lady Elizabeth, met her at the
head of a thousand well-appointed horse, and when she readied the Tower
she found that even Suffolk had thrown open its gates and declared him-
self in her favour. All circumstances considered, there is scarcely an
instance in history to equal this in the facility with which a riglitful
princess of no amiable chanicter, and opposed to a large portion of her
subjects in religion, vanquished the opposition of so wily, so daring, and
80 accomplished a pre- usurper as Northumberland.
Mercy was assuredly not the characteristic of Mary, but the utmost
infatuation of mercy could not have allowed offences so gross as tliose
of Northuniiierland to pass unpunished. Mary gave orders for his arrest,
and, whether from being broken-spirited by his ill success, or from sheer
cowardice and a lingering hope of saving at least his life, he fell oii his
knees to his biUer enemy, Arundel, who arrested him, and implored his
mercy. His sons, tlie earl of Warwick and lords Ambrose and Henry
Dudley, and his brotiier Sir Andrew Dudley, were at the same time com-
mitted to custody ; as were the marquis of Northampton, the earl of
Huntingdon, Sir Thomas Palmer, and Sir John Gates. On farther
inquiry and consideration, the queen's advisers found it necessary to con-
fine the duke of Suffolk, Lord (niildford Dudley, and his innocent and
unfortunate wife, the lady .lane. At this early period of her reign pol-
icy overcame Mary's natural propensity to cruelly and sternness. Tiie
councillors, ])lea(iing tlieir constraint by Northumberland, were speedily
liberated, and even Suff()lk himself was not excluded from this ai'i of
mingled justice and mercy. Northumberland, Sir Thomas Palmer, luid
Sir John Gates were brought lo trial. The duke's offence was too clear
and tliigrant to admit of any elaborate defence ; hut he asked the peers
whether they could possibly pronounce a man guilty of treason who had
obeyed orders under the great seal, and whether persons who had been in-
volved in his alledgcd guilt could be alli»wed to sit in judgment upon
him? The answer to each ()uoslion was obvious. In reply to tlu! first,
ne was told that the great seal of a usurper could have no authority; to
tlie Sv'cond, that persons not having any sentence of attaint against ihein
were clearly qualified to sit on any jury. Northumberland tlien pleaded
guilty, and he, with Sir Thomas Palmer and Sir John Gales were execu-
ted. At the scaffold Nortinimberland |)rofess.'d to die in the catholic
faith, and assured ihc. bystanders that tliey would never |)rosper until the
catholic religion should lie restored to all its authority among iheai. Coii-
sidering the whoh; char.icter of Northumbi'rl.uid and the inditrereuee he
hail always shown to dis|)ules of faith, it is hut too probable that even ui
these his dying word-s he was insincere, and used them to engage the
mercy of the (pieeii, who>e bigotry they might flatter, towards his unfor-
tuniit(' family. Tpon thi; jieople his advice wrought no effect. .Many
looked u|ion tlie preparations for his death inerely with a cold, unpityiiig
steiiiiii'ss, still miM'i' shouted to him to reiiiciiibcr Somerset, and some
even Inlil up to him handkeri liiefs iiirrusled with the blood of that nolile-
man, and exulted, rather hk<> fiends than men, that his hour of a, like
bloody doom was at length arrived.
Liird Giiildfdrd Dudley and the lady Jane were also condemned to di'ath,
but tliiir youth and, perhajis, Mary's feeling of the impolicy of extreme
dcvcrily lo criminals who had so eviilently offended under the coiislraiiit
and lut'elagc of .Northumberland, saved them for the present— a'as '. onU
for the present !
Thai
itovv ev
very eai
sessary
When si
try into
Ihe close
P'.\eter, '
finemcnt
no shadi
Tonstal,
upon th<
They we,
moved as
earl of Di
their sees
condemn;
same niea
The qu«
Holgate, ',
so much, 1
and the bi:
mass, thoi
Ha!( s, wh(
Mary whei
cluile her
Marv now
prooYof hi
prison, and
iost his sen
It will he
retreat at K
siirances th
as to religi(
»"<i tyrann
ventured to
received as
one of then
cily was pi;;
Craiinier,
Plii'ed in a n
^ "[. Orami,
monarch's r;
|inle as a wo
''■' ; and any
to he forgott
lier religion
'i"ii. Nolhin
r<'sigi);ition o
'"':"(y and si
iiiso too confi
'lUeeii, to be
lines, pereeiv
frmn the qnee
'0 hi.s haviiiw
"'i"S it wouM
•■'•P'lrt with c,
••liarueter to r
THE TUEASCIIY OF IHSTOllY
189
far
'VS
iii-
loUc
II k:
'im-
hc
'II 111
llie
iifor-
l.iny
yiiiy
iDine
ihU'.-
liko
ratli.
ri'iiit"
liMiiit
The reign of Mary contains so little upon which the historian can be-
•tow even neijative praise, that it is pleasing to be able to remark that the
very earliest portion of her reign, if stained with the bloodshed of a ne-
cessary justice, was also marked by some acts of justice and gratitude.
Wlien she arrived at the Tower of London and made her triumphant ip.-
try into that fortress, the duke of Norfolk, wiio had been in prison from
Ihe close of the reign of Henry VIII., Courtney, son of the marquis of
Kxeter, who ever since his father's attninder had been in the same con-
finement, though when he entered it he was a mere child and there was
no shadow of a charge against him, with bishops Gardiner, fionner, and
Tonstal, were allowed to meet her on tiie Tower green, whore they fell
upon their knees before her, and implored her grace ;'.nd protection.
They were restored to liberty immediately ; Norfolk's attainder was re-
moved as having been ab origme null and invalid, and Courtney was made
earl of Devonshire. Gardiner, Bonner, and Tonstal were reappointed to
their sees by a commission which was appointed to review their trial and
condemnation; and Day, Heath, and Vesy recovered their sees by the
same means.
The queen's zeal for the catholic religion now began to show itself.
Holgate, archbishop of York, Covcrdale, to whom the reformation owed
so much, Ridley, Hooper, and Latimer, were speedily thrown into prison ;
and the bishops and priests wore exhorted and encouraged to revive tlie
mass, thougli the laws against it were still in unrepealed force. Judge
Hales, who had so well and zealously defended liie riglit of the princess
Mary when her brother desired him to draw the patent which was to ex-
clude her from the throne, opposed the illegal practices which Queen
.Mary now sanctioned. All his former merits were forgotten in this new
proof of his genuine and uncompromising honesty ; Kowas thrown into
prison, and lh<;ro treated with such merciless cruelty and insult, that he
lost his senses and committed suicide.
It will he remembered that the zeal of the men of Suffolk, during Mary's
retreat at Framlingham, was stimulated by her pointed and repealed as-
siu'ances that she would in no wise alter the laws of her brother Kilward,
as to religion. These simple and honest men, seeing the gross partiality
and tyranny by which the queen now sought to depress the protostants,
ventured to remind her of lier former promises. Their rcnionstraiK^e was
received as though it had been some monstrous and seditions matter, and
one of them continuing his address with a somewhat uncourtly pertina-
city was placed in the pillory for his pains.
Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, washy the change of sovereigns
pl.iced in a most perilous position. It is true that during the lit'e of Henry
VIII. Cranmer had often and zealously exerted himself to prevent that
monarch's rage; from beina fell by the princess Mary. Uut >Iary'3 gr.iti-
tiiilo as a woman was but Tittle security against her iiigotiy as a religion-
i>.t; and any services that Cranmer liad rendered her were likely eno'nrh
to be forgotten, in consideration of the discouragements he had dealt to
her religion in his (diaraeler of chamiiion -.s well as child of the reforma-
tion. .Nothing, probably, could have saved Cranmer l)Ut entire silence and
resignation of his see, or imuKMHate emigration. Hut Oaniner was too
hearty and sincere in liis love of the refornuil religion, and, perhaps, was
niso too confident of its success, even now that Home was b- ked by the
.]Ueen, to be in anywise mindeil for craven silence or retreai. His ciie-
iiiles, perceiving that as yet he had met with no signal affront or injury
fmin tlie queen, spread a report that he owed his safely and proliable favour
lo his having promised to say mass before Mary. Situated as f'ranmer
vva>', it would have; been his wisest plan to have listened to this insulting
rt'piirt wilh eoiitempluous silence, aiii^ to have relied upon his well-earned
i:l.aiuctcr to refute the calumny lo all whose judgment was of any real
490
THK TREASURY OF HISTORY.
II :■"■
i;ons()quence. But the iirclibishop thought otherwise, and he hastened to
publish a manifesto in which he gave the most unqualified contradiction to
tiie report. Nay, he did not stop even here ; not content with vindicating
himself he entered more gemually into tlie matter, and thus gave his ene-
mies that very handle against him which they so eagerly wished for. He
said, afier contradicting; the charge, that, " as the devil was a liar from the
beginning, and the father of lies, he had at this time stirred up his ser-
vants to persecute Christ and his true religion; that this infernal spirit
was now endeavouring to restore the Latin satisfactory masses, a thing
of his own invention and device ; and, in order to effect his purpose, had
falsely made use of his, Crannier's, name and authority ;" and Cranmer
added, that "the mass is not only without foundation in either the scrip-
tures or the practice of the primitive church, but likewise discovers a plain
contradiction to antiquity and the inspired writings, and is, besides, re-
plete with many horrid blas[)luMnics."
However much we may admire the general character of Cranmer—
though it was by no means without its blemishes — it is impossible for the
most zealous and sincere protcstants to deny that, under the circumstan-
ces of the nation, many of the passages we have quoted were grossly
ofluiisive; and equalh" impossible is it to deny that under Cranmer's now
personal circumstances they were as grossly and gratuitously impolitic.
His enemies eagerly availed themselves of his want of temper or policy,
and used this really coarse and inflammatory paper as a means by which
to induce the queen to throw him into prison for the share he had had in
the usurpation of the lady Jane, about which he otherwise would prob;ibly
have remained iniquesticmed. Merely as the protestant archbishop, Cran-
mer had more than enough of enemies in the house of peers to insure his
being found guilty, and he was sentenced to death on the charge of high
treason. H(; was not, howevei, as might have been expected, immedi-
ately and upon this sentence put to death, but committed back to close
custody, where !ie was kept, as will soon be seen, for a still more cruel
doom.
Kvtry day made it mor(!and more evident that the protestantshad noth-
ing to expect but the utmost severity of persecution, and many even of
th(! most eminent of their preachi^rs began to look abroad and to exile for
safety. Pcti r Martyr, who in the late jirosperiiy of the reformers had
been formally and with much pressing invited to Kngland, now applied to
the council for p(;rmi8sioM to return to his own country. At first the
council seemed nnieh inclined to refusi; (tompliance with this reasonahh;
re(|uest. Unt (jfardiner, with a s|)irit which makes ns the more regret
that bigotry ever induced him to act less generously, represented that as
Peter had been invited to Kngland by the goverameni, his departure could
not be opposed without the utmost national disgrace. Nor did (Jardiner's
generosity end here ; having obtained Peter |)ermission to leave the
realm, he supjilied him with money to trav(d with. The bones of Peter
Martyr's wife were shortly afterwards torn from the grave at Oxford, ami
buiied in a dunghill; and the iniiversily of Canibriilge about the same
liuM' disgraced itself by exhuinmg the bones of lluijer and Fagius, two
I'lniiKMii fiinugn reformers who had been buried there in ihe late reign,
.'ohn a l.i[isco and his congregation were now ordered to depart the king-
doin. and most of the foreign |)rotestants took so significant a hint and
f(dlowed Iheni; by which tiie country was deprived of its most skilful iiiiil
induslnoiis arliz.uis just as ihi'y were giving a useful and extensive im-
pidse to its manufactures. The temper manifested by Ihi! court, and llie
suililen departure of the foreign protcstants, gre.itly alarmed the proles-
tanls ii' gcnieral ; anil many of the Knglish of that connnnnion followed
the example set them by their foreign brethren, and lleil from a liiiiii
which everything seemed to ihreatcn with the ntost terrible and speedy
troubles
TllKASUIlY OF HISTORY.
43i
riie maeliiig of parliament hy no means iinpioviid the pr()sp;!(;tB of tlie
protcstaiits. It has already been remarked that, however eompleKdy the
refdi Illation miglit iuive seemed to be Irimnphiint, there was somclhing
ilk<^ a moiety, at least, of the nation that was still in heart attached to the
(lid faith. To these the court coulii a(l<l as practical fiiends that large
hoily which in all times and in all countries is ready to side with the dom-
inant party; there was consequently no difficulty experienced in getting
such men returned to parliament as woidd be [)liant tools in the hands of
Mary and her ministers. To the dismay of the protestants, though it
would be to impeach their sagacity shoidd we say that it was to iheir
surprise also, parliament was opened not by [)rayer after the reformed
ordinance, but by the celebration of mass in the Latin tongue. Taylor,
bishop of Lincoln, more sincere, or at all events more courageous than
some of his brethren, honesUly refused to kneel at this mass, and "as in
conse(iuenee very rudely assailed by some of the catholic zealots, and at
length ai;tually thrust from the house.
After following the good example of the parliament of the last reign in
passing an act by which all law of treason was limited to the statute of
Kihvard 111., and all law of felony to the law as it stood before (I Henry
Vin.) the parliament pronouneed the queen legitimate, amiulled the di
vorce pronounced by Cranmer between Catherine of Arragoii aiul Henry
VIM., and severely censured Cranmer on account of that divorce. It is a
little singular that even th(? acute Hume has not noticed the inctuisistency
with which Mary had by the vote of her parliainent, which in reality was
lur vote as the meinbeis were her mere creatures, denied the infallibility
and upset the decision of that holy see, the infallibility of which she pre-
scribed to her subjects on pain of the stake and the tar barrel !
Continuing in the same hopeful course, the parliament now at one fell
swoop, and by a single vote, repealed all tiutse slatules of Kiui; Edward ivith
respect to reUs;ion, which Mary had again ami ii^ain, and siinietinics even
voluntarily, said that nuthmii slwnlil induce her tn disturb ! Uicers' oaths
and lovers' vows are not more frail than the promises of a bigot!
.Mary, who even in her first youth had no feminine beauty to boast, was
considerably above thirty years of age, indeed fast a|)proaching to forty —
that decline of life to even the most brilliant personal charms — when she
ascended the thrtnte ; and wheti her parliament showed its an.viety as to
Iter marriage she lu^rself ajipeared to be fully as anxious. Courtney, son
of the marquis of Exeter, whom she liberated from the Tower at her ac-
cession and created earl of Devon, was at that time a very young man,
and possessed not only great perfection of manly beauty, but also, despite
nis long and dreary imprisonment, all those graces and accomplishments
which are so rarely to be acquired tisewhere than at court. The queen
was so favourably impressed by his maimers and appearance, that she
fornieil th(! idea of raising him to the dignity of her husband ; smd as her
situation would have rendered any advances on his part presinnptuous,
site not oidy showed him all possibh! person il distini'tion, hut even caused
otlicial hints to be given to him of the favom- with which he might hope
for his highest aspirations being rei-cived. But Courtney was young and
romantic, and Mary was not only disagreeabh; in face am! figure, and re-
pulsive in manner, but was also very nearly idd enough to bo his mother,
and he showed not tin? slightest intention of profiting by the amorous con-
descension of his sovereign. Knraged that he should neglect her, she
was .still more enraged when she discovered that he was a close attendant
upon her sister Elizabeth, then in her first fins'' ,i youth. The parliament,
by ainiullingthe divorce of .Mary's iuother, had virtually pronounced F.liz-
ahcth's illegitimacy ; and as .M:iry on discovi'ring Courtney's partiality to
thill jirincess exhiliited extreme annoyance and laid her under great re-
striction, Klizabelh's friends began to be seriously alarmed for even liei
193
THE TREASUllY OF HISTORY.
personal safety, especially as her attachment to the reformed religion
could not fail to increase the hatred called down upon her by tlie attach-
ment of Courtney to herself.
Despairing of making any impression upon the youthful fancy of the
earl of Devon, Mary now bestowed a passing glance at the graver and
more elderly attractions of the Cardinal Pole. It is true he was a car-
dinal, but he had never taken priest's orders. He was a man of high
character for wisdom and humanity, and yet had suffered much for his
attachment to the catholic church, of which, on the death of Pope Paul
III., he had nearly obtained the highest honour; and his mother, that old
countess of Salisbury who was so brutally beheaded by order of Henry
Vni., had been a most kind and beloved governess to Mary in her girl-
hood. But the cardinal was somewhat too far advanced in life to please
Mary, and it was, moreover, hinted to herb • 'ler friends, that he was now
too long habituated to a quiet and studious life to be able to reconcile
himself to the glitter and bustle of the cour,. But though she rejected
Pole as u husband, she resolved to have the benefit of his abilities as a
minister, and she accordingly sent assurances to Pope Julius 111. of her
anxious desire to reconcile her kingdom to the holy see, and requested
that Cardinal Pole might be appointed legate to arrange that important
business.
Charles V., the emperor, who but a few years before was master of all
Germany, had recently met with severe reverses both in Germany and
France, in which latter country he was so obstinately resi.sted by the duke
of Guise, tliiit he was at length obliged to retire with the remnant of his
dispirited army into the low countries. Far-seeing and ambitious, Charles
no sooner heard of the acLfoSion of Mary 'o the throne of England, than
he formed the design of m.iking t'le gain of that kingdom compensate for
the losses he had sustained in Germany. His sen Philip was a widower,
and though he was only twenty-seven years of age, and eleven years
Mary's junior, the emperor determined to demand her hand for his son,
and sent over an agent for that purpose. If Mary had looked with favour
upon Courtney's person, and had felt a passing r.ttachment excited by the
mental endowments of Cardinal Pole, Philip had the double recommenda-
tion of being a zealous catholic, and of her mollicr's family. Thus actu-
ated by bigotry and by family feeling, and being, moreover, by no means
disinclined to matrimony, Mary gladly entertained the proposal, and was
seconded by ihe advice not only of Norfolk, Arundel, and Paget, but also
of Gardiner, whose years, wisdom, and the persecution he hail endured
for Catholicism had given him the greatest possible authority in her
opinion. Gardiner, at the same time, strongly and wisely dissuaded the
queen from further proceeding in her enterprise of making innovation" in
religion. He well observed that an alliance with Spain was already ni ro
than sulTiciently unpopular; that the parliament, amidst all its complais-
ance and evident desire to make all reasonable concessions to the personal
wishes and feelings of the sovereign, nevertheless had lately show.n strong
jnwillingness to make any further concessions to Rome. He argued, too,
that whereas any precipitate measures in religion just at that time would
greatly, perhaps even fatally, increase the popular prejudice against the
Spanish alliance, that alliance when once brought about would, contrari-
wise, cnabh! the queen, unresisted, to work her own will in the other and
far more important measure. To the emperor, Gardiner transmitted the
same reasonings, with the additional hint that it was necessary that,
ostensibly or temporarily at least, t.ie terms and conditions of the mar-
riage should be such as to secure the favour of the Kngiish populace, by
appearing even more than fairly favoural)lo to Knglish interests. The
emperor, who had a high opinion of Gardiner's sagacity and jndgi.iciii,
not only asseiled to all that he advised, but qven enforced his advi ^ as
to religii
Mary.
eerily ai
over his
ligour aj
linghcn,
liiice she
coinisels,
Tlie pa
marriage
orders to
had been
with a gi
order of 1
of it boldl
catholics,
I'Oiild ran
who finall
and decid(
if not of i
tiewed tin
themsejvei
ley to be c
which endi
catholics.
A. D. 155
IkiIcs on r
vocation, V
alion.s in rt
the astute (
I'on/irms w
nveen the ;
two previo
parts (if Fi
niation in t
liann'Mt, tin
old abuses,
execiilioi).
iiig atlachcc
replaced liy
iiiicc again
oflice. The
Henry VIII
iiou-aiitiiori
mass and ||
i'iliile.l from
Wliik! Mai
'ioni once m
'ents thus (
founded iind
'lie public n
'•uuit. in coil
*vas taken U
'lisit could at
Thus it wi
'" Pliilip, tin
affice whatev
Kuglish laws
i
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
493
to religious moderation, at least for that time, in his own private letters to
Mary. He even went still further; for being informed that Pole, the sin-
cerity and fervour of whose religious zeal not unfrequently triumphed
over his great natural humanity, had sent Mary advice to proceed with
rijfour against open iieresy, the emperor detained Pole at the town of Uil-
hnghen, on the Danube, as he was on his way to England, lest his pres-
ence sliould prevent Mary from following his more pacific and politic
counsels.
Tiie parliament having openly expressed a dislike of Mary's proposed
marriage with a son of Spain, was dismissed, and Mary's ministers had
orders to press the match on to a conclusion. The convocation, wliich
had been summoned at the same time as the parliament, was not contented
with a general profession and exhibition of its attactnnent to ttie new
order of tilings that Mary had so rapidly introduced, but the catholic part
of it boldly volunteered to put the capital article between them and the
■•alholics, transubstantiation, into dispute. The protestants argncrl, iiut
io\dd rarely be heard, through the clamour raised by their adversaries,
who finally, being the majority, complacently voted that they had clearly
iind decidedly triumphed. This triinupii — at least of voices and numbers,
if not of fair argument — so elated liie Romanists, that they soon after re-
newed the dispute at Oxford, and, as if to show liow secnro they held
themselves to be of the victory, they caused Cranmer, Latimer, and Rid-
ley to be conveyed thitlier under a guard to take their parts in the debate,
wliich ended, as may be anticipated, in the complete verbal triumph of the
catholics.
A. D. 1554. — The complaisance of the parliament, and the forma! de-
biiics on religion that had been initiated by Romanist members of con-
vdcation, were merely preclusive to still further and nutrc sweeping alter-
ations in religion, which were made in defiance of all that the emperor and
the astute Gardiner could urge to the contrary. It is true— and the fact
I'onlirms what we have more than once said as to the wide difrcrcnce be-
iwcen the apparent and the real number of protestants existing during the
two previous reigns — the mere connivance of government had in most
parts of Kiigland sulTiced to encourage the people to set aside the refor-
mation in the most imjiortant particulars. IJut after the dismissal of par-
'.ianit'iit, the new regulations of Mary, or rather her new enaclMieiits of
old abuses, were everywhere, openly, and by formal authority, carried into
cxcciilion. Mass was re-established, three-fourths of the clergymen, be-
ing aiiachcd to reformed principles, were turned out of their livings, and
n^placed by zealous or seemingly zealous Romanists, and mairiaijc was
oiK'c agciiii declared to be incompatible with ilic holding of ;iny sacred
ollice. The oath of supremacy was enjoined by the unrepealrd law ol
Ileiiry Vlll., but it was an instruct ion to a commission which the (jueen
now aiitliorised to sec to the more perfect and speedy re-establisliiiuMit of
mass and the other ancient rites, tiiat clergymen siiould strictlly be pro
liiliiied from taking the oath of supremacy on entering benelices.
While Mary was thus busied in preparing the way for laying her king-
'loni once more at the feel of the haughty pontilTs of Roni' , the discon-
tents thus caused were still further increased by the feais, some well
founded and sonu! vague, but no less powerful on that account, excited in
Uie pul)lic m!.id on account of thi^ Spanish niatcli. On i <■ part of the
i;ourt, in compliance with the sagacious advice of Ganliiur, great care
was takiMi to insert nothing in the marriage articles, whicii were imblishcd,
lliat could at all fairly be deemed unfavourable to F.nglaiid.
Thus it was stipulatcMl, that tlioimh the title of king should he accorded
10 Piiilip, tiie administration should be entirely in the (|ueen ; that no
afiice wliatever in the kingdom should be tenable by a fi-reiirner ; thit
Kiiglish laws, customs and privileges should remain unaltered ; that the
)94
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
queen should not be taken abroad by Philip without her own consent, i-nr
any of her irhildren without that of the nobility ; that a jointure of sixty
thousand pounds should be securely settled upon the queen ; that the male
issue, if any, of the marriage shoidd iniierit not only I'higland, but also
DuriTUiidy and the Low Coinitries in any ease, and that in the case of the
death of Don Carlos, son of I'hilip, such male issue of Philip and Mary
should also inherit Spain, Sicily, Milan, and all the other dominions of
Philip.
Every day's experience serves to show that it •« quite possible to carry
policy too far, and to cause the sincerity of concession to be; suspected
from its very excess. If we may suppose that men so sagacious as the
emperor and (iarcliner were rendered by their anxiety temporarily for-
getful of tliis trulii, the public murmuring very speedily reminded them of
it. The people, with that intuitive saga(!ity which seems the special pro-
vision for the safely of tiie unlettered nuiltilnde, analogous to the instinct
of the lower animals, exclaimed that the emperor, in his greedy and tyran-
nous aiuii'ty to obtain possession of so rich ycit liated a country as here-
tical Kngland, woidd doubtless accede to any terms. As a pa[)ist and a
Spaniard he would promise anything now, with the full determination of
revoking everything the moment he should have concluded the desired
match ; and the more favourable, argued the people, the terms now pub-
lished were to Kngland, t!ie greater the probability that the emperor and
his son would revoke them at the very first opportunity, if, indeed, they
were not already provided with secret articles antiiorizing them to do so.
To the fraud and ambition of tiie emperor the popular report s;iid that
Philip added sullcnness, haughtiness, cruelty, and a domineering disposi-
tion peculiarly bis own. That the death of the emperor would put Philip
in possession of his father's dominions was clear; the people assumed it
to be equally so that England would from that moment become a mere
province of Spain ; that Englishmen equally with the other siibjiu^ts of
S()ain would then be subjected to all the tender mercies of the inquisition,
and that the Spanish alliance and the complete ruin of England and en-
slaving of all Englishmen were but dilTereut terms and formula in which
to enunciate the sami! thing.
To a people already discontented, as the protestants of England were,
with the recent and sudden changes made; in religious affairs, such argu-
inenis as these could not be addressed with any art or industry without
being produ<'tive of great effect. Every day iiuTCased the general dislike
of the people to the Sj)Mnish match. The more prudent among even those
who in principle were the most deeply and sincerely opposed to the coii
lemplat(Ml marriage, did not, iiideeil, see that the mere anticipation of evil
toci)ine, and an aiili(Mj)alion, loo, which was quite ojiposed to the avowed
purposes of the emperor and Philip, could warrant an open resistance.
Hut the reasonable and the just art; seldom the majority where eitlier the
feelings or tlii! interests of mankind are very much aroused and ap|i(Mlerl
to; and a few men of some' note were soon found to ])laee themselves M
the head of the discontented, with the avowed iiitention of appealiii!.' I"
arms rather than allowing themselves to become the bond-slaves of the
Spaniaril. [laii Eranec at this critical juncture takcMi advantage of Mary's
dillienlti(!s and want of [)opularity, it is very probable that her reign would
have (Muled here, and that her memory would have been saved from the
ind(dil)le stains of much and loathsome cruelty. Hut the king of France,
though at war with Philip, would lend no aid to an English insurrection
Perhaps he fell that Mary, aided as she was certain to be by Spain, woiilil
surely put down any attenipis at insurrection, in which ease she, of coinse,
would aid the emperor against Prance ; and to this motive we may iml
unreasonably be supposed to have mUmI that feeling for the rights ofsov-
oreignty over subiecls, which even the hostility of sovereijjns can rarck
I' i.ili|
•janish from
France did
sovereign's ;
ihusiasni of
Wyatt ofTerc
Carew those
raise the mit
re-invest the
taneous actin
kept, it i.s nio
successful,
the appointed
the duke of S
and with diffi
Harew's faijui
Thom:is and f
and Leicester,
by a party of
before he eoul
perse his few
discovered his
^Vyatt, in tlie
Kent, where h(
aid him in renK
the ruin of the
Spanish match
some catholics,
niention of reli
guards and soin
der the coniniai
Willi them at !{<
w\ att, pretendf
carrying with I
eloquence so w
^I'lii'Sr in (he ei
desertion might
marched to Soiit
"R placed in his
ror of Spanish t
'•diors shonl,) fo
forniance of thes
. ^Vhih; Wyalt _
'"? « reply, Norf
•5leps (o overawe
1 erceiviiig his er
le crossed the
'h'lc, however, ,
'•'fed niKl seized
''■>■• ^'ist numb
s'"'zed, iind as the
wliieh she had be
'iiiitierous. ft is
"■retches were pui
;'^'»"i<'d, hut beiiu
■inelt (o her and
prime luover of th
^oafTdld he took ^
!'■' i':irtieipation oi
4
THE TREASUaV OF HISTORY.
495
banish from their hearts. From whatever motives, however, the king o!
France did refuse to aid the English in their proposed rosislanee to theii
sovereign's alliance willi Philip of Spain, Hut this did not damj) ili" en-
thusiasm of the leading opponents of the Spanish alliance. Sir Tlidinas
Wyatt offered to raise and head the malcontents of Kent, and Sir Peter
Carew those of Devonshire ; and they persuaded tlie duke of Suffolk to
raise the midland counties, by assuring him that their chief object was to
re-invest the lady .lane with the cmwn. A time was fixed for the simul-
taneous a(!tion of these leaders ; and had the compact been punctually
kept, it is more than probable that lliu enterprise would have been fully
successful. But Sir Peter Carew, in his exceeding eagerness, rose before
the appointed time, and being, in conscc|ueiice, imsupportcd by VVyatl and
the duke of Suffolk, was beaten at the first onset by the earl of Ucdford,
and with difficulty made his escape to France. Suffolk, on hearing of
Tarew's failure and flight, left town, accompanied by his brothers. Lord
Tiiomas and Sir Leonard Gray, and proceeded to the counties of Warwick
and Leicester, where his chief influence lay. Uul be was holly pursued
by a party of horse under the earl of Huntingdon, and being overtaken
before he could raise sufficient force for resistance, was obliged to dis-
perse his few followers and conceal himself. Accident or treachery soon
discovered his hiding place, and he was sent under an escort to London.
Wyatt, in the meantime, raised the standard of revolt at Maidstone, in
Kent, where he issued a passionate proclamation, inviinig the peopl(> to
aid him in removing evil councillors from about the queen, and to prevent
the ruin of the nation wliicli must needs follow the completion of the
Spanish match. Great numbers of persons joined him, aiui among them
some catholics, as he had dexteiousiy omitted from bis proclamation ail
mention of religion. Tiie duke of Norfolk, at the bead of tiie queen's
guards and some other troops, reinforced by five hundred Londoners un-
der the command of Hrett, niarciied against the revolted and came np
with them at Rochester. Here Sir George Harper, who had been with
Wyatt, pretended to desert to the duke, but quickly returned to Wyatt,
carrying with him Hrett and his Londoners, upon whom Sir George's
eloquence so wrought, that they professed their preference of death to
aiding in the enslavement of their country. Norfolk, fearing that this
desertion might mislead the rest of his force, now retreated, and Wyatt
marched to Sonthvvark, whence he sent to demand that the Tower sliould
he placed in bis hands, that the queen should free the nation from ail ter-
ror of Spanish tyranny by marrying an Rnglishman, and that four ('oun-
cillors shotdd forthwith bo placed in his hands as hostages for the per-
formance of these conditions.
While Wyatt was wasting bis lime in sending this demand and await-
ing a reply, Norfolk had secured London l)ridge, and had taken effecinal
olcps to ov(M'awe the Londoners and prevent them from joining Wyatt.
['crceiving his error when too late, Wyatt marched to Kingston, where
he crossed the river, and made his way unresisted into Westminster.
Here, however, his follosvers rapidly deserted him, and he was encoiin-
lered and seized in the Strand, near 'I'emplebar, by Sir Maurice llerke-
Icy. Vast nuiidjcrs of the deluded coniurymcn were at the same time
seized, and as the qu(!en's rage was proportioned to the fear and peril to
wiiich she imd been subjected, the exetjutions that followerl were very
luiitienius. It is said that not less than four hundred of the captured
wretches were put to death in cold blood ; four hundred more were con-
demned, but being led before the queen with halters on their necks, they
knelt to her and implored her grace, which was granted. Wyatt. the
prime mover of this revolt, was executed, as a matter of course. On the
-ciilTold he took care to exonerate, in liie most unequivocal terms, from
nil participation or even knowledge of his proceedings the lady Elizabeib
i
PI
m
Hi
m
496
THE TIIEASURYOF HISTORY.
h '^'>\
and the earl Jl Devon, whom Mary's jealous hatred had endeavoured to
connect with this ill-starred and ill-managed revolt. They were boti)
seized and strictly examined by the council, but Wyatt's manly and pre-
cise declaration defeated wliatever intent there might have been to em-
ploy false witnesses to connect them with his rash proceedings. But
iioiigh Mary was thus prevented from proceediny; to the last extremity
against them, she sent lOlizabeth under strict surveillance to Woodstock,
and the earl of Devon to Fotheringay castle. To Elizabeth, indeed, iin-
niediate rcleasi; was offered, on condition of her accepting the hand of the
ihike of Savoy, and thus relieving her sister from her presence in the
kingdom ; but Klizabcth knew how to " bide lier time," and she quietly,
but positively, refused the proffiired alliance.
All this linn; Lonl Guildford Dudley and the lady Jane had remained Im-
prisoned, but unmolested and unnoticed. The time which had elapsed
without any proceedings being taken against them, beyond their mere
confinement, led every one to suppose that their youth, and tlu; obvious
restraint under wliicii they had acted, had determined .Mary not to punish
them beyond iiiii)risonnient,and that she would terminate even that when
she safely coiiM do so. IJiit the im|)rudent, nay, the situation of his
daughter and her iiusband being considered, the wicked connection of tiie
duke of Sullolk with W'yalt's revolt, aroused in Mary that suspicion
which was no less fatal to its objects than her bigotry. Jane now anew
apijeai'cd to lii'riii the character of a competitor for the throne. That
she was not will"iilly so, that she was so closely coiirnied that she could
not by any po.-isibiiity correspond with tlu; disaffected, were arguments
to which Mary attached no iinportJince. To her it was enough iliat this
innocent creature, even now a mere girl and wishing for iiolhing so niiich
as tluMiiiict and studious moral life in which her earlier girlhood hadbr'en
pas-i( il, might possildy be made the pretext for fuiiire revolt. The Lord
(iiiililford Dudley anil Lady Jano were,coiise(|ueiitly, warneil that the day
was fixed for their execution. Siibse(]iienlly the (lucen bestowed theciiicl
mercy of a reprieve for three days, on the [ilea that she did not wish,
\\\\\h' inflicting bodily death mi Jane, to peril her eternal salvation. Tlin
iinhiippy laily was. tlieri'forc, during the slioit remnant of her life iinpiir-
iniicd and annoyed by ealliolic priests, who wi re sent by the (jiiceii torn,
deavoiir to coiivcit her to their failli. Itiit she skilfully and coolly used
all the ariiiiineiils then in use to defend the reformed faith, and even wrnle
a (>re"k letter to her sister, adjuring her to persevere in the true faith,
wliatever j.i'rils might environ lier.
It was at fust intended to beheiid liolh the prisoners at the same time
and on the same scalVohl. On rell'dioii, motives of policy caused the
ipieeii to alter this determiiiatioii ; and it was ordered that Iiord (Iiiihll'oid
mIioiiIiI (irsl be executed on Towcr-hdl, and llie lady Jane shortly afti r-
wanls witliiii the precincts of the 'I'ower, where she was conrnu'd.
On the inoriiing apiiointed for ibis double minilcr, Lord Oiiildford sent to
Ills yoiiiiu and unfortunate wife, and rei|uesteil an interview to take ;iii
earlldy farewell; but Jane with a more inasciiluie and self-possessed pril-
lieiice, declined it on the ground tint Iheir appioachiiig f.ite reipiircil lliu
full alti'iiliiiil of e icli, :ilid lliiit their brief and iilooily separation on earth
would be followed by an eteniid union. From her jinson w imlow llio
lail} J.'iiie saw her youthful hiisbanil led out to execution, ami shortly af-
li-rvvardi' saw his headless body broiiyht back in a ciMiiinoii cart. I]<cii
this sad spectacle, instead of sliakiiii; lier lirinness, did Inn the iiioic cdii-
firm and strengthen a constancy wliieli was founded not upon mere cuii.
Klitution, bui upon long, serious, and healthy study.
Her own dread hour had at length iirrivecl, and Sir John Sage, tfie ciiii-
stalle of the Tower, on siiiiimoniiiL; her to the sead'ohl, beiiued her to I"'-
ituw some gift upon him winch he might keep as a perpetu.il menuMi.il of
THE THEASUHY OF HISTORY.
497
Iciin-
III i>(
her. She (rave him her tablets in which, on seeing the dead body of her
liusband, she liad written a sentence in Greek, Latin, and English, to the
effect that though human justice was against her husband's body, the di-
vine mercy would be favourable to his soul ; tiiat, for iierseif, il her fault
deserved punishment, her yuutii, at least, and her imprudence, were wor-
thy of excuse, and that she trusted for favour to God and to posterity.
On the scaffold she blamed herself not for ever having wished for the
crown, Imt for not having firmly refused to act upon the wishes of others
in reai'hing at it She confessed herself woriliy of death, and being dis-
robed by her female attendants, calmly and unshrinkingly subniitied her-
self to liiT fatal doom.
The duke of Suffolk and Lord Thomas Gray were shortly afterwards
executed for their share in Wyatt's revolt. Sir Nicholas Tliiogmorlon
was tried in (Miildhall for the same ofTence, but there being liitle or no
evidence against him, his eloquent and acute defence led the jury to acquit
him. With an arbitrary and insolent stretch of prcrogaiivf; that now
scents aliniist incredible, Mary, enraged at the ac(|uiiial, not only recom-
mitted Sir Nicholas to the Tower, where she kept him for a considerable
time, but she even had the jury sent to prison, and fined from one to two
thousand pounds each ! The end she had in view in this alximinably ty-
rannous conduct, however, was fully achieved. Thenceforth junns were
liitle prone to acquit the unhappy gentlemen who, no luatter bow loosely,
were charged with participation in the alTair of Wyatl. Many were con-
demned merely in consequence of the terrors of their jurors, and among
litem was Sir John ThroginorlDii, brother to Sir Niciiolas. Arrests took
place every day, the Tower and other places of confinement were filled
with nobles ami genilemen, whose offence was that they chanced to be
|ii)|)nlar ; tlie alfection of the people being a deadly offence to the (|ueen,
who felt llial she was loathed by them, and who felt so little secure.
nuiiiii>t a new outbreak, that she sent out conimissioners to disarm them,
iiiid lay n|i the M'l/ed arms in her strong-holds.
Ill the midst iif this gloomy state of tliiiifis, the ])arliament was called
ii|iiiii to invest the (pieen with the power which had formerly been granted
Id lier r.itlicr. of disposing of the crown at her decease. Gardiner took
(■;irf to dwell ii|iiiii ilie precedent afforded by the power given to Henry
VIII., and he bad little fear of success, becanse, independeiil of the gen-
eral terror caused by the queen's merciless and sanguinary proceedings,
the ^oimI w ill 111' numerous members of parliament had been purchased by
liie liistnliiiliiiii of lour hundred thousand crowns, which the ein|ieror had
sent (iver for that purpose.
Hill neither terror nor purchased complaisance could blind the house to
llie lacN, tliat tlii! ijin-en dete.>''l( (I F.ll/abelli, and that the lei;ilimai'y of the
({iiiiii must imply the bastardy of Kli/abetli. The nianner, ton, in which
(lanliiier m the course of his speech avoideil nieiitioiniin llli/.alicth, ex-
lepiiiiji merely as "the lady Kli/alieth," and without styling her the queen's
sisler, eunfinned the suspicion that, ote'e invested willi llie pnwer which
File now 1 1. limed, the (|U(ten woulil declare Kli/abeth illegitimate, and by
iiiiikiiit! a will bei|neatliing tin: throne tn Pliilip, band over the nation to
iill that .Spiinisli tyranny of which such terrible antu'ipations had been iiiid
still were entertained.
As if to stiengilieii all other grounds of suspicion of Mary's intention,
llie birelings and parasites of I'liilip « ere just now, as zealously as impru-
ileiiily, liu«y in ilwelling upnii I'liilip's di'sei'iil from the lionsi- of Lancas-
ter, and represi ntiinr him- taking I'.li/.abeth's bastardy as a matter of
iHPinse— as the next heir to >Liry by ri«bt of descent.
fireat, then, as, from fear or favour, was the desire of the wl ole pnrlia
nil lit 1 1 (iratil'y the (pieeii, the deternunatmn not to throw llie nation liouin!
Hiid blinilfcddeil into the hands of Ihu Spaniard was ntill greater. Tiiei
Vol. L-;iJ
Ji^
49H
THK TREASURY OF HISTORY.
not only refused to pass the bill to give .Mary the power to will away the
throne, but when another bill was introduced to make it treasonable to
imagine or attempt the death of the queen's husband while she lived, they
coolly laid it aside; and that Philip might not be led to complete the mar
riage by tiny lingerin;? hope of possessing any authority in the nation
whieh was unhappy enough to have Mary for its queen, the house passed
a law enacting, "That her majesty, as their only queen, should solely and
as a sole queen enjoy the crown and sovereignty of her realms, wiih all
the pre-eminences, dignities, and rights thereto belonging, in as large and
ample a manner after her marriage as before, without any title or claim
accruing to the prince of Spain, either as tenant by courtesy of the realm
or by any other means."
Having thus, as far as was in their power, limited and discouraged tlm
dangerous ambition of the cruel and bigoted Philip, the parliament passed
the ratification of the articles of marriage, which, indeed, were drawn so
favourably to Kngland, that no reasonable objection could have been made
to them.
As nothing more could be extorted or bribed from parliament with re-
spect to the queen's marriage, its attention was now directed to matters
connected with religion. The bishopric of Durham, which had been di-
vided in the r"igii of Kdward, and which by an arbitrary edict of the queeii
had already been re-conferred upon Tonslal, was now re-erected by net
of parliament. Some bills were also introduced for revising the law.s
against LoUanly, erroneous preaching, and heresy in general, and for ilic
suppression of books containing hetcnido.K opinions, liut here again, to
its credit, tt>e parliament was boiii discrnninaling and firm ; the bills wvk
thrown out; and the queen pcrccivii\g ttiat neither Philip's gold nor llu!
terrors of her more sanguinary conduct could niak(! this parliament, at
least, suflficiently pliant and slavi.^h lor her pur()oses, she suddenly and
sullenly dissolved it.
II " M
CIIAPTKR XLV,
TUB RHION OK MAKV (cONTI.NUEn).
Mary's age, and some conscl(Misnei<s, perhaps, of the addition made by
her fearful temper to the natural hoincliiicss nf her featured, had teinli'd in
make the acquisiiion of a young and illusirious husband all the iiiuri'
eagerly desired, for its very ini|ir<il):ilidity ; and lliougli she had seen only
the [lortrait of her future husband, she had cdLtrivcil to become so cii;iin
ourcdoriinn, that when the prelinnnanesof the marriage! were all arr:ini,'i I,
and the arrival of the pnnei! was Imurly expected, every delay ami every
obstacle irritated her almost to phrcii/y. TIiciukIi as a matter of aml)iiiiiii
I'hilip was V('ry desirous of the malcli, an a simple matter «( love, he wis,
at the very least, indilTerent; and even the pri)Vcri.i,il hauteur and sdlnn.
nity of the Spanish character eoiild iidt sulliiicntly accMuint for the enM
neglect wliich caused liiin to forhe ir from even favouring his future uilV
Biiii <|ueeii with a letter, to nceount for delays which, m spile of her (IdtiM!,'
fondiii's.-i, Mary cciuld not liut lielicve that the prince mifJlit easily h;ivc
put an end to hal Ins impatience been at all equal to her own. Frein
olaining I'hilip, llie impatient foiidiiefs so riire as well as so iiiibei-diinii!;
at her ailvanccd period of life, caused her to turn her resentiiieiil at;;iiii>l
her subjects, to whose oppdsiticMi she clidsi' td impiit" that iiniiirereiiii' on
the part id' the prince, wliieh reilly arose from iii>like of her repulsive and
nreinatiiiely iiijed person. \ circiiinst.iiiee now dei-urred which (jrinily
uicreased the queen's auger against her siilijects, ami wliiidi prohalily, lii
»o sullen uud resentful a nature hi hers, did much to fan into a ll ime thai
H-M
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
499
ay the
ibl« to
1, they
le mar
nation
passed
ely and
.villi all
^rgc anil
jr claim
le realm
%<rcd tlie
\l passed
Irawu 80
^cii made
t with rc-
o matters
, been di-
ihc quciMi
cd hv ai'l
tl\c'la\va
[ind for ilu'
e a'jAin, to
a bills wiTo
)ld nor llu!
rliameut, al
ddenly and
lion made by
a.ltendiMllo
ill llie inorr
[xl srcn only
„(. HO cnum
liillarranu'L
ly an'i ''^'I'V
irof ainliiii'ii'
l„v.', l>o w.is,
ir and solnii-
for llii- ''iiM
U fntnri' wil''
l„f lirr iUiliii'^
,,;,sily li;>vi'
Idvvn. Vwm
iinlx-comin.;
jmcnl asjaiii'l
lidillVrcnii' oil
rcpolMve ami
Ivbifli uriallv
|i prolial
;i ll I'l
V, lil
tierce bigotry which subsequently lighted the fires of persecution in exery
county in England, and left scarcely a village without its martyr and its
mourning. A squadron had been fitted out, and the command was given
to Lord Kflinghara, to convoy the prince to England ; but so unpopular
was the service, and such strong symptoms appeared of a determined
spirit of mutiny among the sailors, that Lord Effingham frankly informed
the queen that he did not think the prince would be safe in their hands,
and the squadron was at once disbanded. But this measure, though in-
dispensably necessary under the circumstances, brought no peace to the
mind of the queen, for she now dreaded not ni' rely the inevitable dangers
of the sea, but also that her husband should be intercepted by the French
fleet. The slightest rumour so heightened her self-torturmg, that she
was frequently thrown into convulsions ; and not merely was her bodily
health aff"ecteain the most injurious degree, but even her mind began to
be affected to a very perceptible extent. Hypochondriac and pitiably
nervous, she became painfully conscious of her want of beauty ; though,
with the usual self-flattery, she ascribed the repulsive aspect presented to
her by her unflattering mirror wholly to her recent suff^erings. From be-
ing frantically impatient for the arrival of Philip, the unhappy queen now
became desponding, and dreaded lest on his arrival he should find her dis-
pleasinsf.
At length the object of so many hopes and fears arrived ; the marriage
was publicly and with great pomp performed at Wincthester; and when
Philip had made a public entry into London, and dazzled the eyes of the
gazers with the immense riches he had brought over, Mary hurried him
away to the comparative seclusion of Windsor. This seclusion admirably
suited the prin<;e, whose behaviour, from the day of his arrival, was as
well calculated as though it had been purposely intended, to confirm all
the unfavourable opinions that had been formed of him. In his manner
lie was distant, not with shyness but with overweening disdain ; and the
bravest and wisest of the oldest nobility of England had the mortification
10 son him pans them wiilioul manifesting by glance, word, or gesture,
that he was conscious of their respect, salutations, or even their preseni'c.
The unavoidably wearisome etiquette of court was now so much increased
liy Spanish formalities, that both Philip and Mary may almost be said to
have been inaccessible. This circumstance, however disgusting to sub-
jeels, waft in the highest degree pleasing to the queen : having at length
possessed I'.erMclf of her huiiband, slie was unwilling that any one should
share his eoi'ipany with her for a moment. More like a lovt-siek girl
than n h;'.ritJi.::t'ir('(l and hanl-heartrd woman of forty, she could not bear
llie princ':' to be oit of her sight ; his shortest absijiice annoyed her, and
if lie showed the "omnionest courtesy to any of the court ladies, her
i'"ilini?y was insla.itly shown to liiiii, and her resentment to the fair who
iiail been so unfortunate as to b(> honoured with his civility.
The v/«inaiily observation of Mary soon convinced her that the only
way to Philip's heart was to (.'ratify ills ambition ; and she was abundantly
ready to pnrehasc Ins love, or llie semlilanec" of it, even at the (iriee of the
Vital saeriliee of the lilierlies and interests of the whole Eiigli.sli |)eo|)le.
By means ofdanliner she used both fear and hope, both (lower and gold,
lo ifct members returned in her entire interests to a new parllamenl which
she now sommoneil ; and the ri lums were sneli as to jiroiniso thai, in the
exi'stiiia ieni|ier of the nation, winch had not yet forgotten the sanguinary
punishinent of ihe revolt under WyatI, she mii^lit safely make her next
fiif/.a onward movement towards the entire restoration of eathidicism and
the esliibiishmeiit of her own iibsolnle jiower.
Tardiiial Pole, who was now in I'landers, invested with the office of
Unratc. (inly awiuled the removal of Ihe attainder passed against him in
the ri'igii if llenrv Vlll. The parliuinent readily passed an act for that
irtf
500
THE TREASURY OP HI8T0RV.
im*
iK !
purpose, and the legate immediately came to England, when, after wait-
ing on Philip and Mary, he presented himself to parliament, and formally
invited the English nation to reconcile itself to the holy see from which,
said the legate, it had been so long and so unhappily separated.
The well-trained parliament readily acknowledged and professed to de-
plore the defection of England, and presented an address to Philip and
Mary, entreating them, as being uninfected by the general guilt, to inter-
cede with the holy father for their forgiveness, and at the same time de-
clared iheir intention to repeal all laws that were prejudicial to the church
of Rome. The legate readily gave absolution to the parliament and peo-
ple of Et.sjland, and received them into the communion of Rome ; and
Pope Julius HI., with grave and bitter mockery, observed, when the formal
thanks of the nation were conveyed to him, that the English had a strange
notion of thii.gs thus to thank him for doing what he ought, in fact, to
thank them for letting him do.
It must not l;e supposed that though the nobility and gentry in parlia
ment assembled thus readily and crouchingly laid England once a:'ain at
the feet of the Roman pontiff, that they were prepared fully to unilo all
that Henry had (ione. Indifferent as to the mode of faith presttribed to
the multitude, they had not an objection to make this sudden and sweep-
ing re-transfer of the spiritual authority over F]iigland. But before they
would consent to that transfer of spiritual aullu)rity, they obtained from
Rome, as well as from the queen, the most positive assurances that the
church property, snatched from the church and divided among laymen by
Henry, should not be interfered with, but should remain undisturbed in (he
hands of its lay possessors. The parliament, also, in the very act by
which it restored the pope's spiritual authority, enacted that all marriages
contracted during the English separation from Rome should remain valid,
and also inserted a clause which secured all holders of church lands in
their possessions ; and the convocation presented a petition to the pope to
the same effect, to which peiitien the legate gave an affirmative answer.
Bigoted and arbitrary as Mary confessedly was, it ap|)earcd that siie could
not fully restore, even temporarily, the power ol" Rome.
The sentence had irrevocably gone forth against that grasping and greedy
despotism ; and though the accidental occurrence of a fientely and coldly
cruel bigot, in the person of Mary, being seated upon tlie throne g.ivc hack
for a time to Rome the spiritual jurisdiction, and the power todnlati' and
tyrannize in spiritual affiirs, all the power ami zeal of that bigot cunll not
repossess the church of the; lands which had bi^eome lay property. In
tho first instance, indeed, Rome hoped, by forgiving the past fruits of the
the lands, lo he able to resume the lands for the futiir(! ; but when Pole
arrived in England he received information, amply eonlirnied by his own
observ.itions, which induced him without further strug:;le to agree to tin'
formal and complete settlement of the lands, of which we have ai)ovc
given an account.
Periiapi no greater misfortune could have m-cnrred to England llrui
this very cession in form, by the pope, of the right of the laiiy to tlio
lands ofwhiciiihey had possessed tlieins(dves at the expense of the clinicli.
Had Koino attempted to resume the soliil property, as well as the spiriiiiiil
rights, ( f the church, considerations of interest in the (oriniT would Irivc
caused the nol>ility and gentry to hesitate about surrendering the lalicr;
but having seciireil their own property, iIk; great were easily iiidiii-ed tn
hand over the bulk of the people to a spiritual tyranny wnich they (hit-
tiTcd ihemsclves that liny would not siiffi-r fnun. Tiie vile old Invs
ngaiiiM heresy, whicji the former pirliamenl hail honestly and indignantly
rejected, were now re-enacled ; si itiites were passed for |)UiiiMiiiii<i sedi
tiuui rumours," unJ U was iiiado treason lo imagine or (u attempt the lif'
)f Phi
refuse
But,
liamen
'.einpt (
crown,
tion. '
nient oi
enipero
very ph
sonally
hauteur,
from hi),
niinish 1
prisoner
guasi off
tliese pri
have dor
that prin<
fulness
About
the lord 1
Sir Edmt
gether wi
released (
reached I
ascribed i
Baffled
tive, the q
"ity, of th
symptoms
of I-ondoii
for the eat
Iju- even tl
'ifu-, stron
provoking
and hagj
the peop
"'e ijueei
"'«-' last po,
'futh, and
>■,""«: the in
tliat ihis w
"k' parliain
("■odiiciive
iianient
A. n. ir,r,.
which of it
times. Soi
•lavish CO
'uinority, (|
f^roni llieir
these iiii>iii
"t the inert
made tin
exeremcj t|
the i|ii(.(.|t'i,
'U hriiiiriiijr
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
5o>
rooily
•oliUv
liiu'k
' iind
1U)1
III
f the
I'lili"
own
tin'
\h()vc
i!i:in
till'
iiircli.
)niui;il
1 li.ivi'
;iiit'r;
•I'll III
y Hat-
ii;mtly
MI'lll
tllO llf'
if Philip during that of the queen, which, also, the former parliament had
refused.
But, amidst all this disgusting aycophancy, even this complaisant par-
liament had still some English sense of reserve, and resisted every at
',empt of the queen to get her husband declared presumptive heir to the
Drown, entrusted with ihe administration, or even honoured with a corona-
tion. The same anti-Spanish feeling which caused the firmness of parlia-
ment on those points, also caused it to refuse all subsidy in support of the
emperor, in the war whicli he was still carrying on against France. 'I'licse
very plain indications of the feelings of the nation towards himself per-
sonally caused Philip, not indeed to lay aside his morose and impolitic
hauteur, for that was part and parcel of his nature, and as inseparable
from his existence as the mere act of breathing, but to endeavour to di-
minish his unpopularity by procuring the release of several distinguished
prisoners, confined either for actual offence against the court, or for the
ijuasi offence of being agreeable to the people. The most illustrious of
these prisoners was the lady Elizabeth ; and nothing that Philip could
have done could have been more pleasing to the nation than his releasing
that princess, and protecting her from the petty but no loss annoying spite-
fulness of her sister.
About the same time, Philip's politic intervention also gave liberty to
the lord Henry Dudley, Sir George Harper, Sir Nicholas Throgmorton,
Sir Edmund Warner, Sir William St. Loe, and Sir Nicholas Arnold, to-
gether with Harrington and Tremaine. Tlie carl of Devonshire also was
released from Folheringay casile, and allowed to go abroad, but he only
reached Padua when he was poisoned, and the popular rumour and beliel
ascribed the murder to the Imperialists.
Baffled in her endeavours to get her husband declared her heir presump
live, the queen became more than ever anxious for the honours of mater-
nity, of the approach of which she at length imagined that she felt iho
symptoms. She was publicly declared to be pregnant, and Bonner, bishop
of London, ordered public prayers to bo put up, that the young prince —
for tiie catholics chose to consider not merely the pregnancy of the queen,
but even the sex of the child a matter perfectly settled ! — might be lieau-
iifu., strong, and witty. The people in general, however, manifesitd a
provoking incredulity even as to the pregnancy of the queen, whose age
and haggard aspect certainly promised no very nuiuerous offspring; and
the people's incredulity was shortly afterwards justified, it proving that
the queen had been mistaken by the incipient symptoms of dropsy. To
the last possible moment, howctver, Philip and his friends concealed the
truth, and Philip was thus enabled to get himself appointed protector du-
ring the minority, sliould the child survive and the queen le. Finding
that this was the utmost concession that could at present be wrung from
the parliament, and trusting that it might by good management be made
pioilnciive of more at some future time, the queen now dissolved the par-
liament.
A. p. 1555.— The dissolution of parliament was marked by an ocrurrence
which of itself would be snflicient to indicate the despotic character of the
limes. Some members of the commons' house, unwilling to agree to the
slavish comjilaisance coimnonly shown by the majority, and yet, as a
minority, quite unable to stem the tide, lamc to the resolution to secede
from llieir attendance. No sooner was the parliament dissolved than
these members were indicted in the king's bench. Six of thnn, terrified
at the mere thought of u contest with the powerful and vindictive queen,
made the requisite submissions and obtained pardon; and the remamde!
exercised their riuht of traverse, thereby so long postponing the trial that
the (iiu'en's death put an end to the affair altogether. Cardiner's succes*
in bringing about the Spanish match to which the nation had been no
603
THE TREASURY OF HI3T0RY.
r M
averse, airl tlio tact and zeiil for the queen's service which he had shown
ill his duxierous inaii:igeineiit of the house of coiniiious, made hiin now
more than ever a weighty auiliority, not only with the queen but with the
cath'iiic party in general. It is singular enougii, as Hume well remarks,
that thout;h tins very learned prelate was far less zealous upon points of
theology than Cardinal Pole, yet, while the mild temper of the latter
allayed and ehasteaeil his tendency towards bigotry, tlie sterner and hardi-
er character of the former caused him to look upon the free judgment ol
the commonality as a presumption which it behoved the rulers of the laud
to put down, even by the severest and most unsparing resort to persecu
tion. For some liinc it was doubtful whether the milder course, recom-
mended hs politic by Pole, or the sterner course, advocated as essentially
necessary by Gardiner, would prevail. But Gardiner had the great advan-
tage of advixratiug the system which vvas the most in accordance with
the cruel and bigoted temper of both Philip and Mary ; and Pole had the
morliflcHtion not o;dy of being vanquished by his opponent, but also of
seeing full and ti-rrible license and freedom given to the hitherto partially
restrained demons of persecution.
Having determined the queen and court to a course of severity, Gar-
diner had no dii1ii:iilly in persuading them that it was politic to select the
first victims from among the e nini'iit for learning or authority, or both;
and Rogers, prebend. iry of St. i aul's, a man still more remarkable for
virtue and learning IImu for his eminence in the church and in the reform-
ed parly, had the melancholy honour of being singled out as the first vic-
tim. As instances of conversion were even more sought after by Gardin-
er than punishment, there was probably yet another reason why Itogers
was s'lecied for the first prosi'ciition. He had a wife and ten ciiildreu,
and was remarkable for Ins aflfeciiiMi both as a father and a husband ; and
there was every probability that ten(lern<'ss for them might lead him to
avoid, by aposlacy, a danger which otherwise ho might have been expect-
ed to brave. Uul if Gardiner really reasoned thus, ho was greatly mista-
ken. Rogers not only refused to recant an iota of his opinions at what
was called Ins trial, but even after the I'a'al sentence of burning was pass-
ed iiiMin him he still preserved such an equable frame of mind, that when
the fatal hour arrived his jailers actually had to awaken him from a sweet
sound sleep to proceed to the slake. Such courage miyiht, one would
suppose, have disarmed even the wrath of bigotry; but Gardiner, when
the condeTined gentleman asked permission to have a parting interview
with his wife, cruelly nnd scofilnifly rcplicil, tli.il Rogers, being a priest,
could not possibly have a wife! This iinforlnnatc and h^arned divine was
burned at Smitlitield, and the flames that coii'^U'iied him may be said to
have kindled a v,ist and moving pili; that swallowed up sufferers of both
sexes, and of nearly all iiges in every county of ICnglaiid.
Hooper, bishop of (Jlouitester, was tried at tin; same lime with Rogers,
and was also condemned to the stake, but, with a refinement upon cruelly,
he was not executed at Smithfid I. tlioimh tried in London, but sent for
that purpose into his own diocese, Ih.it his agoiiics and death in the iniilst
of the very scene of his labours of piety and iisefuliU'ss niiglit the more
efTectiially strike terror into the lienrts of his Hock. Hooper, however,
lurned what his enemies intended for an aggravation of his fate iiilo a
consolation, ;ind an op|)ortuniiy of giving lo those whom he had long ami
faithfully tauifht, a piirling proof of llie siiicerily of his leachings, and ol
the efTicacy of genuine religion to uphold iis sincere believers, even iiiidei
the most terrible agonies th;it riilliless and misiaken in:in, in liis pride ol
flercencss, can inflict upon his fellow worm. And terrible, even heyoiiii
tile usual terrors of these alioniinabic si'eiics, were the tintiires of llie
m^irlvred Hooper. The facgots provided for hiscxccuiion were loo green
III kindle rajitdly, and, a high wind blowing at the time, the flames phiyed
i III
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
503
niclty,
111 fi)r
iniilsl
inori!
mill ;i
iiji and
mil ol
iiiiiloi
rnU'. ol
licyoiul
of llic
njrt'i'ii
pliiycd
sround his lower limbs without hein^r Me to fasten upon the vital parts.
One of ins hamls dropped off, and with the other lie continued to beat his
breast, praying to heaven and exhorting the pitying spectators, until his
swollen tongue coild no longer perform its office; and it was tliree quar-
ters of an hour before his tortures were at an end. Of the courage and
sincerity of Hoopiir there is striking evidence in the fact that the queen's
pardon was placed before him on a stool after lie was tied to the slake,
but he ordered it to be removed, preferring the direst torture with sincerity,
to safely with apostaey.
Sanders, burned at Coventry, also had the queen's pardon offered to
him, and he also rejected it, embracing the stake and exclaiming, " We
have the cross of Christ! Welcome everlasting life." Taylor, the cler-
gyman of Hadley, in Hertfordshire, was burned at that place, in the pres-
ence of his parishioners. When tied to the stake he began to pray in
English, which so enraged his guards. Dial, bidding him speak Latin, they
struck him so violently on llie head with their halberls, that he died on the
instant, and was spared the lingering agonies prepared for him.
Pliilpot, archdeacon of VVinchcsler, had very greatly distinguished
hiinsi'|fl)y hts zeal for proiestaiuisin. On one occasion, being engaged
in a controversy with an Ariaii, the zeal of the archdeacon so far got the
ascendancy over his good manners, ihat he actually spat in the Arian's
face. Sulisequently, and when he might have been expected to have re-
pented on relleclion of what he had done in the heat of passion, he pub-
lished a formal Juslirication of his conduct, in which he said that he felt
bound to give that strong proof of the detestation of his opponent's blas-
phemy. So impetuous a man was not likely lo escape notice in the
jiersecnticm that now raged, and he was brought to trial for heresy and
burned to death in Sinithfield.
IfCaruiner was the person to whom the persecution chiefly owed its
coniHienceinenl, it was Homier, bishop of London, who carried it on
with the coarsest and most unrelenting barbarity. Apart from all mere
bigiiiry, this singularly brutal man appeared lo derive positive sensual
gralilicaiioii from the act of iiiHiciing torture. He occasionally, when he
had prisoners under examination who did not answer to his satisfaction,
would have them stripped and flog them with his own hand. No." was
thi'^ his worst brutality. An unfortunate weaver, on one occasion, re-
fused to recant, when Bonner endeavoured to persuade him, and, as is
veraciously recorded, this distirace of his sacred profession first lore tl;ei
unfortunate man's heard out by the root, and then held his hand in the
flame of a lamn until the sinews burst, by way of giving him, as he said,
some notion of what burniiiK really way like !
When we say that this horribh! system of persecution and cruelty
endured for three years, and that in that iniie two hundred and twenty-
seven persons are known to have suffered — while probably many more
wert! similarly buU.'hered of whom we have no account— whili; that, be-
si<les men of all ranks, from bishops to day-labourers, fifty-five women
and four children thus perished, it must be obvious that a detailiMl account
of thi,? terrible season of cruelly would he disgusting, even were it not
quiie impracticable. We shall, therefore, add but a few more cases,
and then leave a subject which cannot be treated of even at tlii» distance
of lime without feelings of disgust and horror.
Ferrar, bishop of St. David's, in Wales, being condemned to death as a
lieretic, appealed to ('ardinal Pole ; but his appeal was wholly uiiaitendcd
to, and the unfortunale bishop was burned in his own diocese.
There yet remained two still more illustrious victims to be immolated.
Ridley, formerly bishop of Lomlon, and Latimer, formerly liislmiuif Wor-
ecsliT, had long been celebrated for both the zeal and (Mlicieiicy of thcur
(tupportofthc cause of the reforiiialion. In the preaching of boih therf
604
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
was a certain nervous lioineliiioas, which m;ide their eloquence especially
effective npon the minils an. I hearts of the lower orders, ami on thut very
acconnt these two prelates were more formidable to the Uomanists than
they wonlil have been h:d they affected a more learned and chastened
style. Ttiat two such capital enemies of Romanism -one of whom more-
over, liad even for some time been possessed of Bonner's own see — should
escape, could not be expected. They were tried and eoiideoineil, and
both burned at the same stake at Oxford. Both died with courage and a
calm constancy not to be surpassed. Even when they were already lied
to the stake, and the revolting tragedy commenced, Latimer cheerfully
called out, " Be of good courage, brother Ridley, we shall this day kindle
such a torch in England, as, I trust in God, shall never be extinguished."
Latimer, who was very aged, suffered but little, being very early killed by
the ex()losion of some gunpowder which the executioner had mercifully
provided for that purpose ; but Ridley was seen to be alive some time
after he was surrounded by flames.
As neither age nor youth, neither learning nor courage, could make any
impression upon the flinty heart of Bonner, so neither could even the most
heroic proof of filial piety. A y(ning lad, named Hunter, who was only
in his nineteenth year, suffered himself, with the imprudence common to
youth, to be drawn into a religions argument with a priest, in the course
of wbieh argument he iiad the farther imprudence todeny the real presence.
Subse(iiii!nily he began to apprehend the danger of what he had done, and
absconded lest any treachery on the part of the priest should involve him
in puiiislimvnl. The priest, as the young man had feared, did give infitr-
mation, and Bonner, learning that the youth had abseonded, caused his
father to be seized, and not only treated him with great immediate
severity, but threatened him with still worse future treatment. The
youth no sooner heard of the danger and trouble to which he had imiii-
tentioiially (exposed his father, than he delivered himself up. To a gen-
erous man this conduct would have been decisive as to the propriety of
overlooking till! lad's speculative error or boldness ; but Bonner knew no
remorse, and the youth was merciles.sly committed to the flanK^s.
A still more disgraceful and barbarous incident o(;curred in Guern-
sey. A wretched woman in that island was condemned to the slake,
and was, when led to punishment, far advanced in pregnancy. The
ineffable pangs inflicleil upon her produced labour, and one of the
guards snatched the new-born infant from tlie flamt^s. A brutal and
thoroughly ignorant magistrate who was present ordered the helpless
litthi innocent to be thrown back again, " being determined that noiliinij
should survive which sprung from so heretical and obstinate a parent."
Setting aside ihe HbiuMTCiit and almost incredible offence a^.^inst humanity
committed by th.s detestable magistrate, he was, even in the rigid inter-
prelation of the law, a imirderer, ami ought to have been executed as one;
for, whalever the offence of the wretclnid mother, the child idearly was
not contemplated in the sentence passed npon her. But, alas! the spiiit
of bigotry tramples alike upon the laws of nature and of man; ami it is
probable that this detestable murderer, so far from receiving merited pun-
ishment for his brutality, might have been even applauded Air his "zeal."
As ihongli the national dread ami detestation of the Spani.>ii alliance had
not already beini but too abundantly justified by the event, spies were
sent out in every direction, and a commission was a|)pointed for inquiring
into and puMi.sliing all spiritual and even some civil crinu's; and two very
brief extracts from the commissioN and instructions will show that in oh-
j<!ct, [lowers, and process, the cominissioners were, only under anotlier
name, in(|nisitors, and their spies n\\i\ informers officials of the inqiiisltiuii.
The conimissicMi said, that " fSlnce many false rumours were published
among the "ubjects, and many heretical <>t' ions were also spread ainuiiy
them, V
by Willi
after all
books ;
clnircli I
tlie altai
to servi(
holy wa
heresies
punishec
power tc
and to u!
premises
they plea
what they
inquisitio
determin;
"Tobr
tice of th(
joining th
confess, a
"Secie
practice o
tices of th
honest oer
mand then
out such pi
shall despj
about to m
also that tl
justices of
it shall be
such suspe
secretly to i
''ons befort
were accus
This prec
"otoiily th
and writing
presently b
person." 1
touch of hu
Was possibl
''eritance, fi
'hem to soi_
condescend
While V\\
to merit the
filled the pa
rij^hl of co/j/
possessed d
and to insist
Several of tl
'"and back _
erishiiig the
judgment of
"lade to the
by saying th
THE TIIEASURY OF HI8T0KY.
605
lis
them, the commissioners were lo iiiqnirc into these either by presenfmeiits,
by witnesses, or any other political way they could devise, and lo search
after all heresies, the bringers in, ilm sellers, the readers of all heretical
books ; to examine and punish all inisbeliaviours or negligences in any
clutrch or chapel ; to try all priests that did not preach ihe sacrament of
the altar ; all persons that did not hear mass, or go to their parish church
to servicre; that would not go in processions or did not lake holy bread or
holy water ; and if they found any that did obstinately persist in such
heresies, they were to put them into the hands of their ordinaries, to be
punished according to the spiritual l-.iws ; giving the commissioners full
power to proceed as their diserelioii and consciences should direct them,
and to use all such means as they would inrcid for the searching of the
premises, empowering thein, also, to call before them such witnesses as
they pleased, and to Jhrce them m make oath of such things as might discover
what they sought after.'''' This new commission was, in fact, an English
inquisition ; and the following extract from Hume abundantly shows the
determination that that inquisition should not want for officials imd familiars.
"To bring the method of proceeding in England still nearer to the prac-
tice of the inquisition, letters were wriitcn to Lord North and others, en-
ioining them 'to put to the torture' such obstinate persons as would not
confess, and there to order them at their discretion.
"Secret spies, also, and informers were employed, according to the
practice of that iniquitous tribunal. Instructions were given to the jus-
tices of the peace that they shmild ' call secretly before them one or two
honest persons within their limits, or more, at their discretion, and com-
mand them, by oath or otherwise, that they shall secretly learn and search
out such persons as shall evil behave themselves in the church, or iiJly,or
shall despise, openly by words, the king's or queen's proceedings, or go
about to make any commotion, or tell any seditious tales or news.' And
also that the same persons, so to be appointed, shall declare to tiie same
justices of the peace the ill behaviour of lewd disorderly persons, whether
it shall be for using unlawful games or any such other light behaviour of
such suspected persons; and that the same information shall be given
secretly to tlie justices, and the same justices shall call such accused per-
sons before them and examine them, without declaring by whom they
were accused."
This precious commission also had power to execute by martial law
not only the putters forth of all heretical, treasonable, and seditious books
and writings, but also all " whosoever hiid any of these books and did not
presently burn them, without reading them or showing them to any other
person." Did not the whole tenor of tiiis portion of our history forbid all
touch of humour, one would be strongly tempted to intiuire how a man
was possibly to know the character of books coming to him by gift or in-
lierilance, for instance, without either reading them himself or show ing
them to some one else ! But as bigotry cannot feel, so neither will it
condescend to reason.
While Philip and Mary were thus exhibiting an evil industry and zeal
to merit the reconcilement of the kingdom to Rome, Paul IV., who now
filled the papal throne, took advantage of Marv's bigotry to assume t!:e
right o{ conferring upon Mary the kingdom of Ireland, which she already
possessed dejactoet de jure as p>rt and parcel of the English sovereignly,
and lo insist upon the restoration to Rome of certain lands and mmicy !
Several of the council, probably fcaiJng that by degrees Rome would de
inand back all tin; church properly, pointed out the great riangerof impov-
erishing the kingdom, and but that death had deprived Mary of the shrewd
judgment of Gardiner, such concessiiuis would probably not have been
made to the grasping spirit of Uome. But Mary replied lo all objections
by saying that she; preferred the salvation of he^ f wn soul to ten such
•'IS
I "I
b06
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
I'l'
kingdoms as England; and Heath, archbishop of Canterbury, who had
succeeded Gardiner in the possession of the great seal, encouraged her in
that feeling. A bill was accordingly presented to parliament for restoring
to tlie church the tenths, first fruits, and all impropriations which remained
in the hands of the queen. At first sight it might seem that parliament
had little cause or right to interfere in a matter wliich, as far as the terms
of liie bill went, concerned only the queen herself. But the lay possessors
of church lands naturally enough considered that subjects would scarcely
be spared after the sovereign had been mulcted. Moreover, while some,
probably a great number, of the members were chiefly moved by this con-
sideration, all began to be both terrified and disgusted by the cruel execu-
tions which had disgraced the whole nation. A steady opposition conse-
quently arose ; and when the government applied for a subsidy for two
years and for two-fifteenths, the latter were refused, and the opposition,
with equal bitterness and justice, gave as the reason of this refusal, that
while the crown was wilfully divesting itself of revenue in behalf of Rome,
it was quite useless to bestow wealth upon it. The dissatisfaction of the
parliament was still farther evidenced by the rejection of two bills, enact-
ing penalties against such e.\ilcs as should fail to return within a certain
time, and for incapacitating for the office of justice of the peace such
magistrates as were remiss in the prosecution of heretics. This fresh and
pointed proof of the displeasure of the parliament determined the queen
to dissolve it. But the dissolution of tlie parliament did not diminish the
pecuniary embarrassment of the queen. Her husband had now been
several months with his father in Flanders ; and the very little of his cor-
respondence with which he favoured her chiefly consisted of demands for
money. Stern and unfeeling as she was to every one else, the infatuated
queen was passionately attached to the husband who certainly took no
pains to conceal his dislike of her ; and as the parliament, previous to its
dissolution, had granted her but a scanty supply, slie was led, by iter
anxiety to meet her husband's demands, to extort money from lier subjects
in a manner the most unjustifiable. From each of one thousand persons,
of whose personal attachment she affected to be quite certain, she de-
manded a loan of 60/. ; and even this large sum being inadequate to her
wants, she demanded a farther general loan from all persons possessing
twenty pounds a year and upwards; a measure which greatly distressed
the smaller gentry. Many of them were obliged by her inroads upon
their purses to discharge some of their servants, and as these men sml-
denly tiirown upon the world became troublesome, the queen issued a
proclamation to compel their former employers to take them back again!
Upon seven thousand yeomen who had not as yet contributed, she levied
sixty thousand marks, and from the merchants she obtained the sum of
six and thirty thousand pounds. She also extorted money by the most
tyrannous interference with trade, as regarded both the foreign and nativp
mcrchanis ; yet after all this shameless extortion she was so poor, that
she off(!red, and in vain, so bad was her credit, fourteen per cent, for a loan
of 30,000J. Not even that high rate of interest crould '.iduce the merchants
of Antwerp, to whom she offered it, to lend her the .noney, until by men-
aces she dad induced her good city of London to be security for her!
Who would iinagine that we arc writine of the self-same nation that so
shortly afterwards warred even to the death with Charles I. for the com-
paratively trifling matter of the ship money?
The poverty which alone had induced Philip to correspond with her was
now terminated, the emperor Charles the Fifth, that prince's father, resisfn-
ing to him all his wealth and dominion, and retiring to a monastery in
Spain. A singular anecdote is told of the abdit^ated nionarch. He spent
much of his time in the construoling of watches, and finding it impossiljle
to make •hem go exactly alike, he retnarkcd that he had indeed been fool
it l:ll.:!tl
THE TKEASUHV OF HISTORY.
50-7
;;im '.
ied
of
most
ulivp
ihiil
loan
ants
mcu-
her!
ill so
com-
r \va3
:sign-
jry in
spent
ssil)le
fool
iah to expect that he could compel that uniformity in minds which he could
not achieve even in mere machines ! The reflection thus produ( ed is said
even to have given him some leaning towards those theological t)pinions
of which he and his son had been the most brutal and ruthless porsecnlors.
A. D. 1556. — Cranmer, though during the whole of this reign lie h:id been
left unnoticed in confinement, was not forgotten by the vindictive queen
She was daily more and more exacerbated in her naturally wretched tem-
per by the grief caused by the contemptuous neglect of her husband. Her
private hours were spent in tears and complaints; and that misery which
usually softens even the most rugged nature had in her case only the effect
of making her still more ruthless and unsparing.
Cranmer, though he had during part of Henry's reign warded off that
monarch's rage from Mary, was very much hated by her for the part he
had taken in bringing about the divorce of her mother, and she was not
only resolved to punish him, but also to make his death as agonising as
possible. For the part he had taken in the opposition to her ascending
the throne she could easily have had him beheaded, but nothing short of
the flames seemed to her to he a sufficiently dreadful punishment for him.
She caused the pope to cite him to Rome, there to take his trial for heresy.
Being a close prisoner in the Tower, the unfortunate prelate perforce neg-
lected the citation, and he was condemned par contumace, and sentenced
to the stake. The next step was to degrade him from his sacred office;
and Bonner, who, with Thirleby, bishop of Kly, was entrusted with this
task, performed it with all the insolent and triumphant brutality consonant
with his nature. Firmly believing that Cranmer's eternal as well as earthly
punishment was assured, the queen was not yet contented ; she would
fain deprive him in his last hours even of human sympathy, and the credit
attached to consistency and fidelity to the cause he had embraced. Per-
sons were employed to persuade him thai the door of mercy was still open
to him, and that he, who was so well qualified to be of wide and perma-
nent service to mankind, was in duty bound to save himself by a seeming
compliance with the opinions of *.he queen. The fear of death, and the
strong urgings of higher motives, induced Cramner to comply, and he
agreed to subscribe to the doctrines of the real presence and the papal
supreuiacr. Shallow writers have blamed Cranmer for this compliance ;
none will'do so who consider "how fearfully and how wonderfully we are
made"— in mind as well as in body; how many and urgent were the mo-
tives to this weakness, how much his mind was shaken by long peril anil
imprisonment, and, above all, who remember and reflect how nobly he
subsequently shook off all earthly motives "like dew drops from the lion's
mane," and with what calm and holy serenity he endured the last dread
tortiiri's.
Having induced Cranmer privately to sign his recantation, the queen
now demanded that he should complete the wretched price of his safety
by publicly making his rccantaticMi at St. Paul's before the whole people,
•■""'en this would not have saved Cranmer. But, either from his own
judgment, or from the warning of some secret friend, Cranmer perceived
that it was intended to send him to execution the moment that he should
thus have completed and published his degradation. .\ll his former high
and courageous spirit was now again aroused within him ; and hv. not only
refused to comply with this new dcnnmd, but openly and boldly said that
the only passage in his life of which he deeply and painfully repented was,
that recantation which, in a moment of natural weakness, he already had
been induced to make. He now, he said, most sincerely repented .ind dis-
avowed that recantation, and inasmuch as his haiut had ofl'cnded in signing
it, so should his hand first sufl^er the doom which only thai single weak-
ness and insincerity had made him dcservinsf. The rage of liie irourt a.:-'
\U sycophants at hearing a [lublic avowal so different from that which
' iji
mm)
608
THE TllEASnilY OK HISTOll
Ihey expected, scarcely left them as much dt'ct'iicy of patience as would
allow them to hear him to the end of his discourse; and the instant that
he ceased to speak he was led away to tiie slake.
True to his promise, Craiuiier wh(!u the fajfgots were lighted held out
his hand into the risiiiij flames until it was coiisuuied, repeatedly exclaim-
ing as he did so, '^ Thi i uitworlhy hand V " This hutid has offended P' Tho
fierce flames, as they readied his hody, were not able to subdue the sub-
lime sereiiiiy to which he liad wrouirht his christian courage and endurance,
and as Imiw as his eouiitenauce was visible to the appalled bystanders, it
wore tlie character not of agony but of a holy sacrifice, not of despair but
of an assured and eternal hope. It is said by some Protestant writers of
the time, that when the sad scene was at an end, his heart was found en-
tire and uninjured ; hut probably this assertion took its rise in the singular
constancy and calmness with which the martyr died. Cardinal Pole, on
the death of Cranmer, was made archbishop of Canterbury. But though
this ecclesiastic was a man of great hunianity as well as of great ability,
and though he was sincerely anxious to serve the great interests of religion
not by ensnaring and destroying the unhappy and ignorant laity, but by
elevating the clergy in the moral and intellectual scale, to render them
more efRinent in their awfully important service, there were circumstances
which made his power far inferior to his will. He was personally disliked
at Rome, where his tolerance, his learning, and his addiction to studious
retirement, had caused iiim to be suspected of, at least, a leaning to the
new doctrines.
A. D. 1557. — In the midst of Mary's fierce persecutions of her protestant
aubjecls, she was self-tortured beyond all that she had it in her power to
inflict on others, and might have asked, in the words of the dying Inca to
liis complaining soldiers, " Think you that /, then, am on a bed of roses 1"
War raged between France and Spain, and next to her desire firmly to re-
establish Catholicism in I']ngland, was her desire to lavish the blood and
treasures of her people on the side of Spain. Some opposition being made
Philip visited London, and the queen's zeal in his cause was increased,
instead of being as in the case of a nobler spirit it would have been, utterly
destroyed, by his sullen declaration, that if Kngland did not join him against
France, he would see England no more. Kveii this, however much it af-
fected the queen, did not bear down the opposition to a war which, as the
clearer-headed members discerned, would be intoleraWy expensive in any
case, and, if suc<!essful, would tend to make England a mere dependeivcy
of Spain. Under the circumstances, a true English patriot, indeed, must
have wished to see Spain humbled, not exalted; crippled in its finances,
not enriched. It unfortunately happened, however, that an attempt was
made to seize Scarborough, and Stafford and Ji's fellows in this attempt
confessed that they were incited to it by Henry of iTaiice. This declar-
ation called up all the dominant national antipathy to France ; the prurtem c
of the opposition was at once laid asleep ; war was de(!lared, and every
preparation that the wretched financial state of England would permit,
was made for carrying it on with vigour. By dint of a renewal of the
most s'haineless and excessive extortion, the queen contrived to raise and
equip an army of ten thousand men, who were sent to Flanders under the
earl of PtMnbroke. To prevent disturbances at home, Mary, in obedience
probably to the advice of her cold and cruel husband, caused many of the
first men in England, from whom she had any reason to fear opposition,
to be seized and imprisoned in places where even their nearest friendi
could not find them.
The details of the military affairs between France and Spain with her
English auxiliaries belong to the history of France. In this place it may
Buflice to say. that the talents of Guise rendered all attempts useless ; and
and that, so far from benefiting Philip, the English lost Calais, that key te
France, (
uiipairio
was oftpi
her deatl
But regrt
success I
her very
from an c
Philip c
drawn fro
toralioii o
der a drop
after a moi
''''lis mise
sole good,
"lis virtue
'iistorian.
But why?
by lier tanii
li"od, after
days, while
ability of I
that she coi
proteslanis
yet she no i
'ered her pi
and cruelty
"hich even
Of the Ui.
»■ D. 1558.1
di'^gusted hel
"pillions, thai
C'l and almol
been called
Heath, as cli
conclude erel
Klizabeth !
Doep and
qufien n, !:nv|
'o a nation prl
Elizabeth, ■
"cld, where ;
""•'iitifor, evtj
younger siste]
o<'casion to bil
'" "10 appear,!
abode in the [
8'juices nnderl
^^'len she waJ
'Pr "len all-n.l
KiK^'Js and r..ti|
from -iaiiger
ifM
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
509
very
rmit,
the
iind
the
pui'e
f the
iiion,
ric'iuli
th her
nwy
and
key tf
France, of which England was so chary and so proud. Evi,ii the cold and
uiipairiotic heart of Mary was touched by this capital inisfortuni!; and she
was often heard to say, in the agonies of her uxorious grief, that, after
her death "Calais" would be found visibly graven upon her broken heart.
But regrets were vain, and wisdom came too late. France improved her
success by stiiruig up the Scotch; and, with such a danger threatening
her very frontier, England was obliged sullenly and silently to withdraw
from an onerous warfare, whicli she had most unwisely entered upon.
Philip continued the war for some time after England had virtually with-
drawn from it; and he was negotiating a peace and insisting upon the res-
toration of Calais as one of its conditions, when Mary, long labouring un-
der a dropsy, was seized with mortal illness and died, in the year 1588,
after a most wretched and mischievous reign of five years and four months.
This miserable woman has been allowed the virtue of sincerity as the
sole good, the one oasis in the dark desert of her charai-ter. Uul even
this virtue must, on careful examination, be denied to her by the impartial
'iistorian. As a whole, indeed, her course is not marked by in8in(*erity,
Bat why] Her ferocity and despotism were too completely unresisted
by her tame and aghast people to leave any room for the exercise of false-
hood, after the very first days of her disgraceful reign. But in those first
days, while it was yet uncertain whether she could resist the p(jwer and
ability of the ambitious and unprincipled Northumberland, she proved
that she could use guile where force was wanting. Her promises to tho
prolestanis were in many cases voluntary, and in all profuse and positive i
yet she no sooner grasped the sceptre firmly in her hand, than she scat-
tered her promises to the wmds, and commenced that course of bigotry
and cruelty which h.w Tor ever affixed to her memory the loatlicd name,
wliiclieven \ ft no Kiiiilishinan can pronounce without horror and disgust,
of the Bi, iiv Queen Marv.
CHAPTER XLVI.
THE REIGN OK ILIZARETH.
A. D. 1558. — So completely had the arbitrary and cruel reign of Mary
disgusted her subjects, almost witliout disliiiclion of rank or religious
opinions, that the acces.slon of Klizabeth was li;iiled as a blcssiiiij inialloy-
ed and almost too great to have been hoped for. The parliament had
been called together a few days before tlie dealii of Mary, and when
.as hardly allowed to
ry of " God save Queen
offences of the deceased
•ct of joy, instead of grief,
■ no Fnaland !
Heath, as chancellor, announced that event
conclude ere both liouses burst into t'le joy fn
Elizabeth! Long and happily may she reign!"
Deep and deadly indeed must have been tht
queen n, \i^ve rendered her death an actual sub
ton nation proveiIiir.!!y «" loviil .md ntTi'ctiniv.u.
Klizabeth, when she received the news of her sister's death was at Hat-
field, where she had for some time resided in studious and close retire
ment ; for, even to the last, Mary had shown that her malignity against her
younger sister had suffered no abatement, and required only the sliglitest
occasion to burst out iu fat:d violence. When she had devoted a few days
to the appearance of mourning, she proceeded to London and took up hei
abode in the Tower. The remembrancro of the very different circiim-
stajices under whicl she had formerly visited that blood-stained fortnss,
when she was a pr soner, and her life in danger from the malignity of
I'lCr then all-powerful sister, affected her so much, that she fell upon her
kiincs and returned thanks anew to the Almighty for her safe deliver.iiir'C
from danger, which, she truly said, was scarcely inferior to that of Daniel
610
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
M.:i
in the (leu of lions. Her immediately subsequent conduct showed that
her heart was properly aflTected by the emotions which called forth thi« act
of piety. She had been much injured and much insulted during the life
of her sister; for such was the hateful and petty cast of Mary's mind,
that there were few readier ways to win her favour than by insult or in-
jury to the then friendless daughter of Anne Doleyn. But Elizabeth now
seemed determined only to remember the past in her thankfulness for her
complete and almost miraculous deliverance from danger. She allowed
neither word nor glance to express resentment, even to those who iiad
most ijijured her. Sir H. Bedingfield, who had for a considerable time
been her host, and who had both harshly and disrespectfully caused lier
to feel that, though nominally his guest and ward, she was in reality his
jealously-watched prisoner, might very reasonably have expected a cold
if not a stern reception; but even this man she received with affability
when he first presented himself, and never afterwards inflicted any severer
punishment upon him than a good-humoured sarcasm. The sole case
m which she manifested a feeling of dislike was that of the brutal and
blood-stained Bonner, from whom, while she addressed all the other
bishops with almost affectionate cordiality, she turned away with an ex-
pressive and well-warranted appearance of horror and disgust.
As soon as the necessary attention to her private affairs would allow
liir, Vhe new queen sent off messengers to foreign courts to announce her
sister's death and her own accession. The envoy to Philip, who at this
time was in Flanders, was the lord Cobham, who was ordered to return
the warmest tlianks of his royal mistress for the protection he had afforded
her when she so much needed it, and to express her sincere and earnest
desire that their friendship might continue unbroken. The friendly ear-
nestness of Elizabeth's message strengthened Philip in a determination he
had nuide even during the illness of Mary, of whose early death he could
not but have been expectant, and he immediately instructed his ambassa-
dor to the court of London to offer the hand of Philip to Eii/.alielh.
Blinded by his eager desire to obtain that doiniiuon over England which
his marriage with Mary had faih.'d to secure, Philip forgot tliat tliere
were many oljjections to this measure; ohjectioiis which he, intl(UMl,
would easily have overlooked, but which tlio sagacious Elizab(nh couM
not fa I to notice. As a catholic, Philip was necessarily disliked l)y the
protestants who had so lately tasted of catholic pcrsccntio4i in its worst
form ; as a Spaniard, lie was cordially detested by Eiiglislimen of cither
creed. Hut apart from and beyond these weighty olijei^tions, wtiicli of
themselves would have been fatal to his pretensions, be stood in precisely
the same relationship to Elizabctii that her fallier had stood in to (.'atli-
arine of Arragoii, and in inarrving Philip, Elizabeth would virtually, ami
in a manner which the world would surely not overlook, pronounce lier
mother's marriage illegal and her own birth illegitimate. This Inst con-
sideration alone would have decided lOlizalieth iigainsl Philip; hut while
in her heart she was fully and irrevocalily determined never to marry hiin,
she even thus early brought into use that (hiiilicity for which slii' was
aflerwanls as reinarkabh- as for her higher and nobler (lualities, and sent
him so eijuivocal aiHl undecided an answer, that, so far from des|i!iiiiiiu
of success, Philip actually sent to Koint! to solicit the dispensation that
would be necessary.
With her characteristie prudence, Elizabeth, through her ambassailor at
Rome, aiinouiiccd her accession to the pojie. 'i'hal exalteil pcrsonaije
was grieved at the early death of .Mary, not only as it deprived l!iii"e o'
tile benefit of her liigotry, hut as it mad(! way for a princess who was
already lonkcil up to with pride and ctuifidein'e by the prolesinii's ; and
he siilicred Ins double vexation to uianifent itself with ii very indiscreet
eiM-'iKV* lie treated Elizabeth's nssum[ition of tlu^ crown without hn
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
511
IcrsKiiiiun
li;()i"t' ()'
Vvllll W'.IS
|iits; aixl
|iulisfri'i'<
llioul 111*
permission as being doubly wrong; wrong, as treating witn disrespect
the holy see, to which he still deemed England subject, and wrong, as the
holy see had pronounced her birth illegitimate. This sort of conduct
was by no means calculated to succeed with Elizabeth ; she immediately
recalled her ambassador from Home, and only pursued her <;ourse with
the more resolved and open vigour. She recalled home all who had been
exiled, and set at liberty all who had been imprisoned for their religious
opinions during the reign of her sister; she caused the greater part of
the service to be performed in FiUglish, and she forba(>3 the elevation of
the host in her own chapel, which she set up as the standard for all other
places of worship. But, always cool and cautious, Klizithcih, while she
did thus much and thus judiciously to favour the reformers, did not neg-
lect 10 discourage those who not only would have fain outstripped her in
advancing reform, but even have inflicted upon the Romanists some of
the persecutions of which they themselves had complained. On occasion
of a petition being presented to her, it was said, in that partly quaint and
partly argumentative style which in that age was so greatly affected, that
having graciously released so many other prisoners, it was to be imped
that she would receive a petition for the release of Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John. Being as yet undetermined as to the extent to which it would
be desirable to permit or encourage the reading of the Scriptures, she
readily replied, that previous to doing so she must consult those prison-
ers, and learn whether they desired their liberty. To preaching slie was
never a great friend ; one or two preachers, she was wont to say, were
enough for a whole county. And, at this early period of her reitiii, she
deemed that the indiscreet zeal of many of the most noted of the pro-
tcstaiit preachers was calculated to promote that very persecution of the
Honiaiilsis which she was especially anxious to avoid ; and she, conse-
quently, forbade all preaching save hy specrial license, and took care to
grant licenses only to men of discretion and moderation, from whose
preaching no evil was to be apprehended.
The parliament was very early employed in passing laws for the sup-
pressi(Mi of the recently erected monasteries, and restoring the alien-
nifd tenths and first fruits to the crown. Sundry other laws were passed
chiefly rclatitig to reliulon; but those laws will be sufficiently under-
stood hy those who have a'lPiitively ai'companied us thus far, when we
siiy, that they, sulistaniially, abolished all that Mary had done, and re-
stored all that she had ahroi, ted of tlie laws of Edward.
The then bishops, owing everything to her sister and to Catholicism,
were so greatly offended by these clear indications of her iiittinled
course, that they refused to officiate at her coroiiatioii, and it was not
without Home difficulty tliat the bishop of Carlisle was at leiigl'i pre-
vailed upon to perform the ceremony.
The most i)riiilciil and eireclUMl steps having thus been taken to se-
cure the piotestaiit interests without in any degree awakening <m' en-
cniiriigiiig whatever there might be of jirotestant higoiv, and to despoil
llie Itoiiiiuiisls of what they hail vicdeiitly ai quired witlmiit drivinLr Ihrm
to desperation, tlie queen (■ailsed a solenin disputalinll to lie lielil hefori'
ll;ic,ri, vvlioiii .ilie had maih- lord keeper, between llie prolestjint and the
IfiiMKiiiist divines. The latter were vaiiqiiislied in aiizuineiit, liui were
til" "ilistiiialc to confess it ; anil some o( tlieiii were so relVacicn v that
it was deemed necessary lo imprison tin in. Having been tliiis lar In-
lanpliaiii, the pr(tte^tallts iirnceedi d to their iiltiinaie and inofst iiii|'iirt:iiit
^•I'p; aiiil a lull was pi^s^ed by which the mass was aludmliid, and the
liturgy of Iviiig Edward re-estnlili.shed ; and penalties wen^ eiitcteil
'igiunsi all who shdiild either absent tlieinselves from «or>'liip or diqiarl
fnin the (iriler heri! laid down. Ib'fuie the roiielilsion of tlii' seni-uin,
liie piirli'iiiieiit gave a still farther proof of its attiicliin"iit lo tlii' ipieen,
512
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
and of it'? desire to aid her in tier desiirns. by voting her a subsidy (v
four sliilliii<rs in the poiiiid on liiml, and two-:in>l-eicrht-pence on goods
with two fifteenths. Weil i<novvjiiir all the dangers of a disputed sue
cession, the piirlianient nt the siinie time petitioned her to choose a lius
b.ind. But the queen, though she aeknowledi^cd that the petition was
couched in terms so gciUTHl and so respectful that she could not take
any ofTtMiee at it, protested that, idways nndesirous of changing her con-
dition, she was anxious only to he the wife of Kngland and the mother
of the Knglish, and had no hijrher ambitimi thai-, to have for her epitaph,
" Here lies Elizabeth, who lived and died a maidoii queen."
A. 1). 1559. — The parliament Just prorogued had, as we have shown, got
through a vast deal of important business in the session ; but though that
WHS the first session of a new reign, a reign, too, immediately following one
in which such horrors of tyrannous cruelty had been enacted, it is to be re-
marked, to the praise of the moderation of both queen and parliament, that
not a ^sillgle bill of attainder was pissed, thmigh some attaints by former
parliaments were mercifully or justly removed.
Wliiltr the queen had been thus wisely busy at home, she had been no
less active abroad. Sensible ilint her kingdom required a long season of
repose to enable it to regnin its power, she ordered her ambassadors,
Lord KiBngharn and the bishop of Kly, to conclude peace with Frani^e on
any terms; and peace was accoriliiigly concluded. Uut as the marriiige
of Henry and Anne Uoleyn had been concluded in open opposition to
lloiiic, Krance chose to ilntMU Kluahelli wrongfully seated upon lliu
throne; and the duke of (Jiiisc and Ins brothers, seeing that Mary, ()iiei'ii
of Sects, the wife of the daii|iliiii. would — supposing Klizabeth out of the
question — be the rightful heir, (ler.sn.Kled the king of France to order his
sou and his daiighter-iti-liw to asMinie both the title and the arms of
I'lngiand. The death of Henry of France al a tournament not being fol-
lowed by any abandoiunent on the pari of Mary and her husband, ilicn
Francis |[. of Frunze, of this most nnwarrantaiile and insulting assiimp-
tioii, F.lizabiah was i>lnng into Oh: coinnieni-ement of that deadly halreil
wlili-h subsequently proved so fatal to the fairer but less prudent Mary uf
Scotliiiid.
A. n. 15t)l. — The sitintion of Scotland and the eircumstances wliii'li
oi'i'iirred there at tins ficrioil will lie found In all necessary detail iiiiijer
the proper lieail. It will siidice to say, here, lliat the theological and civil
dis|iiM(s that riiged fiercely iiiiKMig the liirbnlent and warlike nobility ol
ScDihind and their rcsprclivc follow. ■r?', iiliinged Ibiit country iiilo a siati;
of confusion, which encoiiniged lOliZiibetli in her hope of e.viorliiig fruiii
Mary, now a widow, a cleiir and salisfactory iibaiidoiiment of her assiiiii|i-
tioii; an aliandonmcnt wlii.-li, Indeed. h,ii| been made for her by a iriMiy
at I'lijiiilinrgh, wlucli treaty Flizalieth now, through 'riirogminMoii, licr
ainliiiss.i lor, denmnded that M uy should r itify. lint wilfulness and a
cerfaiii petty woiii.Tiily pique ilctermined Mary to refuse this, aliliniiijli
iiiinii diali'ly on the deith of Ipt husband she hiid laid a^ide both the Mile
and the arms of ijiiei'ii of Fngl uid.
.\Iary's residence in Fr;iiici', inranwliile, h;id become viTy disaitrceahle
U> liiT tioiii the ill-olfices of iln' (|iii'('n mother, and she resolved to com-
ply with the invitation of ilie stales of Scotland to return to tli.at kimiiloiii.
She iiccordinijly ordered her .inili isstdor, D'Oifcl, to ;ip|)lv to Fli/iihi|li
for a safe eoiidit''t thiiMiu''i FiiLiland ; but Klizabeth, throiigli 'riirogmoiion
refiisr I compliance with ih t' reijiiest, except on eondition of .NlaryV r:it-
ilieaiion of the tnaiy of I'Minluiriih. Mary remoiistrafed in sevi're iIiohliIi
idiasicned terms, and imniedialidy detertiiineil upon proceedinir to Srot-
land by sea, for wlindi piirpogc .she embarked at C.ilais. F.liz.ibelh ;it llie
tame tune Mint out ernisi'rs, o^lenslbly to pursue pirates, but, :is it should
■eem, with the inteiiiion of seizing iipim the person of .Mary, vslio, luov-
m
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
497
whii'ti
nil iiii'ler
iiiMil civil
ihiliiv I'l
•,i siuti;
iiiiu Inmi
,i>simip-
;i iriMiy
iiiitl ;i
lilllli»li!'l
U ilH- ii'le
.(I 111 I't'in-
Uiimiloiiv
Kli/.;il"'i''
•OjillV'lliill
liirv's rut-
,_, IK Silll-
"itli '.It tin'
is If*!!""!''
(wild, li"**'-
f
her. She (rave him her tablets in which, on seeing the dend body of her
husband, she h;id writteii a sentence in Greek, Latin, and hJnglish, to the
eflect that though human justice was against her hu.'^band's body, the di-
vine mercy would be favourable to his soul ; that, for herself, il her fault
deserved punishment, her youth, at least, and her imprudence, were wor-
thy of excuse, and that she trusted fur favour to God and to pii&icrity.
On the scaffold she blamed herself not for ever having wished for the
crown, but for not having firmly refused to act upon the wishes of others
in reaching at it. She confessed herself wonhy of death, and beirg dis-
robed by her female attendants, calmly and unshrinkingly submitted her-
self to her fatal doom.
The duke of Suffolk and Lord Thomas Gray were shortly afterwards
executed I'or their share in Wyatt's rev(»lt. Sir Nicholas 'fhrojimorton
was tried in Guildhall for the same offfiue, but there being liiile or no
evidence against him, his eloquent and acute defence led the jury to a(;quit
him. With an arbitrary and insoh-ni sirelch of prerogaliv(; tinit now
seems almost iiicredible, Mary, enrayed iil ilie ucquiiliil, noi only recom-
mitted Sir Nicholas to the Tower, where slie kept liim for a considerable
time, but she even had the jury sent to [iiiscni, and fined from one to two
tliousand pounds each! The cud she li;id in view in this abdniinalily ty-
rarmous conduct, however, was fully aclii(^ved. Thenceforth jurors were
little prone to acquit t!ie unhappy gentlmien who, no matter how loosely,
were charged wiih participation in the ud'air of Wyatl. IMany wer(! con-
denuied merely in consequence of the terrors of their jurors, and antong
theni was Sir .liihn Throgmorton, brother to Sir Nicholas. Arrests took
pliice every day, tin! Tower and other places of cnnnnemenl were filled
with nobles and gentlemen, whose offeiu-e was that they cliMucfil to be
popular; the aHVction of the people being a deadly ofTence to the (jueen,
wlio felt iliiil sill! was loathed by them, and who felt so little secure
a^iiinvt a new out- break, that she sent onl commissioners to disarm them,
anil liiy up the sei/ed arms in her slroiig-liDMs.
In llie midst (if this gloomy state of things, the parliament was called
upon to inv( st the (ineeii wiih the power which h;id formerly been granted
to lier fiillier. of dispipsingof the crown at her decease. Gardiner took
cure to d«( II upon the precedent affunlcd b\ the power given to Henry
VIII., anil he liad liitle fear of success. Iieiiiiise, indepeiideiil iif the gen-
eral terror ciuiscd liy the ()iieeii's menilcss and sanguinary piocecdings,
the good w ill of nuMierous nieinbers of parliament hail been |)iHeliased by
tlu^ ilislnlnilion of four hundred thousand crowns, which the emperor had
siiii over tor ilial purpose.
lint neither terror nor purchased complaisance could blind the house to
the lads, that llic (|ueeii detested F.llzalielli, and that the Icgltlinary of the
qiiccii mii»l imply the bastardy of ICli/idicili. 'I'lie inaniH'r, too, iii which
Giirdincr m th<' course of his speech avmded inentitniiiig Klizalieth, ex-
cepting merely as "the lady Klizabeth," and wiihout styling her llie queen's
sister, conlirined the snspiiion that, (nice invested with llie power which
flic now (I, limed, the queen wduld declare l''.liz;iheth illegilnnale, and by
iiiiikini.' a will licipieathiiig the throne to PI dip, hand oM'r the nation to
nil llial Spaiiisli lyraiiny of whi'jli such terri > anticipations had la en and
still were I nteitained.
As if i(» Hiinuiheii all other jrrotmds of spicion of Mary's intention,
the hirelings tiiid purasiles of Philip were just now, as zcahnisly as impru-
dently, busy III dwelling upon Philip's descent from the house of Lancas-
ter, and n'piesenting him- taking llli/.abeth's bastardy as a matter of
coiir!-)'— US llie ne.xt jieir to Miry by right of deseeiil.
Great, then, as, (Vom fear or favour, was the desire of the wlicde parh'
ni( lit t I gr iiil\ the (pieeii, the deteriiiinatKMi not to throw the nation liouiid
lunl blinilfoliled into the hands of the Spuniard whs still greater. Thci
Vol. I. -;!J
a
H
f
V-
.r
li
i\
If
? '
■■f
498
THK TRBA8URY OP HISTORY.
not only^ refused to pass the bill to give Mary the power to will away the
tiiTiitie, but when -mother bill was introduced to make it treasonable to
imagiiie or attempt the death of the queen's husband while she lived, they
cooHytiid it aside; and that Philip might not be led to complete the mar
riage by any lingering hope of possessing any authority in the nation
which was unhappy enough to have Mary for its queen, the house passed
a la#'*^nacting, "That her majesty, as their only queen, should solely and
as a«oIe queen enjoy the crown and sovereignty of her realms, with all
the pre-eminences, dignities, and rights thereto belonging, in as large and
anir' >* manner after her marriage as befpre, without any title or claim
accruing to the prince of Spain, either as tenant by courtesy of the realm
or by> any othor means."
fitiving thus, as far as was in their power, limited and discouraged the
dangerous ambition of the cruel and bigoted Philip, the parliament passed
the ?»itiflcation of the articles of marriage, which, indeed, were drawn so
favourably to England, that no reasonable objection could have been made
to thorn.
A8 nothing more could be extorted or bribed fom parliament with re-
spect to the qween's marriage, its attention was now directed to matters
connected with religion. The bishopric of Durham, which had been di-
vided in the reign of Kdward, and which by an arbitrary edict of the queen
had Slready been re-conferred upon Tonstal, was now re-erected by act
of parliament. Some bills were also introduced for revising the laws
against Lollardy, erroneous preaching, and heresy in genurai, and for the
suppression of books containing heterodox opinions. But here again, to
its credit, the parliament was both discriminating and firm ; the bills weru
thrown out; and the queen perceiving that neither Philip's gold nor thi;
terrors of hur more sanguinary conduct could make this pailiamtnt, at
least, sufficiently pliant and slavish for her purposes, she suddenly and
suUenlj dissolved it.
ii. .»/:• " • I ■■
■M ■.!
CHAPTKll XLV.
TUB RRION OF MARV (CONTINUED).
Mart's age, and some consciousness, perhaps, of the addition made by
her fearful temper to the natural homcliiicss of her features, had temlcd lo
make the acquisition of a young and illustrious husband all the more
eagerly desired, for its very improbaliiiilyj and though she had seen only
the portrait of her future husband, she had coiitrivcd to become so ciiam
oured of him, that when the preliininarirs of the marriage were all arninircil.
and the arrival of the prini;c was hourly expected, every flelay and every
obstacle irritated her almost to phreiizy. Thoui^h as a matter of ainl)i!iiiii
Philip was very desirouid of the match, as a simple matter of love, he was,
at the very least, indiirerent; and even the prover«ial hauteur and solem-
nity of thu Spanish cimracier could nut siillieiently airconnt for the eiilil
neglect which caused him to forbear from even favouring his futun; wife
and queen with a letter, to account for delays wliieli, in spite of her doliiiK
fondness, Mary (tmild iidI but helievc! that tli(^ prince might easily have
put an cnil to had his impatinncn been at all ripial to her own. Knim
blaming Philip, the impatient fondness so rare as well as so uiibecoiiilii;,'
at liiir advanced period of life, caused her in turn her reseiitinent against
her Bubirels, to whose o|)|M>sitioti she clidse to iiii|)iite that iiiditTereiiee on
the pari of the prinre, wliieli really arone from dislike of her repiilsive and
proinalurcly aged p<'rs(>ii. A circnmstaiiee now oeeiirred wliieli greatly
itierensed the queen's linger ayaiiist lier siilijeets, and which prnltalily. m
■>() sullen and resentful a iihIui'c as hers, diil niiieli to fan into a iVim ' tliiit
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
499
i\l
. made by
temlt'd ID
the more
seen only
80 ciiiim
arransji'il.
niv\ fViTy
aiul)i'-i""
., he wiis,
nd solciu-
Iho fi'M
mure wifi'
irr iloliiiK
isily ti!>^'''
11. Kniin
ihecominsi
IVreni'c on
lulsive aiiJ
[ch urtally
rohalilv. I"
iV.Pi' • llial
tierce bigotry which subsequently lighted the fires of persecution in e\ery
county in England, and left scarcely a village without its martyr and its
mourning. A squadron had been fitted out, and the coi.^maud was given
to Lord Kflingham, to convoy the prince to England; lut so unpopular
was the service, and such strong symptoms appeared ^f a determined
spirit of mutiny among the sailors, that Lord Effingham rankly informed
the queen that he did not think the prince would be safe in their hands,
»nd the squadron was at once disbanded. But this measure, though in-
dispensably necessary under the circumstances, brought no peace to the
mind of the queen, for she now dreaded not merely the inevitable dangers
of the sea, but also that her husband should be intercepted by the French
fleet. The slightest rumour so heightened her self-torturing, that she
was frequently thrown into convulsions : and not merely was her bodily
health affiectea in the most injurious degree, but even her mind began to
be affected to a very perceptible extent. Hypochondriac and pitiably
nervous, she became painfully conscious of her want of beauty ; though,
with the usual self-flattery, nhe ascribed the repulsive aspect presented to
her by her unflattering mirror wholly to her recent sufferings. FVom be-
ing frantically impatient for the arrival of Philip, the unhappy queen now
became desponding, and dreaded lest on his arrival he should find her dis-
pleasing.
At length the object of so many hopes and fears arrived ; thi marriage
was publicly and with great pomp performed at Winchester; and when
Philip had made a public entry into London, and dazzled the eyes of the
gazers with the immense riches he had brought over, Mary hurried him
away to the conparative seclusion of Windsor. This seclusion admirably
suited the piiiice, whose behaviour, from the day of his arrivr.l, was as
well calculated as though it had been purposely intended, to confirm all
the unfavourable opinions that had been formed of him. In his manner
he was distant, not with shyness but with overweening disdain ; and the
bravest and wisest of the oldest nobility of England had the mortification
see him paas them without manifesting by glance, word, or gesture,
(hat he was conscious of their respect, salutations, or even their presence.
The unavoidah'y wearisome etiquette of court was now so much increased
by Spanish formalities, that both Philip and Mary may almost be said to
hHve been inaccessible. This circumstance, however disgusting to suii-
jccts, was in the highest degree pleasing to the queen ; having at length
posse-iispd herself of her husband, she was unwilling that any one should
share his conipany with her for a moment. More like a love-sick girl
thrin 8 hanl-teatuied and hard-hearted woman of forty, she couhl not hear
the prince to be out of her sight ; his shortest absence annoyrd her, ami
il ho showed the commonest courtesy to any of the court ladies, her
]( ilonsy was instantly shown to him, and her resentment to the fair who
iiad been so unfortunate as to be honoured with his civility.
The v/omanly observation of Mary soon convinced l.cr that the only
way to Philip's heart was to gratify his ambition ; and slu was aliuinlantly
rciiily to purchase his love, or the semblance of it, even at the pri<-c of the
Votnl' sacrifice of the liberties and interests of the whole English people.
By means of Oanliner slu- used both fear and hope, both power and gold,
Id gel members returned in her entire interests to a new parliament winch
siie now summoned; and the returns were such as to iiromise tiial, in the
I'xisling temper of the iiation, which had not yet forgotten the sanguinary
punishment of the revolt under Wyatt, she mi^jlit safely make her next
great onward movement towards the entire restoration of Catholicism and
the estiibliihment of her own ;ibsolute power.
Cardinal Pidc, who was now in Flanders, invested with the office of
leiratc. only awaited the removal of the attainder passed against him in
the reign of llcnrv Vlll. The parliument readily passed an act for thai
IP
900
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
purpose, and the legate immediately came to England, when, after wait-
mg on Philip and Mary, he pre ented himself to parliament, and formally
invited the English nation to reooncile itself to the holy see from which,
said ihe legate, it had been so long and so unhappily separated.
The welUtrained parliament readily acknowledged and professed to de-
plore the defection of England, and presented an address to Philip and
Mary, entreating them, as being uninfected by the general guilt, to inter-
cede with the holy father for their forgiveness, and at the same time de-
clared their intention to repeal ail laws that were prejudicial to the church
of Rome. The legate readily gave absolution to the parliament and peo-
ple of Eujland, and received them into the communion of Rome ; and
Pope Julius III., with grave and bitter mockery, observed, when the formal
thanks of tKe nation were conveyed to him, that the English had a strange
notion of thit.gs thus to thank him for doing what he ought, in fact, to
thank them for letting him do.
It must not Ire supposed that though the nobility and ^'cntry in parlia
ment assembled thi'S readily and crouchingly laid England once again at
the feet of the Roman pontiff, that they were prepared fully to undo all
that Henry had (ione. Indifferent as to the mode of f lith prescribed to
the multitude, they had not an objection to make this sudden and sweep-
ing re-transfer of the spiritual authority over England. But before they
would consent to that transfi r of spiritual authority, they obtained from
Rome, as well as from the queen, the most positive assurances tliat the
church property, snatchei" from the church and divided among laymen by
Henry, should not be interfered with, but should remain undisturbed in tlie
hands of its lay possessors. The parliament, also, in l!ie very act by
which it restored the pope's spiritual authority, enacted that all inainagfs
contracted during the English separation from Rome should remain valid,
and also inserted a clause which secured all holders of church lauds iii
their possessions ; and the convocation presented a petition to the pope to
the same effect, to which petition the legate gave an alflrmativc answiir.
Bigoted and arbitrary as Mary confessedly was, it appeared that she could
not fully restore, even temporarily, the power of Rome.
The sentence had irrevocably gone forth against that grasping and greedy
despotism ; and though the accidt;ntal occurrence of a fieniely and coMly
cruel bigot, in the person of Mary, bijiiig si/aliul upon the throne gave hack
for a time to Rome the spiritual jurisdiction, and the power todirtate and
tyrannize in spiritual aff.iirs, all the power and zeal of that bigot could nut
re-pi)sscss tlic church of the lands whidi had become lay {)roperty. In
the (irst instance, indeed, Rome hoped, by forgiving the past fruits of the
th(! lands, to be able to resume tlie lands for tlio future ; but wiien Pole
arrived in England he re("(MV(!d infonnalion, amply confiriiied by iiis own
observations, which induced him witliout further struggle to agree to llip
formal and complete settlement of the lands, of which we have above
given an account.
Perliapi no greater niisfortiiiic could have ociMirred to F'ligland tliaii
this very cession in form, by the pope, of the right of the laiiy to tlio
lands of whicli they had possessed theinscd vcs at the expense of the cluircli.
Had Ilonio attempted to resume the solid pro|)erty, as well as the spiriiua!
ri^lits, of the church, considerations of interest in thi; former would have
caused the nobility and gentry to hesitate about surrendering tlie latti^r;
but having siM-ured their own properly, the gr,:at were easily inducted to
hand over the bulk of the people to a spiritual tyranny which they tlat-
i^'t^'^] themselves that thi^y would not suffer from. The vile old laws
ag.'iiiht heresy, which the former parliament had honestly and indigiiaully
rejected, were now re-cnactcii ; statutes were passed for pnnisliinsj cedi
tiuus rumours," and it was made treason to imagine or to attempt the iif)'
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
5b •
»(] (rrneJy
1 coMly
ive hiick
l;ite anil
coulil IHll
rtv. Ill
ts'of tlie
KMi I'ole
his own
ro t(i UiP
ivi! above
ty to til-
n'; cluircll.
spiritual
miM liavo
llu' l-iti'T;
iidiu'iiil to
llioy flitl-
(ilJ laws
iiiiiguaiitly
liiiu ai'ili
[)t tlif. lif'
if Philip during that of the queen, which, also, the former parliament had
refused.
But, amidst all this disgusting sycophaney, even this complaisant par-
liament had still some English sense of reserve, and resisted every at
Ujuipt of the queen to get her husband declared presumptive heir to the
crown, entrusted with ihe administration, or even honoured with a corona-
lion. The same anti-Spanish feeling which caused the firmness of parha-
inent on those points, also caused it to refuse all subsidy in support of the
emperor, in the war which he was still carrying on against France. These
very plain indications of the feelings of the nation towards himself per-
sonally caused Philip, not indeed to lay aside his morose and impolitic
hauteur, for that was part and parcel of his nature, and as inseparable
from his existence as the mere act of breathing, but to endeavour to di-
minish his unpopularity by procuring the release of several distinguished
prisoners, confined either for actual offence against the court, or for the
ijuasi offence of being agreeable to the people. The most illustrious of
these prisoners was the lady Elizabeth ; and nothiiig that Philip could
have done could have been more pleasing to the nation than his releasing
that princess, and protecting her from the petty but no less annoying spite-
fulness of her sister.
About the same time, Philip's politic intervention also gave liberty to
the lord Henrv Dudley, Sir George Harper, Sir Nicholas Throgmorton,
Sir Edmund irner, Sii William St. Loe, and Sir Nicholaa Arnold, to-
gether will- rrington and Tremaine. The earl of Devonshire also was
released from Fotheringay castle, and allowed to go abroad, but he only
reached Padua when he was poisoned, and the popular rumour and belief
ascribed the murder to the Imperialists.
Bafiled in her endeavours to^^p* her husband declared her heir presump
live, the queen became more tli,.n ever anxious for the honours of mater-
nity, of the approach of which she at length imagined that she felt the
symptoms. She was publicly declared to be pregnant, and Bonner, bishop
of London, ordered public prayers to be put up, that the young prince —
for the catholics chose to consider not merely tlie pregnancy of the queen,
but even the sex of the child a matter perfectly settled! — might be beau-
iifu., strong, and witty. The people in general, however, manifested a
provoking incredulity even as to the pregnancy of the queen, whose age
ana haggard aspect certainly promised no very numerous offspring; and
the people's incredulity was shortly afterwards justified, it proving that
the queen had been mistaken by the incipient symptoms of dropsy. To
the last possible moment, however, Philip and his friends concealed the
Irutli, and Philip was thus enabled to get hims.df appointed protector du-
ring llie minority, should the cliil I survive and the queen die. Finding
that this was the utmost concession that could at present be wrung from
the parliament, and trusting that it might by good management be made
proiluctiveof more at some future time, the queen now dissolved the par-
liament.
A. n. 1555. — The dissolution of parliametit was marked by an occurrence
which of itself would be sunicient to indicate the despotic character of the
times. Some members of the commons' house, unwilling to agree to the
slavish complaisance coiumonly shown by the majority, and yet, as a
minority, quite unable to stem the tide, came to the resolution to secede
from their attendance. No sooner was the parliament dissolved than
these members were indicted in the king's bench. Six of them, terrified
at the mere thought of a contest with the powerful and vindictive queen,
made the requisite submissions and obtained [)ardon ; mid the remaindei
exeri'ised their right of traverse, thereby so long postponing the trial that
liie (iiii'cn'H death put an end to the afiair altogether. Gardiner's success
ill bringing abo'ui the Spanish match to which the nation had been no
^
PJ^!'
■y»
J
m
i : '
I ii^;i:
503
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
averse, and the tact and zeal for the queen's service which he had shown
in his dexterous maniigement of the house of commons, made him novr
more than ever a weighty authority, not only with the queen but with the
catholic party in general, it is singular enough, as Hume well remarks,
that though this very learned prelate was far less zealous upon points of
theology than Cardinal Pole, yet, while the mild temper of the latter
allayed and chastened his tendency towards bigotry, thesternerand hardi.
er character of the former caused him to look upon the free judgment ol
the commonality as a presumption which it behoved the rulers of the land
to put down, oven by the severest and most unsparing resort to persecu
tion. For some time it was doubtful whether the milder course, recom-
mended as politic by Pole, or the sterner course, advocated as essentially
necessary by Gardiner, would prevail. But Gardiner had the great advan-
tage of advocating the system which was tiie most in accordance with
the cruel and bigoted temper of both Philip and Mary ; and Pole had the
mortification not only of being vanquished by his opponent, but also of
seeing full and terrible license and freedom given to the hitherto partially
restrained demons of persecution.
Having determined the queen and court to a course of severity, Gar-
diner had no difficulty in persuading them that it was politic to select the
first victims frotn among the emint-nt for learning or authority, or both;
and Itogers, prebendary of St. Paul's, a man still more remarkable for
virtue and learning than for his eminence in the church and in the reform-
ed party, had the melancholy honour of being singled out as the first vic-
tim. As instances of conversion were even more sough* after by Gardin-
er than punishment, there was probably yet another reason why Rogers
was selected for the first prosecntion. He had a wife and ten children,
and was remarkable for his affection both as a fr.ther and a husband; and
there was every probability that tenderness for them might lead him to
avoid, by apostacy, a danger which otherwise he might have been expect-
ed to brave. But if Gardiner really reasoned thus, he was greatly mista-
ken. Rogers not only refused to recant an iota of his opinions at what
was (•ailed his trial, hut even after the fatal sentence of burning was pass-
ed upon him he still preserved such an equable frame of mind, that when
the fatal hour arrived his jailers actually had to awaken him from a swc I
sound sleep to proceed to the stake. Sucih courage might, one would
suppose, have disarmed even the wrath of bigotry ; but Gardiner, when
the condemned gentleman asked permission to have a parting interview
with his wife, cruelly and scoflingly replied, that Rogers, being a priest,
could not possibly have a wife! This unfortunate and learned divine was
burned at Smithficld, and the flames tliat coiisinned him may be said to
have kindled a vast and in)ving pile that swallowed up sufferers of both
sexes, and of nearly all ages in every county of Kngland.
Hooper, bishop uf Gloucester, was tried at the same time with Rogers,
and was also condemned to the stake, but, with a refinemiMil upon cruelty,
he was not executed at SmithfieM. though tried in London, but sent for
that purpose into his own diocese, that his agonies and death in the midst
of tlie very scene of his labours of piely and usefulness might the more
effectually strike terror into the lie.irts of iiis flock. Hooper, however,
turned what his enemies intended for an agjjravaiion of his fate into a
consolation, and an opportunity of giving lo those whom he had long ami
faithfully tauifht, a parting proof of the sinci^rity of his teachings, and ol
the cfticacy of genuine religion to uphold its sincere believers, even undei
the most terrible; agonies ttiat ruthless and mistaken man, in his pride ol
fierceness, can inflict upon his fellow worm. And terrible, even beyond
the usual terrors of these aliominable simmics. were the tortures of the
martyred Hooper. The faggots provided for his execution were too green
lo kindle rapidly, and, a high wind blowing at the time, the flames played
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
803
around his lower limbs without being able to fasten upon the vital parts.
One of his hands dropped off, and with the other he continued to beat his
breast, prayings to heaven and exhorting the pitying spectators, until his
swollen tongue could no longer perform its office ; and it was three quar-
ters of an hour before his tortures were at an end. Of the courage and
sincerity of Hooper there is striking evidence in the fact that the queen's
pardon was placed before him on a stool after he was tied to the stake,
but he ordered it to be removed, preferring the direst torture with sincerity,
to safety with apostacy.
Sanders, burned at Coventry, also had the queen's pardon offered to
him, and he also rejected it, embracing the stake and exclaiming, " We
have the cross of Christ! Welcome everlasting life." Taylor, the cler-
gyman of Hadley, in Hertfordshire, was burned at that place, in the pres-
ence of his parishioners. When tied to the slake he began to pray in
English, which so enraged his guards, that, bidding him speak Latin, they
struck him so violently on the head with their hulbcrts, that he died on the
instant, and was spared the lingering agonies prepared for him.
Philpot, archdeacon of Winchester, had very greatly distinguished
himself by his zeal for protestantism. On one occasion, being engaged
in a controversy with an Arian, the zeal of the archdeacon so far got the
ascendancy over his good manners, that he actually spat in the Arian's
face. Subsequently, and when he might have been expected to have re-
pented on reflection of what he had done ia the heat of passion, he pub-
lished a formal justification of his conduct, in which he said that he felt
bound to give that strong proof of the detestation of his opponent's blas-
phemy. So impetuous a man was not likely lo esctape notice in the
persecution that now raged, and he was brought to trial for heresy and
burned to death in Smithfield.
If Gardiner was the person to whom tlie perse r.tion chiefly owed its
cumniencement, it was Uonner, bishop of London, v.lio carried it on
with the coarsest and most unrelenting barbarity. Apart from all mere
bigotry, this singularly brutal man appeared to derive positive sensual
gratification from the act of inflicting torture. He occasionally, when he
had prisoners under examination who did not answer to his satisfaction,
would have them stripped and flog them with his own hand. Nor was
tliis his worst brutality. An unfortunate weaver, on one occasion, re-
fused to recant, when Bonner endeavoured to persuade him, and, as is
veraciously recorded, this disgrace of his sacred profession first tore the
unfortunate man's beard out by the root, and tiicn held his hand in the
flame of a lamp until the sinews burst, by way of giving him, as he said,
some notion of what burning really was like !
When we say that this horrible system of persecution and cruelty
endured for three years, and that in that time two hundred and twenty-
seven persons are known lo have suflered — wlnle probably many more
were similarly butchered of whom we have no account — while that, be-
sides men of all ranks, from bishops to day-labourers, fifty-five women
and four children thus perished, it must be obvious that a detailed account
of this terrible season of cruelty would be disgusiing, even were it not
quite impracticable. We shall, therefore, add hut a few more cases,
and then leave a subject which cannot be treated of even at tliis distance
of time without feelings of disgust and horror.
Ferrar, bishop of St. David's, in Wales, being condemned to death as a
heretic, appealed to Cardinal Pole ; but his appeal was wholly unattended
to, and the unfortunate bishop was burned in his own diocese.
There yet remained two still more illustrious victims to be immolated.
Ridi'v, formerly bishop of London, and Latimer, formerly bishop of Wor-
cester, had long been celebrated for both the zeal and efficiency of their
supportof the cause of the reformalion. In the preaching of both there
601
THE TBEA90RY OF HiaTORY.
i'dii
m
ii.. iii
Nil
was ;i certiiii lU'i-voiis iioivuiliiiess, wluuh iniide ilieir eloquence especially
effectivu uju)!! llie miiiils hikI hearts of ihe lower orders, and on that very
account tliKsc two prelates wore more formidable; to the Uoaianists than
they would iiave, been li, d tliey afflicted a more learned and chastened
style. That two such capital enemies of Romanism -one of whom more-
over, hail even for some time been possessed of Bonner's own see — should
escapi', c'puld not be expected. They were tried and i-ondemned, and
both buriiuil at the same stake at O.vford. Both died with coura<(e and a
calm constancy not to be surpassed. Kven when they were already lied
to the stake, and the revoltin^r tragedy commenced, Latimer cheerfully
called out, " Ue of trood courage, brother Ridley, we shall this day kindle
such a torch in England, as, I trust in God, shall never be extinguished."
Latimer, who was very aged, suffered but little, being very early killed by
the explosion of some gunpowder which the executioner had mercifully
provided for that purpose; but Ridley was seen to be alive some time
after he was surrounded by flames.
As neither age nor youth, neitiier learning nor courage, could make any
impression upon the flinty heart of Bonner, so neitiier could even the most
heroic proof of filial piety. A young lad, named Hunter, who was only
in his niiietecnth year, suffered himself, with the imprudence common to
youth, to be drawn into a religious argument with a priest, in the course
of which argument he had the farther imprudence todeny the real presence.
Subsequently he began to apprehend the danger of what he had done, and
absconded lest any treachery on the part of the priest should involve him
in puuishnieiil. The priest, as liie young man had feared, did give infor-
matioii, and l^)iincr, learning that the youth had absconded, caused his
father to be seized, and not only treated him with great immediate
severity, but threattiiied him with still worse future trealinent. The
youth no sooner heard of the danger and trouble to which he had unin-
tentionally exposed his fatlier, than he delivered himself up. To a gen-
erous man this conduct would have been decisive as to the propriety of
overlooking Iht; lad's speculative error or boldness ; but Bonner knew no
remorse, and the youth was mercilessly committed to the flames.
A still more disgraceful and barbarous incident occurred in Guern-
sey. A wretched woman in that island was condemned to the stake,
and was, when led to punishment, far advanced in pregiiiincy. The
ineffable pangs inflicted upon her produced labour, and one of the
guards snitched the new-born infant from the flames. A brutal and
thoroughly ignorant niagistnite who was present ordered the helpless
little innocent to be thrown back again, " being determined that nolliins;
should survive which sprung from so heretical and obstinate a parent."
Setting aside the abliorrent and almost incredible oflfence against humanity
coinmiticd by this dettjstable magistrate, he w;is, even in the rigid inter-
pretation of the law, a murderer, and ought to have been executed as one;
for, whatever the ofTence of the wret<;hed mother, the child dearly was
not contemplated in the sentence passed upon her. But, alas! the .ipiiit
of bigotry tramples alike upon the laws of nature and of man; tind it is
probable tliat t!iis detestable murderer, so far from receiving merited pun-
ishmciil for his brutality, might have been oven applauded for his "zeal."
As tlioiigh the national dread and detestation of the Spanish alliance had
not already been but too abundantly justified by the event, spies were
sent out in every direction, and a coininission was appointed for inquiring
into and punishing all spiritual and even some civil crimes; and two very
brief e.viracts from the commissioN and instructions will show that in oli-
jei.'t, [lowers, and process, the commissioners were, only under another
name, iiitjuisitors, and tiieir spies and informers olTicials of the inquisition.
Tlu! commission said, that "Since many false rumours were published
among ilic subjects, and many heretical or ions were also spread amoiiy
them, (h£
by wiinei
after all I
books ; t(
church 01
the altar;
to service
holy wate
heresies, i
punished i
power to I
and to use
premises,
they pieasi
w/iat t/iey 6
inquisition
deterininat
"Tobrir
tice of the
ioining thei
confess, an
"Secret
practice of
tices of the
honest pers
maiid them,
out .such pel
shall despisi
about to ma
also that tin
justices of tl
it shall be A
such suspef
secretli/ to tli
sons before
were accuse
This preci
not only the
and writings
presently bm
person." D
touch of hun
was possibly
lieritance, fo
them to som
condescend
While Phi
to merit the
filled the pap
fight of confe
possessed ile
and to insist
Several of thi
maud back al
prishiiiK the
judgment of i
"lade to the g
^V saying tha
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
SOS
them, the commissioners were to inquire into these either by presentments,
by witnesses, or any other political \v:\y lliey could devise, and to search
after all heresies, the bringers in, ihc sellers, the readers of all liereiieal
books ; to examine and punish all misbelniviuurs or negligences in any
church or chapel ; to try all priests that ditl not preach the sacrament of
the altar ; all persons that did not hear mass, or go to their parish <^hurch
to serviire; that would not go in processions or did not take holy bread or
holy water; and if they found any that did obstinately persist in such
heresies, they were to put them into the hands of their ordinaries, to be
punished according to the spiritual liws; giving the commissioners full
power to proceed as their discretion and consciences should direct thfm,
and to use all such means as they would invent for the searching of the
premises, empowering them, also, to call before them such witnesses as
tiiey pleased, and iajorce Ihem to make oalk of such things as might discover
what they sought after." This new commission was, in fact, an English
inquisition ; and the following extract from Hume abundantly shows iho
determination that that inquisition should not want for officials xmd familiars.
"To bring the method of proceeding in England still nearer to the prac-
tice of the inquisition, letters were written to Lord North and others, en-
joining them 'to put to the torture' such obstinate persons as would not
confess, and there to order them at their discretion.
"Secret spies, also, and informers were employed, according t(j the
practice of that iniquitous tribunal. Instructions were given to the jus-
tices of the peace that they should 'call secretly before them one or two
honest persons within thtir limits, or more, at their discretion, and com-
mand them, by oath or otherwise, that they shall secretly learn and search
out such persons as shall evil behave themselves in the church, or idly, or
shall despise, openly by words, the king's or queen's proceedings, or go
about to make any commotion, or tell any seditious tales or news.' And
also that the same persons, so to be appointed, shall declare to the same
jusliites of the peace the ill behaviour of lewd disorderly persons, wluiilicr
it shall be for using unlawful games or any such other light behavjinir of
such suspected persons; and that the same information shall be given
secretly to the justices, and the same justices shall call such accused per-
sons before them and examine them, without declaring by whom they
were accused."
This preciou? commission also had power to execute by martial law
not only the putters forth of all heretical, treasonable, and seditious books
and writings, but also all " whosoever had any of these books and did not
presently burn them, without reading them or showing them to any other
person." Did not the whole tenor of this portion of our history forbid all
touch of humour, one would bo strcnigly tempted to inquire how a man
was possibly to know the character of books coming to him by gift or in-
heritance, for instance, without either reading them himself or showing
them to some one else I But as bigotry cannot feel, so neither will it
condescend to reason.
While Philip and Mary were thus exhibiting an evil industry and zeal
to merit the reconcilement of the kingdmn to Rome, Paul IV., who now
filled the papal throne, took advantage of Mary's bigotry to assume t!io
right of con/<?rnn^ upon Mary the kingdom of Ireland, which she already
possessed dejactoet de jure as part and i)arcelof the English sovereignty,
and to insist upon the restoration to Rome of certain lands and inmiey !
Several of the council, probably fearing that by degrees Rome would de
mand back all the church pro[)erty, pointed out the great danger of impov-
erisliiiig the kingdom, and but that death had deprived Mary of the shrewd
judgment of Gardiner, such concessions would probably not have been
made to the grasping spirit of Rome. But Mary replied to all objections
by saying that she preferred the salvation of he f wn soul to ten such
if
!''!If
b06
THE THEASWRY OP HISTOHY.
kingdoms an England ; and Heath, archbishop of Canterbury, who hadt
succeeded Gardiner in the possession of the great seal, encouraged her in
that reeling. A bill was accordingly presented to parliament for restoring
to tlie church the tenths, Arst fruits, and all impropriations which remained
in the hands of the queen. At first sight it might seem that parliament
had little cause or right to interfere in a matter which, as far as the terms
of the bill went, concerned only the queen herself. But the lay possessors
of church lands naturally enough considered that subjects would scarcely
be spared after the sovereign had been mulcted. Moreover, while some,
probably a great number, of the members were chiefly moved by this con-
sideration, all began to be both terrified and disgusted by the cruel execu-
tions which had disgraced the whole nation. A steady opposition conse-
quently arose ; and when the government applied for a subsidy for two
years and for two-fifteenths, the latter were refused, and tlie opposition,
with equal bitterness and justice, gave as tiie reason of this refusal, that
while the crown was wilfully divesting itself of revenue in behalf of Rome,
it was quite useless to bestow wealth upon it. The dissatisfaction of the
parliament was still farther evidenced by the rejection of two bills, enact-
ing penalties against such exiles as should fail to return within a certain
time, and for incapacitating for the office of justice of the peace such
magistrates as were remiss in the prosecution of heretics. This fresh and
pointed proof of the displeasure of the parliament determined the queen
to dissolve it. But the dissolution of the parliament did nut diminish the
pecuniary embarrassment of the queen. Her husband had now been
several months with his father in Flanders ; and the very little of his cor-
respondence with which he favoured her chiefly consisted of demands for
money. Stern and unfeeling as she was to every one else, the infatuated
queen was passionately attached to the husband who certainly took no
pains to conceal his dislike of her ; and as the parliament, previous to its
dissolution, had granted her but a scanty supply, slie was led, by her
anxiety to meet her husband's demands, to extort money from her subjects
in a manner the most unjustifiable. From each of one thousand persons,
of whose personal attachment she affected to be quite certain, she de-
manded a loan of 60/. ; and even this large sum being inadequate to her
wants, she demanded a farther general loan from all persons possessing
twenty pounds a year and upwards ; a measure which greatly distressed
the smaller gentry. Many of them were obliged by her inroads upon
their purses to discharge some of their servants, and as these men sud-
denly thrown upon the world became troublesome, the queen issued a
proclamation to compel their former employers to take them back again!
Upon seven thousand yeomen who had not as yet contributed, she levied
sixty thousand marks, and from the merchants she obtained the sum of
six and thirty thousand pounds. She also extorted money by the most
tyrannous interference with trade, as regarded both the foreign and native
merchants ; yet after all this shameless extortion she was so poor, th;it
she offered, and in vain, so bad was her credit, fourteen per cent, for a loan
of 30,000i. Not even that high rate of interest could induce the merchants
of Antwerp, to whom she ofl'ered it, to lend her the money, until by men-
aces she had induced her good city of London to be security for her!
Who would imagine that we are writing of the self-same nation that so
shortly afterwards warred even to the death with Charles I. for tlie com-
paratively trifling matter of the ship money ?
The poverty which alone had induced Philip to correspond with her was
now terminated, the emperor Charles the Fifth, that prince's father, resign-
ing to him all his wealth and dominion, and retiring to a monastery in
Spain. A singular anecdote is told of the abdicated monarch. He spent
much of his time in the constructing of watches, and finding it impossible
lo make them go exactly alike, he remarked that he had indeed been fool
nes.s ;iri(
^t« syco
THE TREASUin OK IllSTOllY.
S07
111 her was
cr, resign-
nasicry in
He spent
impossible
been fnol
ish to expect that he could compel that uniformity in minds which he could
not achieve even in mere machines ! The reflection thus produced is said
even to have given him some leaning towanis tliose theological opinions
of which he and his son had been the most brutal and ruthless persecutors.
A. D. 1656. — Cranmer, though during the whole of this reign he had been
left unnoticed in confinement, was not forgotten by the vindictive queen
She was daily more and more exacerbated in her naturally wretched tem-
per by the grief caused by the contemptuous neglect of her husband. Her
private hours were spent in tears and complaint' ; and that misery which
usually softens even the most rugged nature hao in her case only 'he effect
of making her still more ruthless and unsparing.
Cranmer, though he had during part of Henry's reign warde 3 off that
monarch's rage from Mary, was very much hated by her for the part he
had taken in bringing about the divorce of her nu ner, and >';e was no'
only resolved to punish him, but also to make his death as agonising a
possible. For the part he had taken in the opposition to her asccndin -
the throne she could easily have had him beheaded, but nothing short o!"
the flames seemed to her to he a sufficiently dreadful punishment for li m.
She caused the pope to cite him to Rome, there to take histr ! for heresy.
Being a close prisoner in the Tower, the unfortunate prelate f-e, v rce neg-
lected the citation, and he was condemned par contumace, >.nd si ntenced
to the stake. The next step was to degrade him from his sacred office ;
and Bonner, who, with Thirleby, bishop of Kly, was entrusted with this
task, performed it with all the insolent and triumphant brutality consonant
with his nature. Firmly believing that Cranmer's eternal as well as earthly
punishment was assured, the queen was not yet contented ; she would
fain deprive him in his last hours even of human sympathy, and the credit
attached to consistency and fidelity to the cause he had embraced. Per-
sons were employed to persuade him that the door of mercy was still open
to him, and tliat he, who was so well qualified to be of wide and perma-
nent service to mankind, was in duty bound to save himself by a seeming
compliance with the opinions of the queen. The fear of death, and the
strong urgings of higher motives, induced Cranmer to comply, and he
agreed to subscribe to the doctrines of the real presence and the papal
supremacy. Shallow writers have blamed Cranmer for this compliance;
none will do so who consider "how fearfully and how wonderfully we are
mafic"— in mind as well as in body; how ri^ny and urgent were the niii-
tives to this weakness, how much his mind v;:., *haken by long peril aiwl
imprisonment, and, above all, who remeii.': " uid reflect how nobly he
subsequently shook off all earthly motives "like dew drops from the lion's
mane," and with what calm and holy serenity he endured the last dread
tortures.
Having induced Cranmer privately .0 sign his recantation, the queen
now demanded that he should complfte the wretched price of his safety
by publicly making his recantatioi at St. Paul's before the whole people.
Even this would not have saved Cranmer. But, either from his own
judgment, or from the warning of some secret friend, Cranmer perceived
that it was intended to send him to execution the moment that he should
thus have completed and published his degradation. All his former high
and courageous spirit was now again aroused within him ; and he not only
refused to comply with this now demand, but openly and boldly said that
the only passage in his life of which he deeply and painfully repented was,
that recantation which, in a moment of natural weakness, he already had
been induced to make. He now, he said, most sincerely repented and dis-
avowed that recaniation, and inasmuch as his hand had offended in signing
it, so should his hand first suffer the doom which only that single weak-
ness and insincerity had made him deservin<r. The rage of the court a.;-'
vis sycophants at hearing a public avowal so different from that which
508
TI.E TllEAStrilY OH" HfST(JR
; ■'!«
Ur\
they expev'tcd, scarcely left Ihem as miicti decency of patience as would
allow them to hear him to the em) of his discourse; and the instant that
he ceased to spcsik he was led away to the slake.
True to his prumise, Craiimcr when the fiijjgols were lighted held out
his hand into the rising flames until it was consumed, repeatedly exclaim-
ing as he (lid so, '^T/iii uiiworlhi/ hand!" " This hiind has offended!" Tho
fierce fl.inies, as ihey readied his body, were not able to subdue the sub-
lime serenity to which he had wrouifhl his cliristian courage and endurance,
and as long as his countenance was visible to he appalled bystanders, it
wore the character not of agony but of a holy sacrifii-e, not of despair but
of an assured and eternal hope. U is said by some Protestant writers of
the time, that when the sad scene was at an end, his heart was found cu-
tire and uninjured ; hut probably this assertion took its rise in the singular
constancy and calmness with which the martyr died. Cardinal Pole, on
the death of Cranmer, was made arclibishop of Canterbury. But though
this ecclesiastic was a man of great humanity as well as of great ability,
and though he was sincerely anxious to serve the great interests of religion
not by ensnaring and destroying the unhappy and ignorant laity, but by
elevating the clergy in the moral and intelleclual scale, to render them
more efficient in their awfully important service, there were circumstances
which made his power far inferior to his will. He was personally disliked
at Rome, where his tolerance, his learning, and his addiction to studious
retirement, had caused him to be suspected of, at least, a leaning to the
new doctrines.
A. n. 1557. — In the midst of Mary's fierce persecutions of her protestant
subjc'cts, she was self-tortured beyond all that she had it in her power to
inflict on others, and might have asked, in the words of the dying Inca to
his complaining soldiers, "Think you that /, then, am on a bed of roses 1"
War raged between France and Spain, and next lo her desire firmly to re-
establish Catholicism in ICngland, was her desire to iavisli the blood and
treasures of her people on the sidi' of Spain. Some oppo.'ilion being made
Philip visited London, and the queen's zeal in liis cause ivas increased,
instead of being as in the case of a nobler spirit it would h;;ve been, utterly
destroyed, by bis sullen declaration, that if Kngland did not join him ajrainst
France. \w would see Kngland no more. Kveii this, however much it af-
fected the queen, did not bear down the opposition to a war which, as the
clearer-headed members discerned, would be intolerably exjiensive in any
case, and, if successful, would tend lo make Kngland a mere dependency
of Spain. Under the circumstances, a true Knglish patriot, indeed, must
have wished to sec Spain hninbled, not exalted ; crippled in its finances,
not enriched. It iinfori'niately happi'iicd, however, that an attempt was
made to seize Si^arborongh, and Siairord and his fellows in this aiteinpt
confessed that they wen; incited to il by Henry of Krance. This declar-
ntion called up all the dominant national antipathy lo Prance ; the prudence
of the opposition was at once laid asleep; war was declart il, and every
preparation that ihe wretched financial slate of Kngland would permit,
was made for carrying it on with vigour, liy dint of a renewal of the
most shameless and excessivi^ exiorlion, the .|iieeii contrived to raise and
equip an army of ten thousand men, whowerr sent to Klainlcrs under tiie
earl of Pembroke. To prevent disliirbaiiceH ,ii home, Mary, in obedience
probably to the advice of her cold and cruel hnsii.ind, caused many of the
first men in KiiRland, from whom she h,id any reason lo fear opposition,
to bn seized and im|)risoned in [daces where even their nearest fricndi
could not find them.
The details of the mihliiry aflfairs liotwcen Krance and Spain with her
Knglish auxiliaries h'loiiir to the history of Kraiicc, In this place it may
■iidice to say, tlial the talenis of (Jiiise remlered all attempts useless; and
and that, so far from benefiting Pliilii), the Knylisli lost Calais, ihui key ti'
!).i .
H^' ■, -h .
'(|f, Iff
1
m
1
1
.^i ^-t!
THE TREASURV Of HI8T0KY.
509
France, of which Kngland was so chary and so proud. Kveii ilie cold and
unpatriotic heart of Mary was touched by lliis cipiial niisroriiinc; and she
was often heard to say, in the a^onccs of her uxoriDUs jjiief, thai, after
lier death "Calais" would be found visibly graven upon her briiiteu heart.
Hut regrets were vain, and wisdom eanie loo late. France improved iier
success by stirnng up the Scotcii; and, witii sueli a diiiiger tlirealening
her very frontier, Kngland was obliged sulleidy and silently Id withdraw
from an onerous warfare, which she liad most unwisely er)tere(i upon.
Philip continued the war for some time after Kngland had virtunlly with-
drawn from it; and he was negotiating a peace and insisting upon the res-
toration of Calais as one of its conditions, when Mary, long labouring un-
der a dropii/, was seized with ntortal illness and died, in the year 1588,
after a most wretched and mischievous reign of five years and four months.
This miserable woman has been allowed the virtue of sincerity m the
sole good, the one oasis in the dark desert of her character. Hut even
this vi-'ue must, uncareful examination, bo denied to her by the impartial
'listorian. As a whole, indeed, her course is iiot marked by insincerity,
But vvhyl Her ferocity and despotism were too completely unresisted
by her tame and aghast people to leave any room for the exercise of false-
hood, after the very first days of her disgraceful reign. But i>i those first
days, while it was yet uncerlam whctlntr she could resist the power and
ability of the ambitious and unpriniripled Northuiiiberland, she proved
that she could use guile where force was wantnig. Her prouiijcs to the
protestants were in many cases voluntary, and in all profuse and positive i
yet she no sooner grasued the sceptre firmly in her hand, llim she scat-
tered her promises to the winds, and conuneneed thai course of bigotry
and (iruclty which has forever affixed to her memory the lo.iilied name,
which even yet no Knghsliiiuiu can pronounce without horror and disgust,
of the Bunonv QuKEN Makv.
CHAPTER XIAI.
THK ItKION OF EI.IZAHKTH.
A. D. 1558. — So completely had the arbitrary and ernnl reign of Mary
disgusted her sidijccts, almost without dislinctioii of r:iiik or religious
o|iiiiious, that the acceSMon of Khzabeth was h;uled';is a hles^ioL; unalloy-
ed and almost too great to have been hoped for. The pirliiinient had
been called together a few days before the death of M.iry, .lud when
Heath, as chancellor, announced that event, he was hardly allowed to
conclude ere both houses burst into the joyful ciy of "<!od save Queen
r.lizidieth! Long and happdy may she reign!"
l)(('p and deadly indeed unist have been the oflTences of the deceased
queen to have reiulered her death an actual subject of Joy. instead of grief,
to a nation provrrbinlly so lo\ d and aflTeclionate as Kngland !
Khzabeth, when she reeened the news of her sisler'x death was at llaf-
fii'ld, where she had for some time resided in studious iuiil close n lire
incut; for, even to the last, Mary had shown that her malignity ag.iinst her
younger sister had 'uiffered no (d)at<'menl, and reipiired only the slightest
occasion to burst out in fatal violence. When slui had devoted a few days
to the iippcaraiu'c of UKUirning, she proceeded to F.ondon and took up hei
abode ill the Tower. The rememiiranee of the \cry diftVrent circum-
Btances under whiel she liad formerly visited that blood-stained fortrt'ss,
when she was n pr soner, and her life in danger from the nialigniiy of
hir then nll-powprfiil sister, afTecled her so miirli, that she fill upon her
knees ami returned thanks anew to the Almighly for her safe didivi-ranee
from I iiger, which, sho truly said, was scarcely inferior to (hat of D.uiiel
t ^Mi .
ul
5tO
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
lit tho .dii of lions. Her immediately subsequent cundiu-i showed thut
i. T heart was properly aflTected by tlie emotions which called forth this act
01 piety. She had been much injured and much insulted during the life
of her sister; for such was the hateful and petty cast of Mary's mind,
that there were few readier ways to win her favour than by insult or in-
jury to the then friendless daughter of Anne Boieyn. But Elizabeth now
seemed determined only to remember the past in her thankfulness for her
complete and almost miraculous deliverance from danger. She allowed
neither word nor glance to express resentment, even to those who had
most injured her. Sir H. Bedingfield, who had for a considerable time
been her host, and who had both harshly and disrespectfully caused tier
to feel that, though nominally his guest and ward, she was in reality his
jealously-watched prisoner, might very reasonably have expected a cold
if not a stern reception; but even this man she received with aflTability
when he first presented himself, and never afterwards inflicted any severer
punishment upon him than a good-humoured xarcasm. The sole case
in which she manifested a feeling of dislike was that of the brutal and
blood-stained Bonner, from whom, while she addressed all the other
bishops with almost affectionate cordiality, she turned away with an ex-
pressive and well-warranted appearance of horror and disgust.
As soon as the necessary attention to her private affairs would allow
her, t4ie new queen sent off messengers to foreign courts to announce her
sister's death and her own accession. The envoy to Philip, who at this
time was in Flanders, was the lord Cobham, who was ordered to return
the warmest thanks of his royal mistress for tlie protection he had afforded
her when she so much needed it, and to express her sincere and earnest
desire that their friendship might continue unbroken. The friendly ear-
nestness of Elizabeth's message strengthened Philip in a determination he
had made even during the illness of Mary, of whose early death he could
not but have been expectant, and he immediately instructed his ambassa-
dor to the court of London to offer the hatul of Philip to Elizabeth.
Blinded by his eager dcaire to obtain that dominion over England which
his marriage with Mary had failed to secure, Philip forgot that there
were many olijectii.'n8 to this measure; objuclions whii;h he, indeed,
would easily have overlooked, hut which the sagacious Elizabeth coulii
not fa 1 to notice. As a catholic, I'hilip w la necessarily disliked by the
proteslants who had so lately tasted of^ caihotic (jersecution in its worst
form ; as a Spaniard, hi; was cordially detested by Englishmen of either
creed. Uut apart Irom and beyond these \ eighty olyections, wliieh of
themselves would have been fatal to his pretensions, he stood in precisely
the same relationship to Elizabeth that her father had stood in to (\ith-
arine of Arr.igoii, and in tnarrving Philip, Elizabeth would virtually, and
in a manner which the world wotdil surely not overlook, pronounce her
mother's marriage illc;r;il nnd her own liirlh illegitimate. This last con-
sidi-ration alone wimld liave decided Elizabeth against Philip; but while
in her heart she was folly and irrevocably determined never to marry him,
she even thus early brought into use that duplicity for which shi; was
afli'rwards as remarkable as for her higher and nobler qualities, and sent
him so uijuivocal aiwl uiideeideil an answer, that, so far from dcsiiainiii.'
of success, P'lilip actu.iUy sent to Home to solicit tin; dispensauon that
would be necessary.
With her characteristic prudence, Elizabeth, through her ambassador at
R(une, announced her accession to the pope. Th;it exalted pcrsoiiaije
wa-i grieved at the early death of Mary, not only as it deprived Koine o*
ilic beiK'lit of her bii;otry, but as it made way for a princess who was
already lookeij up to with pride and confiience by the protcstaii'.s , and
he sull'cred his double vexation to manifest itself with a very iiidiscfccl
enerKy. He treated Elizabeth's assuniption of the crown without hu
n'"essi( I
aied ten
chiefly
stood
say, th;i
stored
The
were s(
course,
without
vailcij II
The
cure tht
conragin
die Jtoiii
'" desjH'i
IlilCOIl, \
IJoiiiaiiis
li'o olisti
it was (ji
'I'liphaiil,
^''•l>\ aiK
liturgy (
"K^iinsi ,1
■fnn ih,.
"le parli,i
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
fill
hich
tliere
Iced,
could
by llif
worst
illier
I'll of
,;is('ly
Ull-
11 y, •.illd
ce liiT
coil-
while
ry liiiiii
ic was
id sent
m thai
sudor at
rsoiia^e
oinc o'
lio was
Is , and
dlscTi'i't
loul Ills
permission as being doubly wrong ; wrong, as treating witn disrespect
the holy see, to which he still deemed England subject, and wrong, as the
holy see had pronounced her birth illegitimate. This sort of conduct
was by no means calculated to succeed with Elizabeth ; she immediately
recalled her ambassador from Rome, and only pursued her course with
the more resolved and open vigour. She recalled home all who had been
exiled, and set at liberty all who had been imprisoned for their religious
opinions during the reign of her sister; she caused the greater part of
the service to be performed in English, and she forbade the elevation of
the host in her own chapel, which she set up as the standard for all other
places of worship. But, always cool and cautious, Elizabeth, while she
did thus much and inus judiciously to favour the reformers, did not neg-
lect to discourage those who not only would have fain outstripped her in
advancing reform, but even have inflicted upon the Romanists some of
the persecutions of which they themselves had complained. On occasion
of a petition being presented to her, it was said, in that partly quaint and
partly argumentative style which in that age was so greatly affected, that
having graciously released so many other prisoners, it was to be hoped
that she would receive a petition for the release of Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John. Being as yet undetermined as to the extent to which it would
be desirable to permit or encourage the reading of the Scriptures, she
readily replied, that previous to doing so she must consult those prison-
ers, and learn whether they desired their liberty. To preaching she was
never a great friend ; one or two preachers, she was wont to say, were
enough for a whole county. And, at this early period of hor reign, she
deemed that the indiscreet zeal of many of the most noted of the pro-
teslunt preachers was calculated to promote that very perse(;ution of the
Romanists which she was especially anxious to avoid ; and she, conse-
quently, forbade all preaching save by special license, and took care to
grant licenses only to men of discretion and moderation, from whose
preaching no evil was to be apprehended.
The parliament was very early employed in passing laws for the sup-
nressi( n of the recently erected monasteries, and restoring the alien-
ated tenths and first fruits to the crown. Sundry other laws were passed
chiefly relating to religion; hut those laws will be sufliciently under-
stood by those who have attentively accompanied us thus far, when we
say, that they, substantially, abolished all that Mary had done, and re-
stored all that she hud abrogated of the laws of Edward.
The then bishops, owinij everything to her sister and to Catholicism,
were so greatly offended by these clear indications of her intended
course, that they refused to officiate at her coronation, and it was not
without stnne difliciilty that the bisiiop of Carlisle was at length pre-
vaded upon to perforin I>h' ceremony.
The most prudent and effectual steps having thus been taken to se-
cure the protestaiit interests wiihout in any degree awakening or en-
couraging whatever there iniglif On of i)rotestaiit '.■Icoiry, and to despoil
the Uonianisls of wh.il they Ir.d violently acquired without driving thi'in
to desperaluMi, the queen cauKcd a solemn disputation to he held liefore
Ilacoii, whom she had made lord keeper, between the protcstant and the
Hoinanist divines. The latter wen- vanquished in argument, hut were
too olistinate to eonfesn it ; and some (d them were so n fraetory thai
it was deemed necessary to iini>risoa lliein. Having been thus far tri-
umphant, the prolestaiits proceeded to their nlliiiiale and most iin|ii)rtarit
step; and a i)ill was [lassed by which the mass was abolished, and ihe
liturgy of king Edward re-eslalditihed ; and penalties were enacieii
Hgiinsl all who slionid I'lther absent themselves from worship or depart
friiii the order here laid down. Heforr 'lie ronclusion of the sessiini,
the parliament gave a still farlli r proof ni its uttachin''ut to the queen.
m
%l%
512
'I HE TRViASURY '<? I'ISTO'.tV.
and of it« desire to -vA her in licr desiurs, by voting her ;i ^uLsidy ft
four 3iiil)ins[8 in ilia pound on ; iiid, and t .vo-aii.l-ei^lil-pence on goods
wild two lifleenlhs. 'A ell JtiKnvi;,:? ali ilie fiangers of !i dispuiei) sue
cessioii. •Ju^ parliainei t at the saniu lime petilioned lii;r to choose a hus
baiid. liul the queen, though she aekiU'ivlf'dijed that the peliiion was
couehe 1 in terms so gciieri;! '111(1 so respiiciful th't she juli )l take
any offence at it, prott.-i';d ilni, ;ii'va>s iiiidesirous ol" cls.iiging iier eoii-
diisoii, siic was anxious only I'l lie tlie \v,fe of Kii);ianiJ jckI ihe mother
of the Kiiglish, and had no liii.'her riniLilion ti, in tt< "ve I'ui tier epitaph,
" Here lies Elizabeth, who li, i d aai died a r.^nideu mU (ji)."
A, !>. 15.'>!t. — 'i'he parliaiiiei!' ills' proroijiui! had, as we have shown, got
ihr I'.ich a vast deal of important business iii liie session; but though that
w '< \w lirstsessioii of a new reiftii, a reign, too, iiiimediHtely following one
ill which such horrors of lyraiinoii^ oriii'lly had been enacted, it is to be re-
marked, to tile praise of llie moderauon of both queim and parliament, that
iioi a single bill of attainder was |iissed, thcingh some attiinis by former
parliaments were mercifully or justly removed.
While tiic queen had been iIium ■.isely busy at home, she had been no
less active abroad. Sensible lliiii li t kiugdoin required a long season of
repose to enable it to regain its ;')wer, she ordered her ambassadors,
Lord I'^fTmgham and the bishop of Ivv, to conclude peace with France on
any terms; and peace was acconlii.niy concluded. But as the marriage
of Henry and Anne Uoleyn had bciii coiicluded in open opposition to
Koiiie, France chose to deem Klizulietli wrongfully sealed upon the
throne; and the duke of (Juise and In- brothers, seeing that Mary, queen
of Scots, the wife of the danpiiin, wmild — sufiposiiig Hhzabeth out of the
qui'Stioii — he the rightful heir, persu;ided the king of France to order his
son and his daiight(!r-iii-law to assu'ie boili the tilh; and liie arms of
Kiiglai' '. The death of Hiniry of France at a tournament not being fol-
lowed . y any abandonment on the part of .Mary and her husband, then
Francis II. of France, of this most iinwarranlable and insiiliiug assunif)-
tioii, F.lizabeth was sluiig into the ciiiiiMieiircmeiit of that deadly hatred
whiidi subsequently proved so fatal to the fairer but less prudent Mary of
Scotland.
A. n. 1501. — The situation of Scotland and the circumstances whicji
occurred there at this period will be found in all iiecc^ssary detail under
the pruper liea<l. It will stillicc to say, her(\ lliai tlu! theological and civil
ilispnies that raged fiercely aiiioiiir t||c turbulent and warlike nobility ol
.Scotland and their respective followers, plunged thatcouiury into a stale
of confusion, which encoiiragc(l Flizaheih iii her ho: ii cxiorling froiii
Mary, now a widow, a clear ami saiisfacinry abaiidoiinient of her a.ssuinp-
lioii; an aliaiidoiimeiit which, inlced. had been made for her by a triiaiy
at l'Miiibnri;h, which treaty Flizabeih iio" , throutih Tliroirmorloii, her
ambissador, demanded ll'.at Mary should r itify. Hut willuliiess and .i
i-erlaiii pi:tty woiiianly piipic determiiieil Mary to refuse this, alitioimh
inn. II diately on the di'ath of Iwr husband she had laid aside both the title
.-ind the arms of (|ueeii of lOiml ind,
.NIary's residence in Fraiici-, in ■anwhile, had become very disayreeahli
to her f'roiii the iU-offices of the (jir"n inoiher, and she resolverl to com-
ply with the invitation of the slates of Scoilaiid to return to that kiiii;iloiii
Sh(! accordiiiu'ly ordered her auihiss.idor, D'Oisel, to iippiv to Fli/.ahctI,
for a safe comliict thnuigli lOi.^laiid; but lllizalieth, through 'rhrogiiiorinii
refuse I (!ompliaiice wilh lliat re(|i|i'>,i, except on condition of Mary's rit-
ificiilion of th(! treaty of Kdininiryh. Mary lenioiistrafed in severe thoiiu'li
chastened terms, and imnierlialely deti-r'niiied upon [iroceediiig to S'-dl-
land by sea, for which purpose she r",./:irki d at Caliiis. lOlizaheth at tin'
same time sent out cruisers, ostensiily lo pursue pirates, bill, as itshoiil!
§eem, with the inteniion of seizing upon ilie person of Mary, "ho, I
lOW-
'loiil
"lldllir J
I>ll(l|(M
'■'■'ff'l of
'Mst caiisj
Ills act
"• i's Fli,
' 'HVoure
V' o t,|
THE TREASURY OF hISTOKY.
513
I goods
iiei) sue
3 a hus
won Wd9
)l lake
r iier ooii-
e mother
(• epiiaplii
shown, got
lOUgh lliat
lowing one
is 10 be re-
[iinenl, that
by former
,ad been no
,r season of
ilibassadors,
, France on
\io marriage
ipposilion to
,1 vipon tlie
Mary, q»ie;'"
■ih onl of ilie
J to order Ins
\\\e arms of
„ot being [ol-
(uisband, ibcn
Umg assnmp-
,l,Maiy batrol
jilcui Mary of
nances whi''b
y aeiail""''*''',
.ricil and civil
?;,. nobility ol
rv n,lo ii «'-'"■
..•iiorlinji from
„f lu'ra^snuiii-
i.-rbvaireaiy
;„„m)rton, b'-f
lulnoss and ;i
,1),^, iilibinm'i
, Imlb Vlie tide
rv (UsairvcoaM'
,;olvcd to <'nHi-
otUal kimi'loni
,,lv to Kb/.ilbrll,
I'l'lirognv'ii""
of Miry-s rit-
,, M'VOT ibOU'ill
• bill? to S'-"i
iKl./.ibelb ;U tli'
ll.nl. as ilsboiil'.
Ilary, -t'o. bo«-
I
1 o
ever, passed through the English squadron in a fog, and arrived srifoly at
Leith. But though safe, Mary was far froin happy. She had h)ved France
with even move than a native's love, and only ceased to gaze upon its re-
ceding sliores when they were hidden by the darkness of iiigiit. The
manners of the French were agreeable to Iter; she had become, as it were,
"native and to the manor born," iu that land of gaiety and frivolity ; and
all that she heard of the stern harsh bigotry of the predominant parly in
Scotland, led her to anticipate nothing but the most wearisome and "mel-
ancholy feelings. Her youth, her beauty, her many accomplislunents,
and, above all, the novelty of seeing their sovereign once more among
them, caused the Scots to give her a most joyful and aflPectionate recep-
tion. Her first measures were we'l calculiited to confirm the favourable
opinion which her people appeared toentc^rtain. She gave, at least osten-
sibly, all her confidence and nearly all her attention to the leaders of the
reformed parly, who, indeed, had now complete power over tlie great
mass of the Scottish people. Secretary Liddington and her brother, Ijord
James, whom she created earl of Murray, ably seconded her endeavours
to introduce something like order into that land so long and so grievously
lorn by faction and strife, and as the measures taken were at once firm
and conciliatory, everything seemed to promise success.
But there was, amidst all this seeming promise of better times, one
fatal element which rendered her success nearly impossible. Bigotry ip
England was personified mildness and moderation, compared to the in-
tense and envenomed bigotry which at that time existed in Scotland.
Mary on her first entrance into Scotland had issued an oider that every
one should submit to the reformed religion. But she herself was still a
papist ; and scarcely was the first joy of her arrival subsided when the
reformed preachers began to denounce her on that account. The celelira-
tioii of catholic rites in her own chapel would have been sternly refused
her by the zealous preachers and their zealous followers, had nol the mul-
tilude been induced to side by her in that matter, for fear of her returnmg
to France in disgust. But even that consideration did not prevent the
preachers and some of their followers from proceeding to the most out-
rageous lengths ; and tliis single consideration sufficed to throw the wiiole
Scottish r'"'>ple into confusion and uneasiness.
Wisely chary of expense, and profoundly politic, Elizabeth saw that
the bigotry of Mary's subjects would find that princess other employment
than that of making any attempt to disturb the peace of England. She
tiierefore turned her attention to improvmg the arts, commerce, navy, and
artillery of England ; and with so much judgment, and with such great as
well ;is rapid success, that she well meriteil the title that was bestowed
upon her, of " the restorer of naval glory and queen of the northern seas."
llrr spirit and prudence had naturally enough eicouraged foreign princes
to believe, that though she had in soiuo sort pltnlged herself to a maiden
life, it was not inipos.sible to dissuade her from persevering in that reso-
lution. The archduke Charles, second son of the emperor ; Casimir, son
of the (doctor palatiiu' ; Fric, king of Sweden ; Adolph, duke of Holstein ;
and the earl of Arraii, presumptive heir to the crown of Scotland, were
among the suitors feu- her hand. Nor were there wanting aspirants to that
higii and envied honour even among her own siibje<'ts. The earl of Arun-
del, thoiigb old enough to bi; her father, and Sir William Pickering were
:iiniMig those who Haltered themselv(\s with hope; as was Lord Robert
Dudley, a sou of the aini)itious duke of Northumberland, beheaded in tlio
iiigii of M;iry ; and as the (ine person and showy accoinplisliiMenls of this
iii^l caused the queen to treat him with i.. >re favour and confidence than
his actual talents seemed to warrant frinn so acute a judge of men's mer-
its as Elizabeth, it was fcr some time very generally imagined that h" was
'» favoured lover. But the (lueen answered all addresses with ti refusal.
Vol. 1 ri
914
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
and yet not such a refusal as to utterly destroy tliiit feeling of attachment
which was so useful toiler as a queen, and — can we doubt it ' — so agree-
able as well as flattering to her as a woman? But though Elizabeth ap-
peared to be decidedly disinclined to marriage, notiiing appeared to offend
her more than the marriage of any who iiad pretensions to succeed her.
A remarkable instance of tiiis occurred in the case of tiie lady Catherine
Gray, youngest sister of tiie hapless lady Jane. This lady married, in
secoinl nuptials, the earl of Hertford, son of the protector Somerset, and,
tiie lady (iroviiig pregnant, Elizaheth confined both husband and wife in
the Tower, where Ihey remained for nine years. At the end of that time
the countess died, and then the queen at length gave the persecuted earl
his liberty.
A. D. 15C3. — Besides all considerations of his personal and ineradicable
bigotry, Philip of Spain had yet anotlier motive for fidfilling tlie vow
which, on escaping from a violent tempest, he iiad made, to do all that in
him lay for the extirpation of heresy. Of tliat " heresy" Elizabeth, by
the common consent not only of lier own subjects but of tlie protestaiits
of all Europe, was looked upon as the child and champion ; and her rejec-
tion of I'liilip's hand, and her consequent baffling of all his liofies of ob-
taining sway over England, had excited his glopmy and vindictive nature
to a fierce and personal hatred. In every negotiation, under every circum-
stance, he made his hatred to the queen appear in his virulent and obsti-
nate o[)po3ition to the interests of England. Not content with the most
violent persecution of the protcstants wherever his own aulliority could
be stretched to reach them, he lent his aid to the queen mother of KraiuM;.
That aid so fearfully turned the scale against the French Huguenots, that
their chivalrous leader, tlie prince of (Jonde, i.\as fain to apply for aid to
the protestaiit queen of England. TiiDiigli during the whiije ol' iitr long
and glorious reii,'i!, Eliz.ii)eth was wisely chary of involving herself in
great expenses, the (uiuse of protestantism would proliably of itself liave
been too dear to her to allow of lier hesitating. But tin- prince of Ooiid^
appealed to her interest as well as to her r(diifious syiupathies. The Hu-
guenots possessed nearly the whole of Norm.iidy ; and CdiuIc iJrofTcrcd
ti (xive Elizabeth possession of Ilavre-de-Giace, on condition that she
Bhould put a garrison of three thousand men into that place, send three
thousand men to garrison Dieppe and Hoiieii, and supply money to the
amount of a hmulrcd tlionsaiul crowns. The offer was tempting. True
it was that the French were by treaty bound to restore Calais, but there
were many reasons for doubting whether that agreement would be I'lilfil-
led. Possessed of Havre, and thus comnianding the mouth of the Seine,
England would be the more likely to be able to command the restitution
of Calais; the offer of Coiide was accordingly accepted. Havre and
Dieppe were ininiediately garrisoned, but the latter [ilaee was speedily
found to be untenable, and evacuated aceordiniily. To Rouen the catholics
were laying siege, and it was witli great dillu uliy that I'oynings threw in
II small reinforceinent of English to aid the Huguenot garrison. Thus
aided the Huguenots fought bravely and well, but were at length over-
powered and put to the sword. About the same time thrive thousand more
English arrived to the siip|)ort of Havre, iindt^r the coiiii.iaiid of the e.irl
of Warwick, eldest brother of the Lord Robert Dudley. With tins aid
and a sei'ond sum of a hundred tli(nisaiid crowns, the Huguenots, ihoHgli
sevi'rely beaten near Dreiix, wlu'ri! dnehi and MontmonMicy were taken
prisoners by the catholics, still kept well together, and even took some
considerable towns in Normandy.
A. D. 1.5^3.— How sincendy desirous Eli/.iiielh was of cITc^ctual'v aidiiir;
the llugueiiols will appear fro.ii the fact that, while she had thus assistei!
lie 111 Witt, a numerous body of admirable tv^ips and with two huiidrt'd
thousand crowns, as well as proffered li :r bond for another hui.jred tl»oi:-
Af
catlii
the
his ;
and
entire
so iioIj
he re[:
as hef
so evi
and III
seciiii
disda
to d.-f,
W;
place,
"oiirag
l"'lMnei
Wiek,
niak(
break i
Seeing
by :he
foil'l 111
FrencI
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
5l5
»?n(l if mercliants could be found to lend the amount, she was now so
poor tiiat she was obliged to summon a parliament and demand assistance.
This demand led to a renewal of the parliament's request that she would
marry. She had been dangerously ill of the small-pox, and her peril had
re-awakened all the national terrors of the evils inseparable from a dis-
putetl succession. Tiie parliament, consequently, now added to its peti-
tion, that she would marry, the alternative, that she would at least cause
her successor to be clearly and finally — save in the event of her marrying
and having issue — named by an act of parliament.
Nothing could have been less agreealile to the queen than this petition.
Slie well knew tlie claim of Mary of Scotland, and shrewdly judged that
the being named as iier successor would not dimmisli the inclination of
that queen to give her disturbance. On the oiherliand, to deny that claim
and to decide in favour of the house of Suffolk, would be to incite Mary
to instant enmity, and at the same time to i-reale in ai'.other quarter the
impatience, rarely unmixed with enmity, of the declared successor. In
this dilemma she acted with her usual caution and policy; gave the par-
liament to understand that she had by no means irrevocably made up her
mind against marriage, and assure " them, in general terms, that she could
not die with any satisfaction unt! had settled the succession on solid
anil satisfactory foundations.
The parliament, sincerely attached to the queen, and. besides, well
aware that her temper would but ill boar aught that bore the appearance
of iniporlunity or of dictation, was obliged to be contented, or seemingly
so, witii tins reply; and proceeded to busy itjclf in passing needlessly
severe laws against the catholics, and rid' ndously severe laws aguir.it
ibiise iniiiginary and impossible offenders, vitches and wizards. A sub-
sidy and two rif*"(ntiis. and a subsidy of ':\ shillings in the pound, the
last to be paid '-.i three years, were then '. oted to the queen, and parlia-
ment was again prorogued.
After long and mmnally cruel butchcies the French Huguenots and
catholics came to an agreement. An ;,.nnesty and partial toler.iiion of
tiie Huguenots was pulilished by the 'lO'.irt, and Conde was reinstated in
his appointments. To the great discreuit of this gallant leader, his own
and liis party's iiitoresis were never attended to by tiim, almost to the
entire forgetfidness of his agreements made with I'^lizabeth when she
so nol)ly and liberally assisted him. He stipulated, mdeed, that she should
he repaid her expenses, but in relm-n she was to give up Havre, and trust,
as before, for the reslitulion of Calais to that trt^aty which the French had
so evidently resolvcil upon breaking. Knraged at Conde's breach of faith,
and helieviiig the possession of Havn^ to be her best if not her solo
security fo, the restitution of Ciilais, Klizabelli rejected tiiese terms with
disdain, anil snit orders to the earl of Warwick to take every precaution
to d;^feiid Havre from tin- attacks of the now united French.
Warwirk, in obedience to liiese orders, expelled all French from that
place, and prepared to defeiul himself against a large t'rencii army, en-
"oiiraged by tlie presence of the queen mother, ihe king, the constahls of
i''r;iiwe, and Conile iiimself. Hut the courage, vigour and ability of War-
wick, which [iroinised to baffle al! attempts upon Havre, or at least In
make it a right dear purchase lo the enemy, were (rounterbalanced by the
lacaking out among his men of a most fatal and pestilential sickness.
S(<eiiig them die daily of I his terrible disease, which w i } much aggravated
by ;iu! grp:u scarcity of provi:-.ioiis, Warwick urgently demanded a rcin-
finci ment and supplies from Kiigland. Hut these being withheld, and the
French havin;? succeeded in making two pra.'iical i)reaches. the earl bad
no alternaiive but to capitnlalf , and lie w,is obhged '.fi surrender the place
upon the sole condition of iieing allowed life and safe conduct for his
Iroop.s. He bad hardly surrendt red when a reinforcement of three thou
H
j!;
W
Kv.
li
■ I
r
in
,1!
m
61(5
THE TllE/VSURY OP HISTORY.
u
> I
ll i
sand men arrived from Englar.c under Lord Clinton, but, besides that tliey
were too late, they also were suffering under the plague wliich at that
period raged in England. As a consequence of the loss of Havre, Eliza-
beth was glad to consent to restore the hostages given by France for tlie
restitution of Calais, on receiving two hundred and twenty thousand
crowns; but it was stipulated that nothing in this transaction should be
held to prejudice the claim of either nation.
Though in reality the hatred and jealousy that subsisted between Eliz-
abeth and Mary queen of Scots were bitter and constant, nothing of quarrel
had as yet been openly allowed to appear. They corresponded weekly
and assumed quite a sisterly tone of affection. So far was this deceptive
conduct carried on the part of Elizabeth, that Hales, a lawyer, having
published a book opposing the title of Mary as Ehzabeth's successor, was
fined and imprisoned ; and Bacon, the lord keeper, on the mere suspicion
of having encouraged that publicatron, was visited for some time witli the
queen's displeasure. An interview was even appointed to take place be-
tween the two queens at York, but Elizabeth, probably not very anxious
to let her subjects see Mary's superiority of personal beauty, pleaded
public affairs, and the meeting was abandoned.
A new source of care arose for Elizabeth. Mary, young and lovely,
and of no frigid temperament, was naturally not disinclined to a second
marriage ; and her uncle's restless ambition would scarcely have iillowed
her to remain unmarried even had she been so, T-: prevent Mary'.s in;ir-
riage was obviously not in BJlizabeths powej ; bjl as she, at li ist, had
the power of getting her formally excluded from the English succession,
she thought it not so impossible in the first instance to procrastinate
Mary's choice, and then to cause it to fall on the least likely person to aid
and encourage her iu any attempts prejudicial to England. Witli tliis
view she raised objections, now of one and now of another sort, against
the aspirants to Mary's hand, and at lengtli named Lord Robert Dudley,
her own subject, and, as some thought, her own unfavoured suitor, as the
person upon whom it would be most agreeable to her tliat Mary's choice
should fall.
The Lord Robert Dudley — as the render has hitherto known him, but
who had now been created earl of Leicester — was handsome, greatly and
generally accoiniilished, and possessed the art of flattery in its utmost
perfection ; an art to which, far more than to his solid merits, he owed
his power of concealing from Elizabeth his ambition, rapacity, and intoki-
able haughtiness, or of reconciling her to tiiem. Tiie great and continuetl
favour shown to him by the queen liad made iiimself as well as tlie multi-
tude imagine, that ho might reasonably hope to be honoured with her
hand ; and it was even believed that the early death of his youug and
lovely wife, the daughter of a wealthy gentleman named Robsart, had
been [ilamicd and ordered by the earl, in order to remove what lie deemed
the sole obstiicle to the success of his loftier views. To so ainbiiious a
man. whatever the personal su[)eriority of Mary over Elizabeth, the crown
matrimonial of Scotland must have seemed a poor substitute, iiuUu'd, to
that (if Enjrl.iiid ; and Leicester not only objected to the proposal, Ijut
attributed it-< concepiion to a deep scheme of his able and bitter enemy,
Cecil, to df^^rive him of liis influence by weaning Elizabeth from all per-
sonal feeling for him, and causing iier to identify iiim with her rival Mary.
The queen of Scotland, on the other iiand, wearied with the long and
vexatious delays and vacillations of Elizabeth, and influenced pcrliaps, by
the personal beauty and accomplislnnents of ihe earl, as we'll as anxious
by her marriage witli him to remove Elizabeth's evident reluctance In
naming her to the Knglisli succession, intiiiiated her willingness to iiccepl
the powerful favourite. Hut Elizabeth had named him only in tlie lio|if
that he would be rejected; he was too gr.nit a favourite to be parted wi h
THE TREASUEY OF HISTORY.
517
hoicc
im, but
lly uuJ
uimosl
owuil
iUoIlt-
ntinued
iiuilti-
ih her
ig IUVj
rt, hail
ccmud
itious a
iTOwn
foil, to
isal, but
enuniV,
all pt'V-
,1 Mary,
oiig aud
laps, by
aiixiiiii^
nice til
tin; luijit
L'J wi !i
imi though she had herself distinctly named tlie earl as the only man
whom she should choose to see the hushand of Mary, she now coldly and
Buddenly withdrew her approbation.
The high, and never too prudent, spirit of Mary naturally revolted from
this new proof of duplicity and unfriendly feeling ; the correspondence
between the rival queens grew less frequent and more curt and formal,
ind at length for a time wholly ceased." But Mary, probably under the
advice of her friends in France, resolved to make yet another effort to
avoid a final and irremediable breach with Elizabeth, and for that purpose
sent Sir James Melvil on a mission to London.
Englishiiisn are greatly and justly proud of queen Elizabeth; taken as
ft whole her reign was one of the greatest and wisest in our history. But
even making all allowance for the prejudice Melvil may be supposed to
have felt against Elizabeth, the account he gives of what he saw of her
conduct on this occasion places her in so weak, so vain, so puerile a light,
that, W'uld rigid impartiality allow it, one would gladly overlook this por-
tion of our great Elizabeth's reign altogether. Every day she appeared
in sor.ie new style of dress, every interview was marked by some question
as to the difTerence in feature, person, or manner between herself and her
far lovelier, far more accomplished, but far less worthy and less estimable
rival, which is infinitely more characteristic of the petty but aching envy
of some iD-natured school-girl, with vanity made only the more restless
and craving of flattery from the occasional suggestions of shrewder sense
on the score of personal inferiority, than of that high-souled and calm-
lirowed queen who knew how to endure a dungeon and to dare an armada.
An accomplished courtier, Melvil was iilso a shrewd and practised man
of the world ; and it is quite dear, from his inomoirs, that he saw through
",lizabeth alike in tlu; weakness of her vanity, and in the strength of her
deep and iron detennination. His report, and probably both her friends'
ulvice and her own inclination, determined Mary no longer to hesitate
dinut choosing a husband for herself. Lord D^irnley, son of the earl of
I.enox, cousin-gcrnian to Mary by the lady Margaret Douglas, luecc of
Henry VIII., was by all parties in Scotland considered a very suitable per-
son. He was of the same family ad Mary ; was, after her, next heir to
the crown of England, and would preserve the crown of Scotland iji the
house of Stuart. While these considerations made him eligible in the
eyes of Mary's family and of all Scotchmen, he had been born and edu-
cated in England, and it was therefore not to be supposed that Elizabeth
could have miy of that jealousy towards him which slie might liavij felt in
the ease of a foreign prince and a papist. And, in truth, perceivin;,' tijut it
was not to be hoped that Mary would remain single, Elizabeth wa-; no;, ill
pleased that Mary's choice should fall upon Darnley. He Cinild add
nothing in the way of power or alliance to the Scottish queen, wlmse iiiar-
ringe with him would at once release Elizal)eth from the half-defined
jealousy she felt as to Leicester's real sentiments, and would, at the same
time, do away with all dread of the queen of Scots forming any one of the
aumerous foreign alliances which were open to her, and any o*;e of which
•.')uld be dangerous to England.
i.enox had been long in exUe. Elizabeth now secretly advised Mary
to ri "all him, reverse his attainder, and restore his forfeited possessions;
but uo sooner was this done than she openly blamed the proceedings,
with the view at once of emliarrassing Mary and of keeping up her own
interest with the opposite faction in Scotland. Her duplicity did not stop
here. When the negotiations for the marriage were far advanced. Darn-
ley asked Elizabeth's permission to go into Scotland ; and that permission
was, to all appearance, cheerfully granted. Hut when she learned lliat
liis haiidsouie person was admir(,Ml by Mary and that the marriage was
fiillv determined on, she sent tu .'der Darnley on no account to go on
Il-:','.i
1^
'M
518
THE TIIEASIJRY OF HISTORY.
witli the marriage, but, on liis allegiance, to return to Euglaud foitliwitn,
Compliaucu with such caprice and tyranny was out of tin; quiisiion ; ami
Elizabeth threw the countess of Lenox and lier second sou into prison,
and seized all Lenox's Knglisli property without ttie shadow of a plea
beyond the conduct ol young Uarnley, to which she had deliberately given
her sanction ! The insulting vacillation of Klizal)eth's conduct in a matter
of such delicate interest to .Mary, can only be reconciled witti ht.'r usual
shrewdness by supposing thai, independent of any small feminine spiteful-
ness of which we fear tliat even the utmost partiality can hardly acquit
her, she deliberately, and as a matter of deep, though merciless policy,
sought thus to obtain a plea upon which to repudiate Mary as her succes-
sor in Kngland, and a ready means of stirring up discontents among Mary's
own subjects, and thus preventing them from being troublesome to Eng
land.
A. D. 15C5. — Mary's relationship to the house of Guise, whose detesta
Hon of the reformed religion was so widely known and so terribly attested,
was very unfortunate for her; inasmuch as it converted her warm attach-
ment to her own religion into something like bigotry and intolerance.
She not only refused to ratify the acts estal)lishing the reformed religion,
and endeavoured to restore civil power and jurisdiction to the catliolin
bishops, but was i. ven imprudent enough to write letters to the council of
Trent, in which siie professed her hope not merely of one day su(!ceeding
to the crown of 1'. igland, but also of so using her power and iulluenee as
to bring about the reconciliation of the whole of her dominions to the
holy see. Considering her knowledge of I'^lizabeth's temper and feelings
towards her, and (Huisidering, too, how much advantage Elizabeth would
obviously obtain from every circumstance which could cause the Scotch
zealots to sympathize with Elizabeth against their own queen, noihing
could well have been more imprudent than this missive. Under any cir-
cumstances, probably, Mary, a zealous catholit.', wouhl have had but an
uneasy reigii among the fiercely bigoted Scottish protestaiils; but there
is little reason to doubt that this very communication to the council of
Trent was a main first cause of all her subsequent misfortniK^s. The
protestants of Scotland were at that time no whit behind the catholics of
any part of the world, either in self-rightcousness, or in bitter and bigoted
detestation of all who chanced to difTer from them. Alarmed as well as
indignant at the queen's ostentatious aitachmeiil to her own creed, the
protestants not only murmured at her exercise of its rites, even in her
own private residence and chapel, but abused her faith ui the grossest
terms while importuning her to abjure it. The queen answered these
rude advisers with a temper vvhicii, had she always displayed it, iniiilit
have spared her many a sorrowful day ; .issnred them that besides that
her apostacy would deprive Scotland of her most powerful friends
on the continent, she was sincerely attached to her own faith and con-
vinced of its truth. With the self-complacency peculiar to narrow
minded bigotry, the remonstrants assured her that they alone had truth on
their side, and bade her prefer that truth to all earthly supfiort and alli-
ances. The rude zeal of the reformed was still farther increased by tlit
belief, carefully encouraged by the agents of Klizabeth, that the Lenox
family were also papists. It was in vain that Darnley, now King Heary,
endeavoured to show that he was no papist by frequently inakiug his ap-
pearance at the established church; this conduct was attribuied to a Jesu-
itical and profound wiliness, and the preachers often publicly insulted Inn)
Knox, especially, not scrupling to tell him from the pul|)it that boys and
women were only put to rule over nations for the punishment of their s.iis.
While the violence of the clergy and the arts of Elizabeth's emissaries
were thus irritating the common people of Scotland against their que
ihu discontents of her nobility began to threaten her with a yet nearer i.uii
'\ I
THK TREASUIIY OF HISTORY.
519
more ruinous opposition. Tiie duke of Ciiaterault and the earls of Mur-
ray and Argyle, with other malcontent nobles, actually raised forces, and
soon appeared in arms against the king and queen, instigated to this
treasonable conduct merely by their paltry fears of being losers of influ-
ence and power by the rise of the Lenox family consequent upon Darn-
ley's marriage to the queen. The reformed preachers openly, and En-
glish emissaries secretly, aided the malcontent lords in endeavouring to
seduce or urge the whole Scottish population from its allegiance. Uut the
people were, for once, in no humour to follow the seditious or the fanati-
cal ; and after but very trifling show of success, the rebels, being pursued
6y the king and queen at the head of an army of eighteen thousand, were
fain to seek safety in Kngland.
We dwell more upon the aflTairs of Scotland just at this period than we
generally do, because thub much of Scottish history is necessary here to
the understanding of that portion of English history with which Mary,
queen of Scots, is so lamentably, and so disgracefully to England, con-
nected.
The event of the Scottish revolt having thus completely disappointed
all the hopes of Elizabeth, she now strenuously disavowed all concern in
it ; and having induced Murray and Chaterault's agent, the abbot of Kil-
winning, to make a similar declaration before the Spanish and French
ambassadors, she, with a bitter practical satire, added to the force of their
declaration, by instantly ordering them from her presence as detestable
and unworthy traitors !
A. D. 1666.— Hard is the fate of princes! Rarely can they havesincero
friends ; still more rarely can they have favourites who do not, by their
own ingratitude or the envy of others, call up a storm of misfortune for
both sovereign and favourite.
Hitherto the conduct of Mary had been morally irreproachable ; for the
coarse abuse of Knox is itself evidence of the strongest kind, that, save
her papacy and her sex — of which he seems to have felt an about equal
detestation — even he had not wherewithal to reproach her. Having for
her second husband a handsome and youthful man of her own choice, it
might have been hoped that at least her domestic felicity was secured.
But Darnley was a vain, weak-minded man; alike fickle and violent; am-
bitious of distinction, yet weary of the slightest necessary care; easily
offended at the most trivial opposition, and as easily governed by the
most obvious and fulsome flattery. Utterly incapable of aiding the queen
in the government, he was no jot the less anxious to have the c-rown-
niatrimonial added to the courtesy-title of king which Mary had already
bestowed upon him. In this temper he was inclined to detest all who
seemed able and willing to afford the queen counsel ; and among theso
Was an Italian mus'cian, by name David Rizzio. He had attended an
embassy sent to Scotland by the duke of Savoy, and was retained at the
Scottish court, in the first instance, merely on account of his musujal tal-
ents. But he was both aspiring and clever, and he soon testified so much
shrewdness and inclination to be useful, that he was made French secre-
tary to the queen. Drought thus intiimitely into contact with the queen,
he so rapidly improved on his advantages, that in a short time lie was
universally looked upon not only as the queen's chief confidant and coun-
sellor, but also as the cliief and most powerful dispenser of her favours.
As is usually the case with favourites, the ability which had enabled Rizzio
to conquer court favour did not teach him to use it with moderation ; and
he ha.i scarcely secured tiie favour of the queen, ere he had incurred the
deadly hate of nearly every one at court. The re "ormed hated him as a
papist and the reputed spy and pensionary of the p.>pe ; the needy hated
liim for his wealth, tlie high-born for his upstart insolence; the aspiring
detested his ambition, and many men— probably not too pure in tiieir own
I
520
THE TllKASUHY OF HISTORY.
I'l I
uL
h m
Tiorah — could find no other supposition on which to account for Mary
protection of him, save a criminal connection between them. It is true
that liizzio was ugly and by no means very young even when he first
came to court, and some years had now passed since that event ; and,
moreover, liizzio, whose ability had done much to clear away the ubsta-
clus to the marriage of Mary and Darnley, had at one time , at least, been
as much in tiie favour of iIk; king as of tiie queen. But Darnley, soured
by the queen's coldness, wiiich Ik; was willing to attribute to any cause
rather than to his own misconduct, easily fell inlu llie snare set by the
enemies alike of himself, his queen, and Rizzio, and becvne furiously
jealous oi" an ugly and almost deformed secretary. Yet Darnley was one
of the handsomest men of the age and a vain man too!
Among llie extravagant reporis to wiiicli the excessive favour already
enjoyed by Rizzio had given rise, was one, tliat it was the intention of
Mary to make him chancellor in the room of tiie earl of Morton ! It was
true that Kizzio kne\/ nothing of the language or of tlie laws of Scotland ;
but the report wis creditcnl even by the astulc Morton himself, who forth-
with exerted himself to persuade Darnley that nolliing but the dealb of
Rizzio could ever restore peace and safety to either king or kingdom.
The earl of Lenox, the king's father, George Douglas, natural t)rollier to
the counlcss of Lenox, and tlie lords Lindesay and nuthven, readily joined
in the (conspiracy againnt the uiifortiiiiale foreigner, and, to guard tliein-
selves against llie known fickleness of the king, tiiey got him to sign a
paper autliorizing and making liiiiiself responsible for tlie assassinalion of
Hi;E.zio. as being "an undertaking lending lo tlie gloiy of (lod and the ad-
vancement of religion." Tlii.' banished lords who were ever hovering on
the borilers in hope of sonic event productive of disturbance, were invited
by the king to relnrii, and every preparation biing made, a night was at
length ajipoiiited for the murder of Kizzio.
.\Iary, now in the sixth inoiilh of her pregnancy, was at supper in linr
private apartiiient", altendeii by Rizzio, lliit counless of Argyle, her natu-
ral sisler, ami oliiers of lier personal iitlendanl.s, when ttit! king suddenly
entered the room and pi ,ceil liimsidf beliiiul il,,^ (pieen's cliair. Innnedi-
ately anei«:'rds Lord Kulliven, eased in aiiiioiir and gliaslly from long
illness anil anxiety, (!eorge Douglas, ami others, rushed in and seized
upon the luiforiiiiiali' Uiz/.io as he sprang up to llie ipieen and clung to
her garments, shrieking the while for |)rotec-tion. 'I'lie queen, with tears,
entri'aties, and even tlireais, emleavoincMl to save; her secretary, but the
resolved coiispirilois f( reed htm into the anleidiamber, where he died
beneaih no fewer than fifty-six wounds!
The coiidiiion of the cpieen being eoiisidere ", the presence of her hus-
band while shi' was thus limribly outraged l)\ ' 'iiig made witness of the
atrociims niur'ler of her servant, mnsi necessarily have luriied her forincr
coldness to'.vanls Darnley into actual loathing. On learning that liizzio
was indeed dead, she iinmedi,ilely dried her tears, saynig " 1 will weep no
more; heni'efoilli I will only think of reveiig"."
Assiimiii),' Mary to he guilty of !lir p.iriieipalion in the innrdi r of her
' >tbnid Willi which she was afterwanis so disaiitroiisly charged, ihoiigii
i.ven this outraue upon her both ax ipieen and woman would he no exeii.so
for her iniscondii' t as queen, woman, and wife, yet it ouuhl not wholly tii
Im' left out of si;;lit while we jiidi;e of the charailt r of .Mary. In a court
Bticli as Iheecirt of .Seoi!. nil clearly was at that time, nothing short of the
purity of atiReli cuuld iiave etteapei the general |)ollulion uf eruidty, deceit
and we i":;ality.
All resentments felt ty Mary were now, it should seem, merijed into
(leteNiitioii of l|i< erni'lly and insolently savaue eiMidncI of her lins!<aiid
She xhowed hiin every mark of eonti'inpt in paldie, and avoiiled Imii in
pnvMie ah thougii III iniiiKled hate and terror. \t length, huwevei, iht
v. ii:K
THE TllEASUllY OF HISTORY.
521
.liU'iily
•r liUR-
of iho
I'trmi'r
Ur/,/.io
I" lirr
DtXfllSO
lii.'ily ti»
II ;i Kiurl
Ml of Uic
ly,(lcci'i*.
,B(m1 into
liiin in
(over, »U»
*as confined at Edinburgh castle of ii son ; and as Darnley had apartments
tliere, they were at least apparently reconciled and living together.
A messenger was inatanily sent to Elizabeth, who received the news
while at a ball at Greenwich. She was much cast down at first, and even
complained to some of her attendants tliat she was but a barren stock,
wliile Mary was the glad mother of a fair boy. But she soon recovered
her wonted self-possession, and on the following day she publicly congrat-
ulated Melvil, Mary's envoy, and sent the earl of Bedford and George
Gary, son of her kinsman the earl of Ilunsdon, to attend the christening
of the young prince, and to carry some rich presents to his mother.
But whatever cordiality Elizabeth might afl'ect upon this occasion, the
birth of a son to the queen of Scots, as it increased the zeal of her parli-
zans in England, so it made even the best friends of Elizabclli desirous
that she should take some eflTectual steps for the settlement of the suo
cession.
It was proposed by some leading members of parliament that the ques-
tion of the succession and that of the supply sliould go together. Sir
Ralph Sadler, in order to elude this bringing of the question to a point, af-
firmed that ho liad heard the queen say that for the good of her pi^opie she
had come to tlie resolution to marry. Others of the court ;iminied tiic
same, and then ttu; house bc^an to consider about joining the (jucslion of
tlie queen's marriage to that of the settienient in general, wlicn a message
wns brought from the queen ordering the house to proceed no farther in
the matter. She pledged her queenly word as lo her sincere intention to
inary ; and she said that to name any successor i)revi<nisly would I)e to
inerease her already great personal dangers. This messiigo by no means
satisfied ihe house, and I'eter Wentworth, a popular tneinher, bluntly snid
that such a prohihition was a breach of the privileges of ihe houses ; while
some of the members on the same side added, that unless the queen would
pay some regard lo their future security by fixing a successor, she would
show herself rather as the siepinother than as the natural parent of her
people. The ilelntes still continuing in this strain, the queen sent for ihe
speaker, and her remonslrain-es witli him having failed to produce the de-
sired efl'eet upon the house, she shortly afterwards dissolved llw parliament,
sharply rclleeting, at the same time, ui)on the pertinacity with which they
had pressed lier to many or fix the succession.
A. Ti. !.')()?, — The debates in parliament had inoro than ever awakened
the zeal of the partizans of tiie qii.'en of .'^cots. Tin; catholics of Kngland
were to a man really t(i rise on her liehalf, should Elizabeth's death or
any national calamity aflford an inviting opportunity ; and, moreover, the
court of Elizabeth was ite(df full of Mary's |iarlizans. Itiit while Kliza-
hi'ih and her sagacious friend and eoiincillor Cecil — to whom il is not too
niiii'h to K\y that Elizalielh owed more than half the glory sli: aeipiired,
and owed tliU more freedom from the oblocpiy her temper would but for
him hav(! caused her to incur — were using every <'Xi)edicnt lo avoid llie
ncceRHitv of deidaring so dangerous a siieci'ssor as the queen of Scots,
that lUf.iteil |>tiiiceHs was in tlie very act of plunging hersell' into a lis-iiie
of horrors and infamies, which were lo render her Ihe prisoner and Ihe
vicKiiii of the princess whom she had dareil to rival and liopeil to :»iicceed.
After the death of Uizzio, Mary's perilous and perplexed siin ilioii had
mndi some eonfiilaiil and assisl.inl iiidispeiisalily necessary (o her, e(»pi'ci-
ally silimtc' as she was with her frivolous and .<ul!en Imsband. The per-
lon who at this time stood highest i:i lier I'onfidcnee was the earl of Itoih-
well, a man of deb.iuclied char.ii'li r and great lariin', but whose forlune
«'»• much ii'.v.dved, and wh.) was more noted for his opposition In Murray
and the rigid reformers, than lor any great c vil or milii.iry laleiiis This
noblcinan, it is believed, suj^'gofted to lior the e.x()«Mlicnt of beiiiK divorced
1 1 1
till-)
'W
M^r
ji
■Jlj
li
W\
1
t\
^■'
"'J
:^i
;"^ff!- 'V
533
THE TIlEASUilV OF HISTORY.
from Darnloy, but from some difficulties wliicli arose to its execution ilial
project was laid aside.
'i'liP iulimate frieiulsliip of Mary with Botlnvell, and her aversion to lier
husband, made observant persons niucii asloiiished when it wasannouin-ed
that a sudden return of the queen's ad'ection toiler husband had taken place;
tiiat she liad even journeyed to Glasgow to attend his sick bed ; that she
tended him with the utmost kindness; and that, as soon as he could safely
travel, she had brouy;lit iiim with iier to Holyrood-iiouse, in Edinburgli.
On tlieir arrival there it was found, or pretended, that the low situation of
the piaee, and the noise of tlie persons continually f,'oing and coming, de-
nied iIk" king the re[)ose necessary to his infirm stale. A solitary house,
called the Kirk o' Field, at some distance from tiie palace, but near enough
to admit of Mary's frc([uei)t attetulanee, was accordingly taken, and iiere
she continued her atteiitioi.s to him, and even slept for several nights in a
room immediately below his. On tlie iiinili of Febru;iry idie excused her-
self to him for not sleeping at the place, as one of her attendants was
going lo be married, and she had promised to grace the I'eremony wiih her
presence. AI)oul two o'clock in the morning an awful explosion was
heard, and it was soon afterwards discovered that the Kirk o' Field was
blown up, and the body of the unforlimale Henry Uiriiley was found in a
field at sDiiic distaiu'e, but with no marks of violence upon it.
It is a >iiigui.ir (act (hat, amidst all the disputation tliat has taken place
n« to till' ^Miill or iiiiiocencc of Mary in this i!!.)sl nudanclioly afTair, no one
of the di>piilaiils lias noticed Mary's selection of a room 'iiimi:ili(iUli/ helow
tliat of the king for several iiigii! i before the murder. Was l/iv i-un-txiicdir
dfli/i( ralrli/, III SHKill (jiKiiiliiic.i and at inli mils, ili/msitid and ai laiif^id in that
apariinent >
'I'liat Darnley had been most foully murdered no sane man could doubt-
and I he previous intimacy of .Mary and llolhwell caused the public .suspi-
cion at once to be turned upon tliciii ; and the conduct of Mary was ex-
actly calculated to connrin, instead of refutiiiEi, the liorrilih' suspicion
which all.iched lo her. A proelainalion was iiidrcd made, olTcriiig a re»
vard for the discovery of the king's murderers ; hut the pcii|ile observed that
far iiioic anxiety was displayed to discover those who attributed llial ter-
rible (U'cd to ilitihwidl and the ipieen. With a perfectly infatuated folly,
till" ipiceii iicLilected even the external deceiw les which would liavt' been
expected I'liiin her, even had she been less do.'- dy connecled in the |)iiblic
eye vv ilh the supposed murderer, H()lli\>ell. For the earl of I-euox, lather
oi" tlie iiiiirilcred king, wrote ii letter to the (|Ueeii, in wbii'll, .ivoidnig all
acciis.itiDii of liie (pieen, be ini|i|iiied her justice upon those whom he
rilainU eliaii;ed with the iiiurder. namely, llothwell, Sir .lames Halfoii:' ami
lis briillier <iill'ert Balfour, I) mil ('h.iliiiers, ainl foin ,:t|ier persons rf
the ipii rii's hcMiseholl; Init .^l.lry, thiiiigh she cited I,eiiox lo appear at
roiirl aiiil siippoii his ch.irge, and i-o I'.ir seenu'd lo enlcrlain it, Icl'i the
iin|iori';'>t fmtress of F.ilinlinitth in 'he bands of Bothwtdl an governor, ,iiid
of bis ere itiire llalfoiir as his c|i'|iiity.
A day for the trial of the idiarue made liy I.enox was ajipoiiited ; and
that nidijeiniii, with a very small attendance, Iik' ready rcaeheil .*itirliiig
<Mi his way lo I'ldiiihurifii, wlieii Ins informalio le exiraorilinary conii-
lenaiice siiowii lo ilolliwell. and the vast power cnlrilsteil to linn, ms|iii< d
I,eniix wilh f ars as lo even Ins personal s.ifeiv should he .ip|iear in F.d-
inbintjli ; he iheri fore sent C'niiilinghail^oiieofliis suite, lo prolest against
so hiirned an invesliuation of lhi< imporianl all'iir, and 'ii enlre.il .^lary,
for her own s ike af well as for the >, ike of iusiiee, to take lime, an I lo
make arraiiHeineiiN tor a full ami imparlial trial, wliiidi ob<'ion«iy could
not be had while llolhwell was not only al liberty, but m issession ol
oxorbiiant an I overwheliunis; power, Not Ihe sjiijhtetl !leiition «ai<
tiaid lo this iiiaiiifesily jiisl demand uf Ijeim.v; a jury win* . .\oriK an < ai
•itiowii th
M'lingpii
iiifl "II .
THI5 TRKASUHY OF HISTORY.
533
no prnsrcutor 'ir witness was presniit, that jmy (.'ould only arc|iiit tlic m-.
ciiscil — the venlict biiiig aci'()in|)iniiinl by a prolcst. id winch ilicy slated
llic sitnaiiun in whicli the very nalmo of the prociM'Llings had pliici'd theni.
But even /mil witnesses been presi'nt, their evidence could have ivailed
little towards furthering the ends of justice, for, by a very evident w ilfiil-
iicss, those who drew the indictnient had cdiargod the crime as liaviny; been
comiiiiited on the tenth day of the inoiilh. while the evidence niiist have
proved it to have been the ninth, and this siijnilicant ciri'iimstanei' increased
the odium of both .Mary and Uothwell. Two days after this shameful trial
a iiarliaiiient was held, and Hothwcll, whose acquittal was such as must
have convinced every impartial man of his guiltiness, was actually chosen
'lO carry the royal sceptre !
Sill h indecent but unequivocal evidence of the lengths to which Mary
was prepared to go in securintf impunity to BolhwHdl, awed even those
who most detested the proceedings; and a bond of association was signed,
by whiidi all the subscrilu'rs, consisting of all the chief nobdily present at
this parliament, referred to the accpiiltal of Hothwcll as a legal and com-
plete one, engaged to defend him against all future imputation of the mur-
der of the late king, and recoinnu'iided Mary to marry liothwelll De-
graded, indeed, by long and shameless factiim must ihe nation have been,
wlieii the (diief of its nobles could insult public justice and public decency
by the publication of such a document as this!
Having thus paved the way towards his ultimate designs, Bothwell an-
semhled a troop of eight hundred cavalry on pretence of pursuing some
armed robbers who infesi(>d the borders, and waylaid Mary on her return
from Stirling, where she had been paying a visit to her infant son. .Mary
was seiiitl near Kdnibnrgh , but Sir James .Midvil, her attached and faith-
ful servant who was witli her at tlie time, not only ctmfessed that he saw
no surprise or iiinvilliiisiness on her part, but add^, that some of Huthwell'M
ofTcers openly laughed at the notion of seizure of .Mary's perscm, and
stati'd the wlnde matter to have been arraiii;e i hctv i the parties thein-
Kelves. Uothwell carried his prisoner to Dunbar, aii. iCre made himself
master of her person, evi'ii if he had not be. n so before. Some of the no-
hility, either still doubtful of her guilty consent, or desirous, at the least,
uf forcing her into a mori' i xphcii declaration of it, now sent to ofl'cr tli'dr
services to rescue her; but she, w iih infinite cixdiK ss, replied, that though
lloihvvell had orignially obtained possession of her person l>\ \ ndenre,
he had siiu'c treated her so well thai she w "W quite willing to remain
with hull.
Th.it no circunistaiico of infamy and ctrroiitnry might bn wai 'ing to
this (lis^>ustiiig liusiness, lloliiwell, when h, had himself propose. I ,ih the
queen's hiisb.nul and seized ;ijioii her person was already a married man!
Hut a divorce was now sued lor and obiaiued in four days from the eoin-
meneei leni of the suit; the que. ii was then i ikeu to Kilinburgh, and tin;
lianns of inarriaye put up between her and i he duke of Orkiipy, v. hicli
title l)othw(dl now bore.
iiioit exhihuod by the Scottish nutiun
it rraia. a clorgyman. being desired
uiiKilily broufhi aboii'. iio» only refti-
lii tlie midst of the awful ile ■.
at this lime, it is pleasing to iion
to sidemiiize the ntaviage thus
Bed to perform the eercmonv, In. qieiily reprobated it, wHh a vo\tr.\ge
wdilch so put the coiiiieil to' sh.iau thiit it iLind not punish him l*!ie
hishopof Orkney, n prolestaiit, wax <i^n'-ecoinplt.'tnt, and waK subs,,jiir,.ily
very .leservedly 'eposed by his chu-' ■ llnwarm d by the disgust of ln*r
own people aiid bv t.. reinouctr •-■ ••■ of her relation.", the (Jiiises o/
Frame, the infatuated Mary th" ■ d her designs, and it beeaine
known thii Uothwell, with Ikt i .\ ■»!• taking ineamire* to get ilii;
Vmmg prince .lainen into Ins powi- t'ins at Icnsjih f-tirly aroimrd piibiie
iiid n iiii the chief iiobili'y, h* -iiu^ !»'»•*' u I ilio«« who hud uij^iied
jtfdl
f
>i8 !
^
594
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
the ever infamous bond in favour of Bothwell, now formed an zssociation
for tlie protection of the young prinre and for the punishment of the mur-
derers of tiie king. Tlie army of the associated lords and tlie roya.
troops under Dolhwell met at Carbery-hill ; but it was so clear both that
BothwcU had no capacity equal to the occasion, and that her own troops
looked upon their ca ise with disgust, that Mary, after making certain
stipulations, put herself into the hands of the confederates and was taken
to Edinburgh, the populace reproaching her in the coarsest terms, and
holding up banners representing the murder of her husband and the dis-
tress of her iiifant son. Bothwell, in the meantime, escaped to the Ork-
neys, and for some time lived by actual piracy; he at length went to Den-
mark, where lie was thrown into prison : maddened under the severity
of his confinement and the horror of his reflections, he died about ten
years afterwards, so miserably, that even liis atrocity cannot deprive him
of our pity.
Thongii treated with scorn and humbled by ihe indignities to which she
was now d.iily exposed. IMary was still so infatuated in her affection for
the imworthy Bothwell, that she is reported to have said in a letter to
him, that she would surrriider her crown and dignity rather than his affec-
tions ; and as nhe appcaiod to be thus determiniid, the confedenites, to
decrease the chance of her once more getting power i'.ito her hands, sent
her to a sort of houDurable imprisonment in the castle of Lochlevin lake.
Tlie owner of this pl.ifi- was motlu;r of the earl of Murray, and as she
preti'iided to have been the inotlicr and not the mere mistress of the late
King, she bore M;iry a hatred which fully insured her vigilaiu'e.
Klizalx'th was acrnirately mritrincd of all that had passed in Scotland,
and her eagle vision could not fail to percfive the advantages to her own
security to be obtained l>y her interfffciice between Mary and lier enra-
ged subjects. She ac(,'onlingly, Ihroiigh Throckmorton, sent a remon-
strance to the confederated lords, and advice, mingled wilii some severity,
to Mary, to whom she ofTered assif-tancc, and protection at the Mnghsli
court for her infant son, but on cundilion that she -should lay aside all
tlioughis of revcage or punislinient, »>xce|it as far as related to the murder
of her !,;t' husband. .As boili quf en and wom:in, Klizabcth acted well in
both her renioiistrani'e to the lords and her advice to Mary ; but, judging
from lier whole course of policy at other times, il is no breach of charily
to *'ippose ih;it even her womanly ,.ity for Mary's present distressed and
peril 'MS situation, did not prevent lir from deterniiiimg lo make it 'vail-
al)le towanls lier own s( eiiriiy and |»»aee for the nine to eonie.
In the meantime the eoirti'deratecl lords proceeded to arrange ii alters
willi very liitle deference to either itn' rights of iheiii" c»wn (jueen or the
remonstrances of the ([ueen of Kngltiiil. After mueh iitiriy^ee and dis-
pute. It was :tgreei| that tlH» regeiiev of the kingdom slxinld in- placed in
the IuukIs of Mnrr.iy. and ilia' Mary stbould resign the crown in favour of
her son ; nay, so de-perale were her r.r( umsi.uiees, that, ihougli "with
.ibundance of tear*." she ad lally sitiu-d the deeds that inadc! these ex-
lenitive alteralicmB, wilhuut iHuking hur»elf ai-iiirately mistres? of tlieit
contents.
The ^ainee .lames was unmediately ^roel. dined king *ud crowned al
Htirliii((, and in the oath winch the earl of .Morton took i» Inn behalf al
that eTt'nvwiy, an oath to entjrpate hi ^fsy was iii'dnded. Kbaabelh \v ii-
so iiitK't; iniioyed at the (hfire;^ ird tvitti wlijrh h< r remonstrance bad bei'i
treated, th.<» she forbade Throckfuoruin to atfeml the youiHr kins':* coro
nation.
As Moon as Murray ln»^ M«*iiiiied tlie rejfeiw') i parliaim m wis a.s?irin-
bleil, in which it was im'^wnly vole'' 'hnt »he v. is an undciilited a<'coni-
plie(^ III llie luinder of Mr iimbrind, «•( inighi not !o 'ie iinpn-ined. Her
«hiii>tlion and her wn'a nree«isiw» Wffe at Uir «saine tune riUifled.
s
^ X ^ ■'€?'■
iiinler
icll ill
id^rillg
liiwity
"1 iind
• vail-
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vonr o(
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>sr ex-
of thi'ii
. llCil Hi
h:ilf ai
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'|ii(iii ('(III
I lU'i' a \v,i
uiuhr r\r<
lisuiilly III
"II Micl, ;
imicli I I'd
1 Uilrnily
fl'llltl M'l |<
i'i'zalicih
ilcti riiMii.'
alli.wiii , >
Willi ll.ivill
L'Miniiiaiiil
THE TttKASUIlY OF HISTORY.
525
Murray proved himself equal to his high post. He obtained possession
of the fortresses which held out for Marj' or Both well, and everywhere
compelled at least external obedience to his authority. But he had many
enemies even among liis seeming friends ; many of those who had been
most enraged against Mary, while she had thus lived in what was no
better than open adultery with Boihwell, were softened by the contem-
plation of her sorrows now that he was a fugitive upon the face of the
earth, without the possibility of ever regaining his guilty power. To all
these persons were added the eminent cutliolirs and the great body of the
people, who p'tied her sorrows now with the merely instinctive and un-
reasoning in' pulse with wiiich recently they had heaped me coarsest con-
tempt upon her misconduct. Even yet, then, it was quite within the
Oounds of possibility that she migiit recover her power, and so exert it as
to cause the past to be forgiven.
A. n. 15G8. — But Mary's own conduct even when least blameworthy,
was ever to be inimical to lier. The constant insults and vexations that
she endured from the lady of Lochlevin determined her to attempt her
escape from that melancholy confinement; and by those artful and win-
ning blandishments which no beautiful woman ever better knew how to
employ, slie induced George Douglas, brotlier of the laird of Lochlevin,
to aid in Iter escape. After many vain endeavours the enamoured youth
at length got her from the house in disguise, and rowed her across the
lake in a small boat.
As soon as her escape was known many of the nol)iiity hastened to
offer lier their aid, and to sign a bond to defend her against all comers.
Among those that thus signed wciu tlie earls of Argyle, Huntley, Eglin-
toun, Cassilis, Crauford, Uolhes, Montrose, Sunderland, and Errol, besides
luinierous barons and nine bishops, and in a very few days slie found her
stainkud surrounded by upwards of six thousand men. Elizabeth, 'ou,
offered to assi.st her, on condition that slie would refer tlie quarrel to iier
arbitraiion and allow no French troops to enter the kingdom, but the ofier
was too late ; Murray hastily drew together an army, and attacked her
forces at Langsi.le, near (-rlasirow ; and though the regent was somewhat in-
ferior in force, his superior ability inflicted a complete defeat upon .Mary,
who hastily fled to a lishing-boat in tJalloway, and landed the same day
at Wokingion, m Cumberland, whence she immediately sent a rmssen-
ger to crav(! the protection aiul hospitality of Elizabeth. The nialiiy and
exlrnt of the generous sympathy of that princess were now to he devcl-
up( (1 ; interest was now straighily and sternly opposed to real or preten-
ded gfiiciosily.
Mary hail evidently relied upon 'ho power of her insinuation and elo-
(]ueiKi' to be of service to her in a personal interview, which she iinniedi-
fttely solicited. But the able and tried ministers of Elizabeth wre not
Hlower than .^lary herself in periciviug tlie probable (•(iiiseciuencr of such
au interview, and Elizabeih was advised by them that .she as .1 maiden
<|ii('i'ii eoiild not iisistently even with mere decency, admit to !;;'r pres-
ence a wiiman who was charged wiili iniirdi r and adultery, and that, too,
tiiidir cireunisliinces \\liichmade even these horrible <tiiiiis more than
usually iKMriblf. The (jueeii of Scots was vi-ry 111 liguaiil .it lieiiig, and
(Ml such a plea, deprived of the interview upon whieli she had so very
much reck(Mieil. She '-eplied to llie ministers with great spirit, and so
cvideiiily showed her determination to consider herself ;is a sister sovt?-
reigiiselkini; Elizabeth's friendship, and not as a charged i-riinnnil wiiom
i;i'Z:ih(!th eoiild have any earthly right to sit in judt;meiit v,\xm. thai Cecil
det( riiiined to force her, mdireclly at least, upon an Iiim stigaiHiii, by
sllowiinr Murray and his party to cliaru'c her before the ipieen 111 1 onn-d
Willi li.ivnig been " of f(H'e-kilowledy;e, eoiinnel, and (cviee, permiii.ler and
i:oiniiiaiider of the minder uf her hiisliaiid, and had aiendcd to cansr Uip
536
THE TUEASUIIY OF IIISTOIIY.
i'l 1
innoeeiit prince to fol jwliis father and so transfer the crown from the
right line to ;i liloody murderer and goiiless tyrant." To this point of this
intrie;iii: ai. ' li .'St painfnl ;tfr.iir tiie attention of gentiral readers lias never
been sufficiently direeted. The usual narrative of historians leaves the
eareless or siipi rruial reader to fancy that the condnet of Klizabeth nnist
throiiciliout have heeii unjustifiable, as to even the distention of Mary, the
whole question beiiifr .Mary's guilt and I'JIIzabeth's riglit to jjunish. We
have already sufficiently siiown that we ire not inclined to sacrifice truth
to our admiration of the many adiniralih! (juaiities of KlizabeMi. For
much of her treatment to Mary .she is deserving of tlie highest blame, and
as regards her execution (svery one must feel the utmost Indignation; but
the nnMC detention of her, and iiujuiry into lu'r guilt as to her liusband,
and her intentions as lolu'i uif<mt son, were justified alike by the laws of
nations and by every feeling of humanity .nid of morality. That Mary
was "an independent sovereign" can only be affirmed by a mere play
upon words.
Stained with the deei' charges of murder and adultery, beaten on the
battle-ficdd, and fugitive (n 'li l-er enraged and horrified subjects, Mary
was in no conditKjii to exercise her sovereignty until she should have re-
establisiied it by arms or treaty. Uy arms she could not proceed with-
out great peril to Kngland, (ov s!ie must have relied upon aid from I'' ranee;
by treaty siie could not pioi.-eed but by tlie aid of Elizabeth, whose terri-
tory might be periled by some clause of such treaty. Situated as Eng-
land was, both a.3 to France and as to Spain, it is (jtiite clear to all who
pay due atlenliop to the whole of the circumstances, that in an honoura-
ble detention of Mary, and a full, fair and impartial inquiry into her con-
duct, Illizabeth would have been fully justified.
The siibseipient coiidi.ict shown to Mary, her close imprisonment and
unkind treatnuMit, rellect no credit u|)i>n eitlu-r lOlizaheth or her minis-
ters ;l)ut it must be remembered that Mary, besides those v('rbal insults
Avhich wound women more painfully than the sword itnelf, greatly pro-
voked the harsh feeling of KlizabeUi by her perpetual readiness to leiu)
her name and influence to plots involving the life as well the crown of
Elizabeth.
It seems quite c(ntain that, at the outset of the business, the main desire
of both I'Miz.ibeih and her minister.s was to place Mary in such a |)ositio!i
that she would be unable praetleally to rcn'oke her settlement of the crown
upon ler iiil'aiil sun, whose regi'ncy, Ix.'ing protestant, would have a eom-
•11011 interest with l'!iiglaiid, instead of a temptation to aid France or Spain
to h r aniiiiyaiiee. One schinne for this purpose was to give her in mar-
riage to an Kiiglish nobleman, aii'l Elizabeth proposed the alliance to the
duke of Norfolk, who bluntly replied. "That wom.ni, madam, shall lu^ver
be my wife who bus been your competitor, and whose husband cannot
sleep In security u|ion his pillow." liiiforlimately for the duke, his iirac-
tiecs was by no means governed by the S(niiid sense of Ins theory, aiiil hti
very soon al"tiMwards eoiisent(!rl to oiler himself to .\Iary, m a letter, which
was also signed by .\rundel, l*eml)n>ke, and liCicester. .Mary pleailed
that " woeful expenenee Irnl taught her to prefer a single llfi," mil she
hinted pretty plainly that Elizalii tli's consent might remove such reliic-
tatiee as alw felt. Norfolk, through tlu! bishop of Itoss, kept up tin! ciu'-
resjxHidi'iice with Mary. Kllzabi'th was fn>in tlu; very (irsl aware of it,
nidi i«he at length sigi ilicantly quoted .Norl'idk's own words to him, warii-
ilii! him to " beware on w hat pil.ow be slioiihl rest his head." Shoilly
afterwards the iliike, for eoiitinnlnir the eorrespondenee, was eominilli'il
to till' Tower. Leicester was pardoned for the sleiii! he had had in the
origin il eiirrespondeiiee ; but tliei' seemed sit niuci danger thai bo'h .Nor-
folk and the queen iif Scots would be severely de.il' with, that all the Jireat
eallioii'; families of tin' lenth joined in a loiniiilabie insinrectiiii, M.nv
W 11
'mm
w
B
111
m
m 1 ! ■
' w i'^'
1*1
fife
^
i I k
nil the bre
tent was s!
defeated a
countess, i
safe ainoiij
against the
Upon the
this hopele
8ive. The
affirmed th;
and forty n
not the scei
the ordinal-
forfeitures '
her to put d
A. D. 1570
of Scotland
for Mary : ;
for safely ri
it is most p
her eountry
authority, bi
variety of p
^vhi(■h had b
sedulously s
mistress in
eventual resi
I'Mgland, wh
her, as a zea
of a bull by
merely " p^
from their a
Mary, severa
and a catholi
to priidenee
this doeume.
It must be
rebellion and
urge some g|
as to any nat
. the papal bul
ablest eaihol
promised him
have (lisappo
thunders of
powers the
t'atliolies it s
contended th
't eould not .
tion by some
prudent and (
of disloyalty,
the name of
ridicule the sc
•larm."
'I'he parlian
^'■ry naturally
tarerl to bi
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
527
.11.'
oil the breaking out of this affair, was removed fo Coventry ; but. tlie con-
test was short; the earl of Nonlnimberlantl, wtio hcaiknl the revolt, was
defeated and taken prisoner, and tiirown nito I.ochlevin casiio. His
ome other fugitives, were
'->> protect ilieni equally
"iipth.
L-en beguiled into
crrilile and cxten-
irtial law, and it is
ict sixtj' miles long
a vilhiije which was
.,1
countess, with the ea-rl of Westmoreland
safe among he Scottish borderers, who
against the regent Murray and the cinis
Upon the English of the northern coi
this hopeless revolt, the vengeance of
sive. The poor were handed over to lli
affirmed that from Newnastle to Netherliv, >ii ,. .ii
and forty miles wide, there was not a town or even
not the scene of execution ! The weiillliier offenders were reserved for
the ordinary course of condemnation by law, it beinganticipat' d that their
forfeitures would reimburse the queen the large sums which it had cost
her to put down the revolt.
A. D. 1570. — The vigour of the regent Murray had kept the greater part
of Scotland perfectly quiet, even while the nortli of Kngland was in arms
for Mary: and as among the numerous projects suggested to I'llizabeth
for safely ridding herself of Mary was tiiat of delivering her up to Murray,
it is most probable that the Scottish queen would liave been restored to
her country and — though partially and under strong restrictions — to her
authority, but for the death of the regent. Wliile amusing .Mary with a
variety of proposals which came to nothing, varied by sudden olijections
which had been contrived from the very first, Klizabctii's ministers were
sedulously strengthening the hands and establishing the interests of their
mistress in Scotland; they, however, seem really to have iiuendeci the
eventual restoration of Mary under the most favourable circumstances to
Kngland, when the enmity and suspicion of the English cabinet against
her, as a zealous papist, were made streniger than ever by the |)iil)lication
of a bull by Pius V., in which he insultingly spoi.e of Klizabeth's as a
merely " pretended" right to the crown, and absolved all her subjects
from their allegiance. Of this hull, insolent in itself and cruel towards
Mary, several copies were published both in S(;olland and in Kngland;
and a catholic gentleman, named FYdton, whose zeal bade defiance alike
to prudence and decency, was capitally punished for affi.ving a copy of
this document to the gates of the bishop of London.
It must be clear that no sovereign coulil overlook such an invitation to
rebellion and assassination. It would in any stati' of society be likely to
urge some gloomy and half insane fanatic to the crime of miiider; though
as to any national eflfect, even while the catholics were still so inimerous,
the papal bull had now become a mere hrutcmfulinen. Lingard, even, the
ablest catholic historian, says, upon this very transaction, "If the pontiff
promised himself any partiiudar benefit from this measure, the result must
have disappointed his expectations. The time was gone b)' when the
thunders of the Vatican could shake the thrones of princes. By forcngn
powers the bull was suffered to sle(^p in silence ; ainong the Knglish
catholics it scrv(!d only to breed doubts, dissensions, and dismay. .Niany
contended that it had been issued by incompetent authority ; others, that
it could not bind the natives until it should be carried into actual (!xecu-
tion by some foreign power : all agreed that it was, in tlK'ir regard, an im-
prudent and cruel expedient, which rendered them liable to the suspicion
of disloyiilty, and afforded their enemies a pretence to brand them with
the name of traitors. To Elizabeth, liowtwer, though she affc^'tod to
ridicule the sentence, it proved a source of considerable uneasiness and
«larm."
The parliament, ut once alarmed and indignant at the bull of Pius V.,
very naturally laid some heavy restrictions upon the catholics, who wimc
Y'Uied to be ready at any moment to rise in favour of the queen of Scots
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533
THE TRKASUttY OF HISTORY.
and for the deposition of Elizabeth, should Philip of Spain or his genera.
Alva, governor of the Netherlands, land a sufficiently numerous army ol
foreign papists in England. And these fears of the parliament and the
ministry had but too solid foundation. The duke of Norfolk from hi«
confinement was constantly intriguing with Mary; and that unhappy
princess, wearied and goaded to desperation by her continued imprison-
ment, and the constant failure of all attempts at gaining her liberty, even
when she the most frankly and completely agreed to all that was de-
manded of her, sent Rudolphi, an Italian, who had her confidence, to solicit
the co-operation of the pope, Philip of Spain, and Alva. Some letters
from Norfolk to the latter personage were intercepted by the English
ministry, and Norfolk was tried for treasonable leaguing with the queen's
enemies, to the danger of her crown and dignity. Norfolk protested that
his aim was solely to restore Mary to her own crown of Scotland, and
that detriment to the authority of Elizabeth he had never contemplated and
would never liave abetted.
A. D. ir)72. — His defence availed him nothing ; he was found guilty by
his peers and condemned to death. Even tiien the queen hesitated to
carry the sentence into effect against the premier duke of England, who
was, also, her own relative. Twice she was induced by the ministers to
sign the warrant, and twice she revoked it- This state of hesitation
lasted for four months. At the end of that time the parliament presented
an address strongly calling upon her to make an example of the duke, to
which she at length consented, and Norfolk was beheaded , dying with
great courage and constancy, and still protesting that he had no ill design
towards his own queen in his desire to aid the unhappy queen of Scots
We are inclined to believe that the duke was sincere on this head ; bii'
certainly iiis judgment did not equal his sincerity ; for how could he ex
pect to overturn the vast power of Elizabeth, so far as to re-establish Mar)
on the tlirone, bnt by such civil and international fighting as must have
periled Klizalielh's throne, and, most probably, would have led to the
sacrifice of her life.
Burleigh, devoted to the glory of his royal mistress and to the welfare
of her people, and plainly perceiving tliat the catholics, both at home and
abroad, would cither find or feign a motive to mischief in the detention of
the qucM'u of Scots, resolutely advised tiiat the unhappy queen should he
violently de:i!t witii, as being at the bottom of all Hcneinc.1 anil attempts
against the peace of Eimlaiid. Hut Elizabctii was not yet — would that
ilie had never been! — so far irritated or alarmed as to consent to aiiylit
more than the detention of Mary ; and to all the suggestions of Durlcigh
she contented herself with replying, witii a touch of that poetic feciiii;^
whicli cv('n intrigues of state never wholly banished from her mind, tliiit
*'she couhl not put to death the bird that, to escape the lure of the hawk,
had llitvvn to iter feet for protection."
Uurli'Igh was aided in Ids endeavours against Mary by the parliament ;
but Kli/iil)('lh, though biJth her anxiety and her anger daily grew stroiiifcr,
pursonally interfered to prevent a bill of aflaindor against Mary, and eviii
anoilicr hill which merely went to exclude her from the succession.
Towiinls the friends of Mary, Elizabeth was less merciful. 'I'ho e:irl
of Norlhuinberlaiid was delivered by Morton — who had succeeded FiCiiiiX
in the Scotch regency— into the hands of the Kniflish ministers; and tli.il
chivalrous and iinrortunnte nobleman was beheaded at York.
The stale of Kranee at this time w;is suidi, from the fierce enmity of llin
catholics to the lliik'iicnots or protesiimts, as to give serious niieitsliii's<i in
Ehzabctli. Thiileci) enmity of (-harli^s IX. of France towards ihe Icaiicri
of his protestant subjects wasdisguised, indeed, by the miomI artful cares^rs
bestowed ii|iiiii (^ohgni, the king of Navarre, and otberh adiii;; Ifiigiieiiplt!
but cin umsiances occurred to show that tiie king of France not only '!«•
THB TUEASURY OF HISTORY.
S29
is genera.
18 army ol
It and the
t from hi»
t unhappy
. imprison-
berty, even
lat was de-
ie, to solicit
ame letters
he English
the queen's
otested that
sotland, and
mplaled and
nd puiUy by
hesitated to
;ngland, who
ministers to
of hesitation
ent presented
f the duke, to
I ^ dying with
1 no ill design
leen of Scots
his liead ; bu'
iT could he ex
jstaWish Mar>
as must have
ive led to the
to the welfare
h at home and
\c detention nl
Rcn should bo
iMxl altempls
et — would tliiit
i,s(M\t to auijlit
IS of HurlciKh
poetic ftH'lm'4
her iniud, thai
of the hawk,
..I parliament ;
(jnnv blromriTi
Mary, and even
•(•(■Nsion.
piful. 'I'tiofirl
islrrs; and Uiit
IrW.
•(• enmity of "I"
.isuneasini-"*!"
ards ilie Icailii'^
luirifiilcari's^i'
liii.„rllii«iieiv>Hi
nee not only 'le-
leitod thoie personages and their French followers, but that he would
Iflftdly leiae anv good opportunity to aid Pliilip of Spain in the destruction,
If p()Niibie, of llie proteslant power of England.
The pttfAdious Charles, in order to plunge the Huguenots into the more
profoundly futai security, offered to give his sister Margaret in marriage
tu the prince of Navarre ; and Coligni, with other leaders of the Huguenot
party, iirrived in Paris, to celebrate a marriage which promised so much
lowitrdii the reconciliation of the two parties. But so far was peace from
bttiiig the real meaning of the conn of France, tiiat the queen of Navarre
will poisoned. This suspiciously sudden death, however, of so eminent
a pnrsuti did not arouse the doomed Coligni and the other protestants to a
iiiiiiu of their real situation. The marriage was concluded ; and but a few
diiyi aflur, un the eve of St. Bartholomew, the designs of Charles IX., or,
niurt! ilricily speaking, of his execrable mother, burst forth. The vetiera-
blu ('ollgni was murdered almost by the king's side; men, women, and
cliildren alike were butchered by the king's troops, so that in Paris alone
ftlioiit live hundred persons of rank and above ten thousand of the lower
orilttr tire known to have perished in this most sanguinary and cowardly
nil'itir. Orders were at the same time sent to Rouon, Lyons, and other
Krttiit towns of France, where the same detestable buictieries were coin-
initli'd on H pronortionably large scale.
Tim king of Navarre and the prince of Conde narrowly escaped. The
diikii of Oulse advised their destruction, but the kiii»; had contracted as
iniii'li piirsotial alTei^tion for them as he could feel fur any one but the she-
wolf. Ills miitlior, and he caused their lives to be spared on condition of their
i)i!Uiiiiiiu[ conversion to popery.
Tim frightful massacre of St. Bartholomew could not but be greatly
iiliii'iniiiir lis well as disgusting to Elizabeth. She could nut but perceive,
friiin a hiilclii'ry so frightful and excessive, that there was among the
I'lilliollc priiictm of the continent a determiiiutioii to extormiiiate protest-
iiiiliNiii) iinr could she but feel that she, as the champion of that faith,
wiiM liiMieeforlli mure cuiispii-uously than ever marked out for destnuuion,
riiulil it be ai'i'oiii|iliNlied either by warfare or in the more dastardly way
nrjiriviitii iiKftassinatioii.
C'liHrli'K IX. was himself conscious of the oflencc this atrocious mas-
micrii of Ills protcstant Hubjects must necessarily give to Elizabeth, and he
*i*iit a Ntroiig apology to licr through Keiielon, his ambassador. Tu us it
liiiM t'ver iippivired that this apology did, in reality, only make the offence
lliii bliickcr; (.'liiirles now I'aluiiiniated the unfoitiiiiate persons whom he
had iniirdcreil. He pretended that he had disL'overed, just as it was about
to III' i^iirrii'il into ext'ciition, a Huguenot conspiracy to seize bis person,
mill tliiU It will as a necessary matter of self-dtifeiie-c tbat Ins catholic sol-
diery bail acted. The single fact that orders for wboji'salc massacre were
Hi'ltil Upon at dinlant provincia. cities, as well as at Paris, would at once
mid for ever give the lie to this statement. Even C'liarlcs's own ambas-
•iiiliir I'ojifi'SNi'd that be was aHhained alike of Ins country and of the
ii|ii)liiuy wbii'li lie was, by his ollb'e, compelled to make for so outrageous
» rriiiin, Ills ollhc, however, left bini no choice, and be went to court.
ll'Tii lilt foiiiiil every one. male and female, attireil in llie deepest mourn-
1111/1111111 belling ill their features the marks of profound grief and alarm.
No iiiiit Mpoke to him, even, until bo arrivcil at the throne, where the
iliiei'ii, who rei<pi'('led Ills iiersoiml character, beard bis apology with all
llm I'liliniieNK that she conbl ninslcr. Elizabeth very plainly, in her reply,
•liuwi'il iliiti %\u> wliidly disbelieved Charles's ealiiiiiiiy upon his proteslant
•abjei'l^, but iilie i-oiicliiiled that she would defer iiiakliiu up her mind upon
tliK rniil feeliiiits of Cliuiles until she should see bow he would act in
riiliirr, mill iliit in the ineaniiine, as requested by bis own ambassador,
iliu W'liilil rather pity than blame him.
Vol.. I.-3I
SM THE TRBASURY OF HISTORY.
The massacres in France, joined to the Spanish massacres and perse-
cutions in the Low Countries, and the favour into which Charles IX. now
visibly took the Guises, made it evident to F^lizabeth that nothing but op-
portunity was wanting to induce the French and Spaniards to unite for
ner destruction, and she took all possible precautions. She fortified
Portsmouth, paid all requisite attention to her militia and fleet, and, while
she renewed lier open alliances with the German princes, she lent all the
aid that she secretly could to the people of the Low Countries to assist
them against their Spanish tyrants.
A. D. 1579. — Beyond what we have just now said of the foreign policy
of Elizabeth we need not here say anything; the events that took place,
whether in Spain, the Netherlands, or France, falling properly under those
heads. The attention of Elizabeth, as to foreigners, was addressed chiefly
to aiding the protestants with secrecy and with as rigid economy and
stringent conditions as were consistent with effectual aid ; and to keeping
up such a constant demonstration of vigour and a prepared position, as
might intimidate catholic princes from any such direct hostility to her as
would be likely to provoke her into openly encouraging and assisting their
malcontent subjects.
Tliis policy enabled Elizabeth to enjoy a profound peace during years
whicii saw nearly all the rest of Europe plunged in war and misery.
A. n. l.'JSO. — The afTiiirs of Scotland just at this time gave Elizabeth
some uneasiness. During several years the regent Morton had kept that
kingdom in the strictest amity. But the regent had of late wholly lost the
favour of the turbulent nobles, and he found himself under the necessity
of giving in his resignation ; and the government was formally assumed
by King James himself, though he was now only eleven years of age.
The count D'Aubigny, of the house of Lenox, was employed by the diike
of Guise to deta('h .lames from the interests of Elizabeth, and to cause
him to espouse those of his mother. Elizabeth endeavoured to support
and reinstate Morton, but D'Aubigny had now obtained 'mch inllu-
ence with the king, that he was able to have Morton imp i and sub-
sequently beheaded, as an accomplice in the murder of tl king.
With Spain, too, Elizabeth's relations were at this period uneasy and
threatening. In revenge for the aid which he knew Elizabeth to have
given to his revolted subjects of the Netherlands, Philip of Spain sent ;i
body of troops to aid her revolted subjects of Ireland ; and her complaints
of this interference were answered by a reference to the piracies com-
mitted by the celebrated Admiral Drake who was the first Engiisliinan
who sailed round the world, and who obtained enormous booty from the
Spaniards in the New World.
A. n. l.'iBl. — The Jesuits, and the scholars generally of the coiitinentHl
seminaries which the king of Spain had e8lal)lislii'il tu ci)inpcnsat(! to tlie
catholics for the loss of tlie universities of England, were so obvloii'^iy
and so intrusively hostile to tlu; qne(!n and the protestant faith, that some
stringent laws against them and the catlioliirs generally were now passed.
And let any who feel inclined to condenni the severity of those laws first
reflect upon the continual alarm in which both the queen and her protest-
nnt sul)j(!Ct8 had been kept, by the pernicious (ixertlons of men who novir
•eemcd at a loss for a subtle casuistry to induce or to justify a brutal cru-
elty or a violent sedition.
Campion, a Jesuit who had been sent over to explain to the catholics of
England that tlniy were not liound, in obedience to the bull of Plus V., lo
rebel until the pope should give them a second and exjilicit order to that
ofTect — I. c, not until the slate of England slniiild by accident, or by jp-
iuitlcal practices, be placed in convenient confusion ! — being detectcil In
treasonable jiractlces directly ojjposcd to his professed errand, was first
put to the rack and then executed.
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
SSI
Elizabeth had formerly been addressed with offers of marriage by Alen-
goii,now duke of Anjou, brother to the late tyrant, Charles IX., of Prance,
and he now renewed his addresses through his agent Simier, a man of
great talent and most insinuatmg manners. The agent so well played
his part in the negotiation that he excited the jealousy of the powerful and
unprincipled Leicester, who offered him every possible opposition and
insult. The queen, whom Simier informed of Leicester's marriage to the
widow of the earl of Essex, formally took Simier under her especial pro
tection, and ordered Leicester to confine himself to Greenwich.
Simier so well advocated the cause of Anjou, that Elizabeth went so far
as to invite that prince to England ; and, after making stipulations for the
aid of France, should the interests of Anjou in the Netherlands involve
her in a quarrel with Philip of Spain, Elizabeth, in presence of her whole
court and the foreign ambassadors, placed a ring on Anjou's finger, and
distinctly said that she did so in token of her intention to become his
wife. As she was now nine-and-forty years of age, and might be sup-
posed to have outlived all the youthful fickleness imputed to her sex, and
as she gave orders to the bishops to regulate the forms of the marriage,
every one supposed that it was certain. Despatches were sent to notify
the approaching event abroad, and in many parts of England it was anti-
cipatively celebrated by public holiday and rejoicing.
But the marriage of Elizabeth to Anjou was looked upon with great dis-
like by the leading men of the English court. The duke, as a catholic,
and a member of a most persecuting family, could not but be viewed with
fear and suspicion by sound statesmen like Walsingham and Hatton ;
while Leicester, conscious that with the queen's marriage his own vast
power and influence would end, heartil. wished her not to marry at all.
These courtiers employed her favourite ladies to stimulate her pride by
hinting the probability of her husband, instead of herself, becoming the
first personage in her dominions ; and to appeal to her fears by suggesting
the dangers to which she would be exposed should she have children ; the
latter, surely, a danger not very probable at her time of life. However,
the courtiers' artifices were fully successful. Even while the state mes-
sengers were on their way to foreign courts with the news of the queen's
approaching marriage, she sent for Anjou, and told him, with tears and
protestations of regret, that her people were so much prejudiced against
her union with him, that though her own happiness must needs be sacri-
fit'ed slie had resolved 'o consult the happiness of her people, and, there-
fore could not marry nim. The duke on leaving her presence tlircw away
tlie costly ring she had given him, and declared that English women were
as capricious as the waves that surround their island. He soon after de-
parted, and being driven from Belgium to France, died tiiere; deeply and
sincerely regretted by Elizabeth.
A. D. 1584. — Several attempts having been made to raise new troubles in
h'ngland in favour of tiie queen of 3cots, the ministers of Elizabeth made
every exertion to detect the conspirators. Henry Piercy, carl Northuin-
btrlaud, brothcT to that earl who was some time before bciieaded for his
coiinoctloii witli Mary's cause ; Howard, earl of Arundel, son of tiie duke
of Norfolk, that princess' late suitor; Lord Paget and Charles Arutidel
and Francis Tiirogmorton, a private gentleman, were implicated. Most
of tliem escaped, but Throgmorton was executed. Mendoza, the Spanish
Ambassador, wiio had been the prime mover of this nlot, was sent home
lU disgrace. Some further proofs of a widely-spread and dani;erous con-
lynracy havinjr been discovered in some papers seized upon Crcighton, a
Scottish Jesuit, the Englisii ministers, who found Mary connected with all
these attempts, removed her from liie custody of the carl of Shrewsbury,
who seemed not to have bvvn sudlciently watidiful of her conduct, and
•iommilted her to that o' Sir Amias Paulet and Sir Drue Drury, men of
'i
632
THE THKA8UEY OF HISTORY.
character and humanity, but too much devoted to Elizabeth to allow any
unreasonable freedom to their prisoner.
Further laws were at the same time passed against Jesuits and popish
priests, and a council was named by act of parliament with power to
goveri* the kingdom, settle the succession, and avenge the queen's death,
should that occur by violence. A subsidy and two fifteenths were like-
wise granted to the queen.
During this session of parliament a new conspiracy was discovernd,
which greatly increased the general animosity to the catholics, and pro-
portionably increased the attachment of the parliament to the queen, and
their anxiety to shield her from the dangers by which she seemed to be
perpetually surrounded. A catholic gentleman named Parry, who hud
made himself so conspicuous in the house of commons by his intemperate
opposition to a bill for restraining the seditious practices of Romish priests,
that he was committed to the custody of the serjeant-at-arms and only
liberated by the clemency of the queen, was now, in but little less than
six weeks, charged with high treason. This man had been employed as
a secret agent by Lord Burleigh, but not deeming himself sufficiently well
treated he went to Italy, where he seems to have deeply intrigued with
both the papal party at Rome and the ministers of his own sovereign at
home. Having procured from the Romish authorities a warm sanction
of his professed design of killing Queen Elizabeth with his own hand, this
sanction he hastened to communicate to Klizabeth, and being refused a
pension he returned to his old vocation of a spy, and was employed to
watch the pernicious Jesuit Persons, in conjunction with Nevil. Though
actually in the service of the government, both Nevil and Parry were
men of desperate fortune, and their discontent at length grew so desperate
that they agreed to shoot the queen when she should be out riding. Tlie
carl of Westmoreland, under sentence of exile, chanced to die just at this
period, and Nevil, who, though a salaried spy, was also in exile in Nor-
mandy, thought it very likely that he, as next heir to the deceased ciiri,
would recover the family estate and title by revealing the plot to which
he was a party. Ncvil's rcvealments to the government were confirmoii
by Parry's own confession, and the latter, a double traitor— alike traitor
to his native land and to his spiritual sovereign — was very deservedly
executed.
A fleet of twenty sail umler Admiral Sit Francis Drake, with a land
force of two thousand three hundred volunteers under Christopher Car-
lisle, did the Spaniards immense mischief this year, taking St. Jago, near
Cape Verd, where they gut good store of provision, but little money ; St.
Domingo, where they made the inhabitants save their houses by the pay-
ment of a large sum of money ; and (^arihagena, whicii they similarly
held to ransom. 0» the coast of Florida they burned the towns of St.
Antiiony and St. Helen's; and thence they went to the coast of Virgiiiiii,
where they found the miserable remnant of the colony so long before
planted there by Sir Walter Raleigh. The poor colonists were at this
lime lediiced to utter misery and despair by lon^ continued ill success,
:ni(l ul;idly abiindoned their setlleinents and returned home on boiinl
Drake's fleet. The enorindiis wealth that was brought home l)y that gal-
lant conimander, and the aeeoniits given by his men of both the riclies
and the weakness of llie Spaniards, made the notion of piracy upon the
Spiimsh main extremely pupnliir, and eaused much evil energy to he em
ployed in that (lireetioii, \vlii(rli would iithcrwisc have been of serious an
noyanee to tlie guverinnent at liDine.
Meanwhile the earl of f.eicestcr. who had been sent to Holland in eom
mand of the Knglish auxiliary forces to aiil the Htales against Spain
proved himself to be nn(it lor any extensive niiliiaiy power. His rctiiin'
was princely in splendour, and Ins courHy manners and intriguing spin
THB TREASURY OF HISTORY.
533
.•aused hitn to be named captain-general of the United Provinces, and to
have the guards and honours of a sovereign prince. But here his achieve-
ments, which gave deep offence to Ehzabeth, began to diminish in bril-
liancy. Though nobly aided by his nephew, Sir Philip Sidney, one of the
most gallant and accomplished gentlemen who have ever done honour to
England, he was decidedly inferior to the task of opposing so accomplish-
ed a general as the prince of Parma. He succeeded in the fiist instance
in repulsing the Spaniards and throwing succours into Grave; but the
cowardice or treachery of Van Hemert— who was afterwards put to death
pursuant to the sentence of a court martial — betrayed the place to the
Spaniards. Venlo was taken by the prince of Parma, as was Nuys, and
the prince then sat down before Rhimberg. To draw the prince from be-
fore this last named place, which was garrisoned by twelve hundred men
well provided with stores, and upon which, consequently, Leicester should
have allowed the prince to have wasted his strength and Men have brought
him to action, Leicester laid siege to Zutphen. The prince thou<;ht this
place far too important to be allowed to fall into the hands of tiie English,
and he hastened to its aid, sending an advanced guard under the marquis
of Cuesto to throw relief into the fortress. A body of English cavalry
fell in with this advance, and a gallant action commenced, in which the
Spaniards were completely routed, with the loss of the marquis of Gonza-
go, an Italian noble of great military reputation and ability. In this ac-
tion, however, the Eogl'sh were so unfortunate as to lose the noble Sir
Philip Sidney, whose accomplishments, humanity, and love of literature
made him the idol of the great writers of the age. The humanity which
had marked his whole life was conspicuous even in the last sad scene of
his death. Dreadfully wounded, and tortured with a raging thirst, he was
about to have a bottle of water applied to his parched lips, when he caught
the eyes of a poor private soldier who lay near him in the like fevered
state, and was looking at the bottle with the eager envy which only the
wounded soldier and the desert wanderer can know. " Give him the wa-
ter," said the dying hero, " his necessity is still greater thaM mine."
While Leicester was barely keeping ground against Spain in the Neth-
erlands, and Drake was astounding and ruining the Spaniards in various
pvrtsof the New World, Elizabeth was cautiously securing herself on the
side of Scotland. Having obtained James's alliance by a dexterous ad-
mixture of espionage and more open conduct, Elizabeth fell that she had
but little to fear from foreign invasions; it being stipulated in their league
"that if Elizabeth were invaded, James should aid her witli a body of two
thousand horse and five thousand fool ; that Elizabeth, in the like case,
should send to his assistance three thousand horse and six tliousand foot ;
that the charge of these armies should be defrayed by the prince who de-
niunded assistance; that if the invasion should he made upon England,
within sixty miles of the frontiers of Scotland, this latter kiiigd(mi should
march its whole force to the assistance of the former; and that the pres-
ent league should supersede all former alliances of either state with any
foreign kingdom so far as religion was concerned."
And, in truth, it was requisite that Elizabeth should be well prepared at
home, for her enemies abroad grew more and more furious against her,
as every new occurrence more strongly displayed the sagacity of her
ministers and her own prudence and firmness in supportiiio tlu'in. Partly
on account of the imprisonment of the queen of Scots, but chielly on ac-
jounl of those rigorous laws which their own despcriite and shameful
conilucl daily maile more necessary, the foreign papists, and still more
he English seminary at Rheims, hatl become wroujrht up to so v K)lent a
fury, that nothing short of the assassination of Elizabeth was now deemed
Worthy thc^ir contemplation.
lohn Uallard, a priest of the seminary at Rhcims, having been engaged
534
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
in noticing and stirring up the fanatical zeal of the catholics of En^'bnd
and Scotland, proposed, on his return to Rheims, the attemijl to dethrone
Elizabeth and to re-establish papacy in England, an enterprise which he
pretended to think practicable, and that, too, without any extraordinary
difficulty. At nearly the same time a desperate and gloomy fanatic, John
Savage, who had served for several years under the prince of Parma in
the Low Countries, and who was celebrated for a most indomitable reso-
lution, offered to assassinate Elizabeth Vt'ith his own hands. As that deed
would greatly facilitate the proposed revolution in England, the priests of
Rheims, who had long preached up the virtuous and lawful character of
the assassination of heretical sovereigns, encouraged him in his design,
which he vowed to pursue, and the more fanatical catholics of England
were instructed to lend him all possible aid. Savage was speedily fol-
lowed to England by Ballard, who took the name of Captain Fortescue,
and busied himself night and day in preparing means to avail himself of
the awe and confusion in which the nation could not fail to be plunged by
the success of the attempt which he doubted not that Savage would
speedily make.
Anthony Babington, a Derbyshire gentleman, had long been known to
the initiated abroad as a bigoted catholic and as a romantic lover of the
imprisoned queen of Scots. To this gentleman, who had the property
and station requisite to render him useful to the conspirators, Ballard ad-
dressed himself. To restore the catholic religion and place Mary on the
throne of England, Babington considered an enterprise that fully warrant-
ed the murder of Elizabeth ; but he objected to entrusting the execution
of so important a preliminary to the proposed revolution to one hand.
The slightest nervousness or error of that one man, Babington truly re-
marked, would probably involve the lives or fortunes of all the chief
catholics in England. He proposed, therefore, that five others should be
joined to Savage in the charge of the assassination. So desperate was
the villainy of Savage, and he was so angry at this proposed division of a
cruel and co.wardly treason, that it was only with some difficulty that his
priestly colleague induced him to share what the wretch impiously termed
the " glory" of the deed, with Barnwell, Charnock, Tilriey, and Tichborne ;
all of them gentlemen of station, character, and wealth; and Babington,
also a man of wealth, character, and station, which he owed to the former
service of his father as cofferer to the very queen whom it was now pro-
posed to slay ! Such is that terrible /on* criminis, fanaticism !
It was determined that at the very same hour at which Savage and his
colleagues should assassinate Elizabeth, the queen of Scots should be out
riding, when Babington, with Edward, brother of Lord Windsor, and sev-
eral other gentlemen, at the head of a hundred horse, should attack her
(Tuards and escort her to London, where she would be proclaimed amid
the acclamations of the conspirators, and, doubtless, all catholics who
should see her.
That this hellish plot would have succeeded there can be little doubt
but for the watchful eye of Wa'.singham, which had from the first been
upon Ballard ; atid while that person was busily plotting a revolution
which, commencing with the assassination of the queen, would almost
infallibly have ended with a general massacre of the protestants, he was
unconsciously telling all his principal proceedings to Walsingham, that
able and resolute minister having placed spies about iiini who reported
evprything of importance to the secretary. (Jifl'ord, another seminary
priest, also entered the pay of the minister, and enabled him to obtain
copies of correspondence between Babington and the queen of Scots, in
which he spoke of the murder of EHzai>elli as a Iraninil exeruiinn whicli
he would willingly undertake fur Mary's sake iiiul service, and slii! replied
that she highly approved of the whole plan, including the assassination ol
she
THE TEKA8URY OP HISTORY
535
(he queen, a general insurrection aided by foreign invasion, and Mary's
ovfti deliverance. Nay, the queen of Scots went still farther ; she said
that the gentlemen engaged in this enterprise might expect all the reward
it should ever be in her power to bestow ; and reminded them that it
would be but lost labour to attempt an insurrection, or even her own re-
lease from her cruel imprisonment, until Elizabeth were dead.
We have not scrupled to declare our dislike of the original conduct of
Elizabeth, so far as we deem it criminal or mean. But we cannot there-
fore shut our eyes to the fact, that though party writers have made many
and zealous attempts to show that the whole plot was of Walsingham's
contrivance, the evidence against Mary was as complete and satisfactory
as human evidence could be. That Walsingham employed spies, that
these were chiefly priests who were false to their own party, and that
some of them were men of bad character — what di» these things prove!
Circumstanced as Walsingham was, knowing his queen's life to be in
perpetual danger from restless and desperate plotters, we really cannot
see how he was to avoid that resort to spies, which under any other cir-
cumstances we should be among the first to denounce. But with whom,
then, did these spies act ^ With catholics of station and wealth, whom
no spies could possibly have engaged in perilous and wicked proceedings,
but for their own fierce fanaticism. And how and from whom did these
spies procure Walsingham the important letters which divulged all the
particulars of the intended villainy ? By letter carrying from Mary to the
enamoured Babington, and from Babington to Mary. What film bigotry
may throw over the eyes of fierce political partisans we know not, but
assuredly we can imagine nothing to be clearer than the guilt of Mary,
as far as she could be guilty of conspiring against the life of Elizabeth —
who had so long imbittered her life and deprived her of all enjoyment of
her crov.'n and kingdom, who had mocked her with repeated promises
which she never intended to fulfil, and who had carried the arts of policy
so far as to outrage nature by making the utter neglect of the imprisoned
mother a tacit condition, at the least, of friendship and alliance with the
reigning son. The commissioners on their return from Fotheringay cas-
tle pronounced sentence of death upon Mary, queen of Scots, but accom-
panied the sentence with what — considering that from the moment of her
abdication in his favour, his right to reign became wholly independent of
his mother— seemed a somewhat unnecessary clause of exception in fa-
vour of James ; which said that " the sentence did in no wise derogate
from the title and honour of James, king of Scotland ; but that he was in
the same place, degree, and right, as if the sentence had never been pro-
nounced."
It is an extraordinary fact, and one which is unnoticed not only by the
partial writers who have endeavoured to throw the deserved degree of
blame upon Elizabetli, and also to represent Miiry as altogether free from
Dlame even where her criminality was the most glaringly evident, but
even by the impartial Hume, that when the sentence on Mary was pub-
lished in London, the people received it, not with the sadness and silence
or the fierce and fiery remonstrance witli which the English are wont to
rebuke or restrain evil doing, but by the ringing of bells, lighting of bon
fires, and all the ordinary tokens of public rejoicing. Does not this sin
gle fact go to prove that it was notorious that Mary, during her confine-
ment, was perpetually plotting against the life of the queen, and endeav-
ouring to deliver England and Scotland over to the worst horrors that
could befall them — the restoration of papacy and the arbitrary rule of
Philip of Spain 1 We repeat, whatever the former conduct of Elizabeth.
Mary of S(;otland was now notoriously a public enemy, prepared to slay
the queen and expose the protestants of the nation to massacre, so that
»he might obtain lier own personal liberty, and take away the liberty (rf
•36
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
conscience from the whole nntion. That this was the true state of the
case was made evident not merely by the rejoicings of the multitude out
of doors, but by the solemn application of the parliament to Elizabeth to
allow the sentence to be executed. The king of France, chiefly by the
compulsion of the house of Guise and the league, interceded for Mary ;
and James of Scotland, who had hitherto been a most cold and neglectful
son, whatever might be the errors of his mother, now sent the master of
Gray and Sir Robert Melvil to try both argument and menace upon Eliz-
abeth.
Most historians seem to be of opinion that the reluctance which Eliza-
beth for some time exhibited to comply with what was undoubtedly the
wish of her people, the execution of Mary, was wholly feigned. We
greatly duubt it. That Elizabeth both hated and feared .Mary was
inevitable ; Mary's position, her bigotry, the personal ill-feeling she
had often shown towards Elizabeth, and her obvious willingness to
sacrifice her life, were surely not additions to the character of a woman
who had connived at her husband's death and then married his murderer,
which could have engendered any kindly feelings on the part of a princess
60 harrassed and threatened as Elizabeth was by the faction of which
Mary, in England at leasr, was the recognised head. But apart from all
womanly and humane relenting, Elizabeth could not but be conscious
that the death of Mary would cause a great accession to the rage of the
catholic powers ; and apathetic as James had shown himself hitherto, it
was but reasonable to suppose that the violent death of his mother would
rouse him into active enmity to England. However, the queen's hesita-
tion, real or assumed, was at length overcome, and she signed the fatal
warrant which Davison, her secretary, acting under the orders and advice
of Lord Burleigh, Leicester, and others of the council, forthwith dispatch-
ed to Fotheringay by the earls of Shrewsbury and Kent, who were charged
with seeing it executed.
A. D. 1587. — Immediately on the arrival of the two earls, they read the
warrant, and warned Mary to be prepared for execution at eight on the
following morning. She received the news with apparent resignation;
professed that she could not have believed that Elizabeth would have en-
forced such a sentence upon a person not subject to the laws and jurisdic.
tion of England, but added, " As such is her will, death, which puts an
end to all my miseries, shall be to me most welcome ; nor can I esteem
that soul worthy the felicities of heaven which cannot support the body
under the horrors of the last passage to those blissful mansions."
She then asked for the admission of her own chaplain, but the earl ol
Kent said that the attendance of a papist priest was unnecessary, as
Fletcher, dean of Peterborough, a most learned and pious divine, would
afford her all necessary consola'ion and instruction. She refused to see
him, which so much angered thi earl of Kent, that he coarsely, though
truly told her that her death would be the life of the protestant religion,
as her life would have been the death of it.
Having taken a sparing and early supper, the unhappy Mary passed the
night in making a distribution of her effects and in religious ofhces, unti
her usual hour forretiriiig,when she went to bed and slept for some hours
She rose very early, and resumed her religious exercises, using a conse-
crated liimt which had been sent to her by Pope Pius.
'As al hour approached she dressed herself in a rich habit of vel-
vet and silk. Scarcely had she done so when Andrews, sheriff of tlie
county, entered the room and summoned her to the last dread scene, to
which she was supported by two of Sir Amias Paulel's guards, an infirm-
ity in her limbs preventing her from walking without aid. As she entered
the hall adjoining her room she was met by the earls of Shrewsbury and
Kent, Sir Amias Paulet, Sir Drue Drury, and other gentlemen ; and here
with ,
THE TaBASURY OF HISTORY.
537
Sir Andrew Melvil, her attached steward, threw liimseir upon his knees
before her, lamenting her fate and wringing his liands in an agony of real
and deep grief. She comforted him by assurances of her own perfect re-
signation, bade him report in Scotland that she died a true woman to her
religion, and said, as she resumed her way to the scaffold, " Recommend
me, Melvil, to my son, and tell him that, notwithstanding all my distresses,
I have done nothing prejudicial to the state and kingdom of Scotland.
And now, my good Melvil, farewell; once again, farewell, good Melvil,
and grant the assistance of thy prayers to thy queen and mistress."
She now turned to the earls, and begged that her servants might freely
enjuy the presents she had given them and be sent safely to their own
country ; all which was readily promised. But the earls objected to the
admission of her attendants to the execution, and some difficulty was
even made about any of them being present in her last moments. This
really harsh refusal roused her to a degree of anger she had not previ-
ously shown, and she indignantly said to the earls, " 1 know that your
mistress, being a maiden queen, would vouchsafe, in regard of woman-
hood, that I should have some of my own people about me at my death.
I know that her majesty hath not given you any such strict command but
that you might grant me a request of far greater courtesy, even though I
were a woman of inferior rank to that which I bear. I am cousin to
your queen, and descended from the blood royal of Henry Vlll., and a
married queen of France, and an anointed queen of Scotland."
This remonstrance had due effect, and she was allowed to select four
of her male and two of her female servants to attend her to the scaffold ;
her steward, physician, apothecary, and surgeon, with her maids Curie
and Kennedy.
Thus attended, she was led into an adjoining hall, in which was a
crowd of spectators, and the scaffold, covered with black cloth. The
warrant having been read, the dean of Peterborough stepped forward and
addressed her in exhortation to repentance of her sins, acknowledgment
of the justice of her sentence, and reliance for mercy and salvation only
upon the mediation and merits of Christ. During the dean's address
Mary several times endeavoured to interrupt him, and at the conclusion
she said, " Trouble not yourself any more about the matter, for I was
born in this religion, I have lived in this religion, and I will die in this
religion."
She now ascended the scaffold, saying to Paulet, who lent her his arm,
"I thank you, sir; it is the last trouble I shaU ^,ve you, and the most
acceptable service that you have ever rendered me." The queen of Scots
now, in a firm voice, told the persons assembled that " She would have
them recollect that she was a sovereign princess, not subject to the par-
liament of England, but brought there to suffer by violence and injustice.
She thanked God for having given her this opportunity to make public
profession of her faith, and to declare, as she often before had declared
that she had never imagined, nor compassed, nor consented to the death
of the English queen, nor even sought the least harm to her person. Af-
ter her death many things, which were then buried in darkness, would
come to light. But she pardoned, from her heart, all her enemies, nor
should her tongue utter that which might chance to prejudice them."
At a sign from the earls the weeping maid servants now advanced
to disrobe their mistress. The executioners, in their sordid fear lest they
should thus lose their perquisites, the rich attire of the queen, hastily in
terfered. Mary blushed and drew back, observing that she had not been
accustomed to undress before such an audience, or to be served by such
valets. But, as no interference, was made by the earls she submitted;
lier neck was bared ; her maid,' Kennedy, pinned a handkerchief, edged
with gold, over her eyes ; and an executioner taking hold of each of her
S38
THE TREASI/RY OF HISTOat^
arms, led her to the block, upon which she laid her head, saying audibly
and in firm tones, " Into thy hands, God, I commend my spirit."
The executioner now advanced, but was so completely unnerved that
his first blow missed the neck, deeply wounding the skull; a second was
likewise ineffectual ; at the third the head was severed from the body.
The unhappy lady evidently died in intense agony, for when he exhibited
the head to the spectators, the muscles of the face were so distorted that
the features could scarcely be recognised.
When the executioner, on exhibiting the head, cried " God save Queen
Elizabeth," the dean of Peterborough replied, " And so perish all her ene
mies ;" to which the earl of Kent added, "So perish all tho enemies of the
gospel."
The body was on the following day embalmed and buried in Peter-
borough cathedral, whence, in the next reign, it was removed to West-
minster abbey.
CHAPTER XLVII.
THE RKION or BLIZABGTH (conttnucd.)
A. D. 1687. — The tragical scene we have just described must have con-
vinced even the most devoted of Elizabeth's subjects that their " virgin
queen" was not over-abundantly blessed with the " god-like quality of
mercy," whatever opinion they might entertain of Mary's participation in
the crime for which she suffered. But there are many circumstances con-
nected with the history of this period which may be pleaded in extenua-
tion of conduct that in less critical times could only be viewed with un-
alloyed abhorrence and disgust. The massacre of St. Bartholomew was
still fresh in the recollection of every one, and the bigoted zeal which the
queen of Scots ever displayed in favour of the catholics, whose ascend-
ancy in England she ardently desired, gave a mournful presage of what
was to be expected by the protestant population should their opponents
succeed in their desperate machinations. Neither must we disregard the
assertion, so often made and never disproved, that when Elizabeth signed
the warrant of execution, she not only did so with much apparent reluc-
tance, but placed it in the hands of Davison, her private secretary, ex-
pressly charging him not to use it without farther orders. Whatever, in*
deed, may have been her secret wishes, or real intentions, her subsequent
behaviour had the semblance of unfeigned sorrow. Could it be proved to
have been otherwise, no one would deny that her conduct throughout was
characterized by unparalleled hypocrisy — a profound dissimulation written
in characters of blood.
Elizabeth, in fact, did what she could to throw off the odium that this
sanguinary transaction had cast upon her. She wrote to the king ot
Scotland in terms of the deepest regret, declaring that the warrant she
had been induced to sign was to have lain dormant, and, in proof of her
sincerity, she imprisoned Davison, and fined him in the sum of 10,000/,
which reduced him to a state not far removed from actual beggary.
One of the most memorable events in English history was now near at
hand ; one which called for all the energy and patriotic devotion that a
brave and independent people were capable of making ; and, conseouently,
every minor consideration vanished at its approach. This was the pro
iected invasion of England by Philip of Spain. This monarch, disap-
pointed in his hopes of marrying Elizabeth, returned the queen her collar
of the garter, and from that time the most irreconcilable jealousy appears
to have existed between them. In all the ports throughout his extensive
dominions the note of preparation was heard, and the most powerful navy
THE TRKA8UHY OF HISTORY.
63t
that had ever been collected was now at his disposal. An army of 50,003
men were also assembled, under experienced generals, and the command
of the whole was given to the celebrated duke of Parma. The catholics
on the continent were in an ecstacy of delight ; the pope bestowed his
benediction on an expedition that seemed destined once more to restore
the supremacy of the holy see, and it was unanimously hailed by all who
wished it success as the invincible armada.
To repel this mighty array, no means within the reach of Elizabeth and
her able ministers were forgotten, nor could anything exceed the enthusi-
astic determination of her subjects to defend their altars and their homes.
Among the newly raised levies the militia formed a very important item ;
the nobility also vied with each other in their efforts of assistance ; and
Lord Huntingdon alone raised 40,000 foot and 10,000 horse. The royal
navy had, fortunately, been on the increase for a long time previous, and
the successful exertions of Admiral Drake in the Indies had infused a de-
gree of confidence into our sailors, before unknown in the service.
The views of the Spanish king having been fully ascertained by the
emissaries of Elizabeth, she ordered 20,000 troops to be cantoned along
the southern coast of the kingdom, in such a manner that in forty-eight
hours the whole might be assembled at any port where there was a
probability of the enemy's landing. A large and well-disciplined corps,
also, amounting to 34,000 men, was encamped at Tilbury f^rt, near the
mouth of the Thames, under the immediate command of the earl of Lei-
cester, who was appointed generalissimo of the army. These troops the
queen reviewed, and having harangued them, rode through the lines with
the general — her manner evincing great firmness and intrepidity, which
while it gave eelat to the scene, filled every breast with patriotic ardour.
The residue of her troops, amounting to 34,000 foot and 2,000 horse, re-
mained about the queen's person ; and the militia were in readiness to
reinforce the regular troops wherever there might be occasion.
All the ports and accessible points on the coast were fortified and strong-
ly garrisoned ; but though orders were given to oppose the enemy's de-
scent, wherever it might be, the respective commanders were directed not
to come to a general engagement in the event of their landing, but to re-
tire and lay waste the country before them, that the Spaniards might
meet with no subsistence, and be perpetually harassed in their march.
Nor was anything left undone that might be likely to contribute to the
defeat of the armada by sea. Lord Howard of Effingham was created
lord high admiral, and Sir Francis Drake vice-admiral, who, together with
Hawkins and Frobisher, were stationed near Plymouth, to oppose the
enemy as he entered the channel ; while Lord Henry Seymour commanded
another fleet upon the coast of Flanders, to prevent the duke of Parma
from bringing over troops from that quarter.
A. D. 1588. — The armada sailed from Lisbon on the 30th of May, but
being dispersed by a storm, rendezvoused at Corunna and did not enter
the English channel until the 19th of July, when Effingham suffered them
to pass him, but kept close in their rear until the 21st. 'l^he duke of Me-
dina Sidonia (the Spanish admiral) expected to have been here joined by
the duke of Parma and the land forces under his command, but the latter
had found it impracticable to put to sea without encountering the fleet ol
Lord Seymour, by which he justly feared that both his ships and men
would be put in the utmost jeopardy.
For four days a kind of brisk running fight was kept up, in which the
English had a decided advantage ; and the alarm having now spread from
one end of the coast to the other, the nobility and gentry hastened out
with their vessels from every harbour, and reinforced the English fleet,
which soon amounted to 140 sail. The earls of Oxford, Northumberland,
iiid Cumberland, Sir Thomas Cecil, Sir Robert Cecil. Sir W.ilii'r Ralnigh.
540
THE TilEASURYOF HISTORY.
Sir Thomas Vavasor, Sir Tiiuinas Gerrarrd, Sir Charles Blount, and manjr
others distinguiiihed themselves by this generous and seasonable proof of
their loyalty. On the 24th the turd admiral divided the fleet into four
squadrons, the better to pursue and amioy the enemy; the first squadron
he himst^irconwnanded ; the second he assigned to Sir Francis Drake;
the third to Sir John Hawki:\s ; and the fourth to Sir Martin Frubisher.
The result of this was, that in the three succeeding days the armada had
become so shattered by the repeated skirmishes in which it had been en-
gaged, that it was compelled to take shelter in the roads of Calais.
The Knglish admiral having been informed that 10,000 men belonging
to the >Uike of Parma's army had marched towards Dunkirk, and appre-
hending serious consequt ices from the enemy's receiving such a rein-
forcement, determined to spend no more time in making dessiltory attacks
on the huge galleons with his comparatively smad vessels. Accordingly,
in the night of the 28lh of July, he sent in among them eight or ten (ire-
ships ; and Ntnh was the terror of the Spanish sailors, that they cut their
cables, hoisted sail, and put to sea with the utmost hurry and confusion.
In their anxiety to escape, victory was no longer thought of. The duke
of Medijia Sidcmia, dreading again to encounter the English fleet, attempt-
ed to return home by sailing round the north of Scotland ; but the elements
were now as fatal to the Spanish fleet as the skill and bravery of the
English sailors. Many <if the ships were driven on the shores of Norway,
Ireland, and the north of Scotland ; and out of that vast armament which,
from its magnitude and apparent completeness, had been styled invincible,
only A few disabled vessels returned to tell the tale of its disastrous issue.
In the several engagements witli the Knglish fleet in the channel, in July
and Auuiist, the Spaniards lost fifteen great ships and 4,791 men; seven-
teen ships, and 5,304 men (kllleil, taken, and drowned) upon the coast ul
Ireland, in September; and another large ship, with 700 men, cast away
on the coast of Scotland. Uut this enumeration by no means inclmled
their total loss. On the part of the Fnglish the loss was tto trifling ai
scarcely to deserve mention.
The deslrnctlon of the Spanish armada inspired the nation with feelings
of intense delight; the people were proud of their country's naval siiperi
ority, proud of their own marti:il appearance, and proud o( iheir queen
A medal was struck on the occasion witli this inscription " Vemt, ndil,
fugU'" — It came, saw, and fled ;" another, with fire-ships aiid a fleet in Ciii-
fusion, with this motto, " Dux famina facti.'^ — '• A woman conducted the
enterprise." Uut on the fatal news being conveyed to IMnlip, he ex-
claimed, in real or afl^ected resignation, " I sent my fleet to combat the
English, not the elements. God be praised, the calamity is not greater."
If the destruction of the Spanish armada had saved Lnglaiid from tlic
domination r)f a foreign power, whose resentment for past indignilii's was
not likely to be easily appeasetl. It was no less a triumph for the protestaiit
cause throughout Kurojie ; the Huguenots In France were encom'agcd by
it, and it virtually establishe I the independence of tin; Dutch; while tlic
excessive infliieiM.'e which Spain had acqulrc^d over other nations was nut
only lost by this event, but it paralyzed the energies of the Spanisli iicople
aiuf Iclt them In a state of utK^r hopi.lessni'ss as to the future. \ tia)
of pulillc tlianksglvlng having been appointed for tliis great delivcraiit'e,
the ({uceii went In state to St. I>. nil's in a grand trininpiial car, decorated
with fl.igs and other troplnes taken from the Spaniards.
The public rejoicings for ilie defeat of the armada were scarcely over
when an event occurred, wliirli, in whati^ver light it might be felt by Kliz«<
betii herself, certainly ca..l im d.iinp on the spirits of the nation at hii')(e;
we mean the death of Leii-i-sttir. I'lie |iowerfnl f.ii'tiou of which tin! In-
vonrlle had been iIh! head ackiiowledgiMl a new leader In the earl of lOsjiix,
whom his Btep-futhor had brought forward at court as a coiiiiicii.oi-i! '
THE THEASUEY OF H [STORY
C41
rtie influence of Raleigh, and who now stood second to none in her majes-
ty's good graces. Out Essex, however gifted with noble iiiid brilliant
qualities, was confessedly inferior to Leii-e»ler in several endowments
highly essential to the leader of a court party. Though not void of art,
he washy no means master of the dissiiiiuhiiion, addri'ss, and wary cool-
ness by which his predecessor well knew how to accomplish his ends.
The character of Lssex was frank and impetuous, and experience had not
yet taught him to distrust either himself or otiicrs.
A. D. 1589. — After the defeat of the armada, a thirst for military achiev.
ments against the Spaniards pervaded the mind of the Knglish pul)li(-. The
queen encouraged this spirit, but declared tier treasury was too poor to
sustain the expenses of a war. An association was soon formed by tlic
people, and an army of 21,000 men, under the (-(mimand of Norris and
Drake, sailed from Plymouth to avenge the insult off- .;'d to KiigUiiid hy
Philip of Spain. The young earl of Kssex, without co.'^v'ting the pleasure
of his sovereign, made a private journey to Plymouth, and joined the ex-
pedition. No sooner was the queen made acquainted with his aliitcncc,
than she dispatched the lord Huntingdon to bring the fugitive to her feet ;
but he had already sailed.
It was the queen's order that the armament should first proceed to Por-
tugal, and endeavour to join the army of Don Antonio, who ooiitei)'l< 1
with Philip for the possession of the throne of Portugal ; but Drake \vu I
not be restrained by instructions, and he proceeded to (^orunna, where i.o
lost a number of men, without obtaining the slightest advantage. In Por-
tugal they were scarcely more successful ; but at their return their los
were concealed, their advantHges magnified, and the public were satisfied
hat the pride of Spain had been humbled.
Elizabeth might probably have expected that the death of the queen of
^(•ots would put an end to conspiracries against her life ; but plots were
still as rife as ever; nor can we feel surprise that it should be so, consid-
ering that Elizabeth, as well as Philip of Spain, employed a great number
ol" spies, who, being men of ruined fortunes and bad principles, betrayed
llie secrets of either party as their own interests led them ; and sometimes
were the fabricators of alarming reports to enhance the value of their .ser
vices.
lOngland and France were now in alliance, and the French king called
for Knglish aid in an attack upon Spain, but tlie queen had bi'gim to re
jiciit of the sums she had already advanced to Henry, and demanded Ca-
lais ns a security for her future assistani-e; for the preparations on the
peninsula alarmed her majesty lest Philip should make a second attempt
to invade England. At length the English council adopieil a measure,
proposed hy the lord admiral, Howard of Kdliigham, to send out an expe-
dition that should anticipate the design of the enemy, and destroy his ports
and shipping; Essex had the command of the Ian. I forces, ami Howard
that of the navy. When the English troops entered Cadiz, the coniicil of
war was divided in opinion as to the fitness of that step, which ended in
the possession of the city and fleet, from which the troops reiiinied with
glory for their bravery, and with honour for their hninanity, as no hlood
had been wantonly spilt, nor any dishoiiouraliU' act committed. Though
Es.sex had been the leading coiiqucrer at ('adiz, the victory was reported
as chiefly attributable to Sir Walter Raleigh, and to have been in itself a
i'heap and easy tonqnest.
A. n. LWl.— The maritime war with Spain, notwithstanding the rnn-
Hous temper of the oneen, was stremioiisiy waged at this tune, and pro-
duced some striking indications of tlie rising spirit of the English navy.
A squiidr.m, under L<ird Thomas Howard, which hail been waiting cix
inonihs lit the Azores to intercept the honieward-hoiind ships fiom Span-
ish Aniirica, was there surprised by the enemy's fleet, which had beuii
■>43
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
h
V
sent out for thpir convoy. The English admiral, who had a inunii smaller
force, put to sea in all haste, and got clear oiT, with the exception of one
ship, the Revenge, the captain of which had the temerity to confront the
whole Spanish fleet of flfty-six sail rather than strike his colours. It was,
nowever, a piece of bravery as needless as it was desperate ; for after his
crew had displayed prodigies of valour, and beaten off fifteen boarding
parties, his ammunition being gone and the whole of his men killed or
disabled, the gallant commander was compelled to strike his flag, and
soon afterdied of his wounds on board the Spanish admiral's ship.
A. D. 1593. — In those days, when an English sovereign required money,
and then only, the services of a parliament were called for ; and Kliza-
beth was now under the necessity of summoning one. But she could ill
brook any opposition to her will ; and fearing that the present state of
her finances might embolden some of the members to treat her mandates
with less deference than formerly, she was induced to assume a more
haughty and menacing style than was habitual to her. In answer to the
three customary requests made by the speaker, for liberty of speech, free-
dom from arrests, and access to her person, she replied by her lord keep-
er, that such liberty of speech as the commons were justly called to— lib-
erty, namely, of aye and no, she was willing to grant, but by no means a
liberty for every one to speak what he listed. And if any idle heads
should be found careless enough of their own safety to attempt innova-
tions in the state, or reforms in the church, she laid her injunctions on the
speaker to refuse the bills offered for such purposes till they should have
been examined by those who were better qualified to judge of these mat-
ters. Out language, however imperious or scornful, was insutTiuicnt lu
restrain some attempts on the part of the commons to exercise their
known rights and fulfil their duty to the country. Peter Wentworlii, a
member whose courageous and independent spirit had already drawn uputi
him repeated manifestations of the royal displeasure, presented to the
lord keeper a petition, praying that the upper house wmild join with tlie
lower in a supplication to the queen for fixing the suciiossion. Klizabmli,
enraged at the bare mention of a subject so offensive to her, iusiaiuly
committed Wentworth, Sir Thomas Bromley, who secoudoil him, ami
two other members, to the Fleet prison ; an<l such was the general dread
of offended majesty, that the house was afraid to petition for their release.
A. D. 1590. — Kssex, whose vanity was on a par with his impetuosity, had
now attained the zenith of his prosperity ; but, confident in the atfectliiim
of Klizaheth, ho frequently suflfered himself to forget that a subject's duli-
ful n-spiM't was due to her as his queen. On one memorable o(!casion, it
is related, that he treated her with indignity uncalled for and wholly iii
d"fen8il)l(! ; a dispute had arisen between them in tiie |)resi'neo of the lord
high admiral, the secretary, and the clerk of the signet, respectiiifr llm
choice of a commander for Ireland, where Tyrone at that lime gave tlu!
Kuglish much trouble. The queen had resolved to send Sir William
Knolles, the uncle of Kssex ; whili! the earl with unbecoming wariiiiri
urged the propriety of sending Sir (ii!or<f« Oarew, whose presence ii
court, it appears, was displeasing to him, and, therefore, with c»nrticr like
sincerity, he thus souiilit to riMUove him out of the way. Unalde, ciiliir
by argument or persuasion, to prevail over the resolute will of her ma-
jcity, the favourite at last forgot himself so far as to turn his l>ack
upon her with a laugh of e()ntnn|)l ; an indiijiiity which she revcii^fiil iii
the true " I'llizahethan style," liy boxing his earn, and bidding him "(in in
the devil," or " (Jo and be hanged !" — for our chroniclers differ a.< to ilic
fXici phrase, tliouijh all agree that she suited the word lo the acium
This reiitrl so inflamed the blood of Kssex, that he iiislanlly grasped i >
swcrd, and while the lord admiral interposr-d lo iirevenl a fiirilier eliulli-
lion of passion the earl swore that not from her father would he liavn
mile
lam
lialil
liotv
Heiii
larilr
of
iIcmi
\.
a|i|.o
the
frieir
riiiic,
Vciii'
linir
Ilia I
i|lleei
'.I UN
r'n.d
Hie i;
I'diiii
I'll hi
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
643
inkon BUch an insult, and, foaming with rage, he rushed out of the palace
¥or a, timo this affair furnished ample scope for idle gossip and conjec-
ture; the friends of Kssex urged him to lose no time in returning to his
ftimndance at court and soliciting her majesty's forgiveness. This, how
over, he could not he prevailed on to do; but, like many other quarrels
among; individuals of an humbler grade, it was at length patched up, and
the reconciliation appeared to the superficial observer as perfect, as it was,
in nil probability, hollow and insincere.
Kiisex had long thirsted for military distinction, and had often vehe-
mently argued with Burleigh on the propriety of keeping up a perpetua
hoHlllity against the power of Philip; but the prudent and experienced
ininiiler contended that Spain was now sufficiently humbled to render an
i»C(!omn)odation both safe and honourable ; and his prudential counsel was
mlliercd to by the queen. Economy in the public expenditure was, in fact,
il»R'0»«ary ; and one of the last acts of Burleigh's life was the completion
of nil arrangement with the states of Holland for the repayment of the
mituN which Kllzabcth had advanced to them, whereby the nation was
ruiiDved of a considerable portion of its former annual expense.
After exorcising very considerable influence in the administration of
Rffalrs in Kngland for forty years, the faithful Burleigh, whose devotion to
the (luren and attacliment to the reformed faith were constant and sincere,
iliod in the 7Bth year of his age; and in about a month after, his great op-
jiOMcnt, Philip II., also bowed to death's stern decree. Under his succes-
Kor liin Npanish monarchy declined with accelerated steps ; all apprehen-
Hioim of m invasion ceased, and the queen's advisers had an opportunity
(if liirning their whole attention to the pacification of Ireland.
A. ». 1508. — The Irish rebel, Tyrone, had successfully resisted the En-
BliNli forces in several encounters ; and at length the whole province ol
Milliliter declared for him. It was evident tliat much time had been spent
(Ml minor objects, while the great leader of the rebels was in a manner left
til overrun the island and subjugate it to his will. This subject was ear-
iii'Hlly canvassed by Elizabeth and her council; by ti\e majority of whom
l.iinl Miuinljoy was considered as a person fully equal to the office ol
IdriI'dcpiily at so critical a juncture. Essex, however, offered so many
iilijiM'llotis to his appointment, arguing the point with so niucli warmth
mill (ili:4tiinu-y, and withal intimating his own superior fitness for the
oincn with so much art and address, that the queen, notwilhstHiiding cer-
liiiii Him|iiciiiiis which had been infus.'d into her mind respecting the pro-
Inilili" iliiiigcr of committing to Essex the chief command of an army, and
iiiilwillisliindiiig her presumed unwillingness to deprive herself of his pre-
ni'iii'i', iip|ii'iirs to have adopted his sugijeslion with an nniisinl ilcy:ree of
rMriH'Nl liaslo, The earl of Essex was accordingly made lurdlieiitciinut
■if Iri'liiiil, and with 30,Uon choice troops he went forward on his long-
<li<Niri'il mission.
\. II. I.')!!!!.— Iliiviny landed at Dublin in the sprina, Essex immediately
iiIi|ioiiiliM| liJK frieiiil, the carl of Southampton, to tlic olliro of srcncral of
llii' Inline; lint iiislcail of opening the campaign, as vv;is cxpccicd by his
frii'iuls ill Enitlaiid, wilti some bold and decisive opcnilion aa^uiist Ty-
riiiu', llie Slimmer was spent in temporising, iiiid licfdrc the close of the
yi'iir II siiHplcidiin inii'c between the parties put m end to all ills anticipa-
lliiii<» of micccss. Nay, so unexpected was the issue of tins expedition,
lliiil It itlTorded the best possible opportunity to bis eiicniics to shake the
|iii'cii'h ciinflclcnce even in his loyalty. An iiiinry Icllcr from licr nvijcsty
Willi tile immi'diate conseqiK
and Essex, wiilimil waitinir for the
niyiil iiermission, hurried over to England in order to throw liiinself at
llii' I'cei iifliiH exasperated soverci«ii. The sudden appearance of her fa-
viiiinie, iii«t afler she had risen from her bed, imploriiin her forgiveneji
I'll hill kiii'cs, disarmed the queen of her anger ; and on leaving the aoart
544
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
■
I
M
1 1
1 1
w
ft
i t
i
I
meat, he exdaimed exultingly, " that though he had encountered much
trouble and many storms abroad, he thankeii God he found a perfect calm
at home."
The earl of Essex doubtless thought the troubled waters were at rest;
his vanity favoured the notion, and self-gratulalion followed as a matter
of course ; but he soon found that the tempest was only hushed for the
moment, for at night he found himself a prisoner in his own house by the
peremptory orders of Elizabeth. Heart-sick aiid confounded, a severe
illness was the quick result of this proceeding; and for a br.ef interval the
queen not only showed some signs of pity, but administered to his com-
fort. A warrant was, however, soon afterwards made out for his com-
mittal to the Tower, and though it was not carried into effect, yet his
thance of liberty seemed too remote for prudence to calculate on. But the
fiery temper of Essex had no alloy of piudence in it : he gave way to his
natural violence, spoke of the queen in peevish and disrespectful terms,
and, among other things, said, "she was grown an old woman, and was
become as crooked in her mind as in her body."
A. D. leoo.— Shortly after his disgrace, Essex wrote to James of Scot-
land, informing him that the faction who ruled the court were in league
to deprive hint of his right to the throne of England, in favour of the infanta
of Spain ; and he offered his servii^es to extort from Elizabeth an acknowl-
edgment of his claims. It appears, indeed, from concurrent testimony,
that the conduct of Essex had now become highly traitorous, and that he
was secretly collecting together a party to aid him in some enterprise dan-
gerous to the ruling power. But his plans were frustrated by the activity
of ministers, who had received information that the grand object of the
conspirators was to seize the queen's person and take possession of the
Tower. A council was called, and Essex was commanded to attend; hut
he refused, assembled his friends, and fortified Essex-house, in which he
Had previously secreted hired soldiers. Four of the privy council being
sent thither to inquire into the reason of his conduct, lie imprisoned them
and sallied out into the city ; but he failed in his attempt to excite the peo-
ple in his favour, and on returning to his house, he and his friend the carl
of South^imptou were with some difficulty made prisoners, and after having
been first taken to Lambeth palace, were committed to the Tower.
A. D. 1001. — The rash and aspiring Essex now only begged that he might
have a fair trial, still calculating upon the influence of the queen to protect
him in the hour of liis utmost need. Proceedings were commenced against
him instantly ; his errors during his administration in Ireland were rcprc-
sentrd in tin; most odious colours; the undutiful expressions he had used
in some of his IcttfM's were greatly exaggerated ; and his recent treasonalilo
ntlein|)t was dwelt on as culling for the exercise of the utmost severity of
the law. His condemnation followed ; judgment was pronounced against
liiu), and against his friend, the earl of Sonlhaniplon. 'I'liis nobleman was,
however, spareil ; but Essex was conducted to the fatal block, where he
met his death with great fortitude, being at the time only in tin; thirty
fourth year of his age. His most active accomplices wen; CulT, his sec-
retary, Merrick, his steward. Sir Christopher Illoiml, his father-in-law, and
Sir HobiTl Uavers, who were executed some few days after.
The piirliitincritary proceedings of this year were more' elaborate tliiiti
liefiire, particularly as regarded the finaiK^al state of the country. It was
stateil that the whole of the last subsidies amounted to no more ilinn
l(i(),n;)0/,, while the exticiise of the Irish war alone was 300,000/. On lliis
occasion it was observed by Sir Walter Raleigh, that the estates of the no-
bility and geiiiry, which were charged at thirty or forty pounds in the
ijueiMt's lioiiks, we-e not charged at a hundredth part of their real value.
He also mnved, tlist BBScaicely any justices of the peace were rated al)o»e
vight or ten DiUiiids a year, they might be advanced to twenty pounds al
inipid
viole
order
itself
terint!
ses foi
rary i
Ihe'dii
We
'lie pfi
ilie Kii
sioiis,
as rc[r;
heail
ineiitK
b( eiiii
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fiilldwr
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and eni
other I
eaptive,
A. I).
this yv:
of V.tigl
'mviiiir
V'i»i..
THE TREA8UR\ OF HISTORY.
545
i much
ictcaltn
at rest;
, mattei
for the
e by the
1 severa
>rval the
(lis com-
his com-
., yet his
But the
ay to his
[ul terms,
and was
I of Scot-
ill league
ilie iiifrtnta
I acknowl-
lestimony,
iiid that he
rprise dan-
he activity
ject of the
sion of the
attend; but
n whicli he
uncil bein(r
Isoncd them
'iie the peo-
end the carl
rifler having
wer.
lat he might
jn to protect
need ajj.iinst
were rcpre-
K! hud usi'd
treasouiiblt!
,. severity o!
need iiijiiinsl
il)lcman was,
■It, where lie
the iliirly
.ii(T, liiH SIM'-
T-in-hi\v,!iiiil
iiborale than
iitry. It "as
,„ore iliau
on/. On tliis
u<s of the no-
iinnuiH in llie
ir re;d viiliie.
re raleil idiove
ily pinuidn al
(east, which was the qualifjcation required by the statute for a justice of
peace ; but the commons declined to alter the rate of taxation and leave
themselves liable to be taxed at the rack-rent. Monopolies upon various
branches o*" trade were next brought under consideration ; and as they
were generally oppressive and unjust (some obtained by purchase and
others piv,en to favourites), many animated discussions followed, which
ended in a motion that the monopolies should be revoked, and the pa-
tentees punished for their extoitions. Of course there were members
present who were venal enough to defend this iniquitous mode of en-
riching certain individuals at the expense of the public. A long list of the
monopolizing patents being, however, read — among which was oiie on
salt, an article lliat had thus been raised from fourteen pence to fourteen
shillings a bushel — a member indignantly demanded whether there was
not a patent also for making bread ; at which question some courtiers ex-
pressing their resentment, lie replied that if bread were not already among
the patented luxuries, it would soon become one unless a stop was put to
such enormities. That the arguments of the speakers were not lost upon
the queen seems certain ; for although she took no notice of the debates,
she sent a message to the house, acquainting them that several petitions
had been presented to her against monopolies, and declared "she was sen-
sibly touched with the people's grievances, expressing the utmost indig-
nation against those who had abused her grants, and appealed to God how
careful she* had ever been to defend them against oppression, and prom-
ised they should be revoked." Secretary Cecil added "her majesty was
not apprised of the ill tendency of these grants when she made them, and
hoped there would never be any more ;" to which gracious declaration
the majority of the house responded, "Amen."
In this memorable session was passed the celebrated act, to which al-
lusion is so often made in the present day, for the relief and employment
of the poor. Since the breaking up of the religious eslablishnu-nts, the
country had been overrun with idle mendicants and thieves. It was a
natural consequence that those who sought in vain for work,and as vairdy
implored charitaiilc aid, should be induced by the cravings of hunger to lay
violtMit hands upon the property of others. As the distress of the lower
orders increased, so did crime ; till at length the wide-spreading evil forced
itself on the attention of parliament, and provision was made for the bet-
tering of their condition, by levymg a tax upon the middle and upper <'la8-
ses for the support of the aged and infirm poor, and for afTording tempo-
rary relief to the destitute, according to their several necessities, under
the direction of parochial otTlcers.
We must now briefly revert to what was going on in Ireland. Though
ilie power of \\w. Spaniards was considered as at too low an ebb to give
ilie I'lnglish government any great uneasiness for the safety of its posses
sioiis, it was thought sulTiciently formi<laliIc to be the means of annoyance
as regarded the assistance it might afl'oid Tyrone, who was still at the
head of the insurgents in Ireland. And the occurrence \\v, are about to
nientinn shows that a reasonable apprehension on that head might well
()( entertained. On the i.Mril of September the Spaniards landed 4000 men
near Kinsale, and having taken possession of the town, were sfjeedily
followed by 2000 more. They effected a junction with Tyrone ; but
Moiniijoy, who was now lord-deputy, surprised their army in the night.
and cnliiely defeated them. This led to the surrender of Kinsale and ali
other places in liicir possession; and it was not Imig before Tyrone, as a
captive, graced the triumpiial return of Mounljoy to Onblin.
A. n. IflO'j. — The most remarkable among the domestic occurrences of
thiii year was a violent quarrel between the Jesuits and the secular priests
of I'fngland. The latter accused the former, and not without reason, o!
huvlnur hecti the occasion, by their assassniations, plots, and conspiracici
Vou. 1 :jr,
b46
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
ngainst the queen and government, of all the severe enactments unuer
which the English catholics had groaned since the fulmination of the papal
bull against her majesty. In the height of this dispute, intelligence was
conveyed to the privy council of som:j fresh plots on the part of the Jesuits
and their adherents ; on which a proclamation was immediately issued,
banishing this order from the kingdom on pain of death ; and, the same
penalty was declared against all secular priests who should refuse to take
the oath of allegiance.
That Queen Elizabeth deeply regretted the precipitancy with which she
signed the warrant for the execution of her favourite Essex there is every
reason to believe. She soon became a victim to hypochondria, as may
be seen from a letter written by her godson, Sir John Harrington ; and as
it exhibits a curious example of her behaviour, and may be regjiided as a
specimen of the epistolary style of the age, we are induced to quote some
of the sentences: "She is much disfavoured and unattired, and these
troubles waste her much. She disregardeth everie costlie cover that
Cometh to her table, and taketh little but manchet and succory pottage.
Every new message from the city doth disturb her, and she frowns on all
the ladies." He farther on remarks, that "The many evil plots and de-
signs hath overcome her highness' sweet temper. She walks much in
her privy chamber, and stamps much at ill news; and thrusts her rusty
sword, at times, into the arras in great rage." And in his postscript he
says, "So disordered is all order, that her highness has worn but one
change of raiment for many daies, and swears much at those who cause
her griefs in such wise, to the no small iliscoaifiture of those that are about
her; more especially our sweet Lady Arundel." Her days and niglits
were spent in tears, and she never spoke but to mention some irritating
subjects. Nay, it is recorded, that having experienced some hours of
alarming stupor, she persisted, after her recovery from it, to remain sealed
on cushions, from which she could not be prevailed upon to remove dur-
ing ten days, but sat with her finger generally on her mouth, and her eyes
open and fixed upon the ground, for she apprehondi-d th.it if she lay down
in bed she should not rise from it again. Having at length been nut into
bed, she lay on her side motionless, and ap|iar(Milly insensible. The lords
of the council being summoned, Nottingliam reminded her of a former
speech respecting her successor; she answered, "I told you my seat had
been the seat of kings, and I will have no rascal to succeed me. Who
should succeed nie but a king !" Cecil, wishing a more explicit declara-
tion, requesting her to explain what she meant by " no rascal," she rnplied
tliat "a king should succeed, and who could tliat be hut her cousin of Scot.
land?" Early the following morning the queen traiKpiilly breatlnnl her
last ; she was in the 70th year of her age and the 45th of her reign.
Elizabeth was tall and portly, but never handsome, though from the ful-
some compliments which slie tolerated in thosi; wlio had access to tmr
person, she appears to have entertained no mean opinion of her beauty.
Her extravagant love of finery was well known, ami tlie presents of jew-
nlry, fee, she received from such of her loving 8ubje(;ls as hoped to gaii)
the royal favour were both numerous and costly. Like her father, slio
was irritable and passionate, ofti-n venting her rage in blows and oaths
Her literary acquirements were very (Considerable; and in those accoin
plishments which are in our own day termed "fashionable," namely, am
sic, singing, and dancing, she also greatly excelled. The charges wliiclr
have been made against the "virgin qnecMi" for indulging in amatory in-
trigues are not suffieifntly sustained to render it the duly of an historian
to repeat them; and when it is considered that though she possessed n
host of sturdy friends, yet that she had many bitter enemies, wo need not
be surprised that in the most vulnerable point her character as a female
hM often been unjustly assailed.
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
S47
CHAPTER XLVIII.
THB RUION OF JAMES 1.
».. o. 1603. — The advanced age to which the late queen lived, and the
; .nstaiU attention which her remaining unmarried had caused men to pay
lo the subject of the succession, had made the succession of James be-
come a thing as fully settled in public opinion as though it had been set'
tied by her will or an act of parliaitient. All the arguments for and against
him had been canvassed and dismissed, and he ascended the throne of
England with as little opposition as though he had been Elizabeth's eldest
son.
As the king journeyed from Edinburgh to London all ranks of men hail-
ed him with the thronging and applause which had been wont to seem so
grateful to his predecessor. But if James liked flattery, he detested
noise and bustle ; and a proclamation was issued forbidding so much con-
gregating of the lieges, on the ground that it tended to make provisions
scarce and exorbitantly dear. It was only shyness, however, and not any
insensibility to the hearty kindness of his new subjects, that dictated the
king's proclamation. So pleased, indeed, was he with the zealous kind
ness shown to him by the English, that he had not been two months be-
fore them when he had honoured with the order of knighthood nearly two
lunidred and forty persons! Peerages were bestowed pretty nearly in the
same proportion ; and a good humoured pasquinade was posted at St.
Paul's promising to supply weak memories with the now very necessary
art of remembering the titles of the new nobility.
It was not merely the king's facility in granting titles that was blamed,
lliough that was in remarkable, and, as regarded his judgment, at least, in
hy no means favourable contrast to the praittice of his predecessor ; but
Hie English, already jealous of their new fellow-subjects, the Scots, were
•jf opini(m that he was more than fairly liberal to the latter. But if James
made tiie duke of Lenox, the earl of Mar, Lord llunie, Ijord Kinross, Sit
(reorge Hume, and Secretary Elphinstone, members of the English privy
council, and gave titles and wealth to Sir George Hume, Hay, and Ram-
say, he at least had the honour and good sense to leave nearly the whole
of ilic ministerial honours ami political power in the hands of the able En-
glish who had so well served his predecessor. Secretary Cecil, especially,
who had kept up a secret correspomlcnce with James towards the dose of
the late reign, had now the ciiief power, and was created, in succession,
Lord Efliingdon, Viscount Cranborne. and earl of Salisbury.
It is not a little surprising that wiiile James was so well received by the
nation at large, and had the instant support of the ministers and friends of
tlie late queen, he had scarcely (inisiicd renewing treaties of peace and
friendship with all the great foreign powers, when a conspiracy was dis-
covered for placing his cousin, Arabella Stuart, upon the throne. Such a
conspiracy was so absurd, and its success so completely a physical inipos-
siliility, that it is difficult not to suspect ihiit il ong{natedii\ the king's own
excessive and uiniecessary jealousy of the title of Arabella Stuart, who,
equally with himself, was descenilvd from Henry VIII., but who in no
oilier respect could have the faintest chance of competing with him. Hut,
liowcver it originated, such a conspiracy existed ; ami the lords Grey and
Cobhiim, and Sir Walter Raleigh, Lord (^obham's brother, Mr. Hroke, Sir
(iriffin Markh.im, Sir I'Mward I'arhiiin, and Mr. Copley, together with two
catholic priests named Watson and (Harke, were apprehended for being
concerned in it. Tlie catholic jjriesls were executed, Cobhain, Grey and
Mhrkham were pardoned while their heads were upon the block, and
Ualeigh was also reprieved, but no/ pardoned ; a fact which was f;ii;tl to
him many years after, as will he [lerceived. Even at present it was mis-
348
THE TKEA3URY OF HISTORY.
chievous to him, for, though spared from death, he was confined m the
Tower, where he wrote his noble work, the History of the World.
A. D. 1604. — A conference was now called at Hampton court to decide
upon certain differences between the church and the puritans, and gen-
erally to arrange that no injurious religious disputes might arise. As
James had a great turn for theological disputation he was here quite in
his element; but instead of showing the puritans all the favour they ex-
pected from him in consequence of his Scottish education, that very cir-
cumstance induced the king to side against them, at least as far as he
prudently could ; as he had abundant proof of the aptness of puritanical
doctrine to produce seditious politics. He was importuned, for instance,
by the puritans to repeal an act passed in the reign of Elizabeth to sup-
press societies called prophesyings, at which there was usually mure zeal
than sense, and more eloquence than religion. The reply of James was
at once so coarsely practical, and so indicative of his general way of
thinking upon such points, that we transcribe it literally. " If what you
aim at is Scottish presbytery, as 1 think it is, I tell you that it agrees as
well with monarchy as the devil with God. There Jack, and Tom, and
Will, and Dick, shall meet and censure me and my council. Therefore I
reiterate my former speech ; the king s'avisera. Stay, I pray you, for
seven years i)efore you demand, and then, if I be grown pursy and fat, I
may, perchance, hearken to you, for tiiat sort of government would keep
me in breath and give me work enough !"
Passing over the business of parliament at the commencement of this
reign, as concerning matters of interest rather to the statesman and
scholar than to the general reader, we have now to advert to one of the
most striking and remarkable events in our history — tlie gunpowder plot.
The affection which the catholii's had ever shown towards his mo-
ther, and their interpretation of some obliging expressions that he had
either artfully or in mere carelessness made use of, had led them to hope
that he would greatly relax, if not wholly repeal the severe laws passed
against them during the reign of his predecessor. But James had clearly
and unequivocally shown that he had no intention of doing aught tlii<t
could diminish the authority and security of the crown; and the more en-
thusiastic catholics were in consequence very greatly excited agaiiitit
him.
Catesby, a gentleman of good birth and excellent character, first looked
upon thu subject as one demanding the absolute punishment of the kiiijS!,
and he communicated his feelings' to his friend Piercy, a descendant ui
the time-honoured house of Northumberland. Piercy proposed simply lo
assassinato the king, but in the course of tlicir discussion of the plan
Catesby suggested a wider and more effectual plan, by whicli they wonM
rid Catholicism not merely of the king, but of the whole prutcstant strenirtli
of the kingdom. He pointed out that the mere d(;ath of the king, inid
even of bis children, would be of little avail while the protestanl nobles
and gentry (H)tdd niise another king to the tiironc who, in addition to all
the existing causes of the protcstant severity, would bo urged to new
rigour by the very circumstance to wliich he would owe his power to in-
dulge it. To make the dc^ed effectual, Catesby continued, it would be
necessary to take the opportunity of the first day of |)arlianu'iit,
when king, lords, and commons would be all assembli^d, and, by ineaii.s ul
a mine bidow the house, blow the whole of their enemies up at once witli
gunpowder.
"Nothing but a fierce and mistaken fanaticism could allow one man to
luggest so dreadful a seheiiie, or another man to approve of it ; but Pienv
at once entered into Catcsby's plan, and tiiey took means for preparing.'
fcir its execulion. Tliomas Winter was sent over to Flaiiilens iiise.iiih
ul Guido Vuux, ac oflicer in the Spanish service, and well known allki a*
less I
" .My
"Oi
ynnr
>ife to
.i;inier)
THE TREASURY OF HI.-^TOHY
5-19
d in the
1.
[) (leciilti
mrt gen-
ise. As
quite in
they ex-
very cir-
far as he
uritanical
instance,
\i to sui>-
nore ^eal
imes was
,1 way of
what you
agrees as
Tom, and
lierefore I
^' you, for
and fat, I
ivould keep
lent of this
,esman and
one of the
iwder plot.
■ds his mo-
that he liad
em to hope
aws passed
had clearly
aughl lliiil
he more eii-
ited against
, first looked
of the king,
scendanl ol
ud simply 10
of t\\e pliii*
\ ihey would
tant slrenytli
le king, luid
slant nobles
Idilion to all
rged to new
power to ill-
it would be
parliament,
by means ol
at ouee with
V one man to
1 ; bntPien'V
for prepariii;-'
It-rs m seiii'li
uown aliki ''*
a bigoted catholic and a cool and daring soldier. Calesby and Piercy in
the meantime, aided by Desmond and Garnet, Jesuits, and the latter the
superior of the order in England, were busily engaged in communicating
their awful design to other catholics ; and every ncwly-enksted confed-
erate had the oath of secrecy and faithfulness administered to him, in con-
junction with the communion, a rite peculiarly awful as understood by the
catholics.
The destruction of protestants all the confederates seem to have con-
sidered to be a quite unexceptionable act ; but some of the more thoughtful
and humane among them suggested the certainty that, besides several cath-
olic peers who would attend, there might be many other catholics present,
either as mere spectators or as official attendants. Even this suggestion,
which one might suppose effectual as to forbidding the execution of
Catesby's wholesale scheme, was silenced by the truly Jesuitical remark
of the two Jesuits, that the sacrifice of a few innocent among the guilty
many, was lawful aiid highly meritorious, because it was required by the
interests of religion! Alas! in abusing that sacred name how many
crimes have not mistaken men committed !
A. D. 1605. — Towards the end of summer Piercy hired a house adjoining
to that in which parliament used to assemble ; and having instruments,
arms, and provisions with them, they laboured hard in it for many hours
each day, and had already mined three feet through the solid wall when
they were stopped and alarmed by plainly hearing on the other side a
noise for which they could give no account. On inquiry it seemed that
the noise arose from the sale of the stock of a coal dealer who had oc-
cupied a vault, next to their own, and immediately below the house of
lords. The opportunity was seized ; Pieicy hired the vault, and six-and-
thirty barrels of gunpowder were clandestinely conveyed thither and con-
coaled beneath the loads of wood, for the reception of which alone Piercy
pretened to need the place.
Having thus surmounted all the great and apparent obstacles to the
success of their design, the conspirators distributed among themselves the
several parts they were to act on the eventful day. Guido Vaux was to
fire the fatal train ; Piercy was to seize or slay the infant, duke of York ;
and the princess Elizabeth, also a mere infant, who would be a powerless
instrument in the hands of the catholics, was to be seized and proclaimed
queen by Grant, Rookwood, and Sir Everard Digby, three of the leading
conspirators, who were to have a large armed party in readiness on pre-
tence of a hunting match.
The dreadful scheme had now been on foot for above a year and a half,
and was known to more than twenty persons, but neither fear of punish-
ment, the hope of reward, or any of the motives which ordinarily make
eonspirators untrue to carM other, had caused any one of the desperate
band to falter. A personal feeling of gratitude now did what no other
feeling, perhaps, could have done, a'ld caused one of the conspirators
to take a step which saved the nation from horrors of which even at
this distance of time one cannot contemplate the mere possibility but
with a shudder.
Some one of the conspirators, lying under obligations to Lord Monteagle,
a catholic and a son of Lord Morley, sent him the following letter,
which evidently was intended to a<'t upon his personal prudence and
secure his safety, without enabling him in any wise to oppose the ruth-
less butchery that was designed :
" My Lord,
" Out of the love I bear to sctme of your friends I have a care of
your preservation, ilierefore 1 woidd advise you as you tender your
life to devise some excuse to shift oflf your attendance upon this par-
. lament. For God and man have concurred to punish the wickednesn
S50
THR TREASURY OF HISTORY.
of the time. Think rot lightly of this advertiiseitient, but retire youi
self into your country, where you may expect the event in safety. Foi
though there be no appearance of any stir, yet, I say, tiiey will receivs
a terrible blow this parliament, and yet tiiuy sli.tll not see who hurts them.
This counsel is not to be contemned, because it may do you good,
and can do you no harm, for the danger is past as soon as you burn
this letter. And I hope God will give you the grace to make good
use of it, unto whose holy protection I commit you."
Cecil, now earl of Salisbury, was the principal and most active of the
king's ministers, and to that nobleman Monteagle fortunately determined
to carry the letter, though he was himself strongly inclined to think it
nothing hut some silly attempt to frlghttm him from his attendance in
parliament. Salisbury professed to have the same opinion of the letter,
but laid it before the king some days before the meeting of parliament.
James, who, amid many absurdities, was in the main a shrewd man,
saw the key to the enigma in the very style of the letter itself: and Lord
Suffolk, the lord chamberlain, was charged to examine the vaults beneath
the houses of parliament on the day before thai appointed for opening the
session. He did so in open day, and, as if as a simple matter of form,
went through the cellars and came out without affectmg to see anything
amiss. But he had been struck by the singularity of Piercy, a private
gentleman who lived but little in town, having amassed such an inordinate
store of fuel ; and he read the conspirator in the desperate countenance
of Guido Vaux, who was lurking about the place in the garb and charac-
ter of a servant to Piercy. Acting on these snsp.cions, the ministers
caused a second search to be made at midnight by a well-armed pnrty
under Sir Thomas Knivet, a justice of peace. At the very door of the
vault they seized Vaux, who had made all his preparations and even had
his tinder-box and matches ready to fire the train ; the fag^ois of wood
were turned over, and the powder found. Vaux was sent under an escort
to the Tower, but was so far from seeming appalled by his danger, that
he sneeringly told his captors that if he had known a little earlier that
they intended to pay him a second visit, he would have fired the train and
sweetened his own death by killing them with him. He behaved in the
same daring style when examined by the council on the following day;
but two or three days' residence in the 'i'ower and a threat of putting him
on the 'ack subdued him, and he made a full discovery of his confederates.
Catesby. Piercy, and their other friends who were to act in Londim, heard
not only of a letter being sent to Lord Monleagic, but also of the first
search made in the vault; yet were they so infatuattul and so resolute lo
persevere to the last, that it was only when Vaux was actually arrested
that they left London and hurried down to VVarwickshire, where Digby
and his friends were already in arms to seize the princess Elizabeth. Uut
the sheriff raised the county in time to convey the young princess to Co-
ventry ; and the baffled conspirators, never more than eighty in number,
had now only to think of defending themselves until they could make their
escape from the country. But the activity of the sheriff and other gentry
surrounded them by such immbers that escape in ajiy way was out of the
question, and having confessed themselves to each other, they prepared
to die with a desperate gallantry worthy of a nobler cause. They fouglil
with stern determination, but some of their powder took fire and disabled
them; Catesby and Piercy were killed by a single shot; Digby, Uook-
wood, and Winter, with Garnet the Jesuit, were taken prisoners, and soon
after perished ')y the hands of the executioner. It is a terrible proof oi
of the power of superstition to close men's eyes to evil, that though (Gar-
net's crime was of the most ruffianly description, though he had used his
priestly influence to delude his confederates and tools when their better
nature prompted them to shrink from such wholesale and uiispaiing atru-
cernin
The
obtain
iiess I
iiiofTeii
ever i
while
suppor
A.
to phi;
speed
self ail
seculai
bestov
cathoii
of (he
obligin
hardsh
al'j.ifei
THE TEEASUEY OF HI8T0EY.
551
city, the catholics imagined miracles to be wrought with this miserable
miscreant's blood, and in Spain he was even treated as a martyr ! Through-
out this whole affair, indeed, the evil nature of superstition was to blame
for all the guilt and all the suffering. The conspirators in this case were
not low ruffians of desperate fortune; they were fur the most part men of
both property and character ; and Catesby was a man who possessed an
especially and enviably high characrer. Digby also was a man of excel-
lent reputation, so much so, that his being a known and rigid papist had
not prevented him from being highly esteemed and honoured by Queen
Elizabeth.
When the punishment of the wretches who had mainly been concerned
In this plot left the court leisure for reflection, some minor but severe pun-
ishments were inflicted upon those who were thought by connivance or
negligence to have been in any degree aiding the chief off"enders. Thus
the earl of Northumberland was fined the then enormous sum of thirty
thousand pounds, and imprisoned for seven years afterwards, because he
had not exacted the usual oaths from Piercy on admitting him to the office
of gentlemin pensioner. The catholic lords Stourton and Mordaunt, too,
were fined, the former four and the latter ten thousand pounds by that ever
arbitrary court, the star-chamber, for no other offence than their absence
from parliament on this occasion. This absence was taken as a proof of
their knowledge of the plot, though surely, if these two noblemen had
known of it, they would have warned many other catholics ; while a hun-
dred more innocent reasons might cause their own absence.
Of the conduct of James, in regard to the duty he owed to justice in
punishing the guilty, and confining punishment strictly to those of whose
guilt there is the most unequivocal proof, it is not easy to speak too
warmly. The prejudice shown against catholics in the case of the lords
Stourton and Mordaunt, and the infinite brutalities inflicted upon the
wretched conspirator, were the crimes of the age; but the severe and dig-
nified attention to a just and large charily of judgment as a general prin-
ciple, which is displayed in tlie king's speech to this parliament, is a merit
all his own.
He observed, says Hume, " tliat though religion had engaged the con-
spirators in so criminal an attempt, yet ought we not to involve all the
Roman catholics in tiie same guilt, or suppose them equally disposed to
commit such enormous barbarities. Many holy men, and our ancestors
among the rest, had been seduced to concur with that church in her scho-
lastic doctrines, who yet had never admitted her seditious principles, con-
cerning the pope's power of dethroning kings or sanctifying assassination.
The wrath of heaven is denounced against crimes, but innocent error may
obtain its favour; and nothing can be more hateful than the uncharitable-
ness of the puritans who condemn alike to eternal torments even ilie most
iiioflensive partisans of popery. For his own part, tiiat conspiracy, how-
ever atrocious, should never alter, in the least, his plan of government ;
while with one hand he would punish guilt, with the other he would still
support and protect innocence."
A. D. 1606.— The protestants, and especially the puritans, were inclined
to plunge to a very great extent into that injustice of which the king's
speech so ably warned them. But the king, even at some hazard to him-
self and at some actual loss of popularity, persisted in looking at men's
secular conduct as a thing quite apart from their ghostly opinions. He
bestowed employment and favour, other things being equal, alike on
catholic and protcslant : and the only hardship caused to the great body .
of the papists by the horrible gunpowder plot was the enactment of a bill
obliging every one without exception to take oath of allegiance. No great
hardship upon any good subject or honest and humane man, since it onlv
abjured the power of the pone to dethrone the king !
162
THE TUEASUHY OV HISTORY.
il
' a
ilf^
ij
1
i
Almost as soon as James arrived in England he showed himself ii»
one respect, at the least, very far more advanced in true statesmanship
than most of iiis subjectn. They for u long time displayed a small and
spiteful jealousy of the Scots; he, almost as soon as he mounted the En-
glish throne, endeavoured to merge England and Scotland, two separate
nations, always sullen and sometimes sanguinary and despoiling enemies,
into a Great Britain that might indeed bid defiance to the world, and thai
should be united in laws and liberties, in prosperity and in interests, as it
already was by the hand of natnre. There was nothing, however, in the
earlier |)art of his reign, by which so much heart-burning was caused be-
tween the king and his parliament, as by tlie wisdom of the former and
the ignorance and narrow prejudice of the latter on this very point. All
the exercise of the king's earnestness and induencc, aided by the eloquence
of, perhaps, all things considered, the greatest man England has ever had.
Sir Francis Bacon, could not succeed over the petty nationalities of the
Scotch and English parliaments any farther for the present, than to procure
an ungracious and reluctant repeal of the directly hostile laws existing in
the two kingdoms respectively. Nay, so averse, at the onset, was the
English parliament to a measure, the grand necessity and value of which
no one could now dispute without being suspected of the sheerest idiocy,
that the bishop of Bristol, for writing a book in favour of the measure
which lay ignorance thus condemned, was so fiercely clamoured against,
that he was obliged to save himself from still harder measures by making
an humble submission to these ignorant and bigoted legislators.
A. D. 1607. — The practical tolerance of the king as opposed to his arbi-
trary maxims of government, and the p:irliament's lust of persecution as
contrasted with its perpetual struggh - to obtain more power and liberty
for itself, were strongly illustratotl this year. A bill was originated in the
lower house for a more strict oljservaii'^o of the laws against popish recu-
sants, and for an abatement towards »uch protestant clergymen as should
scruple at the still existing church ceremonials. This measure was doubly
distasteful to the king ; as a highly liberal protestant he disliked the at-
tempt to recur to the old severities against the catholics : and as a high
prerogative monarch ho was still more hostile to the insidious endeavour
of the puritans, by weakening the church of England, to acquire the power
to themselves of bearding and coercing the civil government.
In this same year, however, the very parliament which, on the remon-
strance of the king, obediently stopped the progress of that doubly dis-
agreeable measure, gave a striking proof of its growing sense of self im-
portance by commencing a regular journal of its proceedings.
A. D. 1610. — James was so careful to preserve peace abroad that much
of his reign might be passed over without remark, but for '■'( frr luent
bickerings which occurred between 1iini and his parliament ou tlio .-.oj-c!
of money. Even in the usually arbitrary reign of Elizabe'!. fh.' p : i-
ment had already learned the power of the purse. The pu' :• '..: ,■; m\ v.
now gradually acquiring that at once tyrannical and repuiM' .ji leehiig
which was to be so fatal to the monarchy and so disgraceful to the nation,
and although James was allowed a theoretical despotism, a mere tyranny
of maxims and sentences, some merely silly, and others — could he have
a'^ted upon them — to the last degree dangerous, the true tyranny was that
ol .''-^ parliiinient which exerted their power with the merciless and fitful
in.lit • •'■, of « dwarf which has suddenly become possessed of a giant's
str.' .:i. T'v" earl of '•' ilisbury, who was now treasurer, laid before both
houses,, «hi'' r.bfcsion, th. very peculiar situation in which the king was
pai;?c'. Queen Elizab'ii, ihongh she had received large supplies during
ttt'j lat',<'i part of her ro ,,'0, had made very considerable alienations of the
< ..own l,..ids; the crown was now burdened with debt to the amount of
300,000 pounds, and the king was obliged, instead of a single court as in
THE TREASL'IIV OF HISTORY.
553
the late reign, to keep three courts, Jiis own, that of the queen, and thai
of the prince of Wales. But though these really strong and most reason
able arguments were also urged by the king himself in his speech to pur
liament, they granted him only one hundred thousand pounds — his debts
alone being iliric. Lhal sum! It cannot, after this statement of the s.tu-
ation of tht lii;i?,; .i,\d the temper in which parliament used the power we
havesf' t ii oi. bf '««onishing that henceforth there was one perpetual
strufji.le ■.: i.ucn M" 111, he slrivnig for the means of supporting the national
d'gnii), ar.u indulging a generosity of temper which, imprudent in any
kinrr. waj ilmibly so m one who had to deal with so close-fisted a parlia-
ment, ail 1 t'loy striving at once to abridge the king's prerogative, and to
I scape froiii s;upplying even his most reasonable demands.
An incident occurred this year which, taken in contrast with the ex-
(reme horror of foreign disputes which James usually displayed, affords
a rather anusing illustration of the extent to which even so petty a " ruling
passion" as pedantry may domineer over all others.
Vorstius, a divinity professor of a German university, was appointed
to the chair of a Dutch university. He was a disciple of Arminius, and
moreover had the presumption to be opposed in argument to King James,
who did not think it beneath his royal dignity, or too manifest and dan-
gerous a departure from his pacific foreign policy, seriously to demand
of the states that they should deprive and banish the obnoxious professor.
The procedure was at once so absurd and so severe, that the Dutch at
first refused to remove Vorstius ; but the king returned to the charge with
such an earnest fierceness, that the slates deemed it politic to yield, and
the poor professor, who was luckless enough to differ from King James,
was deprived of both his home and employment. In the course of this
dispute, James, who had so creditably argued for charity in the case of the
attempt of his puritans to oppress their catholic fellow-subjects, made use
of this revolting observation : — " He would leave it to the stales themselves
as to the burning of Vorstius for blasphemies and atheism, but surely never
heretic better deserved the flames /"
Of James' (rondui^t in and towards Ireland we have given a full account,
which is very creditable to him, under the head of liiat country. We now,
therefore, pass forward to the domestic incidents of Kngland, commencing
with the death of Henry, prince of Wales, an event which was deeply
and with good reason deplored.
A. D. l-eia. — This young prince, who was only in his eighteenth year,
was exceedingly beloved by the nation, having given every promise of a
truly royal manhood. Generous, high-spirited, brave, and anxious for
men's esteem, perhaps, in the turbulent days that awaited England, even
his chief fault — a too great propensity to things military would have
pioved of < nrvice to the nation, by bringing thi- dispute between thecrown
^nd the puritans to an issue before the sour ambition of the latter could
iiave sulliciently matured its views. Dignified and of a high turn of mind,
he seems to have held the finessing and the somewhat vulgar familiarity
of his father in something too nearly approaching contempt. To Raleigh,
who had so long been kept a prisoner, he openly and enthusiastically
avowed his aitachment, ami was heanl to say, " Sure no king except my
father would keep such a bird in a cage." So sudden was the young
prince's deatii that evil tongues attributed it to poison, and some even
liinted that the prince's popularity tnd free speech had become Intolerable
to his father. But the surgn-al examination of the body clearly proved
that tiiere was no poison in the case ; and moreover, if James failed at all
in the parental character, it was by an excessive and indiscriminate fond-
ness and indulgence.
A. D. 1613. — The marriage of the princess F.li/,abefh to Frederic, the
elector oalatinc, took place this year, and the eniertainmcnts in honour of
vm
65i
THE THKASUllY OF HISTORY.
that evoiit served to dispel the deep gloom which had been caused by the
death of Prince Henry. But this event, so much rejoiced at, was one of
the most unfortunate that occurred during the whole generally fortunate
reign of James, whom it plunged into expenses on account of [lis son-in-
law which nothing could have induced him to incur for any warlike eiUer-
prize of his own.
But before we speak of the consequence of this unfortunate connec-
tion, we must, to preserve due order of time, refer to an event which cre-
ated a strong feeling of horror and disgust tiiroughout the nation — the
murder of Sir Thomas Overbury at the ii:stance of the earl and countess
of .Somerset.
K()l)ert (^arre, a youth of a respectable but not wealthy family in Scotland,
arrived in London in the year IfiO!), bringing with him letters of recom-
mendation to Lord Hay. Carre, then quite a youth, was singularly hand-
some and possessed in perfection all the merely external accompllsments;
though his education was so iin[)orfect, that it is stated that long after his
introduction to the king's notice he was so ignorant of even the rudiments
of the tlicn almost indispensable Latin, that .Fames was wont to exchange
the sceptre for tiic bind), and personally to play the pedagogue to tiie boy-
favoiM'ite. Noting tlic comidy aspect and graceful bearing of youiig Carre,
Lord May look an opportunity to place him in the king's sight at a tilting
niiitcli, and it chanced that on that very occasion ,I;iines' attention was
the more strongly drawn to him by an accident occurring by which young
Carre's leg was brok(ui. The sight of this so affected the king, that in the
course of the day he went to the yoinig patient's chamber, consoled him
with many kind words, and became so pleased with his spirit and general
behaviour, that he instantly adopted him as an especial and favoured per-
sonal attenilant. Attentive to the lessons of the- kingly pedagogue, and
skiiliil Ml discovering and manajjing his weaknesses, young Carre also
possessed the art so many favourites have perishe(i for l.K^kof; he was a
courtier notoidy to the king but to all who approached theking. By thus
prMilcntly aiding the preddection of the king, Carre vapidly rose. He was
kniglittMl, then crealcil earl of Rochester and K. (i., and introduc('d into
tlie |irivy conned. \Ve;dlh and power accompanied this rapid rise in rank,
and in a slKU't time this new favourite, without any delinite ofTice in the
miiiisli\ , actiiiilly had more real inlhience in the management of affairs
than till' wisi' Salislinry himsi'lf.
Miicli of his success Carre owed to the wise counsels of Sir Tliomns
Overhuiy, wliosi' rrieMilslii|) he cl.umed, anil who became at once his ad-
viser and his clif'iit, and connsillcd none the less eainestly and well be-
cause he felt that his own cliief h'lpe of rising at court rested upon the
success ol' (larre. Tims guided, ilie nitiirally sai/acions and lle.xilile
youth soon ripened into llii' iiowerfiil, admired, and singularly prosperous
man. Unfortunatidy he liecame passionately attached to the yoniiif eoiiii-
tesH of Kssex, who as iinforlunaiely returned his passion. Tins lady when
onl\' thirteen years of age. as Lady Krances Howard, daughter of the eiil
of SulVnlk, was, liy the king's r-quesi. married to the young earl of Ks-
»(!X, then only I'ourleen. In consideration of their extreme youth the cer-
emony was no sDoiK r conipleieil than I'le youlhl'iil bridegroom ileparteil
|o the cmilini'iii, and diil not return iVoin Ins travels nulil I'inir years aftir
111 the ini'antiine the \ ouiig countess of Kssex and Viscount Uoeliesli'i
had met, love(l, and snmcil ; and when the young e.irl, with the Impatieiil
ardour of eighteen. Mew to his f.iir couiiiess, he was tlmnlerstrnck at he
ill"/ received not wuli iner iidness, Imt with souietliing approaeliiinj ti
aetn.il liMtliiii;; and horror. The coimless' p.ission for and guilty coniiei'
lion with Uoeliester were not even suspeeled, anil every im.iginahle mean'
were resorled to for the purpose of overi'ommg what was di-emed to he )
ini're uxci.'ss of maidenly coyness. All means, however, were alike vain
TUP! TKEAfA'P t OF HISTORY.
ffS6
Tliomns
•e lii» iiil-
M|lilll tllC
,1 ili'Xiblr
Ird-'pennis
Ulllir COIlll-
[liiifv when
f^f the (Mil
iirl «<l' V.*-
Iili tlK'fcr-
1) ilrpirlcil
l(>;irs iltl'T
Itochcxlcl
iin|);itii'iil
luck 111 lie
fiiirlmm I'
jly CiilllU'C
lltllc lllPllll!'
IiimI to hi- >
uliko vam.
nothing could induce ber fj \iv i w.lh her husband, and she and Rocliestcr
now determined to n-.a'ie v, ay (o-" their marriage by a divorce of the lady
from llie earl of Ksne-£.
Rochester coiis'iUed t'lr Thomas Overbnry ; but that prudent courtier,
though he iiad been priify to and had even encouragtid their criminal (ion-
ncction, was too Riiicorely anxious for the character and iia|)piness of his
friend not to dirisuade iiim from the Ignominy of procuring this divorce,
and the folly of committing liis own peace and honour to the keepint; of a
wonian of w'lcse harlotry he had personal kuowledire. Conuci-tiil-as
Roclu'ster and tlie countess were, the latter was not long ignorant of tliis
advice given by Overhury, and with the rage of an insulted w(<uiaii and
tile artful bl'ii'.dishments of a beauty, she easily persuaded the enamoured
Rochester that he, too, was injured by that very conduct in which Over-
bury had undoubtedly most proved tiie siaceri-ty and the wisdom of his
friendship Having brought Rochester to this point, tlie countess found
little d'lf.c'jlty in (leteriniiiiiig him to the ruin of that friend to whom he
ow'.'rl 'io much, and by artfully getting Overhury a mission from the king
and i'.irii privately counselling Overbnry to reject it, he managed so ti- dune
»n;l eainge James that the unfortunate Overbury was committed to the
Towei', where, however, it does not appear tliat James meant him long to
remain. Hut the instant he entered there. Sir Thomas was fully m the
power of his arch enemies. The lieutenant of the Tower, a mere crea-
ture and dependant of Rochester, conlined Overbury with such strictness,
tiiat for six luonths the unfortunate man did not see even one of his near-
est relatives.
Having got rid of the grav(! and troublesome opposition of Overbury,
the giulty lovers now pushed forward luatlers ; and the earl of Kssex,
completely cured of his love for the lady by what appeared to him tho
unaccountable capriciousness of her conduct, very gladly consented to a
ridiculously indecent plea, which induced the proper authorities to pro-
niMinco a divorce between the earl and coimtess of Kssex. The latter
was immediately n)arrie(l to her paramour, Rorhesler, upon whom, that
the lady miglit not lose a step in rank by her iievv marriage, the king
now conferri!d the title of earl of {Somerset.
'I'liough the imprisonment of Overbury had thus completely served lier
piii|)')se as to her divorce and re- marriage, it had by no means satiated
tlie revenjjc of the countess. TIk; fincible and bitter contenipl witli
which Overbury had spoken of her was still farther envenomi'd by her
own consciousness of its justice, and she now exerted all thi' power of her
beauty and her blandishments, until she persuaded tht> uxorious Somerset
that llieir secret was too iniicli in danger while Overbury still iived, and
that tindr safety deinandeil his death I'oison was resorted to; both Som-
erset and his countess' uncle, llie earl of Northampton, joining in the cow-
ardly crime Willi some accoinpiices of lower rank. Sligiit doses, only,
were given to the doomed victim in the (irst place, but these failing of the
iesireil elVect, the base ironspiraiors gave liiin a dose so violent that he
Jied, and with such evidi^nt marks of the foul treatment that he had n^'t
with, that an instant dis<'overy was only avoided by burying the body with
ill imlecent liaste.
Kvea in this worhl of imperfect knowledge and often mistaken jiidg-
meiii, the plotting and cold-blooded murderer never escapes pnnislimeiit.
rile HcalToid or the g.illows, the galicjs or the gaol, nideeil, he may,
thotiuli til It l)ut rarely happens, contrive to elude. Hut the tortures of a
giiiliy conscience, a constant remorse iniii<jlei| with a constant dread, a
coiiiimiccl and haunting rcuiieinbrance of the wrong ihnie to the dead, and a
vmisiMiii horror of the dread relribniKUi which at any instant the slighlest
tiiil most unforeseen acculciit may bring upon his own guilty bead —
*liesc punishments the miirdirer never did and never can escape. From
I
4^
b56
THE TREASURY OF HISTOaV.
the moment that the unfortunate Overbury was destroyed, the whole feel-
ing and aspect of the once gay and brilliant Somerset were changed. Ho
became sad, silent, inattentive to the humours of the king, indifferent to
the fatal charms of the countess, morose to all, shy of strangers, weary
of himself. He had a doomrd aspect ; the wild eye and hasty yet uncer-
tain gait of one who sees himself surrounded by the avengers of blood
and is every instant expv'cting to feel their grasp.
As what was at first attributed to temporary illness of body or vexation
of mind became a settled and seemingly incurable habit, the king, almost
boyish in his love of mirth in his hours of recreation, gradually grew
wearied of the presence of his favourite. All the skill and policy of
Somerset, all the artful moderation with which he had worn his truly ex-
traordinary fortunes had not prevented him from making many enemies ;
and these no sooner pen^eived, with the quick eyes of courtiers, that the
old favourite was falling, than they helped to precipitate his fall by the in-
troduction of a young and gay candidate for the vacant place in the royal
favour.
Just at this critical moment in the fortunes of Somerset, George Villiers,
the cadet of a good English family, returned from his travels. He was
barely twenty-one years of age, handsome, well educated, gay, possessed
of an audacious spirit, and with precisely that love and aptitude for per-
sonal adornment whi(th became his youth. This attractive person was
placed full in the king's view duriuf/ tlii! performance of a comedy. James,
as had been anticipated, no sooner saw Inm than he became anxious for
his jiersonal attt-ndance. After some very ludicrous coquetting between
his desire for a new favourite and his unwillingness to cast off the old one,
James had the young man introduced at court, and very soon app()int(;d
him his cupbearer. Thouirti tlie ever-speaking conscience of Somerset
had long made him unfit for his former gaity, he was by no means pre-
pared to see himself supplanted in the royal favour; but before he c(udd
make ;iny rlfort to ruin or otliciwise dispose of young Villier8,a discovery
Was made which very efle(;tn;dly ruined himself.
Among many persons whom Sonlerset and his guilty countess had
found it necessary to employ in the execiuiou of their atrocious design,
was an apothecary's apprentice who had been enii)loyed in mixing up tli((
poisons. This man, now living at riiishinu:, made iio scruple of openly
staling that ()verl)ury had died of fioison, and that he had himself liccn
.;in|iloyed in preparing it. The re|)ort reached the ears of the Kngjisli
envoy ill tlic l,ow Coiiiitries, and was l)y him transmitted to the secretary
of state, Wiiiwood, who at once coininunicatcd it to the king. However
wi'ary of his favourite, .lames was struck with horror and surprise on re-
ceiviuy, this rc|iori, but nitli a rigid iinparliahly which does honour to In-i
memory, he at oikm- sent Tor .Sir Kdward Coke, the chief justice, and i nm-
mandeil him to examine into the matter as carefully and as iins|)ariiiglv
as if the accused persons were the lowest and the least eared lor in llm
laud. TI.e stern nature of Cuke scarcely neecjed this injiiiictiou ; the in-
quiry was steadily and searcliiiigly carried on, and it resiillcd in the coin.
plete proi>f of the guilt of the earl and countess of SounTset. Sir Jervin
Klviii, lieiilenant of the Tower, l''raiikliii, Wesioii, and Mrs. 'I'lirner. (K
lh(^ teinpi'r of Cok(! this very 'rial alfonls a remarkihle and not very
creililalile instance. AildresHinij Mrs. Turner, he told her that sIk! win
"guilty of the seven deadly .«ius; henisf a harlot, a bawd, a sorceresn, a
witch, a papist, a felon, and a murderer''*
The licMiourahle impartiality with which the kin(f had ordered an inquiry
Into the murder of Sir I'lHunas Overhnry was not ei|iially observed after-
wards. All the accused were very properly eondemueil to death; hut the
sentence was executed only on the aci'oiiipliees ; by tar :he worst ( riiiii-
lials, the ear] and countess were pardoned ! A very brief itiipriiionnu'lil
I'Vein
tlllllus
Mint
lUieei
/)llli
't|ijieiir
A.
Willi il
liiilijy
I" loiilii
Ills ni\
'ereiiH
I'lVlj
llut
ll'lllll 1 1
llle S,
lliey Ii,i
«le(il, II
I" slum
"|>|IIIH||
'M||||iI|0|
Ihe ill I,
"« Jiiliii
ilill, .'i«
lireJiKli
allioiiie
i'hHl ill
THE TilEASUUY OF HISTORY.
557
and tli« forfeiture of their estates were allowed to expiate tTicir enormous
r'riitlfiM, and they were then assigned a pension sufTicient for their support,
mid iilh)wed to retire to the country. But the pardon of man could not
Mccuro llieni the peace of heart which their crime had justly forfeited,
'I'lrcy lived in the same house, but they lived only in an alternation of suU
Innni'MM and ciiidrng, and thus tiiey dragged on many wretched years, a
iniitual torment in tiieir old age as they iiad been a mutual snare in their
youth, until they at length sank unregretted and m honoured into the grave.
A< n. 1016. — The fall of Somerset necessarily tacilitated and hastened
llld rise of young George Villiers, who in a wonderfully short time ob-
liiineil promotions — which, that the regularity of narrative may be pre-
Nerved, we insert here — as Viscount Villiers, earl, marquis, and finally
(hike of Ihlckingham, knight of the garter, master of the horse, chief jus-
lice ill eyre, warden of the cinque ports, master of the king's bench oflice,
Hti'Wiird of WcMlminister, constable of Windsor, and lord high admiral of
l')ii)tliin(l> iliB mother was made countess of Buckingham, his brother
Viicoiiiil I'lirbeck, and a whole host of his previously obscure and needy
fii"'Minte« obtained honours, places, patents, or wealth.
'I'lic profusion of the king — to which justice demands that we add tho
|iiirxiiiHiiiy of the parliament — made him throughout his whole reign an
I'Miliiinimsed man ; and he incurred great, though undeserved odium by
llii' riMirne he took to supply his pressing and immediate wants. When
Kli/alielh aided the infant slates of Holland against the gigantic power of
S|iiiin, nhe had tlu! iinporlant towns of Flushing, the Urille, and Kamme-
kiiiH placed in her hands as pledges for the repayment of the money to
i'liiulaiid. Various payments had been made which had reduced the debt
U) .ilUdO.OOO, which HUin the Dutch were under agreenienl to pay to .Fames
III the rate of >i:4(),0(iO per annum. This annual sum would doublless
liave been of vast service to the king — but i£2C,000 per annum were spent
III iiiiuiiliiiiiinu his garrisons in the caulionary or mortgaged towns. Unly
.fll.doo leinniiied clear to England, and even tli ' would cease in tho
event of new warfare between Holland and Spam. Considering these
tliinun, and lieiiiif pressed on all sides for money to satisfy just dcmanda
Uliil llie incessant cravings of his favourite and the court, the king gladly
uuiied lo Niineiider the cautionary towns on the instant payment by the
Diilch of ,t;'.'i0,00(); and, under all the circumstances of the case, James
iippcars to have aete<l witli sound policy in making the bargain.
A. II. Ifil7. — In llie course of this year .l.imes paid a visit to Scotland
Willi llie view lo It favourite scheme which he had long pondered — pro.
Iiiilily even before he iiseeiided the Knglifh throne, and while he .siill was
prrKoiiiilly annoyed by the rude ami intrusive |iresuinption of tlic puritans.
Ills nrhii'iie was " l'»enlarg(! the episcoiiiil anthorily ; to establish a few
uereinoiiiiN in iinbllf worship, .iiid to settle and lix the superiority of the
civil lit llie eccleM^B'itical jnnsdicticn."
Hut lliouuh Iho king's peisonal inlliicnce was now very high, as wel'
I'roiii Ihr iicacr he dad preserved Ihroiigliont his dominions ami the pride
llie Seolih, Ihciruclvcs a i>edantic people, fell in hearing the kiiiif whom
lliey h.nl itiven »o Kiigland, ciieil as " llie Drilish .Solomon,'' as from Iho
ureal, imt loM'y niijiist, preference which llic king took every opporlnniiy
lo nIiiiw to Ni'i,ttisli suilors for promotion, even his inthieiice, al'ler inneh
oppoNilioii on the part of the I'lergy, eeuld only procnie him a sullen
mioplioiiof lull a small portion of his pliiii. "Kpiseopacy" was so inncli
llie d> leslHlloii of ihe Scotch, tliat it is surprising that so shrewd a kin|j
UN JanicM Mhoiild have made a point of eiidcavonringto fonc ii upon them
tliil, :iii if he bad not ilonc snincicnt in ihc way of alTronlinu the nligionj
prelmlii'iis ol llie iScolcli, James no sooner returned home ilian he eipiaily
.illioiiieil ihice of llial large parly of his Knglish snbjccls, the I'uiitans.
riirtl dark, nulleii, joyless, and joy haling set of men had, by degrees,
558
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
brought the original decorous Sunday of England to be a day of the most
silent and intense gloom. Tim was noticed by the king in his return from
Scotland, and he immediately issued a proclamation by which all kinds ot
lawful games and exercises were allowed after divine service. However
imprudent this proclamation on the part of the king, we are inclined to be-
lieve that in spirit his extreme was wiser than that of the puritans. But
whatever may be the good or the bad policy of the practice, it is certain
that the king chose a wrong time for recommending it. Even liis authority
was as nothing against superstitious fanaticism. But while he failed to
I'lieck or persuade the puritans, did he not irritate them 1 Might not the
sharpening of many a sword that was bared against Charles I. be traced
to the vexation caused in puritan bosoms by this very proclamation of
his father 1
I
CHAPTER XLIX.
THE REIGN OF JAMES I. {continued),
A. D. 1618. — Sir Walter Raleigh, the favourite of Elizabeth, the opponent
and enemy of Essex, to whom he had shown at: implacable and savage
jpirit which makes us doubt svhether the world had not been greatly mis-
taken in deeming him a good as well as a great man, had now been for
thirteen years Inigeri.ig in his prison. Though advanced in years and
•uined in fortune, even imprisonnuMit could not break his unquestionably
iaring and resolved spirit. Solilier, seaman, courtier, and man of intrigue
Juring so much of liis life, it was when, amid the yells of the public fe-
locity, which his own cruelly, however, had provoked and exemplared,
le was led to the Tower of London, that he, instead of resigning himself
.o despair, commenced his elaborate and really learned History of the
vVorld! Thirteen years of conlinement could not quell that enduring and
hiring spirit ; and, as :h(> report of his friends informed liim that public
>piiii(in was very favoiiralily and greatly changed on his behalf, he now
Degaii to sclieine fur oblaiiiiiiK liis enlargement. He caused it to be noised
ibroid that, during one of Ins voviigcs, he had discovered a gold mine in
Gniana, so rich that it would atTiird enormous wealth not only to any
gallant adventurers who, under proper guidance, should seek it, but also
to till! entire nation at large. These reports, as Raleigh from the first
iileniled, readied the ears of the king; but JaiiU'S doubted the existence
of liie mine, and the more so because.' it was clear that a man in the sad
situation of Hali'igh imirlit be ex|)ecled to say aliuosi anytliing to obtain
freeiloin. Hut the report was so far servicealile to Raleigh, tiiat it rc-
niiiided the king of the lung dreary years the once gall'tnt soldier and gay
cipiirlier of Eliz ihelh had passed m the gloom of a dungeon, and he IIIm'I'.
iti'd liiin fri'iu lilt! Tiiwer, hut refui^ed to release him from the origiiiiil
K'liti'iic'e of death, which. 111! said, hi! considered a necessary check upon
a man of |{aleii;l)'s I'liaracter, which assuredly had more of talent ami
audacity than of either probity or mercy.
Tlioiiifli Janii's was by no means inclined to give credit to the insigiii-
tir.iiit tale of Ualeiiih. he gave full le;ive to all private adventurers wlm
iMi>!ht choose to jiiiii him ; anil Raleigh's ii^repid assertions, hackeil hy
hi-- L'leat repute ("or bolli talcit and eiiioMgc, soon |)lai'ed him at the licitd
of twfdve ships, well arini'd and lUiiniied, and provided willi everytliiiis,'
ri'i'SMiiry for piracy and plumler, but with nothing calculated fordiggini}
111 prriendi'd treasure.
On tlie river Oromiko, in (tni.ina, the Spaniards had hnilt a town cnlli'd
Si. Tiiomas, which, at this lime, was exceedingly \v<'allliy. Raleigh li'id
taken possession of the whole district above twenty years before in tiit
suhj
ces,
will)
ncr li
was
of .s
of St'
Kak
ing I
der.
alicai
aiKiiht'
tioii fi
will
tliiriiM
liravai
feigiic
doom
guise,
had so
Was ill
it is al
Ihj 1)1,
been
llie con
I'Xeeiiti
111
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
559
name of Queen Elizabeth ; but as he had immediately left the coast, his
claim on behalf of England was totally unknown to the Spaniards. It
was to this wealthy Spanish settlement that Raleigh now steered, and on
arriving there he stopped at the mouth of the Oronoko with five of his
largest ships, sending the remainder of the expedition up to St. Thomas'
under the command of his son and his fellow-adventurer, Captain Kemyss,
The Spaniards, seeing the English adventurers approach St. Thomas in
such hostile guise, fired at them, but were speedily repulsed and driven
into the town. As young Raleigh headed his men in the attack on the
town, he exclaimed, " This is the true mine, and they are but fools zfhn lock
for any other P^ He had scarcely sjjoken the words when he received
a shot, and immediately fell dead ; Kemyss, however, still continued the
attack and took the town, which they burned to ashes in their rage at
finding no considerable booty in it.
Raleigh had never averred that he had himself ever seen the wonder-
fully rich mine of which he gave so glowing an account, but that it had
been found by Kemyss on one of their former expeditions together, and
that Kemyss had brought him a lump of ore, which proved the value as
well as the existence of it the more. Yet, now that Kemyss, by his own
account, was within two hour's march of the mine, he made the most ab-
surd excuses to his men for leading them no farther, and iinnu'diately
returned to Raleigh, at the mouth of the Oronoko, wilh the melanclioly
news of the death of the younger Raleijih, and the utter failure of all thrir
hopes as far as St. Thomas was concerned. The scene between R;ih'iyh
and Kemyss was probably a very violent one ; at all events it had *iirh
an effect upon Kemyss that he immediately retired to his own cabin and
put an end to his existence.
The other adventurers now perceived that they had entered into both
a dangerous and luiprofitable speculation, and tliey inferred from all that
had passed that Raleigh from the outset had relied upon piracy and jiiun-
dering towns— a kind of speculation for which their ill success at St.
Thomas gave them no incliiuilion, whatever their moral feelings upon the
subject might have been. On a full consideration of all the circumstan-
ces, the adventurei's determined to return to England and take Hiileigh
with iheni, leaving it to him to justify himself to the king in the best man-
ner he could. On the passage he repeatedly endeavoured to escafii', hut
was brought safely to England and delivered up to the king. The court
of Spain in the meantime lomlly anil justly coinplained of the destruction
of St. Thomas; and, after a long examination before the privy coiuuil,
Raleiiih w as |)ronouni'ed guilty of wilful deceit as to tiie mine, and of hiv-
ing from the beginniuir intended to make booty by piracy and laud-plun-
der. The hnvyers held, however, as a universal rtile, that a iinii who
alrcaiK lay uiider attaint of treason could iii no form be tried anew for
another crime ; the king, therefore, siirneil a warrant for Raleigh's execn-
tUMi for that partirip.ition in tiie setting up of the lady Arabella Stuart, for
wliicli lie had already suffered imprisonment during t'le dreary period of
iliirtccn years'. lie died with courage, with gaycty almost, but witliout
l)r,ivaiio or indecency. While there was yet a faint liope of his escipe he
feigned a variety of illnesses, even including madness, to protract his
dixiin; but when .all hope was at length at an cud, he threw olT all (lis-
guise, and [irepared to die with that courace (Ui the scaffold with which ho
had so often dared death on the field. Taking up the axe with w'lich lie
was about to be beheaded, he felt the edce nf it. and said, " 'Tis a sharp, but
it is also a sure remedy for all ills." He then calmly laid his head upon
th-! block, and was dead at the first stroke of the axe. Few men had
been more unpopular a few years earlier than Sir Walter Raleigh ; imt
till' courage he displayed, the long iinprisoniiieiit he had suffereil, and Ins
I'Xiculion on a sentence pronounced so long before, merely to give satis-
560
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
faction to Spain, rendered this execution one of the most unpopular acts
evor performed by the ki: ,'.
It will be remembered that we spoke of the marriage of the princess
Klizabeth to the elector palatine as an event which in the end proved
mischievous both to England and to the king.
A. D. 1619.— The states of Bohemia being in arms to maintain their re-
volt from tiic hated authority of the catholic house of Austria, the mighty
preparations made by Ferdinand II,, and the extensive al'-ances he had
succeeded in forming to the same end, made the states very anxious to
obtain a counterbalancing aid to their cause. Frederick, elector palatine,
being son-in-law to the king of England and nephew to tiie prince Man
rice, who at this time was possessed jf almost unlimited power over the
United Provinces, the states of Bohemia considered that were he elected
to their crown — which they deemed elective — their safety would be in
sured by iiis potent connections. They therefore offered to make Fred-
erick their sovereign ; and he, looking only at the honour, accepted the
offer witiiout consulting either his uncle or father- in-law, probably because
he well knew that they would dissuade him from an honour so costly and
onerous as tliis was certain to prove. Having accepted the sovereignty
of lloheniia, Frederick immediately marched all the troops he could com-
mand to the defence of his new subjects. On the news of this event ar-
riving in England tlic people of all ranks were strongly excited. As we
hav(! elsewhere said, the people of England are extremely affectionate
towards their sovereigns ; and F'rederick, merely as the son-in-law of the
king, would have had their warmest wishes. But they were stdl further
interested on his behalf, because he was a protestant prince opposing the
ambition and the persecution of the detested Spaniard and Austrian, and
there was a general cry for an English army to be sent forthwith to Bo
hcmia. Almost the only man in the kingdom who was clear-sighted and
unmoved fiinid all this passionate feeling was James. He was far too
deeply impressed with tlie opinion that it was dangerous for a king's pre-
rogative and for his subjects' passive obedience, to look with a favonral)le
eye upon revolted stales conferring a crown even upon his own son-in-
law, lie would not acknowledge Frederick as king of Boiieinia, and
forbade bis being prayed for in the chuiclies imder that title.
A. n. Ui'JO. — However wise the reasonings of James, it would, in the
end, iiavt' bi.'cn profitable to him to have sent an English army, even npiiii
a vast scale, to liie assistance of Frederick in tiie tirst instance. Ferdi-
nand, with the (hike of Bavaria and the count of Biicqnoy, and Spinola,
with thiily thousand vett^ran troops fnnn tin; Low Countries, not only
defeated Frederick at th(^ great ballh; of Prague, and sent him and \m
family fiitiilives into Holland, but also look possession of the |)alalinate.
'I'liis laticr disaster might surely have; Ix'en prev('iite(l, had James at llio
very outset so far departed from his pacific [xilicy as to siMid a consider-
ablr ariiiv to occupy the palaliiiate, in iloiiig winch he would by no means
have stepped beyond tiie most strictly legal sujiport of the legitimate rigid
of ills son ill-law.
Now that Frederii'k was expelled even from his palatinate, James still
de|iiiidcd upon Ins tact in negotiation to spare him the neci'ssily for an
actual reciiiirse to arms ; bill lie at the same time, with the turn for dissiin-
ulalioii aliich was natiir.il to him, detcrmiiied to use the warlike entliusi-
asiii o( his .subjects as a means of ohiainiiig moni'y, of wliicli, us usual,
he was painrnlly in want. Urging the necessity of instant recourse to
that fo'ciliio interference, which in truth he intended never to m.ike, lia
tried to i; 1111 a hencvoleiicc, but even the present concern for llie palaliiie
A'oiil'I not blind ilie piH)ple to llie arbitrary nature of that way of lev\iiig
heavy taxes upon them, and James was reluctantly obliged to call u p ir«
lament.
Kind-
ptirarie.s
lor of Kn
wretched'
einolunu
could be
"liui, who
Vet liis
hitle ill
bribes ill
that tlioii
niciits wl
pf'irs tha
ll'ds to III;
piisoiiniei
iiicapaciij
M as isdfiii
peil; a Ici
lioa to ihi
his consei
•V.iiiv di
IllK
[larliai
I'lidips, .S
THE TaEASUHY OF HISTORY.
Ml
ill ilic
n upiiii
Fi-nli-
Spinolii.
only
lul liis
aiiialc.
ill 111"
isiiliir-
iiicaus
itu riglil
mcs still
for an
<iii*'<m\-
■lUliii-*'-
IS usual,
;()(llSl'tO
nuke, Ii3
piiliiinio
IfVVlUg
ill ;i r "■"
A. D. 1621. — The unwise inclination of the people to plunge into war
on behair ot the palatine was so far serviceable to James, that it caused
this parliament to meet him witli more than usually dutiful and liberal
dispositions. Some few members, indeed, were inclined to make com-
plaint and redress of certain gross grievances their first subject of atten-
tion. But the general feeling was against them, and it was with some-
thing like acclamation that the parliament proceeded at once to vote the
king two subsidies.
This done, tliey proceeded to inquire into some enormous abuses
of the essentially pernicious practice of granting patent monopolies of
particular branches of trade. It was proved that Sir Giles Mompesson
and Sir Francis Michel had outrageously abused their patent for licensing
inns and ale-houses ; the former was severely punished, and the latter
only escaped the same by breaking from prison and going abroad.
Still more atrocious was the conduct of Sir F.dward ViUiers, brother of
the favourite, Buckingham. Sir Edward had a patent, in conjunction with
Mompesson and Michel for the sole making of gold and silver lace. This
patent had not only been abused, to the great oppresssion of the persons
engiigeri in that, then, very extensive trade, but also to the downright rob-
bery of all who used the articles, in which the patentees sold a vast deal
more of copper than of gold or silver. ViUiers, instead of being dealt with
as severely as his accomplices, was sent abroad on a mission, and entrust-
ed with the care of the national interests and honour, as a moans of
screening him from the punishment due to his shameless e.xtortion and
robbery at home. Hume, somewhat too tenderly, suggests that the guilt
of ViUiers was less enormous or less apparent than that of his accompli-
ces. But the true cause of his impunity was the power of his insolent
and upstart brotiier.
The king having expressed himself to be well pleased tliat the parlia-
ment had enabled him to discover and punish this enormous system of
cruelly and fraud, the commons now ventured to carry their inquiries
nito the practices of a hijrher offender. That oflender, alas ! for poor
human nature, was the illustrious Bacon ;
"The wisest, greateel, meanest of mnnkind.'
Kind-hearted, learned, wise, witty, eloquent, and beyond all his contem-
piirarii's deep-thoughted and sagacious, tlie viscount St. Albans, chancel-
lor of I'^ngland, vvas greedy almost to insanity ; greedy not with the miser's
wreti'hed love of hoarding, but with the reckless desire of lavishing. His
cniohiinenls were vast, his honours and apnaintments many, and no one
cDiilil be more eloquent in behalf of justice and moderalioii than this great
miin, who may justly be styled the apostle of common-sense in n asonlng.
Vet his profusion was so vast and so utterly reckless, and his practice so
little in acconlaiice with his preaching, that Ik; look tlic most enormous
bribes in iiis t)(Iice of judge in equity. Ilu.ne suggests the odd a[)ology
that though he took bribes he still diil juslice, and even gave hostile judg-
nicnts where he had been paid for giving favourable ones ! To us it ap-
pears that this, if true, was nicndy adiling the offence of robbing individ-
uals to ihat of abusing ins olTice. He was very justly senteni'ed to im-
pnsonnu'nt (iiirnigthe roy.d pleasure, or fuie of'ttMi tliunsaiid jioinids, and
incapacily for airain holilmi; any ollice. The fine was reinltled, and he
w as nonu releaseil fmui imprisonment and allowed a pension for Ins sup-
jioit ; a lenity which we tliink he was undes(^rving of, in precise piopor-
tiiKi to iiic vastiii'ss of his atiiiity, which ought to have taught him to keep
Ins conscience clear.
Many disputes now <iecurred from time to time between the king and
his parliament, and at length the king dissolved them, imprisoned t'oke,
I'liilips, Seidell, and I'ym ; and, in his whimsical way of punishing refrae
4^f^
II
1
i
S62
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
H '
tory people, sent Sir Dudley Digges, Sir Thomas Crew, Sir Nathaniel
Rick, and Sir James Perrot, on a commission to Ireland, a couniry to
which a scholar and a fme gentleman of that time would about n!s readily
go as a club-lounger of our day would to Siberia, or the salt mines of Po
land.
We do not deem it necessary to dwell at all minutely upon this parlia-
menlary opposition to the king, because it is less important in itself than
in its consequences, which we shall have to develope in the succeeding
reign. The seed of the civil war was now being sowed. The commons were
daily gaining power and the consciousness of power, but without the largn
and generous as well as wise spirit which knows how to reform gradually/.
Even the king himself, with all his high opinions of prerogative and his
only too great readiness to exert it, perceived that the day was past foi
governing with the high hand alone. A curious instance of this occurs in
his buying off from the gathering opposition Sir John Saville. While
others were sent to prison, or, which was but little better, to Ireland, Sii
John, whose opposition had been eager and spirited, made his talent so
much feared, that the king made him comptroller of the household, a privy
councillor, and a baron. If his successor could but have been induced
to ponder this fact, and to take it in conjunction with the nature of man-
kind, how much misery had been spared to himself and his people, and
how many a name that has come down to us in conjunction with the most
exalted patriotism, forsooth ! would be forgotten in the lordly titles be-
stowed upon parliame- lary usefulness!
A. 1). 1C22.— VVha; er intention James might have professed of going
to war on ! ehalf of his son-in-law, his real intention was to secure the
friendship of Spain, and thus secure the accomplishment of his own and
the nation's wishes by marrying his son. Prince Charles, to the Spaniard's
sister. Upon this marriaj,'e, besides his looking upon it as a master-stroke
of policy, he was passionately bent, as a matter of personal feeling, as lie
deemed no one below a princess of Spain or France a fitting match for his
son.
The war between the emperor and the palatine was still vigorously
kept up, the latter prince, in spite of all his misfortunes making the most
'.wro'ic exertions. The details of this w;ir will be found in their proper
place. Here it suffices to say, that though James greatly aided his gallant
■on-in-law with money, he did him almost equal injury by his negotiations,
which every one saw through, and of course treated with disrespect pro-
portioned to their knowledge that they originated in the most intense
political prudence, carried to the very verjre of actual cowardice. This
excesfive caution of the king, and his e(|U'dly excessive addiction to per-
petual negotiation always ending in nothing, was made the subject of
much merriment on the continent. At linisscls a farce was acted, in the
course of which a messenger was imde to announce the sad news th;it
the palatinate was at length on the eve of being wrested from the house
of .Vustria. Nothing, the messenger said, could resist the aid whicli
Frederick was now about to receive; the king of Denmark having
agreed to send him a hundred thousand pickli'd herrings, the Dutch a hiiii-
dred tliousand butler-boxes, and the king of Kngland — a liunc^red thousaiid
dispatches !
But though James was in reality somewhat ridiculously profuse in hif
efforts to " negotiate" the duke of Itavaria into restoring ilie palatinate, he
really was resting his main hope upon the Spanish match.
Digby, afterwards earl of Uristol, was sent to Madrid to endeavour to
hasten tlie negotiation, which, with more or less earnestness, had now
beerj carried on for live years. Thi! princess being a catholic, a dispen-
sation from t!ie pope was necessary for tii(^ marriage ; and as various nn'-
tives of policy inailo Spain anxious to avoid a total and instant breacii
THE TREASUEY OP HISTORY.
563
iniei
y to
idily
Po
irlia-
than
cding
were
largfi
lually.
nd his
,st fo«
;\irs in
While
nd, Sit
enl so
a privy
nduced
)f man-
[Ae, and
he most
ties be-
)f going
jure the
jwn and
paniard'8
er-stri)ke
ng, as he
eh for his
«
igorously
the most
ir proper
is gallant
foliations,
ipecl pro-
t intense
|co. 'I'his
|)n to per-
kubjiu-l of
ted, in the
Inews thill
the house
laid wliicti
irk having
itch a Ini"-
d thousand
(fuse in hi?
latiuatc, he
Ideavoiir to
Is, had now
1;, a dispell-
fcarious nv-
kaiil breaeli
with James, this circumstance was dexterously turned to advantage.
Spain undertook to procure the dispensation, and thus possessed the pow-
er of retarding the marriage indefinitely or of concluding it at any moment,
should circumstances render that course advisable. Suspecting at least
a part of the deception that was practised upon him, James, while he sent
Digby publicly to Spain, secretly sent Sage to Rome to watch and report
the state of affairs and feeling there. Learning from that agent that the
chief difficulty, as far as Rome was concerned, was the difference of re-
ligion, he immediately discharged all popish rescusants who were in cus-
tody. By this measure he hoped to propitiate Rome; to his own subjects
he stated his reason for resorting to it to be— his desire to urge it as an
argument in support of the application he was continually making to for-
eign princes for a more indulgent treatment of their protestant subjects.
Digby, now earl of Bristol, was incessant in his exertions, and seems
to have been minutely informed of the real intentions and feelings of
Spain ; and the result of his anxious and well-directed inquiries was his
informing James that there was no doubt that the princess would shortly
bestow her hand upon his son, and that her portion would be the then
enormous sum of eight hundred thousand pounds sterling. Pleased as
Tames was with the news as regarded the anticipated marriage, he was
enraptured when he considered it in conjunction with the restoration of
the palatinate, which undoubtedly would instantly follow. Nothing now
remained but to procure the dispensation from Rome; and that, supposing,
as seems to have been the case, that Spain was sincere, was not likely to
be long delayed when earnestly solicited by Spain — when all James'
hopes were shipwrecked and his finely-drawn webs scattered to the winds
by Buckingham. Did a prince ever fail to rue the folly of making an up-
start too great for even his master's control !
A. D. 1623. — It would have been comparatively a small mischief had the
king made Buckingham merely an opulent duke, had he not also made
liim, practically, his chief minister. Accomplished, showy, and plausible,
he was, however, totally destitute of the solid talents necessary to the
statesman, and was of so vindictive as well as impetuous a nature, that
he would willingly have plunged the nation into the most destructive wai
for the sake of avenging a personal injury or ruining a personal enemy.
Importunate and tyrannical even with the king himself, he was absolute,
arrogant, and insulting to all others ; and he had even insulted the prince
of Wales. But as the king grew old, and evidently was fast sinking,
liiickingliam became anxious to repair his past error, and to connect him-
self in such wise with Charles, while still only prince of Wales, as to con-
tinue to be the chief minion at court when the prince should have expand-
ed into the king.
I'ereeiving that the prince of Wales was greatly annoyed by the long
(ind seemingly inlerminalile delays tiiat had taken place in bringing about
the Spanish match, Buckingham resolved to make that circumstance ser-
viceable to his views. Accordingly, though the prince had recently shown
a decided coolness towards the overgrown favourite, Buckingham ap-
proached his niyal highness, and in his most insinuating manner— and
no one could be more insinuating or supple than Ihickingham when he
iiiul an object in view — professed a great desire to be serviceable. He
descanted long and well upon the unliappy lot of princes in general in the
important article of marriage, in which both husband and wife were usual-
ly the victims of mere state policy, and strangers even to each other's per-
sons until they mH at the altar. From these undeniable premises h
passed to the conclusion, so well calculated to inflame a young and en-
thusiastic man, that, for the sake both of making the acquaintance of his
future wife, and of hastening the settlement of the affair by interesting
her feelings in behalf alike of his gallantry and of his personal accomplish
n
rr,
564
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
ments, Cnarles would act wisely by going incognito to the Spanish court.
A step 80 unusual and so trusting could not fail to flatter the Spanish pride
of Philip and his court, while, as seeming to proceed from his passion-
ate eagerness to see her, the infanta herself must inevitably be delighted.
Charles, afterwards so grave and so melancholy — alas! good prince,
how much he had to make" him so! — was then young, ingenuous, and ro-
mantic. He fell at once into Buckingham's views, and, taking advantage
of an hour of unusual good humour, they so earnestly importuned the
king that he gave his consent to the scheme. Subsequently he changed
his mind ; cool reflection enabled him to see some good reasons agninst
the proposed expedition, and his natural timidity and suspicion no doubt
suggested still more than had any such solid foundation. But he was
again importuned by the prince with earnestness, and by the duke '>vith
that tyrannous insolence which he well knew when to use and when v>
abstain from, and again the king consented.
Kndymion Porter, gentleman of the prince's chamber, and Sir Francis
Cottington were to be the only attendants of the prince and duke, except
their mere grooms and valets. To Sir Francis Cottington the king com-
municated the scheme in the duke's presence, and asked his opinion of it.
The scene that followed is so graphically characteristic of thp terms upon
which the duke lived with his benefactor and sovereign, that we transcribe
It in full from the pages of Hume.
".lames told Cottington that he had always been an honest man, and,
therefore, he was now about to trust him with an afluir of the highest im-
p(>.rt<mce, which he was not, upon his life, to disclose to any man what-
ever. ' Cottington,' added he, 'here is Daby Charles P^g Steenie (these
ridiculous appellations he usually gave to the princo and Buckingham),
who have a great mind to go past into Spain and fetch home the infanta.
They will have but two more in their company, and they have chosen you
for one. What think you of the journey ?' Sir Francis, who was a pru-
dent man, and had resided some years in Spain as the king's agent, was
struck with all the obvious objections to such an enterprise, and .seruplcti
not to declare thetn. The king threw liimseif upon his bed and cried, 'I
told you all this before,' and fell into a new passion and new lamentations,
complaining that hn was undone and should lose Baby Charles.
"The prince showed by his countenance that he was extremely dis-
satisfied with Cottingtnn's dis(!ourse, but Buckingham broke into an open
passion against him. The king, he told him, had asked him only of the
journey, and of the manner of travnlling, particulars of which he might be
a competent judge, having gone the road so often by post ; but that he,
without being called to it, had th(' presuinplion to give his advice upon
matters of stale and against the prince, wliicii he should repent as long as
he lived.
" A thousand other reproaches he added which put the poor king into a
new agony on behalf of a servant who, he foresaw, would sutf(!r for
answering him 'honestly, upon which he said, with some emotion, " Nay,
hy Ood, Steenie, yon are much to blame for using him so. He answered
me directly to the question which I asked liim, and very honestly and
wisely ; :ind yet yon know ho said no mon; than I told you before he was
calii'd in.' However, after all this passion on both sides, .lames renewed
his consnnt, and proper directions were given for the journey. Nor was
he at any loss to discover that the whole intrigue was originally contrived
by Uuckiiigham, as well as pursued violently by his spirit and i'-'pclniisiiy.''
The prince and Buekingliam, with their attendants, passed tlinuiL''!
France; and so well w(M'e iliey disguised that they oven ventured to louk
Ml at a court ball at Paris, wliere ihe priive siw ilie princess Heiiiii;ti:i
his afterwards unfortunate and lieroiiMJIy iiit;iehed queen.
In eleven days they ar'^vud »•• Madrid, where they threw o(T their de
THE TREASUaV OF HISTORY.
565
on,
•.UlSWlTCli
iii'jiUv and
ire lie was
riMit'weii
Nor was
y coiitrivi'il
pcuuisiiy.
h1 ilifouii'i
ired lo Ulll^'
Hi;lirii:li'i
gnises and were received with the utmost cordiality. The highest honours
were paid to Charles. The king made him a visit of welcome, cordially
thanked him for a step which, unusual as it was among princes, only the
more forcibly proved the confidence he had in Spanish honour — gave him
a gold passport key that he might visit at all hours, and ordered the
council to obey him even as the king himself. An incident which in
Kiigland would be trivial, but which in Spain, so haughty and pertinacious
of etiquette, was of the utmost importance, will at once show the temper
in which the Spaniards responded to the youthful and gallant confidence
of (Miarles. Olivarez, a grandee of Spain — a haughtier race far than any
king, out of Spain — though he had the right to remain covered in the pre-
sence of his own sovereign, invariably took off his hat in presence of the
prince of Wales!
'I'hus far, in point of fact, whatever obvious objections there might be
to Buckingham's scheme, it had been really successful ; the pride and the
fine spirit of honour of the Spaniard had been touched precisely as he
anticipated. But if he had done good by accident, he was speedily to undo
it by his selfish wilfulness.
Instead of taking any advantage of the generous confidence of the prince,
the Spaniards gave way upon some points which otherwise they most pro-
bably would have insisted upon. The pope, indeed, took some advantage
of the princt's position, by adding some more stringent religious condi-
tions to the dispensation; but, on the whole, the visit of the prince had
done good, and the dispensation was actually granted and prepared for
delivery when Gregory XV. died. Urban Vlll., who succeeded him,
anxious once more to see a catholic king in Englsnd, and judging from
Cli;irl('s' romantic expedition that love and impatience would probably
work his conversion, found some pretexts for delaying the delivery of the
ilispensation, and the natural impatience of Charles was goaded into
downright anger by the artful insinuations of Buckingham, who affected
lo feel certain that Spain had been insincere from the very first. Charles
at length grew so dissatisfied that he asked permission to return home,
and asked it in such evident ill-humour, that Philip at once granted it
without even the affectation of a desire for any prolongation of the visit.
But the princes parted with all external friendship, and Philip had a monu-
ment erected on the spot at which they bade each other adieu.
That the craft of Urban would speedily have given way before the
united influences of James and Philip there can be no doubt, and as little
can there be of the loyal sincerity of the Spaniard. Why then should
Buckingham, it may be asked, overset when so near its completion the
project lie had so greatly exerted himself to advance ? We have seen that
lis objec in suggesting the journey to the prince was one of purely selfish
policy, lie then was selfish with respect to future benefit to himself. His
sowing discrd between Charles and the Spaniard was equally a selfish
procedure. His dissolute and airy manners disgusted that grave court,
and his propensity to debauchery disgusted that sober people. He in-
sulted the pride of their proud nobility in the person of Olivarez, the almost
omnipotent prime minister of Spain ; and when by all these means he had
worn out his welcome in Spain, and perceived that even respect to th
prince could not induce tiie Spaniards t^ endure himself, he resolved to
breiik off the amity between the prince and Philip, and succeeded as we
have seen. When Buekiiigliani was taking leave of Spain he had the
wanton insolence to say to the proud Olivarez, " With regard to you, sir
in particular, you must not consider me as your friend, but must ever ex-
pect from me all possible enmity and opposition." To this insolent
»pe(.'ch, the grandee, with calm sj.-ealncss. iiuM'ely replied tliat he very
willingly accepted the offer of enmity so obligiiiLdy made.
On their return to Kngland both Charles and Huckingham used all their
HI
ill
666
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
influence with the king to get him to break off all further negotiating the
Spanish match, Charles being actuated by a real though erroneous belief
of the insincerity of the Spaniard, and Buckingham, by a consciousness
that he could expect nothing but ruin should the infanta, after being stung
by so much insult shown to herself and her country, become queen ol
England. In want of money, and looking upon the Spanish match as a
sure means by which to get the palatinate restored without going to war,
James was not easily persuaded to give up all thought of a match he had
had so much at heart and had brought so near to a conclusion. But tiie
influence of Buckingham was omnipotent in parliament, and his insolence
irresistible by the king; the Spanish match was dropped, enmity to the
house of Austria was henceforth to be the principle of English polity, and
a war was to be resorted to for the restoration of the palatinate. It was
in vain that the Spanish ambassador endeavoured to open James' eyes.
The deluded monarch was entirely in the hands of the haughty duke, and
moreover, from growing physical debility, was daily growing less fit to
endure scenes of violent disputation.
The earl of Bristol, who throughout this strange and protracted affair
had acted the part of both an honest and an able minister, would most
probably have made such representations in parliament as would have
overcome even Buckingham; but he had scarcely landed in England, ere,
by the favourite's influence, he was arrested and carried to the Tower.
The king was satisfied in his heart that the minister was an honest and an
injured man ; but though he speedily released him from the Tower, Buck-
ingham only suflTered him thus far to undo his involuntary injustice on
condition that Bristol should retire to the country and abstain from all
attendance on parliament !
From Spain the prince turned to France in search of a bride. He had
been much struck by the loveliness of the princess Henrietta, and he now
demanded her hand ; negotiations were accordingly immediately entered
into on the same terms previously granted to Spain, though the princess
could bring no dowry like that of the infanta.
James, in the meantime, found himself, while fast sinking into the grave,
plunged into that warlike course which during his whole life he had so
sedulously, and at so many sacrifices of dignity and even of pretty certain
advantage, avoided.
The palatinate, lying in the very midst of Germany, possessed by the
emperor and the duke of Bavaria, and only to be approached by an English
army through other powerful enemies, was obviously to be retaken by
force only at great risks and sacrifices. But the counsels of Buckingham
urged James onward. Count de Mansfeldt and his army were subsidized,
and an English army of two hundred horse and twelve thousand foot was
raised by impressment. A free passage was promised by France, but
when the army arrived at Calais it was discovered that no formal orders
had been received for its admission, and after vainly waiting for such
orders until they actually began to want provisions, the commanders of
the expedition steered for Zealnnd. Here, again, no proper arrangements
had been made for the disembarkation ; a sort of plague broke out among
the men from short allowances and long confinement in the close vessels,
nearly one half of the troops died, and Slansfeldt very rightly deemed the
remainder too small a force for so mighty an attempt as that of the re-
conquest of the palatinate.
A- D. 1625. — Long infirm, the king had been so much harrassed of late
by the mere necessity of looking war in the face, that this awful loss ol
life and the complete failure of the hopes he had been persuaded to rest
upon the expedition, threw him into a tertian ague. From the first attack
he felt that his days were numbered ; for when told, in tlie old I]ngli9li
adafe, that
THE TttEASURY OP HISTORY
567
" An ugue in spring,
Is health to a Icing,"
he replied, wilh something of his old quaintness — " Hoot men ' Ye forget
it means a young king."
He was right. Every successive fit left him still weaker, till he sank
into the arms of death, on the 27th March, 1625, in the fifty-ninth year of
his age, the fifty-eightli of his reign over Scotland, and the twenty-third of
his reign over England.
Few kings have been less personally dignified, or less personally or
royally vicious than James. As a husband, a fatiier, a friend, master, and
patron, he was unexceptionable save upon the one point of excessive
facility and good nature. As a private man he would have been prized
the more on account of this amiable though weak trait of character. But
as a king it weakened him both at home and abroad, and would assuredly
have conducted him to the scatTold, had puritans been as far advanced in
their fanatic and mischievous temper, and in their political and misused
power, as they were during the reign of his more admirable but less for
tunate son.
entered
sed of late
irful loss of
ided to rest
first attiick
»ld English
CHAPTER L.
THB HEION OF CHARLES I.
A. D. 1625. — The singular suhmissiveness with which James had been
obeyed, even when his principles and practices were the most exorbitantly
arbitrary, was well calculated to mislead his son and successor Charles 1.
into a very fatal mistake as to the real temper and inclination of his people.
Authority had not as yet ceased to be obeyed, but it had for some time
ceased to be respected. Even as early as the reign of Elizabeth, a sturdy
and bitter spirit of puritanism had began to possess considerable influence
both in parliament and among the people at large, and that spirit had
vastly increased during the long reign of James I., whose familiar man-
ners and undignified character were so ill calculated to support his claim
to an almost eastern submission on the part of subjects towards their
anointed sovereign.
But the real temper of the people was, as it seems to us, totally misun-
derstood both by Charles 1. and his councillors. Charles had imbibed
very much of his father's extravagant notion of the extent of the royal
prerogative; and while the bitter puritans were ready to carry out their
fanatical feelings to the extent of crushing alike the throne and the church,
the king commenced his reign by the exaction of a benevolence, an arbi-
trary mode of raising money which had been denounced long before.
The pecuniary situation of the king was, in fact, such as ought to have ex-
cited the sympathy and liberality of his subjects, and even the unconstitu-
tional and arbitrary conduct of the king in issuing privy seals for a benev-
olence must not blind us to the cause of that conduct. In the reign of
James, as we have seen, the cause of the prince palatine was unreasonably
popular, and England iuid entered into a treaty to keep up the war on be-
half of that prince. Bound by that treaty, Charles appealed to his parlia-
ment, which gave him only two subsidies, thougii well aware that sum
would be quite unequal to the military demonstrations which both the cause
of his brother-in-law and ilie credit of the English nation required at his
hands.
An inefficient expedition to Cadiz plainly showed that, even with the
aid of the forced benevolence, the king was very insufiiciently supplied with
money, and a new parliament was called. Warned by the experience he
568
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY
if-f
I' %
now tiad, the king exerted himself to exclude the more obstinate and able
of tlie opposition members from the new parliament. Something like
what in later times has been called the management of parliament had aU
ready been tried in the reign of James. But the chief step now taken was
arbitrarily to name the popular members of the late parliament sheriffs of
counties, by which means they were effectually excluded from sitting in
the new parliament. But the puritanical spirit was too widely spread,
and, while the expedient of the king aggravated the excluded and their
friends, the members who were returned proved to be quite as obstinate
and unreasonable as their predecessors. The king and his friends and
advisers fairly stated to parliament the great and urgent necessity of the
crown ; but in the face of the fact that those necessities were in a great
measu'-e created by the former enthusiasm of parliament and the people
in favour of the palatine, the new parliament v/ould only grant three sub-
sidies, or something more than a hundred thousand pounds, a sum really
paltry as compared to the king's need. It cannot be too emphatically im-
pressed upon the reader, that here, at the very outset of the king's reign,
the foundation of all its subsequent troubles was laid. Measures over
which the king had had no control made a vigorous and offensive course
of action imperative upon him; but the parliament, while looking to him
!.<r tliat course, doled out the sinews of war with a paltry and inefficient
spirit, that left the king no choice save that between disgrace abroad or
arbitrary conduct at home. Charles, unfortunately, looked rather at the
abstract nature and privileges of his royalty than at the power and fierce-
ness of real popular feeling which he had to combat or to elude. He
openly authorized commissioners to sell to the catholics a dispensation
from all the penal laws especially enacted against them ; he borrowed
large sums of money from the nobility, many of whom lent theni witli
great reluctance; and he levied upon London, and upon other large towns,
considerable sums, under the name of ship-money, for the equi|)ment and
support of u fleet. Wholly to justify this conduct of the king is no part
of our business or desire ; but again, and emphatically, we say, that the
chief blame is duo to the niggardly and unpatriotic conduct of the parlia-
ment ; an unjust extortion was the natural and inevitable result of a no
less unjust and unprincipled parsimony.
War being declared against France, the liaughty Buckingham, who was
as high in favour with the dignified and rclined Charles as he had been
with the nlain and coarse James, was intrusted with an expedition for tiiu
relief of Hochelle, which at that time was garrisoned by the oppr(!sscd
protestanls and besieged by a formidable army of the opposite persuasion.
Buckingham's talents were by no means enual to his power and ambition.
He took not even the simplest precaution l^or securing the concert of the
garrison that he was sent to relieve, and on his arrival before RocIk^Hc he
was refused admittance, the beseiged very naturally suspecting the sin-
cerity of a commander who had sent no notice of his intention to aid them.
This blunder was immediately followed ui) by another no less glaring and
capital. l)('iiied admittance to Hochelle, he disregarded the island of Olc-
ro'; which was too weak to have resisted him and abundantly well pro-
vided to have suljsisted his force, and sailed for the isle of Hhc, winch was
strongly fortified and held by a powerful and well|)rovisionc(l garrison.
He s^at down In-fore the castle of St. Martin's with the avowed inientloii
of starving the garrison into submission J but abundant provisions were
thrown into the fortress by sea, and the French effected a landing in a
distant part of the island. All that mere courage could do was now done
by Buckingham, who, liowever, lost nearly two-thirds of Ins army, and
was oblige(l to inakf! a hurried retreat with the reinaimler. His friends,
quite truly, claimed for him the prais<' of personal courage, he liaving
been the very last man to get on shipboard. But mere courage is but i
and able
hing like
U had al-
aken was
iheriffs of
sitting in
y spread,
and their
obstinate
lends and
iiy of the
in a great
lie people
three sub-
\i\n really
tically ini-
>g's reign,
sures over
ive course
ing to liiin
incfficieiu
abroad or
ther at tiie
and fiercc-
.■lude. He
spensation
I borrowed
iheni with
irge towns,
[ipnuMit and
T is no part
y, that the
the parlia-
ult of a no
who was
had been
ion for the
oppressed
rsuasion.
and)ilion.
rt of the
ichclle lie
; the sin-
aid tluMn.
glaring ami
and of 01c-
werl piii-
which was
li garrison,
inii'iilioii
sioiis wcri'
nding ni n
H now done
at my, and
lis friends,
he having
go is lint I
(H
«I1
va
im
W(
nf
I
Mil
did
Ion
III!'
hnil
thr-j
rnll
brci
Ihn
flrfi
p«»rt;
Hint
A.
mrin
lidii,
llic q
iifori
riiis
ilii'in,
tVIIM jl
nml til
Cdiido
NOUN r
'Iriiiiii
'I'l
lown
liny
of HI
^ioiiii
OVCII
|ir|N(iri
tHllllfl
llr
(If
''OlMKK
lIlK III
llllIlT
f'triii
fllTKOII
«'ltllll(
from n
•ln'ir fti
III I'tr.'
oilicru'
t'opiihi
"■"nllil
hii'n ,<n
''IIVCIIOI
•llllll'N t
liiiii
No ni
I'll!
nil
"li
ilif),
hit
tier
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
569
•mall part of the quality of a great general ; probably there waa not a pri-
rate Koldier in his whole force who was not personally as brave as Bnck-
intflinin himself— certainly there could have been but few of them who
would have failed more disastrously and disgracefully in the main objects
nf thi< expedition.
The failure of this expedition could not but increase the mischievous
hints between the king and parliament. The latter, without considering
Itin dilemma in which their own illiberal conduct had placed the king,
hnidly exclaimed aganist those certainly very arbitrary measures to which
llii'V tliemselveB had compelled him. Duties called tonnage and poundagr
hftcf bnrn levied, and for refusal to pay them many merchants had had
their i)roperty seized by the officers of the customs. The parliament now
called those officers to account, alledging that tonnage and poundage had
hem illegally demanded, and the sheriff of London was actually sent to
Ihn 'I'ower fur having officially supported the king's officers. To these
I'lrrnmstHnnes of ill feeling the more zealous puritans added religious
Hrlcvnncos, and every day produced some new proof that a very large pro-
portion of the nation was infected with a feeding of intolerance and bigotry
that could not but prove ruinous to both church and state.
A. D. l<)29. — Alarmed at the zeal and obstinacy with which the popular
mrinbers seemed determined to prosecute the tonnage and poundage ques-
tion, the king determined at least to postpone the discussion; and when
ilie qiipslion was brought forward, Sir John Finch, the speaker, rose and
iifnrmed the house that the king had given him a command to adjourn it.
I'lils intelligence, instead of alarming the popular members, infuriated
liirin. Sir John Finch was forcibly held in the speaker's chair, which he
WHS In the act of vacating, by two members named Valentine and Hollis,
und thus compelled to sanction by his presence a short resolution which
riinileinned tonnage and poundage as being contrary to law, and all per-
Niins concerned in collecting those duties as guilty of high crimes, and
'Irnouuced Arminians and papists as capital enemies to the state.
This scene of violence and passion on the part of the commons was fol-
lowed hy the king's committal to prison of Sir Miles Hobart, Sir Peter
llnyiunn, the learned Selden, with Coriton, Strode, and Long, on charget
nf sedition. At this period Charles seems to have acted rather upon pas-
kIiiiuiIo Mud perplexed impulse than upon any settled and defined principle,
even of n despotic character. He nad scarcely sent these members to
prinon upon Lis own authority, when he set them free again without further
jiinilshmenl. To other members he was just as inconsistently severe.
Ilolli*, Valentine, and Sir John Elliot, wri'^ summoned before the court
<if the king's bench to answer for their vio'ent conduct in the house of
••(untnims. They pleaded, and it should see. > quite reasonably, too, that
(lie house of commons being a superior court to the king's bench, the
liitler could not take cognizance of an alledged offence committed in the
former. The judges, however, treated this plea with contempt ; the three
pcrwiMis above named were found guilty in default of appearance and
tiiMdennu'd to be imprieoned during the king's pleasure, to pay fines ol
from five hinulrcd to a thousand poimds eacli, and to give security foi
llicir future conduct. The arbitrary severity of this sentencp h;id a doubly
ill effect J it exalled in the public mind men whose own rash anger would
()llii<rwlsc have been ihi'ir most efficient opponent, nml it a<Mi d to the un-
popularity of the king just at the precise moment when nothing but a
lorditl and friendly expression of public opinion was iit all likely to h;ivo
been cffrclimlly serviceable to him in his contest with the oliitinate and
envenomed purly — men who denied him the means of performing those
duties which the popular outcry had mainly contributed to impose upon
liim
No entirely had Ihickiiigham obtained the ascendancy over the mind oi
570
THE TREA8UKY OF HISTORY.
Charles, itiat the favourite's disgraceful failure in the Rochelle expedition,
though it caused a loud and general indignation in the nation, did not seem
to injure him with the king. Another expedition for the relief of Rochelle
was determined upon, and the command was bestowed upon Buckingham.
His brother-in-law, the earl of Denbigh, had failed in an attempt to raise
the siege. Buckingham, naturally anxious to wipe off the disgrace ot
two failures, exerted himself to the utmost to make the new expedition
under his own command a successful one. To this end he went to Ports-
mouth and personally superintended the preparations. He was at this
moment decidedly tlie most unpopular man in the kingdom — denounced
on all hands as the betrayer and at the same time the tyrant of both king
and country- The libels and declamations which were constantly circu-
lated found a ready echo in the breast of one Felton, an Irish soldier of
fortune. By nature gloomy, bigoted, and careless of his own life, this
man had been rendered desperate by what appears to have been very un-
just treatment. He had served bravely at St. Rhe, where his captain was
Killed, and Buckingham, whether in caprice or mere indolence, had re-
fused to give Lieutenant Felton the vacant place. This personal injury
aggravated his hatred to the duke as a public enemy, and he determined
to assassinate hmi. Having traveled to Portsmouth, this resolute and
violent man contrived to approach the duke as he was giving some orders,
and struck him with a knife over the shoulder of one of the surrounding
officers. The duke had only strength enough to say, "the villian has
killed me," when he fell dead upon the spot. In the confusion that en-
sued the assassin might easily nave escaped, for the blow was so sudden
that no one saw by wnum it was struck. But the assassin's hat had fallen
among the astounded spectators and was found to contain some of the
strongest lines of a very violent remonstrance which the house of com-
mons had voted against the duke's conduct ; and while some persons were
remarking that no doubt the villain must be near at hand, and would be
recognis ' by the loss of his hat, Felton deliberately stepped forward and
avowed his crime. When questioned he positively denied that any one
had instigated him to the murder of the duke. His conscience, he si'il,
was his only adviser, nor could any man's advice cause him to act against
his conscii-nce ; he looked upon the duke as a public enemy, and therefore
he had slain him. He maintained the same constancy and self-compla-
cency to the last, protesting even upon the scaffold that bis conscience
acquitted him of all blame. A melancholy instance of the extent to which
men can shut their eyes to their own wickedness in their detestation ol
the real or imputed wickedness of others.
A. D. 1 639. — Ciiarles received the tidings of the assassination of his fa-
vourite and minister with a composure which led some persons to imag-
ine that the duke's death was not wholly disagreeable to the too indul-
gent master over whom he had so long and so unreasonably exerted his
influence. But this opinion greatly wronged Charles ; he, as a man,
wanted not sensibility, but he possessed to a remarkable extent the viil-
uable power of controlling and concealing his feelings.
The first consequence of the cessation of the p<'rnicion8 counsel and
influence of Hiickitigham was the king's wise resoluticni to diminish his
need of the aid of his unfriendly subjects, by concluding peaci; with the
foreign foes against whom he had warreil inider so many disadvantages
and with so lutle glory. Having thus fn'vA himself from the heavy and
constant drain of foreign warfare, thi; king selected Sir Thomas Went-
worth, afterwards earl of StralTord, and Land, afterwards an-hbisliop of
('aiitcriiury, to aid him in the ta. k of regulating the internal affairs of hit
kiiigdoni ; a task which tlie king's own love of pn^rogutive and tlie uh-
■tiiiate ill-humour and disafTcctiun of the leading puritans rendered al*
must impracticable.
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
571
linsel am!
Iiiuisli tii»
Willi 111"
llvantuKi'S
|)p»vy mid
Tias Went-
li\)isliop of
liirx of hii
1(1 the ul»-
lidtri'd »l«
Unfortunately, Laud, who had great influence over Charles, was by no
means inclined to moderate his propensity to arbitrary rule. Ton-
nage and poundage were still levied on the king's sole authority ; papists
were still compounded with as a regular means of aiding the king's rev-
enue; and the custom-house officers were still encouraged and protected
in the most arbitrary measures for the discovery and seizure of goods al-
ledged to be liable to charge with the obnoxious and illegal duties. These
errors of the king's goveinment were seized upon by popular declaimers,
and the violence of libellers provoked the king and Laud to a most arbi-
trary extension of the always too extensive powers of the high commis-
iion and star-chamber courts, the sentences of which upon all who were
accused of opposing the government were truly iniquitous, and in pre-
cisely the same degree impolitic. This court, though really authorised
by no law, inflicted both personal and pecuniary severities, which to us
who are accustomed to the regular and equitable administration of law
cannot but be revolting. For instance, a barrister of Lincoln's Inn, named
Prynne, a man of considerable talent, though of a factious and obstinate
temper, was brought before this arbitrary court, charged witli having at-
tacked and abused the ceremonies of the church of England. Burton, a
divine, and Bastwick, a physician, were at the same time charged with a
similar oflbnce ; and these three gentlemen of liberal professions, for libels
which now, if punished at all, would surely not cost their authors more
than two months' imprisonment, were condemned to be placed in the pil-
lory, to have their ears cut oft", and to pay each a fine of five thousand
pounds to the king.
The impolicy of this and similar severe sentences was the greater, be-
cause there were but too many indications already of extensive and de-
termined disalTection to the crown. Refused the really requisite pecu-
niary assistance by his parliament, the king continued to levy ship-money,
and iigainst this tax an especial and determined opposi'ion was raiseJ;
though it ought to be observed that it had often been levied in former
reigns, not because of so reasonable a motive as the factious refusal of
parliament to provide for the necessities of the state, but in sheer des-
potic preference on the part of sovereigns to act on their own will rather
than on that of parliament. The puritans and the popular leaders in gen-
eral, however, made no allowance for the king's really urgent and dis-
tressing situation.
Among the most determined opponents of the ship-money was Mr.
John Hampden, a gentleman of some landed property in the county of
Buckingham. The moral character of this gentleman was, even by
those whom his polili<'al conduct the most ofi'midcd or injured, admitted
to be excellent; but Ills very excellence as a private man served only to
make him the more mischievous as a public leader. If, instead of lending
himself to the support of that bitter and gloomy party whose i)iely not
seldom approached !o an impious familiarity, and whose love of liberty
degenerated into a licentiousness quite incompatible with good govern-
ment, .lohn Hampden had thrown the weight of his own high character
nto the scale against the insanity of genius as displayed liy Vane, and
the insanity of liato to all above them and contempt of aM below them
which WIS manifested by nineteentwenticths of the puritan or re|)ublican
army, how sternly, Ik'w justly, and how elTH'ienlly might he not have re-
bukeil that sordid piirliameiil which so fiercely and capriciously com-
plained of the king's extortion, while actually compi'lling him to it by a
long and ohsiinate parsimony, as injurious to the people as it w;is insult-
ing to the sovereign ! But he took the opposite eotirse. Being rated at
twenty shillings for his lliickiiigliamsliire estate, he refused payment, and
finiseil ihe (lueslioii iielween himself ami the I'lowii to be carried into ilie
•xchequer court. For twelve days the ablest lawyers in Knglui.'! argued
; l^i :
572
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
this case before the whole of the judfres, all of who:;., with the excep*
tioii of four, decided in favour of the king's claim.
Without entering into the intricacies of legal argumentation, we must
briefly remark, that all the writers who have treated of this celebrated
case appear to us to have bestowed very undeserved praise upon Hamp-
den, and quite to hHve misunderstood or misrepresented the case as be-
tween the king and the people at large. Was it the king's duty to sup-
port the peace of the kingdom and the dignity of the crown 1 By sf
much as he might have fallen short of doing so, by so much would he
have fallen short of the fulfilment of his coronation oath. But parlia-
ment, the power of which was comparatively recent and in itself to a
very (;ousJderable extent a usurpation, denied him the necessary supplies.
An odious and insolent tyranny, surely, to impose responsibility, yet deny
the means of sustaining it! The king, then, was thus driven, insolently
and most tyrannously driven, to the necessity of choosing between a
crime and an irregularity; between perjury, violation <tf his coronation
oath, and a direct levy of that money which he could not obtain through
the indirect and constitutional means of parliament.
It is quite idle to dwell upon th» irreguiarity of the king's mode of levy-
ing money without charging, primarily, that irregularity to the true cause,
the shameful niggardliness of parliament. Then the question between
Charles and the sturdy patriot, Hampden, becomes larrowed to this
point — were the twenty shillings levied upon Hampden's properly an un-
reasonable charge for the defence and security of that property 1 No
one, we should imagine, will pretend to maintain that, and therefore the
refusal of Hampden to pay the ta.v — unaccompanied as that refusal was
by a protest against the vile conduct of parliament — evidenced far more
of the craftiness and factious spirit of his party than of the sturdy and
single-minded honesty which the generality of writers so tenaciously af-
ffect to attribute to the man.
We have dwelt the longer upon the pecuniary disputes between Charles
and his narrow-minded parliament, because the real origin of all the sub-
sequent disorders was the wanton refusal of the parliament to provide for
the legitimate expenses of the state. Later in order of time the dis-
putes became complicated, and in the course of events the parliament be-
came better justified in opposition, and the king both less justified and
less moderate ; but even in looking at thos(! .sad passages in English his-
tory which tell us of royal insincerity, and of Englishmen leagued under
opposing banners, and upon their own soil spilling each other's blood,
never let the reader forget that the first positive inju.sticie, the first provo-
cation, the first ^fuilt, belonged to parliament, which practised tyranny
and injustice while exclaiming aloud for liberty.
CHAPTKK LI.
THE REioN or cnAni.Gs I. (continued).
A. n. lt)40. — Thocoh there was a most bitter spirit existing against the
church of England, and the press teemed with puritan libels as vulgar and
silly as they were malicious, Charles, a sincere friend to the cliur(!h, most
unhiipi ily saw not the storm-cloud that hovered over him. Insteail oi
roii'L'iitniting his energies, his friends, and his prcuiiiary resources, to
elude or smile down the gloomy and bitter puritans of FIngland, and to
awaken again the cheerful and loyal spirit of his English yeomanry, lit;
mi/st unwisely diitermined to introduce episcopacy into Scotland Ar
order was given for reading the liturgy in the principal church of Eilin
Imrgh, which so provoked iIk! congregation, that the very women ioined
if 1^^ ^
THE TREASURY OP HIS I'ORY.
573
Haiiisl the
nilgin" '■""'
ircli, most
Insioiitl 01
ourccs, to
11(1, aiul to
iiiiiiiry, Ik'
iHiul ^i"
1 of Ivli"
,,.11 ioiiii'il
in an attack on the officiating minister, and the place ol" pub c worship
was profaned by furious and ('i«i;'isting iinprecatioiis Long inured to
actual warfare with England, anu always jealous «'' a nation so much
wealthier and more powerful than themselves, the Scotch gladly siMzed
upon tlie attempt to introduce episcopacy among (neni as a pretext for
having recourse to arms, and the whole of lliat c;;sa<Tecled and warlike
population was instantly in a state of insurrection. Kven now, could the
king have been induced to perceive the rea. irveeracy and detenninatioa
of the Scottish hatred of episcopacy, he in.'gli-, have escaped from this
portion of his embarrassments with but little worse evi. than some dimi-
nution of his cherished notion of the abisolute supremacy of anointed sov-
ereigns. A negotiation was resorted to, and a treaty of peace quickly
succeeded a mere suspension of arms, each party agreeing to a di.><band-
onment of their forces. Unhappilv, neiilier parly was quite earnest in
desiring petice ; the king cou.d not give up his long cherished ideas of
their absolute monarchy, and .he rig'd Scottish presbyterians were not a
jot more inclined to yield up any portion of their entire freedom and
eelf-governmenl in matters of re.igion. The negotiations and treaties
were in consequence marked by mutual insincerity; mutual charges of
oad faith were made, and both Charles and his Scotti.sh people speedily
resumed their hostile attitude.
The dispute in which the king had thus needlessly and unwisely in-
volved himself seriously increased his difficulties. Although he siill
continued to levy ship-money and other arbitrary taxes, he was dread-
fully distressed for money; and the tlisaffijcled of England saw, with
scarcely dissembled pleasure, that their cause was virtually being se-
cured by the disaffection of Scotland. It was while the people were in
this ominous temper that Charles, having exhausted all other means,
even to forced loans from his nobility, was obliged to call a parliament
and make one more appeal for pecuniary aid. But this parliament was
even less than the former one inclined to aid the king. He had been re-
fused aid for the ordinary expenses of the kingdom, and he was still
less likely to be fairly treated when lie, in terms, demanded aid to quell
und chastise the Scottish rebels whose principles were so near akin to
those of the English purita'is, who now were numerically powerful
enough to constitute themselves the national purse-holders. Instead ol
the aid he asked for, the king received nothing but remonstrance and re-
buke, on the score of the means by which, when formerly refused aid by
parliament, he had supplied himself. Finding the parliament (juiic im-
practicable, the king now dissolved it. Hut the mere dissolution of this
arbitrary and unjust assembly could not diminish the king's ui;i:('s.slties,
and he soon called another parliament — that fatal one whose bitter and
organised malignity pursued him to his deatli. The puritan parly was
preponderant in this p.irliament, and so systematic and serried were the
exertions of those resolute and gloomy men, that they at once fell and
indicated their confidence of success at the very commencement of the
lession. Instead of granting the 8U|)plles wliich the king dennnded,
ihey passed at once to the impeachment of the earl of StralTord, the
faithful minister and the personal friend of the king. Strafford at a for-
mer period had to a certain moderate extent acted with the puritans ; but
they resented his opposition to their more insolent proceedin/;s so deeply,
that nothing but the unfortunate iioblemanVs blood could appease their
malignity.
It was well known that Charles required no one to urge him to support
the prerogative of the crown to its fullest legal extent, al least ; ami it was
r'nualiy well known that Laud was of a far more arliitrary turn tli.m Straf-
ford, and had fully as much inllueiue with tlu; king. Hut SiralVunl, a.i
we hive said, luid given deep offence to the puritans, and deep an.l ileadiv
I
hi
■ i •
r
^
•»
!l?l'
!ir
»74
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
was their revenge. He was solemnly impeached of liigli iieason beiore
the peers. His defence was a perfect model of touching and manly elo-
qnence. With a presence of mind not to be surpassed, he took up and
refuted each accusation in the exact order in which it had been made ;
and he concluded by assuring the peers that he would not have troubled
them so long, had he not felt the defence of his life to be a sacred duty
towards his children, "pledges of a dear saint now in heaven." But
neither the cogent logic of his defence, nor the unimpeached excellence
of his private character, could avail aught against the political fury of the
time. He was pronounced guilty by Both houses of parliament, and his
death was clamoured for with an eagerness that reflects but little credit
upon the English character at that period. There was but one thing that
could have saved the earl of Strafford, and it is with pain that we record
that that one thing was sadly absent — a just firmness of character on the
part of the king.
On a fair and careful examination of the proceedings against Strafford,
we can only discover one serious fault that was committed by that minis-
ter; he allowed his personal attachment to the king to induce him to in-
. cur ministerial responsibility for measures which, both as minister and
private man, he greatly disapproved of. But this great fault was one
bearing no proportion to the dread penalty of death; moreover, however
faulty Strafford on this point was towards himself and the nation, he had
committed no fault against the king. Contrariwise, he had given the ut-
most possible proof of personal and loyal feelings ; and Charles, in aban-
doning a minister whose chief fault WHS that of being too faithful to his
sovereign, acted a part so uuchivalric, so totally unworthy of his general
character, that we scarcely know how to speak of it in terms sufficiently
severe. A truly futile apology has been attempted to be made for Charles'
abandonment of his too devoted minister. That ill-fated nobleman, while
confined in the Tower, heard of the clamour that was artfully and perse-
veringly kept up by his enemies, and in a moment of unwise exaltation
he wrote to the king and advised him to comply with the sanguinary de-
mand that was made. Tiie advice was unwise, but, such as it was, it
ought to have liad the effect of only increasing the king's resolution to save
sucli a man and such a minister from destruction. But Charles took the
advice literally ait pied de la lelire, and signed tiie warrant for the execu-
tion of, probably, after his queen, the most sincerely devoted friend thai
he possessed. " Put not your trust in princes !" was the agonized com-
mentary of Strafford upon this most shameful compliance of the king;
and he submitted to his undeserved execution with the grave and equable
dignity which had marked his whole course. From this unjust murder o(
the king's friend and minister, the parliament passed to a very righteous
and wise attack upon two of the most iniquitous of the king's courts.
The high commission court, and tlie court of star-chamber were unani-
mously abolished by act of parliament.
While the protestanis of Kngland were divided into churchmen and
puritans, and while the latter were busily engaged in endeavouring to
throw discredit upon the church, papacy saw in these disputes a new
temptation for an attack upon protestantism as a whole. The king's
finances were well known to be in such a state as must necessarily pre-
vent hiui from anything like vigour in military operations ; and the papists
Df Ireland, aided and instigated by foreign emissaries, resolved upon a
general massacre of ihtMr i)ri)testant fellow-subjects. A simultaneous at-
tack was made iipon these latter; no distinction was made of age or o(
sex ; neighbour rose upon neighbour, all old obligations of kindness were
forgotten, all old animosities, how trifling soev(;r tlieir origin, were terri-
bly reninmlicred, and upwards of forty thousand persons were 'iiim-
manly slaughtered. The king made every exertion to suppress and p.m-
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
5T5
ish this infamous massacre, and, feeling that the chief obstacle to his suc-
cess lay in h<s crippled finances, he once more appealed to his Knglish
parliament for a supply. But not even the massacre of their protestant
fellow-subjects could alter the factious temper of the puritans; they not
only refused the aid he asked, upon the absurd plea that England was itself
in too much danger to spare any aid to Ireland, but even added insult to
injustice by insinuating that the king had himself fomented the disturb
ances in Ireland ; as though the unfortunate monarch had not already too
nunurous claims on his impoverished finances !
A. D. 1641. — The attachment of the king to the church was well known,
and both he and his opponents well knew that on the support and atfcction
of the church rested the chief hope of preserving the monarchy. The
puritan party, therefore, determined to attack the monarchy througli the
church, and thirteen bishops were accused of high treason, in having
enacted canons for church government without the authority or consent
of the parliament. The opposition, or, as they are commonly called, " the
popular members," at the same time applied to the peers to exclude the
prelates from speaking and voting in that house ; and the bishops, with
more discretion than dignity, deprecated the puritan animosity by ceasnig
to attend their duty in the house of lords. The king was thus, at the
very moment when he most required aid in parliament, deprived of the
talents and the voles of precisely those peers of parliament upon whose
assiduity and devotion he had the most dependance.
Posthumous blame is both cheap and easy. The writer, sitting calmly
in his closet, can easily and safely point out the errors of the great men
of a bygone age ; it is a nobler and more necessary task to ascertain and
hold up to view the circumstances that rendered those errors excusable,
at least, if not actually inevitable. Goaded, insulted, and straitened as
Charles was, he would have possessed something more than human firm-
ness if he had not at length deviated into rashness. His most devoted
friend slain, the prelates of his church silenced, and himself made a mere
cipher, except as to the continuance of a vast and fearful responsibility,
he resolved to try the effect of severity ; and he gave orders to the attorney-
general, Herbert, to accuse before the house of peers, Lord Kimbolton,
together with the prominent commoners, Hollis, Hampden, Pyni, Strode,
and Sir Arthur Haslerig, of high treason in having endeavoured to subvert
the laws and government of the kingdom, to deprive the king of his regal
power, and to substitute for it an arbitrary and tyrannical authority, inju-
rious to the king and oppressive to his liege suiijects. Thus far we are
by no means unprepared to approve of the king's proceedings, for surely
the conduct of the accused persons had been marked by all the tendency
attributed to it in the terms of the accusation. But, unfortunately, Charles,
instead of allowing the proceedings to go forward with the grave and de-
/iberatecarnestnessof a great judicial matter, was so wilful or so ill-ad-
vised as to take a personal step, which, had it b(.'en successful, would
have exposed him to the imputation of a most unconstitutional tyraimy,
and which, in being unsuccessful, exposed him to that ridicule and con-
tnmpt which, injurious to any man under any circumstances, c^ould be
nntliing less than fatal to a king who was in dispute with a majority of
liis people, and who had alre;idy seen no small portion of them in actual
battle array against his authority.
On the very day after the attorney-general h;id coinmonced justifiable
proceedings against these factious hiadcrs, the king (Mitcred tin' house of
commons, without previous notice and without :iltciid;ini;e. On liis maj-
esty's first appearance, the members to a man respectfully stood up to re-
ceive him, and Iicnthal, the speaker, vacated his chair. His majesty
seated himself, anil, after looking sternly round for some monieiils, said,
tiiiit understanding that the house had refused or neglected to give up five
^BUk'
■ ■
1
1
m
UStn-
676
THE TB£A8i;aY OF HISTORY.
'h
your
of its members whom he had ordered to be accused of high treason, he
had personally come tliere to seize them, a proceeding to which he was
sorry to be compelled. Perceiving that the accused were not present, he
called upon the speaker to deliver them up; when that officer, with great
presence of mind and justice, replied that he was the mere organ and ser-
vant of that house, and that he had neither eyes to see, nor ears to hear,
nor lips to utter, save what that house commanded. Finding that he
could in no other respect gain by a procedure in which he was so great a
loser in dignity, his majesty, after sitting silent for some moments longer,
departed from the house. He now proceeded to the common council of
the city, and made his complaint of the conduct of the house of commons.
On his road he was saluted by cries of " privilege," not unmixed with still
more insulting cries from many of the lower sort, and his complaint to the
common council was listened to in a contemptuous and ominous silence.
Irritated and alarmed at this new proof of the unpopularity of his proceed-
ings, he departed from the court, and as he did so was saluted by some
low puritan with the seditious watchword of the Jews of old — " To y
tents, O Israel !"
It is utterly inconceivable how a sovereign possessed of Charles' good
sense, and aware, as from many recent occurrences he needs must have
been, of the resolved and factious nature of the men to whom he was op-
posed, could have compromised himself by so rash and in every way un-
advisable a proceeding as that which we have described. In truth, he
had scarcely returned to the comparative solitude of Windsor before he
himself saw how prejudicial this affair was likely to be to his interests,
and he hastened to address a letter to parliament, in which he said that
his own life and crown wcic not more precious to him than the privileges
of parliament. This virtual apology for his direct and personal inter-
ference with those privileges was rendered necessary by his previous pre-
cipitancy, but this ill-fated monarch now ran into another extreme. Hav-
ing offended parliament, his apology to parliament was necessary, nay,
m the truest sense of the word, it was dignified ; for a persistence in error
is but a false dignity, whether in monarch or in private man. But here
his concession should have stopped. His offence was one against good
manners, but the offence with which Pym and the members were charged
was one of substance, not of form. Their offence was not in the slightest
degree diminished or atoned for by the king's folly; yet, as though there
had been some close logical connection between them, he now informed
the house that he should not farther prosecute his proceedings against its
accused members! Could inconsequence or want of dignity go farther,
or be more fatally shown? If, while apologizing to the house for his un-
questionable offence against its privileges, he still had calmly and with
dignity, but sternly and inexorably, carried on his proceedings against the
accused inemliers, it is quite within the pale of probability that ho would
have saved himself from an untimely end, and his country from the stigma
of a most barbarous murder. The opposite conduct, though in no wise
efficient in softening the slern hearts of his enemies, taught them the fa-
tally iu)portant truth tuat their king knew how to yield, and that if un-
wistdy rash in a moment of irritation, he could be no less unwisely abject
in a moment of calculation or timidity. It was a fatal lesson ; and from
this iiuiment, in spite of any seeming and temporary advantages, Charles
of Hiigland was virtually a dethroned monarch and a doomed man.
Tliere was a deep art, beyond what was at first apparent, in the insolent
insinuation of tiie popular declaimers that the king had himself fomented
lilt; recent horrors In Ireland. The awful massacre among the protes-
tanis of that country had naturally raised a new horror and dread of papacy
111 ilie minds of the protcstants of England. The artful popular leaders
look advantage of this very natural fueling, and worked upon it as miglil
pror
nora
testa
disat
simij
tion 1
rep re
ofwJi
rates
thorit
no opi
ed as
clear (
his trc
ment i
could }
orljitan
Jation
their OH
of their
ecstacy
urged t(
"louth, 1
the conf
'"suiting
'lands m
resented
Embolf
and incre
that H ne
well as tl
Parliamon
(^Rcle safe!
mand of
"No! not
Qom had
by it not
A. D. 164
off the m.)
supplied
by his nat
that the ,
side, and
dupps oil
civil war.
lated in vas
"i« faults ,
whether as
'or the in OS
fiPrs, wliilf.
uiff their ha
'U'ljority of
"'''^^'■ythiinr I
fc-uii.ary. '
r,.'" .-idditio
"igby, the ,
••■ivalry, and
t-fall (lie ,"\-,
Vol. I.:
tio)
THE TREASniY OF HISTORY.
577
prom se oest to aid their own ambitious and blood-thirsty views. The ig-
norant and the timid were tanght to believe that the massacre of the pro-
testants, though the deed of bigoted papists, was far enough from being
disagreeable to the king and his friends, who would probably cause
similar proceedings in England unless due power and means of preven-
tion were placed in time in the hands of parliament, which was constantly
represented as an integer that necessarily loved and watched over, instead
of what it really was, an aggregate eomposed of various dispositions and
rates of talent, having but one common bond of union, a hatred of all au-
thority save that of the aggregate in question, and having a deference for
no opinion save that of each individual member of that aggregate. Treat-
ed as Charles had been almost from the first day of his reign, it must be
clear to the most superficial observer, that nothing but his fortresses and
his troops remained to him of the substance of monarchy. The parlia-
ment now determined to deprive him of these. They had seen that he
could yield, they calculated upon a passionate resistance to their first ex-
orbitancy and insolence of demand ; but they doubted not that the vacil-
lation of the king's mind would begin long ere the resolute obstinacy of
their own would terminate. The result but too well proved the accuracy
of their reasoning. The people were skilfully worked up into an
ecstacy of horror of the designs and power of the papists, and thus
urged to petition tha' the Tower, the fortresses of Hull and Ports-
mouth, and the fleet, should be committed to the hands of officers in
the confidence of parliament. Demands so indicative of suspicion, so
insultingly saying that the king would place such important trusts in
hands unfit to use them, were, as the opposition had anticipated, warmly
resented at first, and then unwisely complied with.
Emboldened by this new concession, the popular party affected new
and increased fears of the designs of the Irish papists, and demanded
that a new militia should be raised and trained, the commanders as
well as the merely subaltern officers of which should be nominated by
parliament. Charles now, when too late, perceived that even to con-
cede safely reqtiires judgment; and being urged to give up the com-
mand of the army for a limited s lace of time, he promptly replied,
"No! not even for a single hour!" Flappy for himself and his king-
dom had it been if he had earlier known how to say" No," and to abide
by it not only with firmness but also with temptir.
A. D. 164'2. — In making this demand parliament had completely thrown
off the mask; and as the very extremity to which the king was driven
supplied him in this one case with the firmness which in general and
by his natural temper he so sadly wanted, it at once became evident
that the disputes between the king and his loyal subjects on the one
side, and the puritans and their only too numerous and snthnsiastic
dupes on the other, ccnld only be decided by the saddest of all means, a
civil war. On either sid-; ai.-^als to the people were printed and circu-
lated in vast numbi rs, and, as usual in such eases, each side exaggerated
the faults of the other, and was profounilty silent as to its own faults,
whether as to past conduct or present views. The king's friends, being
for the most part of the more opulent ranks, assumed the title of the cava-
liers, while tile puritan, or rebel party, from their affected habit of wear-
ing their liair closely cut, were called roundheads, and in a short time the
miijority of the nation ranked under the one or the other appellation, and
cvei-yihing portended that the civil strife would be long, fierce and san-
guuiary.
In addition to the train-bands assembled under the command of Sir .lohn
Dighy, the king had barely three hundred infantry and eight hundred
cavalry, and he was by no means well provided with arms. But, in spile,
^-f all \}u\ exertions of the puritans, thcrt! was still an extensive feelinjj >(
Vol. I — 37
r,
678
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
loyalty among the higher and middle orders ; and as the king with his lit-
tle army marched slowly to Derby and thence to Shrewsbury, large addi-
tions were made to liis force, and some of the more opulent loyalists af-
forded him liberal and most welcome aid in money, arms, and ammunition
On tlie side of tiie parliament similar preparations wore made for the
impending struggle. VViien the important fortress of Hull was surren-
dered inio their liaiids, they made it their depot for arms and ammunition,
and it was held for them by a governor of their own appointment, Sir Joiin
Hothatn. On the plea of del'ending England from the alledged designs
of the Irish papists, great numbers of troops had been raised; and llieee
were now openly enlisted and officered for the parliament, and placed
under tiie command of the earl of Essex, who, however, was supposed to
be anxious rather to abridge ihe power of the existing monarch than act-
ually to annihilate the monarchy, which, doubtless, had from the very first
been the design of the leaders of the popular party. So great was the en-
thusiasm of the roundheads, that they in one day enlisted above four thou
8and men in London alone.
Tired of the occupation of watching each others' manceuvres, the hos-
tile troops at leuglli met at Edge-hill, on the borders of the counties of
Warwick and Siaflbrd, A furious engagement took place, which lasted
several hours ; upwards of five tliousand men fell upon the fiehi, and the
contending armies separated, wearied with slaying yet not satiated with
Blaughter, and each claiming the victory.
The whole kingdom was now disturbed by the incessant marching and
countermarching of the two armies. Neitiier of them was disciplined,
and the disorders caused by their march were consequently great and
destructive. The queen, whose spirit was as high as her affection
for her husband was great, most opportunely landed from Holland
witli a large quantity of ammunition and a considerable reinforcement of
men, and she immediately left England again to raise farther supplies.
In the manoeuvring and skirmishes which were constantly going on, the
king, from the superior rank and spirit of his followers, had for some time
a very marked advantage ; but the parliamentarians, so far from being dis-
couraged, actually seemed to increase in their pretensions in proportion
to the loss and disgrace they e.\[)('rienced in the field. Tliat Ihe king
was at this time sincere in his (-xpressed desire to put a stop to the out-
pouring of his sul)jects' blood appears clear from the fact, that on obtain-
ing any advantage he invariably sent pacific proposals to the parliament
This was especially the case when he lay in al! security in the loyal city
of Oxford, whence he conducted a long neg'iiation, in which the inso-
lence of the leaders of the other party was so great and conspicuous, that
even the most modirate writers have blamed the king, as having carried
his desire for pacific measures to an extreme, injurious alike to his ilii:-
nity and to the very cause he was anxious to serve.
But if he bore somewhat too meekly with the insolence of his opponents
in the cabinet, the king in his first campaign of the disastrous civil war
was abundantly successful in the field, in spite of the savage severity of
his opponents, who treated as traitors liie governors of those strong places
which from time to time were ope led to their sovereign.
Cornwall was thoroughly subjected to the king; at Stratton-hill, in
Devonshire, a fine army of the parliamentarians was routed; and at
Kdiiiuhvay-down, near Devizes, in Wiltshire, another great victory was
gained over them by the royal troops, who were again successful in tlie
still more iniporlant battle of (,'lialgrave-ficld, in niickiiighamshire. The
important city of Bristol was taken by the royalists, and Gloucester was
closely invested. Thus far all looked in favour of the royal cause during
llie first campaign, and at its close great hopes of farther success werf
, The firJ
'"r a secJ
^ great hi
'li« old ,,,.)]
^'"g wisel
'■Id his ,j|I
y»'fs u;,||
than a iajnT
'^'•s intistj
oeis Were
""ii- pow(|
of voting
"'•■'iilv.s :,^,||
Uut any
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
679
ipponents
civil wat
III verily o(
)nii- pliices
\m-h\\\, in
Vl; and at
Ictory was
sful ill tl>e
iirc. The
Icestei was
luse during
Icess were
founded upon the fine army that was ruised for the king in the north of
England by tlie loyal and high-hearted inurquis of Newcastle. Nor was
il the loss only of battles and stron?-hoids that the parliamentarians had
now to deplore.
John Hampden, who had made so sturdy, although, in our opinioti, so
ill-foundec an opposition to the ship-money, while acting with the per-
verse men vhose conduct made that undoubted extortion inevitable, touk
tlie field with the parliamentarians at the head of a well-appointed troop
whicli chiefly consisted *jf his own tenants and neighbours. On several
oircasions he displayed ^reat courage, and it being proposed to beat up
the quarters of the king's gallant relative. Prince Huperl, Hampden was
foremost in the attack. When the parliamentary troops were subse-
quently mustered Mr. Hampden was missed, and it was then remarked
tiiat he had been seen, contrary to liis usual custom, to leave the field
before the fight was ended, and it was noticed, too, that he was leaning
forward on his saddle-bow as if exhausted and in pain. The fears thus
excited were soon realized ; he had been severely wounded. The king
would have sent his own surgeon to endeavour to save this inflexibly
honest though mistaken foe ; but the ill-fated gentleman was injured be-
yond human remedy, and died soon after the action.
This loss on the parliamentary side was even nmre than balanced by
the death of the royalist oflHcer, Lucius Gary, Lord Falkland, one of the
purest characters that grace our national history. As a statesman he
had opposed the errors of the king with all the boldness and inflexibility
of Hampden, but with a grace and moderation of which Hampden's stern
and severe nature was incapable. But though Lord Falkland ardently
desired liberty for the subject, he was not prepared to oppress the sov-
ereign; and the moment that the evil (IfsiMn of the popular leaders
were fully d(!veloped, the gallant nn ' Ki-onipiised nobleman took his
stand beside liis royal master. Leai .. il, wiity, elegant, and accomplish-
ed, he was indignant and disgusted .11 the evident desire of the popular
leaders to deluj;e their country i bj.xid, rather than stop short of the
full accomplishment of tlR'ir anjbaioi.^ and evil designs. From the com-
mencement of the civil war ho betMime possessed by a deep and settled
melancholy, the more rem.trk't^Je from contrast with his natural vivacity.
He neglected his person, iits -ountenance became anxious and haggard,
and he wouhi remain in silent tliought for hours, and then cry, as if un-
ronsciously, " Peace ! peace ! Let (Uir unhappy country have peace !" On
the morning of the battle of Newbury he told his friends that his soul
was weary of the world, and that he felt confident that ere nightfall he
should leave them. His sad prediction was accomplished ; he was
mortally wounded by a musket ball in the abdomen, and it was not until
the following inoniing thai his mourning friends rescued his body from
aiiii>l t!;e "iieiiiu'r slain.
The first campaign being en.lc', the king made vigorous prepruations
for a second. As it was evident that il.c "erv name of a parliauKiil had
a great influence upon the minds of many, and as aii uegoiiaiion with
tlie old parliament sitting at VViislminisier led only to new insult, the
king wisely deti'rmined to call another [lariiaineiit at Oxford, where he
had his (juarters. The peers being for tiie nio-t part firmly loyal, the
king's upper house was well filled, but his lower house had mil more
tliaii a liuiiilred and forty members, being scarcely half the number that
>vi%s mustered by the rebellious house of commons. J'nt the king's mem-
oers were niosily men of wcMJih and influence, and thus they ji.id it in
thfir power to di the king the chief service he really required, thai
of voiiug him sujiplies. llaving done this they were dismissed wiib
thanks, imd never again ealli'd together.
Uul any supplies winch the king could procure from what may almost
580
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
be called individual loyalty were but small in comparison to those
which the factious parliamentarians could command by the terror which
they could strike into nearly every district of the country. As if to show
at once their power in this way, and the extent to which they were pre-
pared to abuse it, they issued an arbitrary command that all the inhabi-
tants of London and the surrounding neighbourhood should substract one
meal in every week from their accustomed diet, and pay the full price ol
provision thus saved as a contribution to the support of vvhat these im-
pudent and ambitious men affected to call the public cause. The sedi-
tious Scots at the same time sent a large supply of men to the parlia-
mentarians, who also had fourteen thousand men, under the earl of Man-
chester, ten thousand under the earl of Essex, and eight thousand and
upwards under Sir William Waller. And though this force was numeri-
cally so much superior to the king's, and, by consequence, so much more
onerous, the parliamentary troops were, in fact, far better supplied
with both provision and ammunition than the royalists ; the majority uf
men being so deluded or so terrified by the parliamentarians that an or-
dinance of parliament was at all times sufficient to procure provisions for
the nlicl force, when the king could scarcely get provisions for money
A. I). ICAi. — Thougli, in the ordinary style used in speaking of military
affairs we have been obliged to speak of the termination of the first cam-
paign, at the period when the contending parties went into winter quar-
ters, hostilitieis in fact, never wholly ceased from the moment when lliey
rirst commenced. Kven when liie great armies were formally lying idle
a constant and most destructive partizan warfare was carried on. The
viilagc-grecn became a battle-field, the village church a fort; now this,
now that party plundered the peasantry, who in their hearts learned tu
curse the fierceness of both, and pray that one or the other might be su
efTectually beaten as to put a stop at oni:e and forever to scenes which
had all the ghastly horrors of war without any uf its glory, and all its
pn^scnt riot and spoilation witlioiit even the chance of its subsequent
gain. Whether cavalier or roinidliead were triumphant the peaceable deni-
zen V as equally the sufTercr; and when the war-cry and the blasphemy
rang through the villagi^-strect, and re-echoed through the trees that
waved above the graves of the long generations of the former occu|)anl8
of the village, what mattered it whether cavalier cheered or roundhead
prostituted the words of llic book of life— were they not English accents
that issued from the iiassion-ciirlcd li|)s of boih parties !
That the system of teriorisni which the parliamentarians acted upon
had very much to do with prolonging this unnatural contest seems iii-
disi)nlal)le. Counties, and lesser districts, even, as soon as tliey were
for a brief lime freed from the presence of the parliamentary forces, al-
nU'St invariably and iiiianinionsly declared for the king. Nay, in the very
towns that were garrisoneil by the parliiuncniariaiis, inclndiiiu even thuir
strong-hold and chief reliance, liiiiulinr, there was at length a loud and
j.'iier.il eehoof the eariu^sl cry of the good !,ord I'alkland, "Peace ! |)eaie!
el our country have |)eace ! ' From many placesilie parliament rcH'eiveil
f rinal jielitions to this ellVet ; and in London, wliicli at the outset had
been so furiously seditnuis, tlie very women asseinlilcd to the number ul
upwards of four thousand, and sinroniided llie oiise of common.s. exelaiin-
ing. " Peace ! give ns peace ! or those traitoi , who deny us peace, thai
we mav tear ihcin to pieces." So finioiis wen' the women on this occa
sum, that, in tln^ violence used by the guards, some of these wives ami
mothers who wished their hnsbanils and smis no longer to lie the prey ul
a handful of aiiihitioiiH mpii were actually killeil n|ioii th<' spot!
lint they who liiid so joyoiiNly aided in Novviiig tlie whirlwind were not
yet to cease to reap tiie sliniii. War, to the eoinplcte destiucin'ii el
ihu alt r and the throne, was thi: design of the iclf-elcclcd and rcbolvi. J
1'
rUicrs, ai
tloud am
Before
we must
Rxed the
present d
more sinj
Oliver
a second
«ed of but
iiig in the
Cromwell
very smal
his excess
pare in pnl
denly cha
ind rigid c
«equence I
Just as
warm, Oli
Huntingdo
earliest ex
should but
" Proteoto
liness, hesi
coloured si
tailor," the
scarcely sii
cd that 'in t
saw the vas
all the fien-i
mass, and, %
K'lglish nat!
iiamc stand
it had been
the lawful sr
As a mer
making hiini
advise, to ac
ai:d mind, w
fused no-nn
thought clear
urous concep
and the clank
'.age towards
ft is to thi.'^
T wholly H d
"llier. To Uf
as developed
aR'T'ity, his
''"iiht. poor n
power are est
he saw that i
>'<"n| 'iancn wi
•'I'liiation and
"lat he lit the
"mikiiKi Willi
"If from the II
h»iiiem, wheih
THE TREASUBY OF HISTORY.
58i
ul
uiin-
Kill
aiiil
yol
iioi
I'll t'l
,)lvi 1
tUiers, and it was in vain that their lately enthusiastic dupes now cried
jiloud and in bitter misery for the blessings of peace.
Before we proceed to speak of the second campaign of this sad war,
we must introduce to the attention of the reader a man who henceforth
fixed the chief attention of both parties, and whose character, even in the
present day, is nearly as much disputed as his singular energy and still
more singular and rapid success were marvelled at in his own time.
Oliver Cromwell was the son of a Huntingdonshire gentleman who, ns
a second son of a respectable but not wealthy family, was himself posses-
sed of but a small fortune, which he is said to have improved by engag-
ing in the trade of a brewer. At college, and even later in life, Oliver
Cromwell was remarkable rather for dissipation than for ability, and the
very small resources that he inherited were pretty nearly exhausted by
his excesses, long before he had any inclination or opportunity to take
pan in public affairs. On reaching mature manhood, however, he sud-
denly changed his course of life, and affected the enthusiastic speech
ind rigid conduct of the puritans, whose daily increasing power and con-
sequence his shrewd glance was not slow to discover.
Just as the disputes between the king and the popular party grew
warm, Oliver Cromwell repiesented in parliament his native town of
Huntingdon, and a sketch left of him by a keen observer who saw his
earliest exertions in that capiicity, represents a man from whom we
should but little expect the energy, talent, and success of the future
"Protkotor" Cromwell. Homely in countenance, almost to actual ug-
liness, hesitating in speecii, ungain'y in gesture, and ill clad in a sad
coloured suit "which looked as it iud been made by some ill country
tailor," the future statesnimi and warrior addressed the house amid tlic
scarcely suppressed wiiiapers of both friciuls and foes, who liitle dream-
ed that in that uncouth, ill nurtured, and slovenly-looking person they
saw the vast and terrible (rcnius who was to slay his sovereign, knead
all the fierce fai-tions of Kiiulislimen into one irampltHl and submissive
mass, and, while wielding a most usurped and lawless authority over the
Knglisli nation at home, so <lirect her cncriiies abroad as to make her
name stand fully as high among tht; astounded and (gazing nations as ever
it had been carried or maintained by the most forturate and valiant uf
the lawful sovereigns of Kiigland.
As a mere senator ('roiiuvcll would proliably never '. ave succeeded m
making himself a great name; he required to command rather than to
advise, to a(;t ratlu'r than to argue. Gifted with an iron frame, the body
ai'.d mind, with liim, aided each other, and he who stainmcred mit coii-
fi.isrd no-meanings to the half wearied and half wondering senate,
thought clearly and brightly as the ligliliiing flash, and shouted his vig-
orous coiu'eptioiis with the dread vehemence of thunder, amid the fury
and the claiiK of the battle, and as lie guided his war-steed through car-
iiage towards carnage more terrible still.
It is to this day a imidled point whether Cromwell was wholly deluded
or wholly a deluder ; ()r whether lie was o.irtly the one and partly the
ollii^r. Tu us it seems that there was noihliig natural in his character,
as developed by history, save his nienial and bodily energy, his priifiuind
agacily, his decision and his inasierpassioii — ambition. Me saw, no
ildiibt, poor men become rich, and mean men powerful, as riches and
power are estimated m the petty alTairs of ob.^ciire i-ouiiiry towns, and
lie saw that they acliieved ihe'ir personal asisiraiidizeinent by a supple
'■<im| 'ianee with the c.iiit and ttrimai-e of the day. He had sutVered boili m
epulation aiiil fortune by Ins free if not prolligate life, and ii is pniii.ihle
(hat he at the lMll^^et a(lo|ili-(l the diitward appearance of aimilier w.u' (if
Ihiiikiiiij with no deeper or limre extensive desjijiithan lh;il i>( s'lviiii,' Inm.
*i If from the inevitable ill eonseqneiices of poverty. Once .irnveil m |,;ir.
Ijaiiieni, wheitier e(»ndneted thither liv mere accide-t or skilful intriguing,
583
THE TUEA8UIIY OF HISTORY.
ii iiinglc glHiicc must liavc s)io\vn even a fnr less sagat'ioiis person ttmn
he was, lliat the puritans would, sooner or later, be in(;oni|)anil)ly tlio
most powerful party in the slate. JoininjT witti lliein from inien-si, apinj^
their manners from necessity, lie would from mere habit continue to aj)e
them lona; after he could afford to be more ofien in his conduct. Out tlie
frequent profanity of his remarks, and the occasional coarseness and
jollity of his " horseplay " among his si>idi(!r-saints, appear to us to savour
very much of unconscious and uiicoiitrollabie breakiii<>s forth of the old
Adam of the natural man ; fever fits of the natural heart and temper tli.i',
were too strong for the artificial trainin;,' of rescdved liypocri.sy. Such,
upon repeated and most impartial examination, appears to us to have been
the real character of Cromwell.
Tlimigh forlyfonr ytsirs old before he drew a sword, Cromwell at tlio
very outset of the rebellion showed himself what has been emphatii iilly
called a born .soldier. Kialwart though cinmsy in frame, a bohl and a
good rider, and — as most men of any respectibility of that time wen — a
perfei't master of the ponderous sword then in use, he was the very mail
for a [larlizaii captain <>f heavy cavalry. His troops was Himost enlirely
composed of the sons of respectable fanners and yeomen, and as tiny
were deeply tinctured wiiii tiie ivIiLiioiis fcelintf of piniianism, and lilleil
to overflowing with the physical daring of well-born and wcll-nurini'Hd
Knglislimen, bis assnined sympathy with them in the former resuect and
his genuiiK^ equality or superiority in the latter, shortly gave him iliu
most unbouiidiMl power of leading them into any d.inger that hiimuii
being's could create, and throiiL'li or over any obstacles that liuiiian
prowess and daring c^)uhl surmount.
Indefatigable, active, pulienl of fatigiie, Cromwell .speedily attracleil the
tioti(u.- of the parliamentary leaders, who bestowed praise and disliiic.
tion upon him none the less idieerfully because as yet be did not alVect
to aim at aiiylliing higher than the eliaracier of a bold, stern, and active
parlizaii captain, who was ever ready with sword in liainl and font in stir-
rup when the enemy's night quariers were to iie beaten up, a coiivov seiz-
ed, or any other real thougli comparatively obscure service wan to he nil.
dered to the aond cnuse. .Such was the itstimatt^ (Cromwell's commaiid.
ers formed of him ; such the estimate he wished them to form of the
man who was one day to dictate to the pnmdest and to laugh to Hcorn
the wiliest among them I
The too I'amous and disastnms hatlle of hong Marston Mo<n', as it whh
the first great military calamity of the king, so it was the I'lrsi great uc
casion upon which Cnimwell had the opportunity (wliii'h he so well kiietv
liow to sel/,e) of openly and signally dis|ihi)ing himself. A jimitioii liiul
b(!en formed lietwciMi the Scotch army and the English parliamentary fur-
ces, and ihis combined host invested York. This city, both from Ms own
wealth and from its sitii.ition as the capital of the northirn coniitii h, ^\'.\»
too iinportHiit to the niyal cause to be lost without a struggle; and I'liiiii'
Kupert and the marquis of Newcastle joined their foncs in onler to r.iiM
the seige of the ancient city. The o|iposinu| forces, in nnmber aboiil (Illy
thousand, met im l.img Marston Moor, and a long and olistiniite coiitisi
eiiMied. The right wing of the royalist trooiis, cmnmandcd by I'riiiii'
Kupert, was broken and driven off ilii> field by the highly Iraiiicl
cavalry under Cnnnwell, who, after having di.^persed the royalists' imlit
wing, promptly galloped bark to the fielil, and very materially aidnl iii
putting to (light the mam Ixidy of the niyalisis under the miirquis 'I'hc
rrsnii of this liaid day's nghiini! w.is the cajitiire by the parliamentarnii*
(>r till' whole of Itiipert's adinir.dile train of artillery, mid a Ions of iiiiii,
reputation, and self-ronlideiiee, from which it may safely be averred lliiil
l*ie royalists nevi ■ recovered.
The Bucci'sses of the parliiitnoiitariaMi made them all the liaiighiier il
THE TREASURY OK HISTORY
583
rson Ihati
ir;i\)ly ill*,
■i-sl, aiVnm
uii) to il))t!
. nm the
ii-nuxs and
s to siivour
of lilt! (ill)
cinper lli.>'
sy. Sui'h,
I iVavo been
wfW at the
niplr.ni' iiUy
\)olil and a
iiu' wi'it— a
\ti very niau
i(i»i inlindy
;ind M lli'y
n, and lillfd
,v(ll-nurun«d
r vi'su'i'l ami
live nim llii-'
that Iniinuu
t\ial human
auracti'd ilie
, nnd distnif.
,\id ni)l alVi'cl
111, and aelivf
1(1 foul in Hiu'-
II fdiivoy hi'i/-
svaM li> '•'' ''''"•
's coimiiaiid-
fiirni of llio
iiyli l« >t''"fi>
loor, an it WiiH
fiisi pri'al 111'-
, J,,, well knew
\ jiini'ii'"' '""'
iiineiitiuy fiif-
li fiiini lHll^»l'
1 cnuiilii ". '*■"
1,.; and I'min'
;, ortler 111 I'll"!
Lber ali.'Ul liHy
liHlinille rilllli>l
lulrd li\ Vrnin'
luKldv iroi""'
ri.yaliHlh' iiu''l
Lrially anlid I"
iniininift T'"'
.irhannniarnii'"
11 i(i-s (if ni' "
111' averred lli.i'
Ue \mu|ilili«r i»
Hieir pretensions and all the more unsparing in their resoivea. Land,
nnliblshop of Canterbury, had for a long time been confined in the Tower ;
hiK devotion to his master beinof the only crime with which he eould
lie Justly charged, except the itindred crime of still warmer devotion, if
possible, to the rights and supremacy of the church of England. This
iMiiincnt man was therefore brought to trial by his bitter enemies, the puri-
tans, condemned, and executed. As if to set a peculiar and characteris-
tically puritanical mark upon this dastardly act of vulgar and ignorant
ven(?eanco, the now dominant power ordered the abolition — by what they
failed law — of the church of England liturgy on the very day of the exe-
I'Ulion of the learned and energetic prelate whose devotion to his duty was
indoinitnblo. By this act of abolition the English church was reduced, as
regarded power in the state, to the same level as the newest, meanest, and
iiiool insane of numerous petty sects into which conceit, or ignorance, or
rdieer knavery had by this time split tho puritans ; and the Scottish rebel
iirniy appropriately enough joined the London rebel citizens in giving
public (hanks foi an alteiation of which not one of them could have pointed
out a suhstrii. 'vantage, while its instant and perspective disadvan-
ln){p might i. i perceived by a tolerably edui^ated child. Hut fac-
(lon loves a fr r. -oven though it certainly be not for the better, and
|irobal)ly nui. , .. e to be for the worse I
A. i>. lf!'15.--Tliough the royalists, as related above, were seriously in-
lured and depressed l*y the result of the battle of Long Marston Moor,
neilher the king niir his friends despaired of ultimate success. While tho
piirlimiienlarians « xerted themselves to crush the royalists whenever Hi"
next general acr -ihould ensue, the king and his friends made equally
olreiiiKius pffortH redeem their forliine and character on the like eon-
(ingeiiey. A variety of counter-marcliing and mere partizan skirmishing
(link place during the earlier months of the year I64.'>, and at length, on
the mil of .Iniie of mat year, the main strength of the two parties met
near Nnseby, n village in Northamptonshire. The right wing of the
royal army was commanded hy the gallant and impetuous Rupert, tho
left wing by Sir Marmaduke Langdale, and the main body iiy the lord
Aslley, while a choitie force was commanded, as a reserve, by the king
in person. The left wing of the parliamentarians was commanded by
Inloii, who had married ('romwell's daughter, the right wing hy (;rom-
well liiiiiNeir, whose gallant and skilful charges at Long Marston Moor
were not forgotten, and the main body by generals Fairfax and Skippnn.
Till' parliamentary left wing was no hotly charged by the iinpcMions and
diiKliing |{npert,tliat it was fairly broken and driven through the sireels
of Niitebv. Hut this success was rendered of comparatively little advan-
liilte, fur Unpert lost so much time in allempting to seize Ireton's artillery
lliiii ("rum well, meanwhile, broke tho royal horse under Sir Marina-
diike Liingdale, beyond aU liie elVorts of that ofUcer for its re-formal ion.
Willie the cavalry on cither side was thus ocinipiod, tho infantry were
Imily engiiged, and so iiuKth to the advantage of the royal side that the bai-
tiillioiis of ilie piirliainent were actually falling back in disorder. Tlie
wlioje fiile of the day now mainly depended upon which side slioul (irsi
•ee iiw eiivalry reiiiin. If Rupert, instead of employing himself iii si /.\ng
»r sinking artillery, had at this time returned and inadn one of hi, 'ear-
fiillv >iiipeiiiouN charges upon tlie (lank of tin. filtering roundheads, whom
llielii'*! etrorts of Kairfax and .Skippon could scarcely keep from falling
mill ,1 rout, the fortiiiii> of thai day, and most prolialily the issue of the
•vlmlc struggle, would have been in favour of the king. Miit the mar-
rflliMiN good fortune of Cromwell attended him ; lie returned to the Held
(Villi Ins iron troopers elated with llieir success over .Sir M.irinadnke Lang-
li»li<'» (livisinii, and cliarged the (link of tin' iiiain body of the royalists -o
U n uly Hs to throw llii-in into iiopidess and irreinediablu eonfusion. \ln»
684
THK TKEASUttY 0*' HISTOKV
per* now returned witli liis cavalry and joined the king's reservo , but
tiie fiite of the day was sealed ; not even the gallantry of that able com-
mander could lead the reserve to the support of the beaten and fugitive
host of the royalists, and the king was obliged to fly from the field, leav-
ing his artillery and valuable baggage, as well as five thousand prisoners,
in the liands of the victorious parliamentarians.
Nor did the advantat,„j lo the victor end even thers. The defeat of the
kinjr and the magnitude of the losses he iiad sustained greatly aided the
parli.iinentarians in reducing 'he chief fortified places in the kingdom,
liristol, Uridgewater, Chester, 6>herbonie, and Bath fell into their hands;
ExciiT was closely invested by Fairfax, and held out gallantly, but at
length was obliged to surrender at discretion, all the western counties
being so completeljr cleared of the king's troops that there was not the
slii^lilcst chance of its being relieved.
In ;ill the aspects of his fortune Charles had found the city of Oxford
loyal and devoted. As well became that city of science and learning, it
had constantly shown itself "glad in his prosperity and sad in his so''-
roiv," and thither he retreated in his present misfortuiiB, well knowinir
liiat there he would be loyally received, and hoping that even yet he might
by negotiation retrieve some of the sad loss he had experienced in iho
field. Hut the unfortunate king was closely pursued by Fairfax, at the
head of a victorious army eager for yet farther triumph over the defeatcl
sovereign; and as the parliamentarians loudly expressed their intention
of hiving siege to Oxford, and were abundantly supolied with everythmg
.--iiujsite for that purpose, Charles had several, and very cogent reasons
for not abiding there. That the loyal inliai)itaiit3 of Oxford would defend
lum to the utmost, Charles had no room to doubt ; but neither could there
be any doubt that the well known loyalty of the city would, on that very
sciue, be most signally [luuished liy the parliamentarians. Moreover,
CliMiles bad a most justifial)l(! and well-grouuiled horror of falling into the
'iiiiiiis (>f the English puritans, from whom, espeeinlly now that they were
full and freslily flushed with victory, hi' might fear every insult, even to
tlie extent of personal violence. Reasoning t'lUS, and believing that the
Scott isli army was less personally anil inveterately hostile to him, Charles
tipnk wlial ])roved to be the fatal resolution, of delivering himself into the
liauils, of the Scots. To their eternal dis.frace, they received him as a
distressed king only to treat him as a malefactor and a prisoner. They
worried and ins'iltcd him with saniMimonious remonstrances and re/lec-
tions. by every possible iiegleirt of the respectful ceremonials due to a
sovereign; they reminded him of and imhittered his misfortunes; and, to
complete the infamy of their conduct, tiiey added gross venality to faith-
lessness and disloyalty, ami literally sold him to the rebellious Knglish
parliament for the sum of two hundreil thousand poimds !
Willi this atrocious act the Scots returned to their country, laden
with ill earned wealth, but laden iilso with the execnition of all good men,
and with the contempt even of those bold bad men lo whom they bad
haseU- sold the unfortunate prince. Wholly ;md helplessly in the powt r
of Ins foes, Charles had no course left to so liononralile a mind as Ins, but
lo absolve his still faithrni followers ;nid subjeets from the duty of firther
striving m his behalf, and to trust for the safety of even his life to the
mercy of men
" Wtiopo mrrcy win n nlckniimp t'cir the rnpo
DI'lniiicli'fK tii,-i-rii liiini{i'iiiii< tni' liliinil. '
Hut if the rebellious parhamenlarians were trinmpb:int over their kinjr
they had yet to deal with n more lormnlable eiieinv. Tli" parliainent had
been made unaiiiiniius in iiself ;iii I with the luniy iiy the olivioiis and
pressiim lieeessilv lor iniltiial di'leiiee, iis Ion .' ;is liie king Wiisin the
lieUI and at the beail of an iiiiposiii;; force. Hui now thai the loriune ul
Ill niM"
Iry. la<^f'i'>
L'oDil men,
tlicy liiiil
ihi" i»owt r
IS Ills. 1)11'
of f:\rllu'i
\if(> to tl»o
■ tlii'lr kiiilt
iMiiiriiihail
itiviiiiiH and
\N IS III lU"
lOlllIlK! Ill
mm
flr!
m
1
1''
m
1
r
' 1
7*!-
war and tht
and almost l
position of tl
ful monarch
against each
needless anc
bond of unio
most part, pi
ance to the k
but who were
lay and clerii
army took (
thought, with
were ready tc
being qijalifie(
low. The in
any conceivat
for the mere i
further and d
and secret, pr(
himself the m(
as vvilljnu- and
the well-fough
command und(
commander, ai
own hands. I
the military lo
scurity after a)
to believe, perr
Without appt
artful intriguer
dence in the pa
about the consi(
and ill-used bod
4 rude but eflici
acting as a hous
acting as a hoii;
army." Of the:
■■".ppearance he v
Ins duty to the \
required to sngg
tion of his own ;
While Oromvv
and seemingly ft
as yet, owing to
Parliiuient, not s
comparative trail
wai'f, highly chai
wtill- He demoi
of lliu king's pen
fXIStJIlg p;i|-(ies.
King rally round
|oriniiig such ajii
king, when the a
'lisiidvantugcous |
•nent, mclu.ijng v
existence. \s ns
wiio «t the breaki
THE THEASUilY OF HI6T0HV
585
war and the base venality of the Scotch had made Charles a powerless
and almost hopeless captive, the spoilers began to quarrel about tlie dis-
position of the spoil ; and they who had united to revolt from their law-
ful monarch were ready with equal eagerness and animosity to cabal
against each other. There is a sure retributive curse attendant upon all
needless and groundless dissent — its destitution of a real and an abiding
bond of union. The civilians of the parliamentary party were, for the
most part, presbyterians, who were eager enough to throw off all allegi-
ance to the king and all submission and respect to the church of England,
but who were not the less inclined to set up and exact respect, both from
lay and clerical authorities of their own liking. The fanaticism of the
army took quite another turn; they were mostly independents, who
thought, with Dogberry, that " reading and writing come by nature," and
were ready to die upon the truth of the mosi, ignorant trooper among them
being qualified to preach with soul-saving effect to his equally ignorant fel-
low. The independents, armed and well skilled in arms, would under
any conceivable circumstance have been something more than a match
for the mere dreamers and declaimers of parliament ; but they had a still
further and decisive advantage in the active and energetic, though wily
and secret, prompting and direction of Cro'r.wtU, v/ho artfully professed
himself the most staunch, independent of them of all, and si.owed himself
as willing and able, too, to lead them t tlie charg and the victory upon
the well-fouglit field. He was, in a' ranee, nideed, only second in
command under Fairfax, but, in reali* , ..e was supreme over his nominal
commander, and had the fate of both king and kingdom completely in his
own hands. He artfully and carefully fomented the jealousy with which
the military looked upon their own comparative powerlessnes? and ob-
scurity after all the dangers and toils by which they had, as they aiiected
to believe, permanently secured the peace and comfort of the country.
Without appearing to make any exertion or to use any influence, the
artful intriguer urged the soldiery so far, that ihey openly lost all confi-
dence in the parliament for which they had but too well fought, and set
about tlie consideration and redress of their own grievances as a separate
and ill-used body of the community. Still, at the instigation of Cromwell,
i rude but efficient military parliament was formed, the principal officers
acting as a house of peers, and two men or officers from each regiment
acting as a house of commons, under the title of the " agitators of the
army." Of these Cromwell took care to be one, and thus, while to all
.".ppearance he was only acting as he was authorized and conunanded by
his duty to the whole army, he in fact enjoyed all the opportunity that he
required to suggest and forward measures indispensable to the gratifica-
tiun of his own ambition.
While Cromwell was thus wickedly but ably scheming, the king, forlorn
and seemingly forgotten, lay in llolmby castle, strictly watched, tiiough,
as yet, owing to the dissensions that existed between the army and the
parliimeiit, not subjected to any fiirtiier indignities. From this state of
comparative tranquillity the untiap|)y Charles was aroused by a coup de
main, liighiy characteristic alike of thi; boldness and shrewdness of Crom-
well. He demonstrated to his coiiliduiiis of the army that the possession
of the kiiiir's person must needs give a vast preponderance to any of the
existing parties. The royalists, it was obvious, would at the order of the
king rally round him, even in conjuiictii)ii with the parliament, which by
forming sncli a junction could at any nioineiii coinmand the pardon of the
king, when the army, besides other difficulties, would be |)laced in the
disadvantageous position of fighting against all br.iiiciies of the govern-
ment, nu'luJing t-ven that one to whose will and authority it owed its own
exiBteiice. \s usual, his arguments were successriil, and Cornel Joyce,
who «i the breaking out of the rebellion had leer, jnly h tailor, was diu.
iiifif
f
586
THE TKEASUllY OF HISTORY.
patched with fiv6 hundred cavalry to seize the king's person at Holinhy
castle. Though strictly watched, the king was but slenderly guarded, dx
the parliament liad no suspicion of the probability of any such attempt on
the part of the army. Cornet Joyce, therefore, found no difficulty in oi>.
taining access to the king, to whom he made known the purport of his
mission. Surprised at this sudden determination to remove him to the
head- quarters of the armj, the king, with some anxiety, asked Joyce to
produce his commission for so extraordinary a proceeding, and Joyce,
with tlie petulenee of a man suddenly and unexpectedly elevated, pointed
to his troops, drawn up before the win'Viw. " A goodly commission," re-
plied Charles, " and written in fair characters ;" he then accompanied
Joyce to Triplo-heath near Cambridge, the head-quarters of the army.
Fairfax and other discerning and moderate men had by this time begun to
see the danger the country was in from the utter abasement of thu kingly
power, and to wish for such an acc(»tnmodation as might secure the peo-
ple without destroying the king. But Cromwell's bold seizure of liis
majesty had enabled him to throw off the mask; the violent and fanatical
spirit of the soldiery was wholly subjected to him, and on his arrival at
Triplo-heath, on the day after ilie king was taken thilher by Joyce, Crom-
well was by acclamation elected to the supreme command of the army.
Though, at the outset, the parliament was wholly opposed to tlie e.\or-
bitanl pretensibiis of the army, the success of Cromwell's machinations
rendered that opposition less unanimous and compact every day, and at
length there was a considerable majority of parliament, including the two
speakers, in favour of tiie army. To encourage this portion of the par-
liament, the h(!ad-quarters of the army were tixed at Ilounslow-heath ;
and as llie debates in the house daily grew more violent ;ind threatening,
sixty-two meinlicrs, witli the two speakers, fled to the camp at Hoimslow,
and I'orinally tiirew themselves, officially and personally, upon the protec-
tion of th(! army. This accession to his moral force was so welcome to
Cromweii, that he caused the ineml)ers to be received with a jjcrfect tu-
mult of iiiplause ; and he ordt.'red that tlie troops, twenty thousand in num-
ber, shi I move upon Liuidon to restore these fugitives to the place
whieii they had voluntarily ceded and the duties they had timorously tied
from.
While the one portion of the house had fled to the protection of the
soldiers, the otlier portion had made some demonstrations of bringing Clio
struggle against the prcieusions of the army lo an issue in the/ield. New
jpeak(^rs were chosen in the place of the fugitives, orders were given to
eidist ufsw troops, and tJK! train-tiands were ordered to the defence of the
lines that enclosed the ciiy. lint when Ooniwell with twenty thousand
traiiied and un^^p.iriiig troops arrived, the inii)ossibility of any hastily or-
ganized der(!nce being available against him became painfully evident.
The g.ites were thrown open, Cromwell restored the si)eakers anil the
members of pailiaiiKMit, several of the opposite members were arbitrarily
ex|)idled ilie house, the mayor of Londdii, wiih three Hhlermen and tlie
iheritTs, «ere eoininiiled to the Tower, otlier prisons were crowded with
citizens ;ind niiliti.i oHieers, and the city lines were levelled, Jie more
efTeetiially to prevent any future resistaiiee lo the sovereign will and pleas-
ure of the armyi or, Mther, of its master-s[)irit, Cromwell
CHAPTKR I.ir.
TIIK RKION in' CU.Mll.KS I. (eONf;I,l' HE)).
The king on being seized by the army was sent as a prisoner to hi?
palace ai llam|)ton court. Hen.', though closely vvalehed, lie wcsallowid
der the
Forty.oi
iinprisoi
leiilly o,
only r,|),
tliose be
mies of
army,
purge,'
deeiiieil
" the rui
With .
to Itself
ihat had
"nd that
THE TRKA3UIIY OF HISTOllY.
687
lolniby
led, (<>t
nipl on
ill ol>-
[ of his
lo the
jycc to
Joyce,
pointed
ion," re-
iiipanied
e army,
begun to
\f. kiiisjly
the peo-
re of his
fanatical
irrival al
;e, Crom-
1 army-
ihe exor-
ihinaiions
ly, ai\J at
ig the two
f''i\ii! par-
i)\v-lu!alh i
ireatening,
Hounslow,
the proloc-
.•elcome. to
perfect lu-
md in nnm-
the phico
irously fled
llion of the
iriusing tlio
lield. New
le (riven to
Icnce of the
,y ilions»i>'l
liaslily or-
|lly evident.
Vis and lt>e
e arbiliarily
len and Hie
■owded vvilti
jd, -lie n\ore
ill and pleas-
Isoner m ''''
I wn.sallowi'J
tKe access of his friends and all facilities for iiegoti^.iiig with parliament,
lint, in truth, the negotiating parties had stood upon terms wiiich ahnost
necessarily caused distrust on the one hand and incincerity on the other.
Completely divested <;f power as Charles now was, it seems probable
enougli that he would promise more than h?, had any intention of perform-
ing, while the leading men on the oiher side could not but feel that their
very lives would depend upon his sincerity from the instant that he should
be restored to liberty and the exercise of his authority. Here wonid have
been quite siifficieiii difficulty in the way of successful negotiation ; but,
Dcsides that, Cromwell's plans were perpetually traversing the efTorts of
ihe king when his majesty was sincere, whtle Cromwell's active espion-
age never allowed any flagrant insincerity to escape dctectioi). The
king at length perceived the inutility of negotiation, and made his escape
to the Isle of VVigln. Here he hoped to remain uiidistuibed until he
could either escape to the continent or receive such succours thence as
might enable him, at least, to negotiate with the parliament upon more
equal terms, if not actually to try his forlnne anew in the lield. But
Colonel Hammond, the governor of the Isle of Wight, though he in some
respects treated the unfortunate king wiih humanity, made him prisoner,
and after being for some '.line (confined in Carisbrook castle, the unfortu-
nate Charles was sent in custody to his royal castle of Windsor, where he
was wholly in the power of the army.
Cromwell and those who acted with him saw very plainly that the
mere anxiety of the parliament to depress the praetorian bands which
themselves had called into evil and gigantic power, was very likely to
lead to an accommodation with the king, whoso own sense of his immi-
nent danger could not fail to render him, also, anxious for an early settle-
ment of all disputes. The artful leaders of the army faction, therefore,
now encouraged their dupes and tools of the lower sort to throw off the
mask ; and rabid yells for the punishment of the king arose on all sides.
Peace and security had hitherto been the cry ; it was now changed to a
cry for vengeance. From Windsor the unli ippy king was conveyed to
Hurst-castle, on the coast of Hampshire, and opposite to the Isle of Wight,
chiefly, it should seem to render commuiiicatioii between him and the par-
liameiilarj leaders more dilatory and difl^cult. But the parliament, grow-
ing tnore and more anxious for an accoininodation in precise proportion
as it was rendered more and more impracticable, again opened a negotiation
with the iil-lreated monarch, and despite the id.imours and ihreats of the
fanatical soldiery, seemed upon the very point of bringing it to a conclu-
sion, when a new coup tie main on the part of Cromwell extiiiguishid all
hope in the bosoms of the loyal and the just, Perceiving that tlie obsti-
nacy of the parliament and the unhappy vacillation of tlie king could no
longer be relied upon, Cromwell sent two regimiMUs of his soldiery, un-
der the command of Colonel Piide, to blockade the house of commons.
Foity-one members who were favourable to accommodation were actually
imprisoned in a lowir room of the house, a hundred and sixty were inso-
lently ordered to go to their homes and attend to their private aft'airs, and
only about sixty members were allowed to enter the house, the whole of
those being furious and bigoted independents, the pledged and deadly ene-
mies of tlie king, and the mere and servile tools of Cromwell and the
army. This parliamentary clearance was facetiously called "Pride's
purge," and the members who had the disgraceful distinction of being
deemed fit for Cromwell's dirty work, ever after passed under the title o(
"the rump."
With a really ludicrous impudence this contemptible assembly assumed
to itself the whole power and character of the parliament, voted that all
that had been done lowiirds an aicommodation with the king was illegal,
und that his seizure and iinprisonmeat by "the general "—so Cromwell
m
!)88
THE TREA8UUY OF HISTOUY.
was now termed, par excellence — were just and praiseworthy. All moder>
ation was thrown to the winds, and us the actual private murder of the
king was thought likely to disgust the better men even among the fanati*
eal soldiery, a committee of " the rump" parliament was formed to digest
a charge of high treason. It would seem that the subtlest casuist would
be puzzled to make out such a charge against a king ; and especially in
an age wiien monarchy in England was so newly and so imperfertly lim-
ited. But "the rump" was composed of men who knew no difficulty ol
the moral sort. The king, most rightfully, and supported by the most
illustrious of his nobles and the wealthiest and most loving of his gentry,
had drawn the sword to reduce to order and peace a rabid and greedy
faction, which threatened his crown and tore the vitals of liis country.
And this justifiable, though sad and lamentable exertion of force, after all
milder means had failed, " the rump" now charged against the king as
treason ; a treason of a kind never before dreamed of, a levying war
against his parliament ! Surely, the unhappy Charles had now but too
much reason to regret that he had not by a just severity to Lord Kimbol-
ton and his live co-accused fire-brands, crushed this venomous parliament
while yet he had the power to do so !
As there was now no longer, thanks to " Pride's purge," a chance of
further negotiation, it was determined that the hapless king should be
brought from Hurst-castle to Windsor. Colonel Harrison, a half insane
and wholly brutal fanatic, the son of a butcher, was entrusted with this
commission ; chiefly, perhaps, because it was well understood that he
would rather slay the royal captive with his own hand than allow him to
be rescued. After a brief stay at Windsor, the king was once again re-
moved to London, and his altered appearance was such as would have
excited commisseration in the breasts of any but the callous and inexor-
able creatures in whose hands he was. His features were haggard, his
beard long and neglected, his hair blanched to a ghastly whiteness by suf-
ferings that seemed to have fully doubled his age ; and the boding melan-
choly that had characterised his features, even in his happier days, was
now deepened down to an apparent yet resigned sadness that was painful
to all humane beholders.
Sir Philip Warwick, an old and broken man, but faithful and loyal to
the last, was the king's chief attendant ; and he and the few subordinates
who were allowed to approach the royal person were now brutally ordered
to serve the king without any of the accustomtd forms; and all external
symbols of state and majesty were, at the same time, withdrawn with a
petty yet malignant carefulness.
Even these cruelties and insults could not convince the king that his
enemies would bo guilty of the enormous absurdity of bringing their
sovereign to a formal trial. Calm, just, and clear-sighted himself, he
could not comprehend how even his fanatical and boorish enemies could,
in the face of day, so manil'estly bid defiance not only to all law and all
precedent, but also to the plainest maxims of common sense. But though
almost to the very day of his trial the king refused to believe that his
enemies would dare to try him, he diJ believe that they intended to
assassinate him, and in every meal of \vr\ich he partook he imagined that
he saw the instrument of hia death.
A. D. 1618. — In the meantime, the king's enemies were actively making
preparations for the most extraordinary trial ever witnessed in England.
These preparations were so extensive that they occupied a vast number of
persons from tlie sixth to the twentieth of January. As if the more fully
to convince the king of their earnestness in the matter, Cromwell and the
rump, when they had named a high court of justice, consisting of a hun-
dred and thirty-three persons, ordered the duke of Hamilton, whom they
had doomed to death for his unshaken loyalty to his sovereign, to be ad*
THE TllEASURY OF lIlriTOilY.
689
loder*
of the
fanali-
digest
would
illy in
ly lim-
illy ol
3 most
gentry,
greedy
ountry.
ifter all
king as
ng war
but too
Kimbol-
rliament
hance of
[lould be
f insane
with this
that he
w him to
again re-
luld have
(1 inexor-
ggard, his
ss by suf-
ig melan-
]ays, was
as painful
il loyal to
lordinates
y ordered
I external
with a
jg that his
ting their
Hiiself, he
^i(;s could,
iw and all
>ut though
le that his
Itendcd to
Igined that
lly making
II England.
1 number of
I more fully
lell and the
of a hun-
vhom they
,tobe ad-
mitted to take leave of the king at Windsor. The interview was a har-
rowing one. The duke had ever been ready to pour out his bliod like
water for his sovereign; even now he felt not for himself, but, moved to
tears by the sad alteration in the person of Charles, threw himself at the
royal victim's feet, exclaiming, " My dear master !" " Alas !" said the
weeping king, as he raised up his faithful and devoted servant, " Alas ! I
have, indeed, been a dear master to you !" Terrible, at this moment, must
have been the king's self-reproaches for the opportunities he had neglected
of putting down the wretches who now had hia faithful servant and him-
self in their power!
Of the persons named to sit in the high court of justice, as this shame
fully unjust and iniquitous coterie was impudently terme<l, only about
seventy, or scarcely more than one half, could be got together at any one
time during the trial. Low citizens, fanatical members of the rump, and
servile officers of tlie army, composed the majority of tiiose who did at-
tend, and it was before this wretched assembly that the legitimate sov-
ereign of the land, now removed from Windsor to St. James, was placed
to undergo the insulting mockery of a trial.
The court, "thebigli court of justice" thus oddly constituted, mot in
Wesiniinster-hall. The talents and firmness of Charles were even now
too much respected by Cromwell and the slirewder members of " the
rump" to allow of their opposing this miserable court to him witliout the
ablest procurable aid; Bradshaw, a lawyer of considerable ability, was
therefore appointed president, and Coke, solicitor for the people of Eng
land, with Steel, Aske, and Dorislaus for his assistants.
Wiieu led by a mace-bearer to a seat within the bar, the king seated
himself with his hat on, and looked sternly around him at the traitors who
affected to be his competent judges. Coke then read the charge against
him, and the king's melancholy countenance was momentarily liglit(;<l up
witli a manlv and just scorn as he heard himself gravely accused of hav-
ing been " the cause of all the bloodshed which had followed since the
commencement of the war!"
When Coke had finished making his formal charge, the president, Brad-
shaw, addressed the king, and called upon him to answer to the accusation
which he had heard made against him.
Though the countenance of Charles fully expressed the natural and
lofty indignation that he felt at being called upon to plead as a mere felon
before a court composed not merely of simple commoners, but, to a very
great extent, of the most ignorant and least honourable men in their ranks
of life, lie admirably preserved his temper, and addressed himself to his
task with earnest and grave argument. He said that, conscious as lie was
of innocence, he should rejoice at an opportunity of justifying his coiuiuct
ill every particular before a competent tribunal, but as lie was not inclined
to bciroine the betrayer instead of the defender of the constitution, he must
at this, the very first stage of the proceedings, wholly and positively re-
pudiate tlie autiiority of the court i)of()re whicli he had been as illegally
brought, as the court itself was illegilly constituted. Where was there
even tlie shadow of the upper house ! Without it tiiere (;ould be no just
tribunal, parliamentary or appointed by parliament. He was interrupted,
too, for the purposes of this illegal trial just as he was on the point of cim-
(•hiding a treaty with both houses of parliament, a moment at which he
surely had a right to expect anything rather than the violent and unjust
treatment that he had ex.ierienced. lie, it could not be denied, was the
king and fountain of law, and could not be tried by laws to wliicii he had
not given his autluftity ; and it would ill become him, who was entrusted
with the liberties of the people, to betray them by even a formal and tacit
recognition of a tribunal which could not possibly possess any other than
1 merely usurped powei.
'^,
590
THE THEASUKY OF HISTORY.
Bradsliaw, tlie president, affected much surprise and indignation at Hip
king's repudiation of the mock court of ju3ti(;c which, he said, received
its power and aulliority from the source of all right, the people. VVheii
tile king altenipled to repeat his clear and cogent objection, Hradshaw
rudely interrupted and despotically overruled liim. But, if silenced by
clamour, the king was not to be turned aside from his course by the mere
repetition of a hold fallacy. Again and again he was brought before thi?
mock tribumil, and again and again he baffled all attempts at making him,
by pleading to it, give it some shadow of lawful authority. The conduct
of the rabble without was fully worthy of the conduct of their self-con-
stituted governors within the court. As the king proceeded to the court,
he WHS assailed with brutal yells for what the wicked or deluded men
called "justice." But neither the mob nor their instigators could induce
him to plead, and the iniquitous court '^ length called some complaisant
witnesses to swear that the king had appeared in arms against forces com-
missioned by parlianient ; and upon tins fallacy of evidence, sentence of
death was pronounced against him. We call the evidence a mere fallacy,
because it amounted to nothing unless backed by the gross and monstrous
assumption that the parliament could lawfully commission any forces
without the order and permission of the king himself, and the no less
glaring assumption that the king could act illegally in putting down rebel-
lious g.ilherings of born subjects.
After receiving his sentence Charles was more violently abused by the
rabble outside than he had even formerly been. " Execution" was loudly
demanded, and one filthy and unmanly ruffian actually spat in his face,
a beastly indignity which the king bore with a sedate and august pity,
merely ejaculating, " Poor creatures, they would serve their generals in
the same manner for a sixpence !"
To the honour of the nation be it said, these vj.e insults of the baser
rabble were strongly contrasted by the respectful compass'on of the better
informed. Many of tliem, including some of the m'litary, openly ex
pressed their regret for the sufferings of the king and the disgust at the
conduct of his persecutors. One soldier loudly p:ayed a blessing on the
royal head, and the honest prayer being overhears by a fanatical officer,
lie struck the soldier to the ground. The king, moie ifiigaant at this
outrage on the loyal soldier iliaii he had been at ai. the unmanly insults
that had been heaped upon himself, turned to the officer and sharpiy told
him that the punishment very much extreeded the offence.
On returning to VVhiiehall, where he had been lodged during the mock
trial, Charles wrote to the so-called house of commons, and requested
that iie might be allowed to see those of his children who were in Eng-
land, and to have the assistance of Dr. Juxon, the deprived bishop of Lon-
don, in preparing for the fate which he now clearly saw awaited him.
Even his fanatical enemies dared not refuse these requests, but at the
same time that they were granted he was informed that his execution
would take phwe in three days.
Tli(! queen, the prince of Wales, and the duke of York were happily
abroad ; hut the primness Elizabeth and the duke of Gloucester, a cliild
not much more than three years old, were brought into the presence o(
their unhappy parent. The interview was most affecting, for, young as
the children were, they but too well comprehended the sad calamity that
was about to befal them. The king, among tlu! many exhortations which
he endeavoured to adapt to the understanding of his infant son, said, " My
cliild, they will cut off my head, and when ih('y have done that they will
want to make you king. But now mark well what I say, you must never
consent to he king while your brothers Charles and James are alive
They will cut off their heads if they can take them, and llicy will aflrr
wards cut off your head, and therefore I charge you do not be made -i
THE TUEASUIIV 01' lUdTOllY.
A91
I at, thP
Bceived
When
adshaw
\co(l by
lie mere
ore thif
ing him,
oonduet
seU-eon-
he court,
(led men
1(1 induce
nplaisant
•CCS com-
ntcncc of
re fallacy,
nonstrous
ny forces
e no less
jwn rebel-
fled by the
was loudly
II his face,
ugust pity,
generals in
f the baser
)f the belter
openly ex
isgust at the
psing on tha
[lical ofiiccr,
nant at this
,anlv insults
[Sharply told
|)g the mock
Id requested
,cre in ''■ng-
shop of Lon-
[waited him.
!, but at tlie
lis exfculiou
king by them." The noble little fellow, having listened attentively to all
that Ilia father said to him, burst into a passion of tears and exclaimed,
" I won't be a king ; I will be torn in pieces first."
Short as the interval was between the conclusion of the mock trial of
the king and his murder, great efforts were made to save him, and among
others was that of the prince of Wales sending a blank paper, signed and
sealed by himself, accompanied by a letter, in which he oTered permis-
sion to the parliament to insert whatever terms it pleased for the redemp-
tion of his father's life. But there was an under-current at work of which
both the king and his attached friends were fatally ignorant. The real
cause of the murder of Charles I. was the excessive personal terror of
Ohver Cromwell. This we state on an indisputably legitimate dcihiction
from an anecdote related by Cromwell himself; and the anecdote is so
curious and so characteristic of Cromwell tliat we subjoin it. In truth, how
broad a light does this anecdote throw on this most shameful portion
of Knglish history I
While the king was still at Windsor and allowed to correspond both
with the parliament and his distant friends, it is but too clear that lie al-
lowed the vile character and proceedings of iiis opponent to warp ills nat-
urally high character from the direct and inflexible honesty which is pro-
verbially and truly said to bo the best policy. Vacillation and a desire to
make use of subterfuge were apparent even in his direct dealinos with
the parliament, and woidd have tended to have prolonged thi; negotiations
even had the parliament been earnest in its wish for an acconuuod.ition
at a far earlier period than it really was. Out it was in his private cor-
respondence, especially with the queen, that diaries displayed the real in-
sincerity of much of his public profession. Seeing the great power of
Cromwell, and to a considerable extent divining that darnig and subtle
man's real character, Charles had not only wisely but even successfully
endeavoured to win Cromwell to his aid. There was, as yet, but lit-
tle probability that even if Charles himself were put out of the way, a
high-hearted nation would set aside the wiiole family of its legitimate
king, merely to give a more than regal despotism into tlu coarse hands
of the son of a provincial brewer ! At this period the grasping ambition of
the future protector would, in the absence of all probabiiiiy of illegirniiate-
ly acquired sovereignty, iiave been satisfied with tiie trust, lioiioi"-^,,
wealth, and power which the gratitude of iiis sovereign could have Iv--
stowed on him. Cromwell, consequently, was actually pondering t.U^:
propriety of setting up the king and becoming " viceroy over" him, when
ti\e startling truth was revealed to him, that the king was merely (!u|)ing
him, and intended to sacrifice him as a traitor when he should have d.mi!
with him as a tool. Effectually served by his spies, Cromwell, v im had
already some grounds for suspecting Charles' real designs towpids him,
received information that on a certain night a man would hin ve the Hlue
lioar in Holborn for Dover, on his way to the conlineni, and that in
the flap of his saddle a most important packet would be found, contain-
ing a voluminous letter from the king to the queen. On the night in
question, Cromwell and Ircton, in the disguise of troopers, lounged into
the Blue Boar tap, and there passed away the time in drinking lieer
and watching some citizens playing at shovel-board, until they saw the
man arrive of whom they had received an exa(;t deseiiption. Following
the man into the stable they ripped open the saddle and found the packet,
and, to his dismay and rage, Cromwell read, in the hand- writ ing of
Charles, the monarch's exultation at having tickled his vanity, and his
expressed determination to raise him for a time, only to crush him when
the opportunity should occur. From that nionicnt terror made Cromwell
inexorable ; he saw no security for his own safety exei-pt in llie complete
destruclioa of the king. Heiice the indecent and determii";d trial and
m
992
THE THKASUllYOF HISTORY
sentence; and hence, too, the absohite contempt that was shown for aU
efforts at preventing the sentent-e from being executed.
Whatever want of resolution Charles may have shown in other pas-
sages of his life, the time he was allowed to live between sentence and
execution exhibited him in the not unfrequently combined characters of
the christain and ihe hero. No invectives against the iniquity of which
he was the victim escaped his lips, and he slept the deep calm sleep
of innocence, though on each night his enemies, with a refinement upon
cruelty more worthy of fiends than of men, assailed his ears vith the
noise of men erecting the scaffold for his execution.
When the fatal morning at length dawned, the king at an early hour
called one of his attendants, whom he desired to attire him with more
than usual care, as he remarked that he would fain appear with all pro-
per preparation for so great and so joyful a solemnity. The scaffold was
erected in front of Whitehall, and it was from the central windows of his
own most splendid banqueting room that the king stepped on to the scaf-
fold on which he was to be murdered.
When his majesty appeared he was attended by the faithful and attach-
ed Dr. Juxon, and was received by two masked executioners standing
beside the block and the axe. The s(;affold, entirely covered with fine
black doth, was densely surrounded by soldiers under the command of
Colonel Tonilinson, while in the distance was a vast multitude of people.
The near and violent death that awaited him seemed to produce no effect
on tiie king's nerves. He gazed gravely but calmly around him, and said,
to all to whom the concourse of military would admit of his speaking, that
the late war was ever deplored by him, and was commenced by the par-
liament. He had not taken up arms until compelled by the warlike and
illegal conduct of the parliaivcnt, and had done so only to defend his peo-
ple from oppression, and to preserve intact the authority winch had been
transmitted to him by his ancestors. But though he positively denied that
there was any legal authority in the court by wiiich he had been tried, or
any truth in ihe charge upon which he liud been condemned and sentenced,
he ndd-'(l that his fite was a just punishment for his weakly and criminal-
ly coiisiiiting to the equally unjust execution of tlie earl of Strafford.
lie einphaiically pronounced liis forgiveness of all his enemies, named
his son a.s his successor, and expri'ssed his lio|)e that the people would
now nUurn to their duty under that prince ; and he concluded his brief
and manly addn^ss by calling upon all present to bear witness that he
died a sincen; protestant of the church of Hngland.
No one heard this address without lieing deeply moved !)y it, and even
Colonel Tondinson, who liad the unenviable task of superintending the
munler of his prince, confessed that that address had made him a convert
10 tlu! royal cause.
The roy.il martyr now began to disrobe, and, as tie did so, Dr. .luxon
said to liiin, " Sire! there is but one stage inor<s which, tlioiiiih a tiirlni-
lent and troublesome one, is still but a short one ; it will soon carry vmi
a grc:it way; it will carry yon fDin earth to heaven, and there ynu sliiiil
find, to your great joy, the prize to which yon arc hastening, a crown
of iilory."
" I ii"" replied the kini.', "where no disturbance can take place, from a
corrii|itil>le to an incorriiptihlc! crown."
"You exilinnge," rejoined Cho bishop, "a temporal for an eleriial
crown — a good exchange."
riiiirles, having now coin;iletc(l liij< preparations, delivered his decora-
tions i.i .'^1, (;('org(' to Dr. .luxon, and cmphaliiMlly pronounced the sin-
gle wind •' Rcmeinber!'' ili! then Cidinly l.nd his head upon the block
Hiid It WIS severi'd from his body at one blow ; Ihe second executiniiei
iminciliately held it up by the hair, and said, " Heboid the head of t
tritttor !"
itius,
ninth yi
execute(
vacillatji
stern en
erted at
tne traitc
to increa
subjectin
The bl(
lately fur
vile shot
tlie powfii
With fl
and his fn
so emphai
•'iixoii, am
ed to give
of the Wo
the doctor
iiier and pa
mid at the
murderers !
WlHTEVE
ccNses, llir
"'ill more (h
ll^Ollcllt to I
ii.'ilC Miiv ill
I'lii'oiiiidcd ,
■'1 the (Jrcii.
"'•' first iii.st
during. I,.,
'I'i'ler (ho ,|„
'^l 'lie Kiiiiic
'^'oiiiwi'll pr
bulll IlicK,, |,
Vielnry vm. |
A ')'. lf).')n._
•"••III fonihi
"didlls cnil'lly
nioinciii ()r,.,s(
[ii'c advciiliir
Muds of |,is
'".V'lliv, as III,
'■|'''d Cli.iilfs
''"ii'i'l lli.il 111,.,
"Ill' l/Klssil,
"I'V fllllllNll,.,
''""'■itiiv, for,
tfl'"s8i|CNs iiM'l
""• i:'''.'i. Mm
" 'S^ .111,1 |„|,y
^'OL. I.—.'M
THE TIIEASIJRY OF HISTORY. fgy
inu8, Oil the 30th of January, 1649, perished Charles I., in the forty-
ninth year of his age, and the twenty-fourth of iiis reign, lie was not
executed but murdered ; he was guilty of no crime but weakness or
vacillation of judgment ; his greatest misfortune was his want of the
Btern energy of a Henry VIll. or an Eiizaljeth; such an energy sx
erted at the beginning of his reign would have enabh.'d him to crush
tne traitorous, and would have warranted and enabled him subsequently
to increase and systematize the liberties of liis country, vvilhout danger of
subjecting it to the rude purification of a civil war.
The blood of the royal martyr had scarcely ceased to flow, before the
lately furious multitude began to repent of tiie violence which their own
vile shouts had assisted. But repentance came too hite; more than
the power of their murdered monarch had now fallen ii. o sterner hands.
Wiih that suspicion which "ever haunts the guilty inind," Cromwell
and his friends attached much mysterious imporlaiicc to the " [iKMKMnK.tt"
so emphatically pronounced by Charles on delivt'ring his Ceorge to Dr.
.luxon, and that learned and excellent man was authoritatively command-
ed to give an 'ccouiit of the king's meaning, or his ovmi uiulerstauding
of the word. To llie inexpressible mortilication of tiios(> base minds,
the doctor informed them that the king only impressed upon him a for-
mer and particular request to deliver the (JJcorge to the prince of Wales,
and at the same time to urge the command of his faliier to forgive his
murderers 1
CHAPTER LIII.
THB COMMONWEALTH.
Whatever miuht have been Cromwell's original views, his military sue-
cr>sc^, the vast iiitlucnce he had obtained ov<'r the armv
lii'rh.ipi
H\\\ more than eiiiier of these, the base and evident readiuc.ir of ihe pai
lianii'iil to inirklf to his military pcnver and meet him cveii more than
iiidt' » iiy iu his most nujusi and exorbitant wisiics, opcne 1 a iirosiiccl too
iinl'onndiMl anil templing for his ambition lo rcsi-it. Hut p.ili"y, as well
as the circumsiaiices of tlii^ time, made it iucunibent U|.i."'. ('ro'iiwi'll, m
the first instance, to exalt still higher his chanu'lcr for milil;uT skill and
daring. Ireland had a discipliiu'd host in arms for the nnal cause
under the iluke of (Innond, and large multiludis of the n.iinc Irish were
at the same lime in o|i('n rrvidl under the restless and hiiiiiy O'Neal
Crouiwi'll pi'ocuri'd tlie command of the army appointed to put down
biiili these piriiis, and fully sui-ceedcd. How mercilessly hi! used his
victiU'V we hav(! related under the proper head.
A n. 1().')0. — On the return of Cromwell lo I'uglaiid his I'oeket parlia«
meiii formally relnnied him the ihmks whii h, exeept for his needless and
ii(lieu«; ei'ueliy, he had well merited, A new (iii|'orluiiiiy at ihe sanio
ninineui presented ii^ell" for till' a(;grandizeiiient of this bidil .oid fortii-
iiile adventurer. The Seois, who had basely sidd ChaiUs 1. into tin*
li.iiiils of his enemies, were now endeavouring to niak(! n'i.M"y by venal
li'valiy, as lliey liad formerly made it by venal iri'ason. 'I'iiey had iii-
viicd Charles jl. into Seollaiid, where that gay young p.iiii- s|'«'edily
I'MiiiiJ that they lookid upon him rather I'.s a pnsimer Ihai, ,is '.'ij-ir king.
Tl
e i[io>iSiiess ii
( (heir mauuei's, aiiil the rude aeeommodiilion u uli wluell
till V fiiiiiished hini, he could probably have passed ov< r Willi'mi much
iliihi
li\', for, yoiiiig lis Cliarhs II. was, he liad alri^ady
SI I'll more «il
f
tfiiwiiiiess and |io\eily than comilionly eoines willun tile kei.i, leilue of
till' nil it. Hill Charles was frank as he was gay ; and Ihe Mi'-teie man*
n IN aii'l long and unseaRonublo discourses which they ii.lleMe I up«),i
Vou. I.— :lrt
594
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
him did not iinnoy him more than their evident determination to maun
him at the least siffcdt to agree with them. As, however, the Scon
were his only present hope, Charles did his utmost to avoid quarreling
with them ; and however they might annoy him while among them, what"
ever might be their ultimate views respecting him, certain it is that they
raised a very considerable army, and showed every determination to re-
instate liitn in his kingdom.
Even merely as being Presbyterians the Scotch were detested by Crom-
well and his independents : hut now that they had also embraced ihe cause
of "the man Charles Stuart," as these boorish English independents af-
fected to call their lawful sovereign, it was determined that a signal chiid-
tisement should bo inflicted upon them. The command of an army for
that purpose was oflFered to Fairfax, but he declined it on the honourable
ground that he was unwilling to act against Presbyterians. Cromwi'll
had no such scruple, and he innnediately set out for Scotland with an army
of sixteen thousand men, which received accessions to its iiumbitrH mi
every great town through which it inarched. Hut notwithstanding even
the military fame of Cromwell, and his too well known cruelly to all who
dared to resist him and wvrt' unfor;uiiale enough to bo vaiKpiished, tlii*
Scots boldly met his invasion. Hut !)oldne8s alone was of little avail
against such a leader as Cromwell, backed by such'iricd and cnthuhiaHtu;
soldiers as his; the two armies had scarcely joined battle when the
Scots were pii! to flight, their loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners being
very great, while the total loss of Cromwell did not exceed forty men.
As Cromwell after this battle jiursued his course northward, with the
drterniination not only to chastise, but completely and iierinanenlly to
subdue the Scots, the young king, as soon as he could r illy the ScoitJNii
army, took a resolution which showed him to have an iiiuiive knowledge
of military tactics. Making a detour to get completely char of any oiii-
lying parties of Cromwell's troops, ho commenced a forcfnl march into
England, the northern (rouniies of whiidi lay completely o|ien and defence
less. The boldness of this course alarmed a portion of tin? Scottish army,
and niiinerons desertions took place from the very (U)inineii(!emeiit of ilie
march southward ; hut as (Miarles still liad a minierous and imposing forre,
there was every reason to believe that long ere he should reach l.onddii
the great object of his ex|)edition,tli(? gentry and middle orders would lloeli
to him in such numbers as would render altogetlier out of the ijuestioii any
resistance on the jiarl of the parliament, espceiidiy in the ahsence of ( 'loiii
W(dl and the flower of the English troops. Iliit the hold maiKiMivre of the
young priu' was doomed to iiave none tif tic succ(?ss which it ho ciiii
iicntly descned. Uefori^ his progress was siillicieiit to counterhahiiice in
the minds of his suhjects the terror in which Ijiey lielil Cromwell, lliil
active commander ha(i received news of tin- yiMiiig king's niiino'uvre, ami
had instantly retrograded in pinHint ofhiin, leaviiiti: Monk, his second in
command, to completi! and inaiiitain the suliiei'lion of tiie Scotch.
There lia.s always appeared to us to lie a sinkinn resemhiaiice, which
we do not rcmcml>er to have seen noticed by any other writer, bi'lweeii
the Cromwellian and the lloimparlean systems. 'I'o cunip.ire Ihe batllcM
of Oomwtdl to th<; battles of l)on:tparte would be Iileraily to make nioiiii
tains of molehills ; yet the princi|des of these two eoimnaiiders ncciii to
IIS to have ln'i n the same, and to he siiinined up in two general inaxiiiiH,
march mpullij, and atlach in nxifies. The |ihrases are siinpje eiioiii^li iii
themselves, yet no one who has studied a single liattle-niap uilh ev< ii the
slighlest assistance from in;ilhemali(Ml science, can fiil lo jieiceive tlic
immense, we had almost sanI the mihoiinded, powers of their applii'.ilioil.
On the present occasion the cidcrity of ('romwclj was the desiriiclioii nf
llie young king's hopes. Willi an army increaHed by the terror of Inn
name to nearly forty thoumand men, (-"romw( 11 in arched southward so nip
"lly, tl
ccster
imttlo I
Cromw
every si
I'itehcr
tinged \
f<nig\ii a
himself
"poll th(
lurned h
It nppeai
Accident
liiriiod oj
»vcll'g in,
'•harh's j
sought sa
'I^io tri
hilt Ins vc
I'litiriiig g
yoiiiig kiii
^foin the f
money am
"ither on i
"I'liged to
••mint of hi
''•'iidereil,
"i«ht, and
''lllhflllly ,]
''•ly-linie acj
Oil oiieoec
'limhcd iiii(
fohagi!, ho
""•III expn
'"» eapturo
minierous
Irnih, ChnrI
'"Ml ;iii||
'"'oil of Ji
""' .ilmogt
"ii'<ed lo n.
dlfleieiil di«
'"•'lit from
'"'ventures
li'lliaiiee th,,,
liiiiiiaii lieiiijr
Ihlie he \v(|s
"''' ly <iii III
"' I'liveiKiin
""'" and woi
dining that i
•he Hccrct, tl
""' life, and
^ ''roinweli,
'''OHriiinK II
"'"•ni hi I,„„
■'"«". I'y the
XV i
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
806
idly, that he absolutely shut up the forces of Cliarles in the city of Wor-
iTster ore they had time to break from tlieir quarters and form m order of
linltlo it) some more favourable situation. The irresistible cavalry ol
Cromwell burst suddenly and simultaneously in at every gate of the town ;
rvvry street, almost every house became tne instant scene of carnage ; the
I'itchcroft was literally strewed with the dead, while the Severn was
tinged with the blood of the wounded ; and Charles, after having bravely
fought as a common soldier, and skilfully, though unsuccessfully, exerted
himself as a commander, seemed to have no wish but to throw himself
upon the swords of his enemies. It was with difficulty that his friends
turned him from his desperate purpose, and even when tiiey had done so
It appeared to be at least problematic'l whether he would be able to escape.
Accident, or the devotion of a peasant, caused a wain of hay to be over-
turned opposite to one of the gales of the city in such wise that Crom-
well's mounted troops could not pasa, and, favoured by this circumstance,
Cliarles mounted a horse that was held for him by a devoted friend, and
gougiit safety in flight.
'nio triumph of Cromwell was completed with this battle of Worcester,
but Ins vengeful desire was not yet laid to rest; and under his active iind
untiring superintendance prodigious exertions were made to capture the
young king, whose difficulties, in fact, only commenced as he escaped
from the confusion and the carnage of Worcester. Almost destitute of
money and resources of every kind, and ir.iving reason to fear an enemy,
"ither on principle or from lucre, in every man whom he met, Charles was
obliged to trust for safety to disguise, wliich was the more difficult on ao
count of his remarkable and striking features. Three poor men, named
I'enderell, disguised him as a woodcutter, fed him, concealed him by
night, and subsequently aided iiiin to rcacrh wealthier though not more
liiitlifiiUy devoted friends. While with these poor men, Charles in the
day-lime accompanied them to their place of labour in Boscobel wood.
On 0111! occasion, on hearing a party of soldiers approach, the royal fugitive
I'liinbrd into a large and spreading oak, where, s'ueltered by its friendly
foliage, ho saw the solders nass and repass, and quite distinctly heard
tlieiii (^xpr(!ss their rude wishes to obtain the reward that was offered for
Ills capture. Thanks to the incorruptible fidelity of the Penderelis and
iniinerous other pi^rsons who wen; neccH.sarily made acqu.iinted with the
(riilii, t'liarles, though he endured great occasional hardship and priva-
tum and was necessarily exposed to consi;iiil anxiety, eluded every
ellort of his almost innumerable pursuers, urged on tlioush lliey were to
till! iitmost activity by the malignant liberality with which ( roinwell pro
iiilHed to reward tlie traitor who should arrest his fugitive king. Under
liillereiil tlmguises, and protected by a variety of persons, tli<' young king
went from place to place for six weeks, wanting only one day, and his
iiiiveiilures and liair-breadth eseajjcs during that time read fir more liko
nnnaiH'e than the history of what aetii.illy was endured and survived by a
liiiiuiin lieiiigjiersccuti'il by evil or inisgiiided men. At the end of this
lime Ui\ wuM fortunate enough to get on board a viissi I which landed liiin
H i' ly (III llie coast of Norn.atidyi an is.iue to so long and varied a series
■ 'I ailveiitiireH which is more remarkable when it is considered that forty
men and women, of various stations, eireiimstanees, and dispositions, were
dining lliiit terrible season of his fliulii, iieeessarily maije acquainted vith
'lie secret, the betrayal of which would have made any one of them opulent
TiM' life, and infamous forever.
Cromwell, in the meantime, after having achieved what he called the
"eiowiiing meiey" of the victory of Worcester, made a sort of triiimphii
reliirii to rioiidoii, where he was met with the pomp due only to a sovc
I'lgii, by the speaker and principal i» u.ucrs nf the houco of eommui./
69G
THii^ TKB,ASU11Y OF HISTORY.
and the mayor and other nin ;istratos of London in their state habits and
paraphernalia.
General Monk had been left in Scotland with a suffitrient force to keep
that turbulent people in awe ; and both their presbytorianism and the in:-
minent peril in which (Charles' bohl nuinrli of the Scottish army had
placed Cromwell himself and that "coimnonwealth" of which he was iv.fW
fuUv determined to be the despot, had so enraged Cronnvell against that
country, that he seized upon his first hour of leisure to (jomplete its de-
gradation, as well as submission. Ilis complaisant parliament only re-
quired a hint from him to pass an act which might have been fitly (Miouifh
entitled "an act for the belter punishment and prevention of Scottish loy-
ally." Hy this net royalty was declared to be abolished in Scotland, a?
it had previously li^i n in Kngland, and Scotland itself wns declared to be
then annexed to Kn^'iand as a couciiiest and a |)rovin('e of "tiie coinnion-
wealth." Cromwell's hatred of the Scoicli, however, proceeded no farilu^
than insult; fortimately lor Ilieui, Monk, who was left as their rrsi-
dent g"neral or military governor, was a prudent and in)|)artlal man, Ircc
fro"' all the worst fanaticism and wickedness of the time; and his rii;ld
impartiality at once disposed the people to peace, and intimiilated the
English judges who were entrusted wiili the distribution of justice in thai
country, from beinjr guilty of any injustice or tyranny to which ihey might
otherwise have been inclined. Knoland, Scotland, and Ireland — where
Ireton and Ludlow had completed the very little that Cromwell had left
undone— were thus eirectually subjected to a parliament of sixty men,
many of whom were the weakest, as many more of them were the wick-
edcsi, the most ignorant, and the most fanatical men that could have Immii
found in Kngland even in hat age. So says history, if we look at it with
a merely superficial glance. Bui, in trulli, the hats which covered the
heads of thos(> sixty men had fully as much concern as the men themselves
in the wonderfully riipid and coiiiplele subjugation of tlire<! eouutries, Iwo,
of which had next'r been otherwise than turbulent and sanguinary, and
the third of which liiid jiisl mnrdcred its sovereign and driven his legal
successor into exile. .\o; il was not by tiie fools and the fanatics, care-
fully weeded out of the most foolish and I uialiiMl of parliaments, that all
this great though evil work was iloiie. Ilnscen. save hy the few, but felt
throMgliout the whole lliiglish doiiuiiioii, Cromwell dictat'-d every
measure and inspired every s|ieeeli of that parliament which to li^e eyes
of the vulgar sei'uied so omiii|io!eiii. Mis s;ii,'aeily ami his em rgy did
nmch, anil his known viiidictiveiiess ;iiid iiidoniit.ihle lirtnnesg did the rest .
those who op|)osed failed befori^ his powers, and their failure mlimidated
others into voluntary submission. The eli;iniiel isIhiuIs and the .Scottish
isles were easily subilued on accoiini of ilieir proximity; the .\nierican
colonies, though some of them at tlie outset declared for tin- royal c;iiise,
immhered so many enlhiisinstii' religious disseiiirrs aiiioug their po|iula-
tioiiJ, iIkiI they, loo, speedily siibinilled to and roMowcd the example and
oriiers of the new ly am' gmliily foiiiKJcd "('oininoinve.ilih" of Knglaiiil.
While :dl Ibis was being aehieved, the real "xovernnirnt of I'liiglaud was
ni llie bauds of Croinweil, though, iii form, there w.is a ciniin'il of ihirly-
I'iglil, to wlioin all adilres>-es and pelilions were presented, and who bad.
nominally, the inanatnin; of (lie army ami navy, and the right and respon
»ibility of making war and peace. The real moviiig-priucipje of this po-
'.enl council was the mmil of Ciomwell. /iiid, while we deiioiini'e ihe
flagrant bypoensy of Ins preleusions lo a superior sanctity, ami his iraiio.
rous eonteiupt ef all his ilulies as a siiUji >'t, niipiriial triilh demands that
we admit that never was ill olil iiiied power better w iejdcd. NeM after
the petty and cruel |ierseeiiiiou of iiidix idiials, iiouiinallv on pullic groiie.iN
but really in revenge of private inpnies, a political speciil.itor woiilil in-
rallibly and very mitur.dly predict thai a poor and, riMuparativciy spi akiiig
i^ 'M^f
THE TRKASUHY OF HISTOUY.
597
and
keep
\e. ini-
y had
9 I: -w
il Ihat
lift <\e-
nly re-
sh l»'y-
iiiiuU as
.i\ to be
, f,\ril»«r
Ml- rcsi-
\MU li'-f
li\s ri«i<l
illtM\ tli>'
.,. ill Hull
icv i"iS*>l
l__\v\»i'r*".
I ha>l I'fl
iXiy »»''"'
U\e wiok-
li-.ive liifi*
!U il wiU)
,voro<\ till!
hcnisflvos
nirn's. tw(s
binary, «"'
II his h'^'»
;iUfs. fi'r''-
iits, tlv.il all
•vv, h«l f''lt
[il.a t'Vfvy
|,o li"' ••v'-';
cm rgy i"'»
ihatU'-ri-slj
iniiiuulatod
L, MiwTH-an
Voval <••»"*"■•
Ihcir p<M"i'"-
x.dui'l"' '"'"
Kntllaivl.
.-.iiulaii'l ^^■•"'
•il of ili'rty-
l„,l who li.i.l.
;inil vi'-^l'oa
.,• of ll'is |«)-
||,.i\ouin'<' o"'
nil hi-* <<aiii«-
Mri\i;iii'l'' "'■'*
Next nlli't
.mllu'tir"'"'''''
U,r woiilil II'-
k,lvHi»akiM';
low-born private man, like Cromwell, bcinjf suddenly invested with so
vast a jmwer over a gnvdt and \v(!altliy nation, would make his illuequired
Hiillioriiy an infaniuns and es|)"cial scourge in tiie finHiicial departniunt.
But, to llie honour of Cromwell he it said, there is nu sinurlu period in our
history duriny; wliieli the public (iuanees have been so well managed, and
administered with so entire a freedom from ffreedy dishonesty and waste,
lis diirinu; this strange man's strange administration. It is quite true that
the crown revenues and the lands of the bishops were most viohiiitly and
shamefully seized tipon by tliis government, but they were not, as miulit
have been anlicipated, squandered upon 'lie gratification of private individ-
uals. These, wiili a farther l(!vy upon the national resources thai amounted
to only a hundred and twenty tliousanil pounds |)er month, supplied tlie
wliole demands of a government which not only maintained peace In its
own oommonwealth and dependencies, but also taught foreigners that,
under whatever form of government, England still knew how to make
herself f<'ared, if not respected.
Holland, by ils protection of the royal party of Kngland, had given deep
offence to Cromwell, who literally, "as the hart pantetli for cool v.aleis,"
panted for the blood of Charles II. "Whom wt; have injured we nevej
forgive," says a |>liilosophic satirist ; and <'roinweirs haired of Charles 11.
was a good exemplification of the sad truth. Hating Holland for her gen-
erous shelter of llie royalists, Cromwell eagerly seized upon two events,
wbicli might just as W(!ll have happened in any other country under the
liciiven, as a pretext for making war upon that country.
'I'lu' cireniiistances to wliieh we allude were these. At the lime of the
mock trial that preceded the shameful murder of tiie late king, Doctor l)o-
rislaiis, the reader will remembi^r, was one of the "assistants" of (;oke,
llie "solicitor for the people of Kngland." Undi-r the governinenl of the
"eomnionweallir' this mere hireling was sent as its envoy to Holland. A
royalist whose own fierce passions made him forget that it is written
" vengeance is mine. I will repay, saitii the Lord," and who would set; no
(lilVerence betwee .lie rnltian who actually wields the instruinciit, and the
mure ariful but no icss aliominahle rulU.in who instigal<'s or hires the ac-
lu.il assassin, put Dorislaus to death. No sane man of sound (Christian
pniiciples can justify this act; but how was llulland concerned mil!
'I'lie saiiK' man with the same opportunity would doubtless havi; commit-
ted the saiiK^ act in the puritan stale of New-Kiigland : and to make a
wlioU) nation answerable in their blood ami their treasure for tlie miinler-
oiis act of an individual who had taken shelier among them was an ab-
suniiiy as well us an alrocily. The other case winch served ('romwell
as a pretext for ileclaring war agiinst Holland w.is, that Mr. St. John,
wlio was subse(|Ui ntly sent on an embassy to Holland, received some
priiy insult from the friends of the prince of OiM'igi' I Ihit, alas! it is
not alone iisur/i<il tiovernmenis that funiish us with t.iese practical com-
mentaries on the fable of the wolf and the lamb!
The great naval commander (d tins iiiiie w is Admiral Ulake. Though
he did not enter the s,a service until very late in life, he was a |>erfe(l
master of i.:i^'al tactics, and Ins daring and firmness of character could
not be mipassed. When the w.ir was declared against Holland he pro-
reeded to sea to oppose tlie powei of the Diileli admiral, Von Tromp.
The actnms bftweeii them were numerous ami in in.my cases tolerably
e(|iial, but tlie general result of the war w,is so nil is to tlie trading in-
terests of the Dmeli. that they anxiouslv ilesired Ihe return of peace.
Uui thoiigli II was ehielly the personal fi'elmg and personal energy of
Cromwell thai had eoiniireneed llns war, his hUherlo patieiil iiid obsetpn
mis Utit's. the p.nli.iment, now exerled thenisidves lo pridon the w,ir at
»rH, hoping thus to weaken thai power of the army, wielded by Cromwell
wliicli of late they had felt to a seiircelv tulerable degree.
HH..I
!
p
r:
'I!
698
THE TREASUllY OK II'STOIIY
But effectual resistance o:; tlie part oi rhu pvrliainnht Wiis iu>v, whoU]'
out of the question; they hiil too well done iiio work (<f t\w usur- r, who
was probably not ill-pleased Ui.it their pr^ st ti' petty an ! futile alt< .npt at
opposing hmi gave him :•■ pretext for crus)iui<- "ven the last leniblance of
their free will out of exislencr. jiut though ho had fully deternniied upon
a new and decisive mode of overrulinij them, Oromwell initiated it vith
his usual art and tortuous procs dure. He well kne\v that tho commons
hated the arniy, wtu'id fain have t!' ibanded it, if possible, and u'juht on
no account do aught that could increase either its powrror its well-bejiii';
on the oUii'r hand, ii'; was equally aware that the aoMier^ I. ad maDv real
grievHi;oes to complain of, ar/'. also entertained noi a l.-v prejiHlices
again: i\n- cop-imons. To (,'inbriil them in an open .juiiir''!, iiiul Jiftii,
seemiiiu;!/ as II , merely cympathizing redresser of iho wronged sol-
diery, to use tliciu to crush liie parliament was the course he determined
upon.
A. D. 165.!. -i'romwtll, with that rugged but efficient eloquence which
ho -'» well ".new how V.i use, urged the officers of the armv no longer to
suili r 'hi-niielves and their men to labour under grievanc-s unredressed
and ari'^ars unpaid, at the mere will an I pleasure of the s- Ifish civilians
for whom they had fought and conquered, but remonstrate ui terms which
those se!fi-!h persons could not misunderstand, and whii '; would wring
justice froin their fears. Few things could have been suirjjiisted which
would have been more entirely agreeable to liie wishes ol ilie ofliccr.-i.
T';ey drew up a petition — if we ought not rather to call it a K'litonstraiuc
— n which, after demanding redress of grievan(';'s and payment >)f arrcar.s,
thty taunted the parliament with having formerly made fine j)rofessi()ns
of their determination so to remodel that assembly as to extend and in
sure liberty to all ranks of men, and with having for years continued to
sit without making a single advance towards the performance of these vol-
untary pledges. The house acted on this occasion with a spirit which
would have been admirable and honourable in a genuine house of com-
nions, but which savoured somewhat of the ludicrous when shown by lui'ii
who, (ionsciously and deliberately, had, year after year, been the men; and
servile tools of (Cromwell and his pretorians. It was voted not only thai
this petition should not be complied with, but also that any person who
shmild in future present any sucli petition should be deemed guilty of lii;;li
treason, aiul a committee was appointed imiuedialely to prepare an ai'l in
conforujity to this resoluiion. Tlu; officers nresiMited a warm reniDii-
8tranc(! upon th;s treatment of their petition ; the house still more warmly
replied ; and it was soon very eviilent tli;ii both partes were aniinatcil by
the utmost aiiiino ity to each other. Cromwell now saw that his hour
for action had arrived. Me svas sitting in council with some of his oili-
cers when, doubtless in obedience to his own secret orders, inttdligeiicc
was brought to him of the violent temper and designs of the house. * /uh
well acted astoiiisliinent and uncontrollable rage he started from In.-^ scat,
and exclaimed that the misconduct of these men at leiiyth comiiellnl liiiii
to do a thing which made the hair to stand on end upon his head. II, is
lily assembling three liiiiu'red soldiers he iinmedialely proceeded to the
house of commons, which he entercil, irovcred, and followi '' liy as inaiiv
of the troops as could enter. Uefore any rcinonstranci^ could be oUcre I,
Cromwell, stanij iig upon the ijround, as in an (\:stacy of sudden passion,
exclaimed, "For .shame! (Jet ye gone and uive place to honest'T imn'
y<ni are mi> ' '..gcr a parliament, I tell ye ynu are no longer a parliamrni."
Sir Harry Vane, a bold and honest man, tlioiigli a half insane enilni.siisi,
now rose and denoiini'ed ('romwell's conduct as indecent and tyraiiii a .
" Ha!" exclaimed Cromwell, " Sir Harry ' Oh! Sir Harry V-,,,! the
Lord deliver me fnun Sir Harry Vam I" Then Inrniii^' (irsl !• oiii prom-
inent member of this lately siirvile parliaineni ami llieii to luiotlicr, lie
■n
?1
1
\"
Ih
Jij
H
if;
u
1
1
^1
'i^:
f
ffiw|
^h)^
if
1
Ir
' t:
[i
«s>' I
kf
t'
ii. i
dealt ou
whoreriK
men by \
Buffering
the doors
A serv
poses of
"the ruin
sible, surf
fanuticisii;
words, an
lions of til
was the 1
Barebones
wiiole of ti
own house
incapacity
periously i
multitude,
ashamed ol
concurrene
hail, and w
But many o
their incap;
not to be hu
one of their
one way of
guards, nndi
nouse. Oh
rtud profanil
'ion. Coloi
-hair, add res
Joing there.
"Xeckinir
"Tiien,"r
ban tile otb
certain know
Having- n
<ary to his pc
arbitrary an
sense must
meat, boldly
establish a
at once the
was highly
usual agents i
of the conin-,(
''tauding' as tc
llie appointm
'lie formality
Tiie militai
mere name, I
his council fr,
'he then very
iVow that h
dually, at the
army should
of the people
THE TKEASURY OP HISTORY.
S09
dealt out in suecessinn the titles of rrluttoii, drunkard, adult^irer, and
whoremonger. Iluving given this, probably, very just description of the
men by whose means he had so long and so tyranniciilly governed the
BufTering nation, he literally turned " the rump" out of the house, locked
the doors, and carried away the key in his pocket.
A servile parliament being the most convenient of tools for the pur-
poses of despotism, Cromwell, when lie had thus summarily got rid of
" the rump," very soon proceeded to call a new parliament, which, if pos-
sible, surpassed even that in the qualities of brutal ignorance and ferocious
fanaticism. A practice had now become general of taking scriptural
words, and in many cases, whole scriptural sentences or catiting imita-
tions of tiiem, for Christian names ; and a fanatical leather-seller, who
was the leading man in this fanatical parliament, named Praise-God
Barebones, gave liis name to it. The utter ignorance displayed by the
whole of the members of Barebones' parliament even of the forms of their
own house, the wretched drivelling of their speeches, and their obvious
incapacity to understand the meaning of what tiiey were secretly and im-
periously instructed to do, excited so much ridicule even from the very
multitude, that the less insane among the mem' rs themselves became
ashamed of their pitiable appearance. A small .. ler of these, with the
concurrence of Rouse, their speaker, waited upon Jromwell at White-
hall, and wisely tendered their resignation, which he willingly received.
But many of this precious parliament were far from being convinced of
their incapacity or willing to resign their authority. They determined
not to be hound by tiie decision of the seceders, and proceeded to elect
one of their number, named Moyer, as their speaker. Cromwell had but
one way of diialing with this sort of contumacy, and he s ;nt a party of
guards, under the command of Colonel White, to clear ;ie parliament
nouse. On this occasion astri-.ng instance occurred of tf)3 mingled cant
and profanity which then so disgustingly abounded in conirnon conversa-
tion. Colonel White, on entering the house and seein t Moyer in the
ihair, addressed him and asked what he and the other members were
loing there.
" Seeking the Lord," replied Moyer, in the cant of his tribe.
" Then," replied the colonel, wiili a profane levity still more disgusiing
han the other's cant, "you had better go seek him elsewhere, for to my
:ertain knowledge he has not been here these many years."
Having now fully ascertained the complete devotion of the mili-
tary to his person, and sufflciently accustomed the people at large to his
arbitrary and sudden caprices, Cromwell, whoso clear and masculine
sense must have loathed tiic, imbecility and fanaticism of the late parlia-
ment, boldly proceeded to lispcnse with parliaments altogether, and to
establish a pure and open mihiary government, of which he was himself
at once the head, heart, and hand. The formation of the new government
was highly characteristic of (Cromwell's peculiar policy. Through hi,«
usual agents he induced the officers of the army to declare him protector
of the comn-onwcalth of Kngland ; and that there might be no mlsunder-
stamJmg as to tl.^j substantial royalty of the office thus conferred on him,
the appointment was proclaimed in London and other chief towns with
(he formality and publicity usual on proclaiming the accession of a king.
The military officers having thus made Cromwell king in all but (he
mere name, he gratefully proceeded to make them his ministers, choos.ug
his council from among the griieral officers, an('! allowing each councillol
the then very lioeral .salary of one thousand pounds per annum.
Now that he was ostriu'ibly, as for a long time before h"! had been vir-
lually, at the head of affairs, the policy of Cr'-mwell required that the
army should be well taken care of. While there was yet any possibility
of the people clamouring for a parliament, and of a parliament making
«00
THE TllEASUHY OF HI3T0HY.
any show of n sislaiiue to his inordinate pretensif ns, the discontent of the
army was ii wcajjon of price to him. Now me case was completely
alt(u-ed, ;)iiii instead of allowing the pay of the i.rmy to fall into arrears,
he had .very olHcer and man constantly paid one month in advance.
Libera' in all that rilated to real public service, as the providing of arms,
furnisliinfT the magazines, and keepiiig tl\e fleet in serviceable repair, he
yet was the deteriniiied fo(! of all useless expense.
But llionsfh liie iron hand of Cromwell kept the people tranquil at
nonie, and maintained tlie hi<rh character of the nation abroad, he h id
not long obtained the protectorate ere he began to suffer the penalty of
ins crimmal ambition. To the royalists, as the murderer of their fortner
king, iind as the chief obstacle to the restoration of their present one, he
was of course halcl'ul; and the sincere republicans, including not otily
Fairfax and many other nieti of public ituportance and (^laracter, but also
a tnultitude of persons in all ranks of private life, and some of his own
nearest and dearest cotme.\ions, saw in him otily a worse than legitimate
king. The consequence was, that numerous plots, of more or less im-
porlaiK'e and extent, were formed against him- Hut he was himself ac-
tive, vigilant, and penetrating; atid as he was profiice in his rewards to
those wiK) afforded iiim valuable infortnation, no one was ever more ex-
actly served by spies. He seemed to know men's very thoughts, so
rapid and minute was the information which he in fact owed to this, in
his circumstances, wise liberality. No sootier was a plot fortned than he
knew who were coticertied iti it; no sooner had the consnir-'prs .!> l. i ■
mined to proceed to action than they letirned to their cost, that their own
lives were at the disposal of him whose life tliey had aimed :it.
With regard to the war in which the nation was eng:'.ged, it may be re-
marked, tliat all the efl'orts of the Dutch failed to save them fioin suffer-
ing sinirely uiidfr the vigorous and determined attacks of Blake. De-
feated again and again, and finding their trade paralyzed in e- ery direc-
tion, tliey at length became so dispirited that they sued for peace, and
treated as a soveretgn the man whom, hitherto, they had very justly treat-
e<l as a usurper. Iti order to oiitain peace, tliey agreed to restore consid-
erable terri'.ory which, during the reii;n of Cliarles I., they had torn from
the East India Coin[)any, to cease to advocate or advaiii^e the cause of
the nnfortuiiate Chiulcs II., and to [lay homage on every sea to the flag
of the comtnoDwealth.
While we give all due credit to Cromwell as the ruler under whom
the Dutch wi;re thus huiribled, and make due allowance for the value of
his prompt and liberal supplies to the admiral and fleet, we must not,
either, omit to remember tiiat the nnil humbler of the Dutch was the
jrtiilant Admiral lilake. Tliis fine English seaman was avowedly and
notoriously a repiililicaii in primiple, and. being so, he could not but be
opposed to the usurpation by ('romwtdl of a more than kingly power.
But at sea, and with ;ui enemy's lleet in sight, the gallant Blake I'cmein-
bert'd only his country, and caicd nnihiiig about who rul"d it. On such
occasions he would say to his seamen, " No matter into whose hands the
iaverninent may fall, our duly i>. still to fight lor our country."
With France in negotiation, as with llollaud in open war, England un-
der Cromwell was successful The sagacious Cardinal Mazarine, who
was then in power in France, clearly saw that the protector was moie
easily to be managed by fialtery and deference than by any attempts at
violence, and there wer<' few crowned heads tli;it w(.'re treated by Krance,
uii(l(!r Mazarine, with lialf the respect which it la\ ished upon " Protector"
('romw(dl of Fnoland. This prudent conduct of the French minister
probably sav(.'(l nuicli blood and treasure to both nations, for alllioiiuh
(Cromwell's discerning mind and steadfast temper would not allovv ol
his sacrificing any of the Bubatantial advantages of England to thi
ftlie
eiely
•ears,
UlU'P-
iirms,
lir, liP
uW ut
le Vi »il
lUy of
[oriner
)i>e, lie
)i o\\\y
111 also
is own
riiimiiie
ess im-
sflf ac-
,av(is to
u>re ex-
g\its, so
this, in
1 tliaii be
;r5 ,;. U.r-
heir own
lay be ro-
)in sufTer-
iike. 1>L'-
diroc-
pry
eace,
8tly
imd
treat-
ill-
cons
torn from
e i:
aiise
to the flag
|der whom
,; value of
nuist not,
Ih was
Iwedly
the
and
not but be
[crly pow
er.
Ike icinem-
On such
hands the
1
i;n<Tland un-
ho
inoie
lit
;anne,
was
altiMupl*^
liv Kr.ini'i'i
• Proti'Ctor"
eh niinislcr
for alllumgr'
lot allow
land to
thi
11
ffl' Mr
¥
WLi
HJ|iHMr< 1
1 Iffilh: 1
IB'
si^ml ^
d'
iif
p.
&
Boothings antl
tlispused liiiiir
taiU pniuis, ii||
hKve rt'siaied
Spain, wliid
powerful as tl
come considul
considered it t|
the caune of
and the protecl
depressing SpJ
of the Nelherll
tiie Spaniards ;
pnt Dunkirk, lal
But the victol
experienced m
ilie Dutcii war
spread his pers(
ably supported
where the Engl
the crusaders, 1
it witii him, and
and reputation
injuries which h
A. D. 1655.— T
pean countries,
Blake now proci
Algiers was sooi
attention of Bla
bade him look at
slaiitly took him
of the shipping t
the Spaniards. .
of the enormous
for tlie Canaries,
sixteen sail. Aft
he sank so rapidl
he expired just a
While Blake h
self in one quartt
rying about four i
ject of this expe(
Spaniards were i
failed. Resolvet
the admirals now
pletely surprised
sioii of by our tn
tie was the value
been drawn — at t
compensation for
sent to the Tow
A. D. 16.58.— Bi
ing to a close. 1
must have appea:
orate, been one 1
we iiave already
royalists, detesle
itv and life. H
THE THKA3URY OF HISTORY.
601
soothings and fliittories of the FnMicli iniiiisler, tliey, unquestionably,
disposed him to docility and coinphiisnnco upon ninny not vitally impor-
tant points, upon which, had they been at all haughtily pressed, he would
have resisted even to the extremity of going to war.
Spain, which, in the reign of Elizabeth, and even later, had been so
powerful as to threaten to unite all Europe in submission, had now be-
come considerably reduced. Hut Cromwell, wisely, as we think, still
considered it too powerful, and as far more likely than France to espouse
the caufie of Charles II., and thus be injurious to the common wealth
and the protector. Accordingly, being solicited by Mazarine to join in
depressing Spain, he readily furnished six thousand men for the nivasion
of the Netherlands, and a signal victory was with this aid obtained over
the Spaniards at Dunes, In return for this important service the French
put Dunkirk, lately taken from the Spaniards, into his hands.
But the victory of Dunes was the least of the evils that the Spaniards
experienced from the enmity of Cromwell. Blake, whose conduct in
the Dutch war had not only endeared him to Kiiglund, but had also
spread his personal renown throughout the world, was most liberally and
ably supported by the protector. Having sailed up the Mediterranean,
where the English flag had never floated above a fleet since the time of
the crusaders, he completely swept that sea oif all that dared to dispute
it with him, and then proceeded to Leghorn, where his mere appearance
and reputation caused the duke of Tuscany to make reparation for divers
injuries which had been inflicted upon tlie English traders thfere.
A. D, 1655. — The trading vessels of England, as, indeed, of all Euro
pean countries, had long suffered from the Tunisians and Algerines, and
Blake now proceeded to call those barbarians to account. The day ol
Algiers was soon brought to reason; but the dey of Tunis, directing the
attenticMi of Blake to the strong castles of Goletta and Porto Farino,
bade him look at them and then do his worst. The English admiral in-
stantly took him at his word, sailed into the harbour, burned the whole
of the shipping that lay in it, and sailed triumphantly away in quest of
the Spaniards. Arrived at Cadiz he took two galleons, or treasure-ships,
of the enormous value of two millions of pieces of eight, and then sailed
for the Canaries, where he burned and sunk an entire Spanish fleet of
sixteen sail. After this latter action he sailed for England to refit, where
he sank so rapidly beneath an illness which had long afflicted him, that
he expired just as he reached home.
While Blake had been thus gallantly and successfully exerting him-
self in one quarter, another fleet under admirals Venables and Feiiii, car-
rying about four thousand land forces, left the British shores. The ob-
ject of this expedition was to capture the island of Hispaniola, but the
Spaniards were so well prepared and superior, that this object entirely
failed. Resolved not to return home without having achieved something,
the admirals now directed their course to Jamaica, where they so com-
pletely surprised the Spaniards, that that rich island was taken posses-
sion of by our troops without the necessity of striking a blow. So lit-
tle was the value of the island — from which so much wealth has since
been drawn — at that time understood, that its capture was not deemed a
compensation for the failure as to Hispaniola, and both the admirals were
sent to the Tower for that failure.
A. D. 1658. — But the splendid successes of Cromwell were now draw-
ing to a close. His life, glorious as to the unthinking and uninformed it
must have appeared, had from the moment of his accepting the protect-
orate, been one long series of secret and most harassing vexations. As
we have already pointed out, both extremes, the republicans and the
royalists, detested him, and were perpetually plotting agaiiisil hia author-
ity and life. His own wife was thought to detest the guilty stale in
sO''- ■
603
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
which thoy lived ; and it is certain that both his eldest daughter, Mrs
Fleetwood, and iiis favourite child, Mrs. Claypole, took every opportunity
of maintaining tiie respective principles of their husbands, even in the
presence of their father. Mrs. Fleetwood, indeed, wont beyond her hus-
band in zeal for republicanism, while Mrs. Claypole, whom the protector
loved with a tenderness little to have been expected from so stern a man,
was so ardent in the cause of monarchy, that even on her death-bed she
upbraided her sorrowing father with the death of one sovereign and the
usurpation which kept his successor in exile and misery. The soldiery,
too, with whom he had so often fought, were for the most part sincere,
however erring, in their religious professions, and could not but be deeply
disgusted when they at lengtii perceived that his religious as well as re-
publican professions had been mere baits to catch men's opinions and
support. Tie was thus left almost without a familiar and confidential
friend, while n the midst of a people to \,'hom he had set the fearful ex-
ample of achieving an end, although at the terrible price of shedding in
noeent blood.
Frequent conspiracies, and his knowledge of the general detestation in
which his conduct was held, at length shook even his resolute mind and
iron frame. He became nervous and melancholy; in whichever direc-
tion he turned his eyes he imagined he saw an enemy. Fairfax, whose
lady openly condemned the proceedings against the king in Westminster
Hall at the time of the mock trial, had so wrought upon her husband,
that he alloweii himself to league with Sir William Waller and other
cniiuent men at the head of the presbytcriim parly to destroy the pro-
tector. With all parlies in the state thiw furions against him, Cromwell
now, too, for the first time, found himself fearfuhy straiu'htened for money.
His successes against the Spaniards had been splendid, indeed, but such
splendours were usually expensive in the end. With an exhausted treas-
ury, and debts nf no inconsiderable amount, he began to fear the conse-
quence of what seemed inevitable, his falling in arrears with ;lie soldiery
to whom he owod all his past success, and upon whose good will alojic
rested his slender hope of '"uture security. Just as he was tortured wel
nigii to insanity by these threatening circumstances of his situation. Col-
onel Titus, a zealous republican, who had bravcdy, however erioneously
fought against the late king, and who was now thoroughly disgusted uik'
indignant to see tl:e plebeian king-killer practising more tyranny than the
murdered monarch had ever been guilty of, sent forth his opinions in a
most bitterly eloquent pamphlet, bearing the ominous title of " Killing
NO MuHDEH. ' Seltii f out with a brief reference to what b d been done
in the case of (what lie, as a reiuiblican, called) kinglu tyra ■ :y, tlie col-
onel vehemently insisK d that it was not merely a right, but a positive
dey to slay the plebeian usurper. " Shall we," said the idoqueiit de-
claiiiier, "shall wc, who struck down the lion, cower before the wolfl"
Cromwell read this eloquent and immoral reasoning — iiirnoral, we siy,
for crniie can r -vcr justify more criirie — and never was again seen to
snnlo. TIk! i vonsiiess of his body and the horror of his mind weri'
now redoul'li'd. He doubted not that this feiirless and plausible pamphint
woiilil fall into the hands of some cnthiiitiuii who would he nerved tu
frenzy l>y it. He wore armour beneath his clothed, and constantly car-
riiil pistols with him, never travelled twice by the same road, and rarely
uleiit more than a second night in the same ch.imiter. Tlioiigli he was
always stroni^ly guanleil, such was the wretcheiliiess of Ills siliiaiion tliat
even this did not insure his safety; for where more probably than ainDim
the faimliciil soldiery could an asHassin Ix- fniiiid 1 Alone, he fell into iiii'l-
anelioly ; in eoinpany, he was iiiich.'ered ; and if strangi^rs, of howcvcf
high eharai'tor, appro:ti'lied somewhat close to his person, it was in a tout
THE TRRA8URY OF HISTORY.
603
r, Mrs
3riuniiy
\ in the
her hus-
irotector
11 a mail,
-bed she
I and the
soldiery,
I sincere,
be deeply
^ell as re-
nions and
onfidential
fearful ex-
ledding in
estalion in
} mind and
ever direc-
•fax, whose
Vestminsiei
er husband,
r and olhci
:oy the pro-
n, CroinweU
.1 for money,
ied, but such
ausied treas-
ir the eonsc-
I the soldiery
od will alone
tortured we
iilualion. Col-
rr.oneously.
lisjrustcd an'
idiiiiy tlian the
[opinions in a
' of " KlU.lNO
J been done
. • .y. i'-^' '■''^'
,ut a positive
floquoiil _de-
\\w wolfV
Inoral, wo aiy-
Uain seen to
L minil wetc
siblo panip d"
' be iHTved ii»
poiwlaiilly eat-
|;,ul, and rarely
'honnh he «'«
,sHiuiaiionUi;i>
,\y ih:m ain>"'«
be fell "It" ""''•
hrs, of howv'
,t was in a i"»«
less indicative of anger than of actual and ajronizing terror that he bade
them stand off.
The strong constitution of Cromwell at length gave way beneath this
iccumulation of horrors. He daily became thinner and more feeble, and
ire long was seized with a tertian ague, which carried him off in a week, in
:he ninth year of his unprincipled usurpation, and in the fifty-ninth of his
ige, on the third of Septeruber, 1659.
A. D. 1659. — Though Cromwell was delirious from the effects of his
mortal illness, he had a sufficiently lucid interval to allow of his putting the
crowning stroke to his unparalleled treason. This slayer of his lawful
•overeign, this mere private citizen, who had only made his first step
from extreme obscurity under pretence of a burning and inextinguishable
Hatred of monarchy, now, when on the very verge of death, had the cool
audacity and impudence to name his son Richard as his successor — for-
doolh ! — as though his usurped power were held by hereditary right, or as
.hough his son and the grandson of a small trader were better qualified
•han any other living niiiu for the office, on the supposition of its being
elective ! In the annals of the world we know of no instance of impudence
»eyond this.
But though named by his father to the protectorate, Richard Cromwell
hiid none of his father's energy and but little of his evil ambition. Ac-
customed to the stern rule and sagacious activity of the deceased n.iurper,
the army very speedily showed its unwillingness to transfer its allegiance
to Richard, and a committee of the leading officers was assembled at
Kleetwood's residencn, and called, after it, the cabal of Wallingford. The
first step of this association was to present to the young protector a rc-
inoiisiraiice requiring that the command of the army should be intrusted
to some person who possessed the confidence of the officers. As Richard
was thus plainly informed that he had not that confidence, he had no
choice but to defend his title by force, or to make a virtue of necessity
ami give in his resignation of an authority to the importance of which ho
WHS signally unequal, He chose the latter course ; and having signed a
formal abdication of an otfico which ho ought never to have filled, he
liv('d for some years in France and subsequently settled at Chesliunt, in
Hertfordshire, where as a (irivate gentleman he lived to a very i Ivaneod
iigp, in the enjoyment of competence' and a degree of happiness which
wag never for an instant the companion of his father's guilty greatness.
The cabal of Wallingford, having thus readily and quietly disposed of Pro-
tector Richard, now saw the necessity of establishing something like u
formal government; and the rump parliament, wirch Oliver Cromwell
hail so uiicercmoiiiously turned out of doors, was invited to reinstate it-
self in authority. Unt noon these thorcughly inciipablo men the experi-
ence of past (lays was wliolly thrown away. Korgctting that the sourco
of tlicir power was the brute' force of tho armv, their very first measures
were aimed at lessening the power of the ciibal. The latter body, per-
ceiving that the parliam 'lit proceeded from less to greater proofs of ex-
treme hostility, determined to send it back to the fitting obscurity of pri-
vate life. Lambert with a largo body of troops accordingly went to West-
niiiisicr. Having coinplc'ely surriHiiided the parliament house with his
men, the general patiently awaited the arrival of the f;>eaker, Leiitiial,aiid
when that (icrsoiiage made Ins ajipearain''; the general )riiered the liorsei
of the Ktate (-arriage to bi^ tiirneil rouiul, and Leiitlial was conducted Icnne.
The like civility was exlendeil to *'ie various members as they siieccs'^ive.
ly made their appearance, ami the army proceeded to keep a solemn I'.i-l
t>y w,iy of cch'britiiiK the aiinihilalioii of ihis (li«uraccfiil [Mrliaineiit.
Hi;l iiit» triiiinpli of ihe army was short. If I'Meetwood, l.ainliert. and
llie o'hi'r lending otlicers 'ititici'pated the pos-^ibility of placing one of Iheiii-
delves in the stule of evil pre-ciiiiiicnce occupied by the lalo protector
604
THli TRKASlilY OF HISTOaY.
(I
iliey li;i(| egrcwi.uislv cin'il in nverlookiii",'' iliu power and possible iiiPliim
tioii of (iL'iieral .Monk. Tliis able aiifl poliiic officer, it will be re('olleitt»'i|,
had been inlrusied by Cromwell wiili the task of keeping; Seotland in
subservience to tiie cominonwealth of England. He had an army ol up.
wards of eight thon^^aiid veteran troops, and the wisdom and moderidjoii
witii wiiich lie had governed Scotland gave him great moral ihtliience ami
a proporiionate command of pecuniary resources; and whL'ii the <liHiiiiNNid
of till! rump p.irliiiinent by the army threw the inhabitants of Lcnidon iniu
alarm lest an absolute military tyranny should succeed, the eycN of nil
were turned upon Monk, and every one was anxious to know whethir he
woulil tlirow his vast power into this or into that scale.
Uiit '• honest (Jeorge .Vhnik," as his soldiers with affectionalo familiarity
were wont to term him. was as rool and silent as he was d(!Xlerouii ,iiii|
resolute. As soon as he was made aware of the proceedings lliiil limi
taken placid in London he put his veteran army in molimi. As he nmrrli-
ed siniiliward upon I^on on he was met by messenger after ineHseiiKcr,
each |).(riy being anxious to ascertain for which he intemled to deeliire ;
but lie strictly, and with an admirable firmness, replied to all, that he wan
on his way lo imiuin! iiiio the state of aff.iirs and aid in remedying wliiii.
ever iniglit be wrong. Stdl niai.itaining this politic reserve, he rcieliiMl
St. Albans, and lher(! fixed his head-quarters.
Tlu! rump parliament in the meantime had re-assembled without oppo.
lilinn from ttie Wallingford i-abal, the members of which prolmbly I'.'iircil
to act while in ignorance of the intentions of Monk, wiio now sent ii rnniiiil
request lo the parliament fo;- the instant reiTDval to .•i)iinlry-(|uariers nj
all troops stationed in Londtm. 'J'hisdone, the parliaineiii dissolved, iil'liM
taking measures for the immediate election of new members.
Sag.tcious public men now began to judge that Monk, weary of llie ex.
isting slate of things, had resolved to restore the exiled kiim, but Monk
still preserved the most profound silence untd the asseinbling of a new
parliament si'.ould enable him r-ipidly and cITectually to acconipliNh lim
desitjns.
The only person who seems to have been in the conlidence of iIiin aUW
man was a Devonshire gentleman named .Morr'ce, who was of iih l.ieiiurii
and (irudent a disposiiion as the general hims.'lf. All jiersonK wliosiinijM
the generars contideiKM! were referred to Morrice, and aiming thi iiiiiii!i(r
was Sir .lolm (Iranville, who was the servant and personi.! friend ol iIh
exiled king, who now sent him over to Kngland to endi^aviuir lo iiillui'
Monk. Sir John when referred to Morrici' more than once replied ilmi
he held i) comnnssion from the king, and tiiat he could open Iiin bu^llH'>lll
to no one but (teiieral Monk in person. This pertinacity and caiit;'<i| wrp'
precisely wli,it >fonk reeuired ; and tiiongh even now lie would not e ii|.
mit himself by any wriiien document, he personally gav(« (iranville nihIi
information as inihiced the king to hasten from Kredit, the governor il
which would fain have made him a jyrisoner ii...!:'r the |iretenre of p.iMii;)
him honour, ami settled himself ii: jiolhiiid, where hi; anxioiiMly iiw:iil>'<l
further tidings from .Monk.
The parliament at length assembled, and it beeainn vof '•,,»«riillv mi'
derstood that Ihi! restoration of the inonarehy was the ri . iiileniioii nf
Monk ; but so great and obvious were the perils of the lime, ihiil foi nli iv
days the parli.inienl occiipieit itsilf in ini'ridy routine businoH, no niic
daring to utter H word upon tli.it very snbjeel winch every iiiiiii bn'l ilir
most (1,'eply at heart. Monk 'Mring all this lime had lost no onpi niiiiv
of ohsi'rviiig the senliments of the new parliament, ami he at i.i«i Im Ki*
through his (Militie ami well-sustaini'd reserve, and direcleil \nnenli v, lli
president of the council, lo inform the hoiKe that Sir .lolin Ornnt'illc n
.it Its door with a letter from li..«i majesty. Tl iFect of Ihese I'eM »< '
was electrical , the whole of the inemh«'rs rose from their seain ;»ii'iii.<'i.',i
the II
now
resloi
gl'.U'M
been 1
nil tin
parlK'i
llic rei
ill Iioi
|i!eled
iiiiiis o
iliJdresi
I' IIIIISl
'IK It wi
Wislllllj
trill V p(i
bide, w
I'iaiiio a
«■ n. 1i
fill and a
I'iiiciii el(
^iiice of M,
"( '."nwlaii
lllciil. /)
l"'i'illlse II
'III'' Wiis :
I'lc llloil I
' !• il IVcly
' [ '•■ elle
■' ■ Mill I
ofl
M||(
■ 'I- III II,
yid (hrei
'I'liiv,. (,/■
Wi re i|,.,
"lIl^lll lo
llmllll,.,-,,
'"""I. Ill
"cferrly
III III III u,
""■1,11 iiiiIk
•'llllirs,
■I' lie r>iii|
'""'III of Ills
«IMll«e,| I
'l"ll Hilt (
"f Hie u,,||
•Icrii. r ,, I,
'li.nr,||lvi„
""■Im.iij,,,,
"I'll 0,|,. ,,,
'"' • llMII,,
■'■line uli
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
60S
incUni*
)ll;illil iu
ly of up-
Dili-r.iticm
KMU'i' mill
(liHllllHHlll
iIIiIdII inIO
yCH of till
familiiiflty
.(•roll"* •mil
H ilml li'iil
tic luiui'li-
to ilcclitro ■,
I lull 111' wilt
lyillH Wlllll'
III, ri'.iflii'il
ilhoiii oppn-
ilmlilv l''"'f'''l
g(.iil iil'i'ii"'''
r.inr.irli'is III
HmtlvtMl.iilli'i
'ry of 111.' i'X-
iiiu, liii' ^1""'*
„iK of a iii;^^
...oinpliHli In*
r of Uiiit iil'l''
of lilt l;u'.iliirii
|iu. wliiiKiiiin'i'
,^ lUi niiiiil''i'
Iriciiil 'i' "'''
,r lo iiinni'iii''
,. i(.|>llt'il iImI
, tiiH liUMI""^"
l(,.,,„l;.HlVVir'
mid mil «' III
Jriinvilli' "iii'i
,. noviTimi' ''
.HOC of |i.i\iiiU
dumIv iiw;iil'"l
.■..criillv iiii;
I, tliiill'iM alrw
|,m„r«H. 110 .Hlf
Itt.OI I'-l'' ''"'
l„0 0|1|M I'lll'^'
I. „» la«l l"l '»•
[l Miiii'i'liV. ill
(»r/tiivilli' "
ItirNr IV^» "'
Ini'iilx M''
hi."i"'i
Ihc nnws with a burst of eiiltiiisiHslic(;lipering. Sir John Oraiivillr' was
now called iii. the king's letter was rend, and the proposals it oiaiic lor the
ri"<toration of Charles were agreed to with a new hurst of cheering. The
i;i',ii'ioii8 letter, ofTering an imieniiiity far more extensive Ihaii eniild have
lu'cn hopiid for after all the evil that had beeii done, was at once entered
on Ihc journals, and ordered to be published, that the |)eopleat largf inigiit
parlicipatc ill the joy of the house. Nothing now rcMuaiiicd lo ohslniet
llic rcliirn of Charles, who, after a short and prosperous passage, arrived
III iKUiihMi on the tweiity-iiinth of May, being the day on which lif coin-
pii'led his thirlicth year. Everywhere he was received with the acelaina-
lioiin of aHBcinbled multitudes ; and so numerous were ihe congr.iialatory
addresses that were presented to him, that he pleasantly remarked, that
it iniisi sundy liavc oeeii his own fault that he had not returned sooner,
n!« it was plain there was not one of his subjects who had not bciii long
wiHJiiiig for him ! Alas! th(mgh good-humouredly, these words but too
truly paint the terribly and disgracefully inconstant nature of the multi-
tude, who are ever as ready to jiraise and rtatler without measure, as to
blame and injure without just cause.
CIl.VPTER LIV.
TIIF. RKKl.V or CUARLKS II.
A. 1). IfUiO. — Handsnmo, accomplished, young, and of a singularly cheer
fill aiid alVable temper, Charles II, ascended Ins ihione with all the ap-
piinnl clemnits of a just and universal popularity, e>pecially as the ignor-
ance of smne and Ihe tyranny of others had by this lime ta'ighi t'lc people
of i;ii|{l mil to understand the full value of a wise, regular, and just goveni-
iiiciil. lint Charles had some faults which were none the less niiscli.'evou«
lintiiise they were the mere excesses of amiable ijiialities. His t'ood na
tiirc was attended by a levity and carelessness winch c.iused hi"! lo leave
|iie mott faithful services and the most serious sacrilices unrewarded, and
liM Hivity denenerated into an indolence and .self indulgence more? (iited
ii till- eireminale si If-worship of a Sybanlc than to th'' public and respou-
>'|ii|e Mill ilioii ol the king of a frei! and active people.
One (d'lhe (nst cares of the parliament was to pass ;in act of m ' innily
I. ir all that h. Ill passed ; but a special excepiniii was made of ihn.--" who
'i il directly and personally t.iken part in the murder of tin? Ii:c king.
Tlncc of liie most |)roiiiinciil of these, Cromwill, Hiadshaw, ai: ' Irctou,
ivi re dead. Dill ai It Was ijiought thit some signal and public obloijuy
ainlit lobe thrown I ion crime so ennrnions as th. ns, ilieir bodies were
!i''iiiti'rred, sn<<pendcd from tlie gallows, and siibscipiently bunct, at its
I "i| IMliers of the rignides were proceeded ay iin-.i, and more ir lOM
'in rely punishiMl , but Cliarh^sshowed no more cine >intss la vengiMiice
III III 111 gia'iiude, and llii're never, prub.ibly, has lii'cn
iii'iit inilictnl for crime so extensive and so frichtrnl.
lilt
e of
pm
iiah-
< li irlrs, in I'.icl, had but one passion, Ihe love of pie .sure ; and so liing
i'< I mild CO
I the means of gratifying lliai, he, k liie ■ ommence-
I'lit of hiK reigi 'spi'cially, seemed to c. ire but little how Ins minitiluni
luriiiyei! Ihc pnlilic all'nrs. Il was, m !<ome degree, happy for the na
liiiil III it Charles was llius careless ; bir so excessive w.>* 'lie jfl idiiuss
I'f the nalMm's loyalty just at ihis pi'riod, 1; it liai' CIi.t" -s In iii of u
•tiTin r iinil more imiiiitioiiK eh. trader iie Mould liavi' i , i iiiilc or no
iliilli'iilly III rendermu himself ai absolnle monarch, I^o e enl w is the
iiu'liiiaiiiin of Ihe commons lo go lo exirenics m order lo /i .ul'y I ic king.
Hi.it one of the minislcru, Si>i'ili.impion,seilousiy (■oiil('"n»i.iie'l r< i|iiirilig
lie I iiMimoiis amount of. .o eiillio is an ll'.e km/'- <(•«*• fv'' nie. i
• eiiue vvhiidt would liu> -iv him wholly iiiilepi ^i ■ nt inik • -i'" 'i-
it
r
606
THE TttKASURY OP HISTORY.
! ■
people and the law. Fortunately the wise and virtuous Lord Clarenaon,
attuclied as he was to the royal master 'vhose exile and privations he had
faithfully shared, opposed this outrageous wisli of Southampton, and the
revenue of the king was fixed more moderately, but with a liberality
which rendered it impossible for him to feel necessity except as th« -jon-
sequenco of the extreme imprudence of profusion.
But Charles was one of those persons whom it is almost impossible to
preserve free from pecuniary necessity ; and he soon became so deeply
involved in difficulties, while his k ve of expensive pleasure remained
unabated, that he at once turned his thoughts to marriage as a means ot
procuring pecuniary aid. Catherine, the infanta of Portugal, was at this
time, probably, the homeliest princess in Europe. Hut she was wealthy,
her portion amounting to three hundred thousand pounds in money, to-
gether witli Bombay in the East Indies, and the fortress of Tangier in
Africa ; and such a portion had too many attractions for the needy and
pleusure-loving Charles to allow him to lay mucli stress upon the infanta's
want of personal attractions. The dukes of Ormond, Southampton, and
the able and clear-headed Chancellor Clarendon endeavoured to dissuade
the king from this niat(!l) chiefly on th(! ground of tiie infanta being but
little likely to have ciiiluien ; but Cluirl"3 was resolute, and the infanta
becanu; queen of England, an honour it la to be feared that she dearly
purchased, for tUv numerous mistresses of the king were permitted, if not
actually encouraged, to insult her by their familiar presence, and vie
with her in luxury ol)taii>ed at her cost.
As a means of procuring large sums from his parliament, Charles de-
clared war against the Dutch. The hostilities were very fiercely carried
on by both particg, but after the sacrifice of blood ;!nd treasure to an im-
mense amount, the Dutch, by a treaty signed at B*eda, procured peace
by ceding to England the American colony of New York. Though this
colony was justly considered as an important Hcquisilioii, the whole terms
of th<! peace were not considered sufficiently honouraiile to Kiiglaud,
and the public mind became mucii exasperated against Clarendon, who
was said to have commenced w.ir uiineccHNnrily, and to have concluded
peace disgracefully. vv'I.;!t'jver inigl't be tin; private opinion of (/harles,
who, probably, had far more than Clarendon to do with ilic commence-
ment of the war, he showed no desire lo dhield his minisier, whose stead-
l^ist and high-principled character had long been so distasteful at court
that he had been siii)jccted to the insultf<of the cutirliers and the slights (if
the king. Undersuch circumsiances tli« fate of Mraffnrd sn nied by no
means unlikely to become that of Clarci»rlon, Mr. S<yinour brmgma sev-
enteen arti('les of impeachment agaiimt him. But •'larcndon pi-rfimviip;
the peril in which he was [ilaced, and rightlv jiidiring that it was in vain t
oppose (he popular clamoii>r wlwii that «a» aided by the ungrateful cosi-
ness of the court went into voluntary exile m Fraii''*'. where he dev(»t«d
himself to literature.
Freed from the presence of Qarfiiidoii, whose f'mkc he feared, and
whose virlite he admired but could not imitate, ('Imrles now gave the
rliicf (lircctKMj of piililii; atlairs into tlie li.oidi( of certnn part.ikers of Im
pUMMures. Hir Thoniiis (nilfonl, Lord Acldey, aftwrwardBcarlof Sliati/ j.
iitify, tl',<' duke of linekinghain, Lord Arlington, aii4 the <Uike of l„i -
lei'dale, were llx persons to whom (;harl«-« now iiiiiiui't^d lii« alTairs, ami
from their iniliaU this iiiinlMtry was known by tltr* litb^ iff the > 4.11AI..
A. D. I<i70. — Tli/; nM'nibcri of (he cubiti were uixlo'ibteilly Hit's •}( ability,
learniii;;. wit, xiid iCi-omp.ishmeiit beiiiit a'i«olute rcqin^iter to the cpi>-
lainiiiif of Vitv.tU'ft' Uv>nw, But unhuiipii)! iliat wjh iilj — ^tri< .s' was tli«
iibilil/ of ciMirtierx rather than of mmivtersi ()»•■. were beiv.!- lilted iii
»e i\oii the pIcasiiii'K of ihe ,>ritici', than io iiroiid' i^r the decurity <d th(
throiie or (lie welfire of the pcoph' Tlie pu!»)»c •iiscoiiienl wm, coti!«'
II
THE TREASURY OK IIISTOllY.
607
llareiwoiii
ns he had
1, and the
liberality
LB the -jon-
possiWe to
so deeply
. remained
a means ot
was at this
as wealthy,
money, lo-
Tangier in
needy and
the infanta's
ampton, and
i lo dissuade
ta being but
I the infanta
I she deiirly
rmitted, ifnot
jnce, and vie
, Charles de-
crcely carrifd
ure to an nn-
rocnred peace
'iniough tins
lie whole terms
e lo Kngland,
Ilarend.Mi, who
avo concludctl
,„n of Cliarles,
\i,. commencn-
r. whoso Hii iid-
strful at eourt
,1„. slights III
... .ned by no
r linnj;in<r «ev-
jdon pi-f'^'^"
iiwasinvmn
ungrateful .■"'l'.;
K,re he '1^'^'"^"^
1 he feared, and
J now giive \1'^
■narukersof hi*
■..•..flofSUai
.Hike of I-
|l \^^^ iffairs, am.
111. ■ vHAl..
„„.,„f Midiiy.
f..lr. to llie ""^
-tM .V was ll;«
l,ei-T lUt.-d in
H.H-urHy ot iw
„( WW, con^i'
qucntly, very great ; it was but loo deeply and widely felt that such a
ministry was little likely to put an eflTectual check upon the profligate
pleasures wh'ch made the English court nt once the gayest and the most
vicious court in all Europe.
Nor was it merely from the character of the ministry and the dissipa
ted course of the king that the people felt discontented. The duke of
York, the presumptive heir to the throne, though a brave and a high-
minded man, was universally believed to be a very bigoted papist ; and
enough of the puritan spirit still remained to make men dread the possible
accession of a papist king.
The alarm and uneasiness that were felt on this point at length reached
to such a heiglit that, in August of this year, as the king was walking in
St. James' park, disporting himself with some of the beautiful little dogs
of which he was (piite troublesomely fond, a chemist, named Kirby, ap-
proached his majesty, and warned him that a plot was on foot against him.
"Keep, sire," said this person, "within your company; your cnoinics
design to take your life, and you may be shot even iutliis very walk."
News so startling, and at the same time so consonant with the vague
fears and vulgar rumours of the day, naturally i.'d to farther inquiries ;
and Kirby stated tliat he had his information from a Doctor Tonge, a
clergyman, wiio had assured him that two men, named Grove and I'ick-
erinir, were engaged to sliooi the king, and tliiit the (juocn's physician.
Sir (Tcorge Wakeling, liad agreed, if they failed, to [int an end to his
majesty by poison. The matter was now referred to Danby, the lord
treasurer, who sent for Doctor Tonge. That person not only ihowed
all readiness to attend, but also produced a bundle of papers relative to
llie supposed plot. Questioned as to the manner in which he became
pnss(!ssod of these papers, he at first stated that they were thrust under
liis door, and subsequently that he knew llie writer of Ihem, who re-
quired liis name to be concealed lest he sliould incur the deadly aiig(>r of
tiie Jesuits. TIk' reader will do well lo remark the gross inconsisleney
of these two accounts ; it is chietly by the careful noting of sucli incon-
sistencies that 'he wise see tiirough the snblly-woven falsehoods
wliich are so co'iimonly believed by the credulous or the careless. Hiid
ilio papers really been llirnst beneath the man's door, as he at first pro-
Iciided, how should 'i(i know the author! If tlu? author was known to
hull, to what (lurpose the stealthy way of forwarding the papers]
Charles himself was fi.r too acute a reasoner to ov( ilook this gross in.
ciuisistcney, and he llativ gave i(, as his opinion that the whole atFair was
L 'hiinsy liclion. Hut Tonge was a tool in the hauils of miscre.Mils who
would not so readily be disconcerted, and lie w is now sent ayiiin to Iho
liird trtiasnrer Dinby, to inform Imn that a [nu kel of irea'sonable liHIers
was on lis way totlii? Jesuit Uediii'j;lieldi the duke of York's conferisor.
Dvsoiiie chance Toiiire gave this inl'onnation soirte hours al'icr the duke
if York had hnnself been put in possession of these letters, which he had
shown to the king as a vulgar and ridiculous forgery of which he eoiihl
not discover the drift.
Ililherlo all atiempls at producing any elTect l>y means of these alledgpil
ireasoualile designs had failed, and the i liief inamilacinrer of Ihem, Titus
Dales, now came forw;ird will a well-fei;;iied uiiwdliiigness. 'I'liis man
h:id from his yoMlli ninvanl l-een an ahaudoiied ciiaraeter. He had hr-n
iiuhcled for uross jienurv j.imI had subsequently been dismissed from the
•tiapliiiiiey of a man (ifw.ir lor a yet more dis>.rraeefnl crime, and In; then
professed to lie i convert to papacy, and aeiimlly was for some lime inain-
I lined Ml the Kiigiish scminarv at'Si. Oiner's. Keduced lo actual desli-
liitioii, he (teems to have f.isieiied upon Knliy and T(m;fr, as weak and
rfdiiloiis men, wliiis(> very weakness ami eredidily would make llieiii ic-
mpid 111 the assertion of sneh falsehoods as ho might choose to instil
If"
lb
i
1l
4
n
1
tmmw
f
608
THE TilEASURY OF HISTORY.
into tl >:/ minds Of his own motives we may form a shrewd guess Irom
the fact that he was supporiiHl hy ihe actual charity of Kirby, at a mo-
ment when lie alTect jd to iiave Ihe due to mysteries closely touching the
king's life and UiVilving the lives of nniiieroiis persons of consequence.
Tlioiigh vulgar, illiterate, and rnfFianly, this man, Gates, was cunning and
daring. F'inding that his pretended information was of no avail in pro-
curing liiniself court favour, he now resolved to see what effect it would
have upon the already alarmed and anxious minds of the people. He ac-
cordingly wi'ut before Sir Kdmondbury Godfrey, a I'l-ntleinan in great
celebrity for nis activity as a magistrate, aiid de.sir'>(; ri make a deposi-
tion to ihe effect that the pope, judging the lierery of the king and people
a suflii'ieiit ground, inid assumed the sovereignty of Kngland, Scotland,
and Ireland, atid had condemned the king as a heretic ; the d aUi to be
indicted by (irove and Pickering who were to slioot him vvith sur,r bul-
lets. The Jesuits and the pope havinif thus disposed of the kiiij;, whom,
accordiiig to tiiis veritable deposition, they styled the black bastard, the
crown was to be offered to the duke of York on ^^H coiidi'ion that he
should wholly extirpate the protestant religion : but if the duke refused
to comply with that condition, then .lames, too, 'i; s to^o lo pni.
The nunc vulgarity of this deposition might have led the people to im-
ply its falsehood; for whattiver might be the other faults of the Jesuits,
they W(!re not, as educated men, it all likely to use tlie style of speech
which so ( oi se and illiterate a wretch as Gates attributed to them. Hut
popular terror not nnconinionly produces, temporarily, at least, a popular
madness ; and the at once atrocious and clumsy falsehoods of this man,
whose viry destitution was the conse(;uenee of revolting crimes, wereac
cepted hy the peopli: as irrefragable evidein-e, and he was himself hailed
and caressed as a friend and protector of protestantism and protestantsl
Uefore the council he repeatedly and most grossly contradicted hiinsel'",
but the eirect his statements had upon the public mind was such, th;-
was deemed necessary to order the a[)prcheiision of (!ie principal persons
named as being cognizant of this plot, among whom were several Jesuits,
and (^(demaii, secrt'tary to the duke of York.
A siii|jiilar circumstaiK e now occurred, whiidi gives hut too much rea-
S(m to Tear that perjury was by no means the worst of the crimes to whirli
Gates resor'.iil to |)rociire the success of his vile scheme. Sir Kdmoiid-
hury liodfrey, the magistrate who first gave Gates importance by allowing
hnn to rcdiic" his lying siatemcnts into a formal aiul regular deposition,
was suddenly missed from his house, iiid, al'ter a lapse of several days,
found barliarously nmrdcrffd in a ditch at F'rimrosc-hill, near Loiidon.
No sooner wa; this known than the pcoph' came to the conclusion that
iSir Kilinoinllniry had been murdered ly the Jesuits, in revenge for the
williiigne>s he had shown to receive 'uMiiformation of Gates, Idit, Iock-
iiigat ihf desperate character of the latter, does it not serin far more |ii-oli,i-
lili' that he caused the murder of the erediilouH magistrate, trust iiii;
that It wiMild have the very effect which it did produce u[ioii the creilii
ImiN people 1 11',' that as it may, the discovery of the ileeeiiseil
gentl' 111 Ill's body greatly inereased the public agitation; the corpsi
was earned in p'ocessiim by seventy clergymen, and no one who valiied
Ins per^olllll safi:ty ventured to bint that the murder might jirobably not
have been the work of the .le'ested Jesuits.
Fnmi the mere viilgir, the alarm "and agitation soon spread to the bet-
ter iiironiied elasM's, and at length it was moved in iinrliament that a sol
emu fist slieiilil be appointed, iliat tie house •should have all p^ipers tint
were eah'iilateil to throw a light upon the horrid |i|ot, thai all known pii-
pi 's should be ordered to leave l.midoii, nild all llllklliiwn or siispirioiDi
persons loiliiddeii to present Ihemselvis at court, ami th;it the iiaiii hainl'
if Loinli II and \\'<Hiininster should be kept inconstant readiness lin-aetion
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
60<
Irom
I mo-
g the
ice.
ig and
II pro-
would
[le ac-
great
(leposi-
peoplo
;oiland,
I to be
•,r bul-
whom,
ard, the
that he
refused
e to iin-
. Jesuits,
if speech
3111. 15"'
I popuhir
this man.
, were ue
;clf hailed
oloslaiils '.
(i hinisoi'',
ich, th;' ■
;,! persons
ral Jesuits,
much rea-
s to whu'h
VMiiiDiul-
Ly ullowiniJl
ilcposili'ii'i
•cral da>^,
j„- l.ondiiii.
•lusion tli.il
Lu- for till'
for
"nut, 1<
liiore proii 1-
\\c, trushii-:
llic creilii
,, (loceiisi'il
I the eorpw*;
Iwho V
ahii'
)hnhly 1"
[\ to the het-
,t ilr.it a ""1
|,:.pi'rt" tli'ii
111 Known |i''-
, Kiisiiici"!"'
tram liaiu'-
^|■„riutl>•l'
The miscreant whose falsehoods had raised all this alarm and anxiety
was thanked by parliament ;ind recommended to the favour of the king,
who conferred upon him a pension of twelve hundred pounds per annum,
snd a residence in Whitehall. Such reward bestowed upon such a char-
acter and for such "public services" naturally produced a rival for public
favour, and a fellow named William Bedloe now made his appearance in
the cliaracter of informer. He was of even lower origin and more infa-
mous note tlian Oale.«, having been repeatedly convicted of theft. Being
nt Bristol and in a state of destitution, he at his own -equest was arrested
and sent to London. When examined before the council he stated that
he had seen the body of the murdered Sir Eilmondbury Godfrey at the
then residence of the cpieen, Somerset-house, and thu a servant of the
Lord Bellasis had offered him four thousand pounds to carry it off and
ronceal it ! Improbable as the tale was it was jjreedily received, and the
ruffians, Gates and Bedloe, finding that credit was given to whatever they
chose to assert, now ventured a step farther, and accused the queen 01
being an aecompli(;e in all the evil doings and designsof the Jesuits. The
luiMsc; of commons, to its great disc>race, addressed the king in support of
tills scandalous attack upon Iiis alriNuly but too unhappy queen ; but the
lords, with better judgment and more manly feeling, rejected the accusa-
tion with the contempt which it merited.
The conjunction of two such intrepid perjurers as Oates and Bedloe
was ominous indeed to the unfortunate persons whom they accused ; and
it is but little to the credit of the publico men of that day that 'hey did not
inferi'ere to prevent any prismner being tried upon their evidence as to the
fabled plot, until the pulilic mind should have been allowed a reasonable
time in which to recover from its heat and exacerbation. No such delay
VMS even proposed, and while I'unning was still triumphant r.nd credulity
still agape, Kdward Coleman, the dnki; of York's secretary, wis put upon
his trial. Here, as before the council, Oates and Bedloe, though incon-
slsient with each other, and each with himself, yet agreed in their main
statements, that Coleman had not only leagued for the assassination of the
kuig, hut had even, as iiis reward for so d(/ ng, received a commission,
signed by the superior of the Jesuits, appoii.ting him papal secretary of
siat(? nf these kingdoms. Coleman, who behaved with equal modesty
uid lliiiuiess), denied all the guilt that was laid to his charge. But he
could not prove a negative, and his mere denial avalleil nothing agiilnst
the positive swearing of the informers. He was condenined to death •,
ami theti several members of both houses of parliament offered to inter-
pose to procure liim th(^ king's pardon on condition that he would make
I fidl confession. But tin; iinfortiniiitc gentleman was innocent, and was
f;ir loo hi;;h-niinde(l to save his life liy falsrly accnsmg himself ind others.
He sllll (irmly denied his guilt, and, to the eternal disgrace of Charles,
was executed.
The blood of f'oleman satiated neither the Informers nor the public.
Piikerlng, Grove, ;md Ireland were next put upon their trial, c'liulemned,
;iiiil exei'Uted. Tiiat they were iiniocent we have no doubt; but tliey
were Jesuits, and tliat was sulficlcnt to bhint all sympathy with their fite
lldi, (Jreeii, and Berry wi're nov clmrged with beliii; the aetiipl mur-
Icrcrs of Sir l<'.niondlmr\ (lodfrcn'. In this case the inlorinatlon. which
vas hod by Bedloe, was wliollv Irreconcilal.Ie with the evidence which
vas given by a fellow named Praaci', and there was good evidence that
Viis at variance with them liotli. But the prisoners were found guilty
iiid cxeeuled, all three in their dyiiiff moments professing their mno-
THiice. .\s Uerry was a protestant, this made some Impression upon
the iniiiils of the more reasonablo, but the public was not even yet pro-
I'lari'd to he disabused.
Wliitbrcdd. provincial of the Jesuits, and Gavnn. Friiwick, Turner,
Vol 1.-3!)
f:;
B iB^'
m
^ '?
ii|K|
SI
1
ll
1 J*- ^
i* 1
tiii
THE TREASURY OF UlSTOay.
and Harcourt, brethren of the sami' ,rder, were next tried. BosidRj
Oiitfs and Bfdloc, a wretch named Dugdale appeared against these
prisoners, and in atldition t(; .1. ' in snppnrt of ;he incredible and mon-
strous assertions of Oafes and Biiiloe, he deliUerately swore that there were
two hundred thousand papists at that very moment ready to tal<e arii<3.
And yet the alledged leadiTS and insiigators of this huge army of armed
and maiij^nanl papists were daily benijf brought to trial, condemned, and
butchered, under the guard of a score or two of (lonsiables ! Hut rea-
soning could not possibly be of any avail in that veritable reign of terror,
for even direct and sworn evidence in favour of tlie aci-nsed persorjs was
treated wifh contempt. For instance, on this very trial siriceii toiin'Sfes
proved that lliinj and Oalr.s itwre tagel/ier in lln: seminary of St. Omr7-'s on
the very day in which that rnffian's /eslimoiiy hud staled him to have been in
London. But these witnesses were papists — their evidence rec^eived not
the slightest altenti'rn, and tin; uiifortiiiiate prisoners were condemned
and executed, protesting in their last moments their entire innocence of
the crimes laid to tlnnr charge.
Sir George Wakeman, the queen's physn 'an. was now bronglil to trial,
but was more fortunate than the persons |)<-eviously accused. The vile
informers, it is true, swore with Uunr accustomed and dauntless fluency ;
but to have convicted 8ir George, would, under all the circumstan(!es of
the case, have inferred the guilt of the qutHMi. The judge and jury were
probably apprehensive that even the culpable and cruel indolence of
Charles would not allow the prevalent villainy to proceed to that extent,
and Sir G(M)rgc was honourably acquitted.
A. D. IGT'J. — For upwards of two years the horrible falsehoods of Oales
liad deluded the mind of the p\iblic, and sluid the blood of the iinioccut.
But he and his abominable associate were not yet weary of evil doing.
Hitherto the victims had been chiefly (iricsts and s(;liolars, to wlitise title
of Jesuits till! vulgar attributed everything that was most dangerous
and terrible. But, as if to show that rank the most rmiiieu and age
the most reverend were as worthless in their eves as the piety and
leaniing of sincere, liouever erroneous, religionists, the informing luis-
creants now In'. uglit forward a last victim in the person of the earl of
Stiifford. The fiercest wild beast is not fiercer or inore nnreasoiiing
than a delud,'(l and enraged mnlliliide. The cry against the venera-
ble earl of Sialford was even louder than it had been against the former
prisoners. )aies positively swore that he saw one of the Jesuits who
liad lately b'^en condemned, Fenwick, deliver to the earl o( Stafford a
commission s gned ':.y the general of the Jesuits, enustituiing the earl p.i)'-
master-gencral of the Jesuit or papal arm). 1; was in vain that the ven
er itilr iioidenian asserted his iiiiKicence, and pointed out the ini()riiha-
bility ofbis feeble age being crnii-eriiecl in jilols; he was cimdemned to
be Iniiig .a'jd (|iiarlere(l. Charles eliaiiged the srntence to beheading, and
the earl suffered accordingly upon Tower-hill.
The parliament, which bad now sat sivent en years, was dissolved,
hut a new one was called, whudi will ever be memorable on acciMint of
one law which it passed; we allude to the }\\Viihy,i\)\i' hahens nirpns ,\r\.
By this act the jailor who is snnnnoned must have or produce I lie body
of' a prisoni'rin court and certify the cause of his detention, within lliree
days if wiihin twentv miles of the judge, and so on for greater distiuices ;
no prisoner to be sent to prison lieymid the sea -. every prisoner to he in-
dicted the fir^t term after commitnieni and tried in the next term, and no
man to be rci oinmilted for the same offence after being cnlarired fiv court;
luMvy penalties upon any judge refiisinj: any prisimer his writ of hnhrai
cnr/'?M, HuMiau wisdom could scan-ely devise a 'ilore effectual sareyiiind
to I'le suliject than tins act. On the oiher hand, it can never he periloin
I0 the throne, because in times of sedition or violence oarliainciil t in
Ne
ast
the
of P,
moi(
tion
sent
\V
com
cruel
tot:;
lip of
iieccs
parci
testiin
thoiiy
had III
(he I'
Willi w
James
■skilCul
the U,r
and ,„j
terrors
'Jay Wii
«iid rui
"nily n
UlC III ol
THE TREA3UKY OF HISTOttY.
611
Uiese
mon-
e were
' arii'S-
armed
;d, and
»ii rea-
r terror,
Ills was
nin'sses
rnn's Oil
! bei:ii 11
ived not
idemned
cence ot
1 to trial,
The vile
I fluency ;
liinces of
iury wfre
lolenre of
vat extent,
9 of O.Ues
; iiinorcnt.
evil (loins?.
.vlv.se uUe
dang»'iou9
;iml itgR
pioty ami
rminjj ntis-
tlic earl of
nircasoning
tie veucra-
ihe former
Jesuits who
■ Stafford a
he earl p^iy
i\at the ven
|he imprnba-
iiidenined 10
tieadmi,', and
U dissiiived,
ji aecininl of
Is nirp"^ ai't.
Jiee the I'ody
vviihin three
Lr disianees;
l.iier to he in-
term, ami no
[tred hv eoiir! ;
rii of 'i"'""'
liial safejiniU'd
Lr he penli'ii'^
larliaMienl i ■">
»■ j^eu'] the execution nf this act for a short and definite time, at the end
of winch time this greit safeguard of our liherties returns to its fidl force.
'IMie ci' linal and disgraceful complaisance with which the governtiient
had allowid kic perjured informers to flourish unchecked, caused a new
ploi-discoverer to present himself in the person of a worth; , named Dan-
f .;rrield, whose previous life had been diversified by experience of the
.lillor the Hcourge, the branding- iron, and a residence, as a convict, in
the plaiUalioas. Tliis fellow, in conj mction with a midwife of bad char-
acter, named Collier, came forward to denounce a >'\>l, of wiiich he al-
ledged the exi tence, for removing the king and roy ' fantily and setting
up a new form of government. Tliis fellow took his information direct
to the king and t*ie duke of York, who weakly, if we must not rather say
wickedly, snp[)lied him with money, and thus |)atronJzed and encouraged
him in his course. Determined to make the most of his fortune, Danger
field deposited some writings of a most sediiious diaracter in the house
of a military officernameU Mansel. Having so placed the papers that they
were certain to be discovered by any one searching the apartments, Dan-
gerfield, without ■•:iy nig a word about the papers, went to the custom-house
and sent ofTiceis to Mansel's to search for smuggled goods. There were
no such goods there, as Dangerfield well knew, but, exactly as he had an-
ticipated, the officers found the concealed papers, examined them, and felt
it to be their duty to lay them before the council. Kither Daiiiferfield was
already suspected, or something iii the papers themsclvi,.-, in licated for-
gery ; for the counml were so convinced that the documents were Dan-
gerfield's own production, that they issued an order that a strict search
.should immediately be made in all places which he had been known to
frequent. In the course of thi! searcli the house of the midwife Collier
was visited, and there, concealed in a meal-tub, the officers found a paper
which contained the whole scheme of the conspiracy to the most minute
particulars. Upon this discovery the wretch, D '.ngcrfielii, was sent to
Newgate, where he made a "confession," which probably v.as ;is false
as the former statement that he bad made, for he now repn?; nted that to
the lying laie iie had formerly told he had been instigated by the countess
of Powis. the earl of Castleniain, and others. And though it was so much
more probable that the miscreant had all along lied from his own invei;.
tion and in UW own greediness of gain, the earl and countess were actually
sent to the Tower.
What has always made us attach deep blame and disgrace to Charles'
conduct in allowing so many innocent lives to be sacrificed to the venal
cruelty of informtTS, is the fact, that while the informers attributed plots
to t!;e Jesuits, and stated the objects of those plots to be tli<! setting
up of the papist duke of York in the place of the king, C .irles must
necessarily have known that the jesuiis were a mere handul, as com-
p.ired lo the proiestanls, and that the very last man whom either pro-
teslaiit or papist throughout P^igland would have substituted for the easy,
thoiiuh profligate Charles, waji James, duke of York. In Scotland .lames
had made himself piM-fectly hated, and both the Knglish parliament and
llie Knglish people every year gave new and stronger proof of iie dread
with which ihey contemplated even the possibility of the succ<'ssjon of
James. In the war with the Dutch he had shown himself a brave and
skilful oflirer, hilt his gloomy temper, his stern, unsparing disposition, and
the liigoiry which he w.is uiii"ersally known to possess, made courage
and military condnct, however admirahh! in other ineti. In liini only two
terrors the more. ("Ih irlcs well knew this; so well, that wlu'ii .lames one
■lay warned hini against exposing himself too much wliile -••i many plots
mid rumours of phtls disturbed the general mind, < ' 'rits. as. gayly as
truly replied, "Tillv vallv, .limes ! There be n^me
'Iv as to slioot
uie in order to make you king!" This unpoDularitv ol j.iines led to inorP
-
¥•¥*_■
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m
riI2
THE TKKASUllY OF Hlr-TOHY.
tlian one attempt on the part of the house of coinmons to procure the ex
elusion of him from the throne on the ground of his being a papist. Tliv
new parliament had scarcely sat a week ere it renewed a bill, termed ihe
exclusion bill, which the former house had voted, but which had noi
passed the upper house at the time of tiie dissolution of parliament. The
party of the duke, though influential, was numerically weak out of doors ;
for besides those who hated him as a papist, and dreaded him as a stern
disciplinarian, there were great numbers who hoped that the exclusion of
the duke would procure the throne for the duke of Monmouth, the hand-
some and highly popular sou of the king by one of iiis numerous mis-
tresses, named Lucy Waters. Hut tlie iuHuence of the king was powerful
in the house, and after a long debate, not too temperately conducted upon
either side, the exclusion bill was thrown out by a rather considerable
majority.
With informers and "plots," libellous pamphlets had increased in num-
ber to an extent that could scarcely be credited. Each party seemed to
think that tiie hardest words and the most severe imputations were only
too mild for its opponents, and the hired libeller now vied in industry and
importance with the venal and perjured informer.
An idle and profligate fellow, a sort of led captain in the pay of the
king's profligate mistress, the duchess of Portsmouth, was employed to
procure her the piquant libels which were occasionally published upon the
king and ^'-.^ luke of York. This man not finding the existent libels suf-
ficienth iil''.';: e, determined to surpass them, and he called to his aid a
Scot( 1 nwr. fianed Everard. Between them they composed a most ran-
coroii v.-d Sf. I'rrilous libel, which Fitzharris hastened to get printed. But
tii!j .■■ . v'?im;i;., Everard, imagined that his Irish fellow-libeller, as a hanger-
on oi t';r king's mistress, could have had no possible motive for employ-
ing him l>i:i the wish to betray him. Indignant at the supposed design,
Everard went and laid information before Sir William Waller, a justice
of the peace, and Fitzharris was apprehended with a copy of the libel
actually in his possession. Finding himself placed in considerable peril
of the pillory, Fitzharris, who, be it observed, was an Irish papist, turned
round upon the court, and stated, not witiiout some appearance of truth,
that he had been employed by the court to write a libel so foul and vio-
lent, that the exclusion party, to whom it would be attributed, would be
injured in the estimation of all people of sober judgment. In order to
render this tale still more palatable to the exclusionists, Fitzharris added
to it that a new popish plot, more terrible than any former one, was in
agitation under the auspices of the duke of York, whom he also accused
of being one of the contrivers «if the murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey.
The king sent Fitzharris to prison ; the commons, instead of looking with
contempt upon the whole affair, voted that this hired libeller and led cap-
tain of a court harlot should be impeached! It was so obvious that the
real intention of the commons was to screen Fitzliarris from publishment
altogether, that the lords very properly rejected the impeachment. An
angry feeling sprung up between the two houses : and the king, to prevent
the dispute from proceeding to any dangerous length, went down and di.s-
solved parliament, with the fixed determination of never calling anotlici-.
Charles now, 'i fact, ruled with all the power and with not a little of
the tyranny of an absolute monarch. He encouraged spies and informers,
and imprisoned those who ventured to complain of his measures in a
manner not only contrary to his former temper, but almost indicative, as
was well remarked at the time, of reconciling the people to the prospect
of his brother's accession by making iiis own rule too grievous to be en-
dured. To those who held bigh-cliurch prini'lpU's, and professed his doc-
trine of passive obedience and non-resistance, all tlip royal favour \v;is
shown ; while the presbyterians and other sturdy oppopers of his arbilruiy
measures
■ iients, anc
-On, so po
made to fe
party, rlepr
'Mission hai
"fiiiterferii
bi-eii so wa
c'lief cause
now by the
"ounced gui
worthless at
•'mounted to
so^much his
The populi
own lips. H
and the " pat
graded host o
"Jesuits." u
with even tlu
"'Id almost a'
'I'nied upon tl
!nem, and "n,
;;p'Pist" had
'Jesuit" had b
'"formers, and
" merely ai,ne(
. Ajoiner of I
;-'ally conspicui
l.oiid of tongue
nm knowledo-c
•'«eded none of
'"s could not pc
'^«r'l. armed Willi
.''« Xing, the du
tmction, had acd
whose nigUis y\
i^a^'er than for tl
f a fit subject r
found guilty of '
(^■■^ecuted.
A- o. 168,3 'fl
sti-y struck a nj
"".V of London hi
'P'"' which that r
soon cause,! i(,e
lloffi ^' '°ok caJ
-''''.V obtained wl
'^"'•fwhelminaiv f
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«'it there was |
'■^""/■"I'al, and iJ
"*' f'ople his pi
e"«'"J hut turbuJeJ
THE TREASURY OF HISTOilY.
613
measures were in numerous cases deprived of their places ai;^ employ
.limits, and in some cases imprisoned in the bargain. The city of Loii-
tioii, so powerful and so factious during the reign of Chai'es T . was now
made to feel tlie king's resentment, being, for its leaders! popular
party, deprived of its charter, which was not restored un^ ot Bub-
tnission had been made, and a most vexatious right cone "va
'ifinicrferlng in the election of the city magistrates. F .d
been so warmly sided with by the exclusionists, and w ne
chief cause of Charles' angry and final dissolution of , .;. vas
now by the king's order brought to trial before a jury, and, being pro-
nounced guilty, executed I An abominable stretch of power; for liouever
worthless and debauched a fellow he might be, his crime, venal as it was,
amounted to but libellous writing, for even the publication was scarcely
so much his own act as it was the act of the officers who arrested him.
The popular party now found the poisoned chalice commended to their
own lips. Hitherto, while it seemed not improbable that the parliament
and the " patriots" would obtain power over the king, the great and de-
qfraded host of spies and informers had aimed at the ruin of "papists" and
"Jesuits." IJut now tliat the king had as boldly as arbitrarily dispensed
with even the shadow or parliamentary aid, and ruled as independently
and almost as arbitrarily as an eastern prince, the spies and informers
turned upon those who had formerly encouraged if not actually employed
them, and " presbyterian" was now pretty nearly as dangerous a title as
" papist" had been ; " protestant preacher" scarcely more safe than
"Jesuit" had been heretofore. Charles and his ministry encouraged the
informers, and the system of perjury lost none of its infamy and vileness;
;t merely aimed at a different class of victims.
A joiner of Londim, by name Steplien College, had made himself espe
cially conspicuous during the heats and alarms of the anti-popery cries
liOud of tongue, and somewhat weak of brain, this man, with more zeal
than knowledge, had taken upon himself to advocate protestantism, which
needed none of his aid, and to oppose popery, which such opposition as
liis could not possibly affect. He had attended the city members to Ox-
f«rd armed with pistols and sword, had been in the habit of railing against
the King, the duke of York and papacy, and, rather in derision than in dis-
tinction, had acquired the title of the protestant joiner. This weak man,
whose flights were fitting matter for the ministering of the physician,
rather than for the interference of the law, was selected by the ministry
is a fit subject of whom to make an example. He was indicted and
found guilty of sedition, and, to the disgrace of both king and ministers,
executed.
A. t). les."}. — The increasing power and severity of Charles and his min-
stry struck a panic throughout the nation. The manner in which the
"•ity of London had been deprived of its charter, and the humiliating terms
ipon which that once powerful corporation had got its charter restored,
soon caused the other corporations to surrender their charters voluntarily ;
and not on./ were considerable sums extorted for their restoration, but
the knig took care to reserve in his own hands the power of appointing to
all offices of trust and profit. The patromige which was thus discredit-
ably obtained was so enormous, that the power of the crown became
overwhelmingly vast, and, with but a few exceptions, men agreed that
resistance, even if justifiable, would now be useless and hopeless.
But there was a party of malcontents, weak as to number, but vigorous,
influential, and bold ; and absolute as Charles was, and unassailable as to
most (icople his power must have seemed, his life, even, was, at this time,
in a most imminent peril.
The soul of the malcontents was the earl of Shaftesbury. That highly-
S'ftcd but turbulent and plot-loving person had engaged with the duke of
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THE TIIEASURYOF HISTORY
Moiiinoutii, the earl or Macclesfield, Lord William Russell, nnd several
oilier nohlenien, to raise iiomiimlly in favour of freedom, but really to de-
throne Charles ; exclude, if not slay James: and place the crown upon
the head of ihe duke of Monmouth, the king's natural son. The earl of
Macclestield, Lord Brandon and others, were to effect a rising in Cheshire
and lianciisliire; i.- r Francis Drake, Sir Francis Rowles, and Sir William
Cou.'uey were induced by Lord William Russell to head the insurrection
in Devon, and generally in the west ; and Shaftesbury, aided by Ferguson,
a prea(;her of the independents, undertook to effect a general rising in the
city of London, where the discontent and disloyally, owing to the affair
of the charter, were at the greatest heiirht. Shaftesbury urged on Ihe plot
witli all his energy, and it is most probable that the kingdom would have
been plunged into all the confusion and horror of a civil war if the ex-
treme eagerness of Shaftesbury had not been counteracted by the extreme
caution of Lord William Russell, who, when everything was nearly ready
for an outbreak, urged the duke of Monmouth to postpone the enterprise
until a more favourable opportunity. The usually enterprising and tur-
bulent Shafiesbury now became so prostrated by a sense of the danger m
which he was placed by this postponement, that he abandoned his house
and endeavoured to induce the Londoners to rise without waiting for i tie
tardy co-operation of the provinces ; but all his endeavours were unavail-
in^r, and in despair he fled to Holland, where he soon afterwards died
broken-hearted and in poverty.
The conspirators, being thus freed from the turbulent Shaftesbury,
fornied a committee of six; Hampden, grandsim to the Hampden who
made so much opposiliou to the ship money, Algernon Sidney, Howard,
Kssf'x, and Lord William Russel ; Monnionlh being their grand leader and
centre of correspondence, his chief adviser, however, being the dnke ol
Arsfyle. There were numerous subordinates in this conspiracy; and it is
affirmed, by the friends of the memory of Lord William Russell, that he
and ihe leaders did not encourage and were not even peil'ertly cogiiixani
of the more atrocious part of the plan of those conspirators who had agreed
to a.isassiiiitie the king on his way to Newmarket. We confess that ii
appears to us to be making a large demand indeed upon our credulity lo
suppose anything of the kind, but we have not space to go into the argii-
meiiiN which might be adduced in favour of the supposition that, however
willing the (diief conspirators might be to leave Ihe horrible crime of
assiissiiiation to subordinates, they were at least quite willing that such
crime should be perpetrated to the profit of their main design.
The plan of the conspirators against the life of the king was lo secrete
'.heinselves on a farm belonging to one of them, the Rye-house, sitiiMled
)n the road lo Newmarket, overturn a cart there to obstruct the royal
.arriage, and then ileliberately fire upon the king. After much consiiJlH-
ion it was delermined to carry this dastardly plot into exe<'Ution on llie
niiiu's return to Newmarket. About a week before the time at which his
majesty was to do so, the house in which he resided at Newmarket look
flrc, Hiid he was obliged to remove to Ijondon. This circumstance would
nerely have posiponed the " fate" of his majesty, but in the course of the
tine that was thus lost to the conspirators, one of their numhcr, named
fieiling, found himseir in danger of prosei iition fi>' having arrested the
Old-mayor of London, and to save himsrif from ihe consequence'' he
wailed upon the kinu's minisiers and revealed all that he knew of the plot
against the king, and Colonel Ruinsev and a lawyer named West joined
him in becoming kiiig'i* evidence. Monmouth and (ircy escaped, Lord
William Rus'iell wiis apprehended and sent lo the. Tower, as sliorllv iiflcr-
wards were Kssrx, Sidney, and Hampden, logelher willi Lord llo«ard,
who was found in a eliiinney. That ignoble nobleman, lliougli fiiliv ns
guiliy us the rest, immedinlely agreed to save his own recreant lifetiy hu-
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
SIS
coriiing evidence against his former associates, who secmnd more indig-
nant and disgusted at that treachery than affected by the peril in which if
placed them.
Colonel Walcot, an old republican officer, together with Stone and
Rouse, were first put upon trial, and condtmned upon the evidence of their
former associates, Colonel Rumsey, and the lawyer. West.
Lord William Russell and Algernon Sidney were condemned chitfly on
the evidence of Lord Howard. In the case of Sidney, however, the evi-
dence of Howard was most unconstitutionally eked out by construing as
treasonable certain writings, merely speculative, though of republican
tendency, which were seized at his house. Both Russell and Sidney
were condemned and executed. Hampden was more fortunate, and es-
caped with a fine of forty thousand pounds. Holloway, a merchant of
Bristol, who had been engaged in this dastardly conspiracy, escaped to
the West Indies; and Sir Thomas Armstrong, who was similarly situated,
escaped to Holland. But so eagerly vindictive had Charles and his min
tstry by this time been rendered by the numerous plots, real and pretended,
that both of those persons were brought over to Kngland and executed
Lorii Essex would also probably have been executed, but, being impris-
oned in the Tower, he there committed suicide by cutting his throat.
.ludging from the severity with which Charles proceeded on this occa-
sion. It is but reasonable to" presume he would either have carried his des-
potism to a frightful pitch, or have fallen a victim to the equally unjustifia-
ble violence of some malcontent. But his naturally fine constitution was
now completely broken up by his ioiig and furious course of dissipation,
anil a fit of apoplexy seized him. from which he was but partially recov-
ered by bleeding; he expired in the fifty-fifth year of his age and the
twenty-fifth of his reign.
Much might be said in dispraise of Charles, both as man and monarch;
but impartial justice demands that we should make a great allowance for
the unfavourable circumstances under which the best years of his youth
and manhood were spent. Poverty for months, so extreme that he and
his followers were at times without u single coin, and owed their very
food to the kindness of their hosts, wis occasionally followed by a
temporary plenty ; and his companions were, for the most pnrt. precisely
the persons to encourage him in every extvavagaiice to \v!:icli so wreich-
ediy precarious a life was calculated to induce him. liven the cruelty
and despotism of his latt(!r years visibly had their chief cause in the politi-
cal villainy and violence of considerable bodies of his people. No such
excuse can he made for his extravagant liberality to his numerous mis-
tresses ; and for the wholly cruel and mean treatment he bestowed upon
his wife we know of no decorous epithet lh:it is sufficiently severe.
That Charles was not naturally n( a cruel, or even of a sufflcieiitly se-
vere turn, a remarkable jiroof is afforded by the story of a rufflan named
Blood ; a story so Bingiilar. that we think it necessary to give it by way
of appendix to this reign. Hlood, who had served in Ireland, had, or faii
cicd that lie had, considerable claims upon the government, and being re-
fuse! satisfaction by the duke of Ormoiid, he actually waylaid and seized
thiit iiobleiuitn on his return from an evening parly in London, and would
hHvc hanged him but for ttie occurrence of a mere accident which eiuiltled
the duke to escape. A ilesperado of this sort could not fail to be in fre-
qiicnt iro'ible and diNtre»s; and he iit lennth was reduced tosuchexirenie
■trills, that with some of hia associates he formed a plan for puili)iiiing
the regiilii from the jewel-house in the Tower. He contrived to iiigra-
tiiif liiiinelf with the old couple who had charire of the val table jewels,
iiwl took an opportunity to bind Itotli the man an I woman and make off
wiih Mil tlid most valuable articles, Tbougli fircil at by the sentry ho got
•l«Bl MM nf &■ To'V'jr.hill, where |i.e jvas appnln ndod aftoi a desperate
1^.'
816
THE TREASUKY OF HISTORY.
Blruggle. So enormous an outrage, it might have been anticipated, would
be expiated only by Uie severest punishment ; but the king not only for-
gave Ulood, but even gave him a considerable annual pension to enable
him to live without farther criminality. \ rare proof of the native easi-
ness of the king's temper ! Though it must be added that the duke 0/
Uuekiiighain, who detested Ormond, was on that account supposed to
have used his vast influence in favour of Blood.
CHAPTRR LV.
THE ItKIGN or JAMES II.
A. D. 1(185. — The somewhat ostLiil:itii)iis manner in which the duke of
V'ork had been accustomed to go to mass, during the life of his brother,
)iad bi'i'ii one great cause of the general dislike in which he was held.
Even ('harles, giddy and careless as he in general was, saw the impru-
dence of James' conduct, and significantly told him on one occasion that
he had no desire to go upon his travels again, whatever James might wish.
On ascending the throne, the very first act of James was one of an hon-
est but most imprudent bigotry. Incapable of reading the signs of the
times, or fully prepared to dare the worst that those signs could portend,
James immediately sent his agent, Caryl, to Rome, to apologize to the
pope for the long and flagrant heresy of Kngland, and to endeavor to pro-
cure ihc re-admission of the English people into the communion of the
catholic cliurch. The pope was either less blind or more politic than
James, and returned him a very cool answer, implying that before he
venluri'd upon so arduous an enterprise as that of changing the professed
faith of nearly his entire people, he would do well to sit down and calcu-
late the cost. Even this grave an(' "Bible rebuke did not deter James
from exerting himself both by feii /avour to make proselytes of his
subjects Hated as he already w h coiiiluct could not fail to en-
courage conspiracies against him, i.iiv:, accrordiuyly, he had not been long
seateil upon tlic throne, when he fouiul a dangerous rival in the duke of
Moninouiii. This illegitimate son of Charles II. had obtained, from the
easy nature of his father, a pardon for his share in the Ryt^-house plot,
which was fatal to so many better men ; but Ipid received his pardon only
on condition of pen/?tiial residence abroad. lie remained in Holland du-
ring the whole remainder of his father's reign, but on the accession of
James was dismissed by the [)rinci! of Orange. This dismissal was said
to b(^ at the (lirect solicitation of James, who bore a great haired to Mon-
mouth ; if so, the act was as impolitic as it was mean. The duke now
found rcfufic for a ^hort time at IJru.xstls, but here again the inflnencc! of
James \v:is brought to bear upon him ; and Monmouth now, thoroughly
exasperated, and relying upon the dclcstaiidn in which James was held,
resolvcil to mak(! an attempt to oust him from the Knglish throne .4t
this distance of time suc-h a project on the part of Monmouth seems per-
fectly iM>ain' ; but it will seem far less so if we make due allowance for
the widely-spread ami intense hatred winch the p(u)ple bore to James, and
for the (jreal [lopularity of Monmouth, whom many people believed to be
the le<riinnate s(Hi of ('harles. it Ix-ing commonly airirmed that Charlei
had privately married l.ucy Waters, the dukt^'s moth(;r.
The dnke iif Argylc, who, as well as Muninotilh, had escaped the con-
•equ( II 'es of the Kye-house plot, now agreed to aid liiiii ; it was intended
that Aruyii' i-hould raise Scotland, while Monmoiitli was to take tho lead
III the wi St ol Kngland, where he was peculiarly popular.
'Vrgylc promptly coinmenced his part of the alTiir by landing in Scot-
,aml, where he soon found himself at the head of an army of two thou-
sand a
ture of
any coi
of the k
wounde
was she
water, t
the sma
every df
and iapi
ecutioii 1
suspende
These in
fonteniei
it well (h
suffered \
Monmo
lowers, la
iiess of hi
a retinue,
I'e procee(
have had i
days to rel
At Bridg
young men
''"' eiithusi
with good I
tially uneqi
liad much o
levity and U
"e spent pn
"lus fritiere
if'viiig time
^or did the
'^'ivoiiiiio of
trusted with
ii»o\\n that I
"as not ovei
a I'rave and
"loiistrated v
finding his re
"oil ill disgiis
move the dnk
fepeiitnnce en
W'hilc Moi
"loclferies of
siiil more usei
Holliiiid, and I
''■III. under l<\
'"••CO took up
"<• seeinci to
le.n the atia.-
"le royal in fa,
fM n siiiijip „,
fits favour. M
"'"'. while all
■IIS horse's he;i
""* men. \Vh
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
617
sand five hundred men. He issued manifestos containing^ the usual mix-
ture of truth and falsehood, but before his eloquence could procure him
ai\y c()r)«i lerable accession of force he was attacked by a powerful body
of the king's troops. Argyle himself fought gallantly, and was severely
wounded ; but his troops soon gave way in every direction, and the duke
was shortly afterwards seized, while standing up to his neck in a pool of
water, and carried to Edinburgh. Here the authorities and poj)ulace, with
the small spite of mean spirits, avenged themselves, by the infliction of
every description of indignity, for the fright their brave though turbulent
and iaprudent prisoner had caused them. On his way to the place of ex-
ecution he was jeered and insulted by the rabble ; and the ma,<jistrates
suspended to his neck a book containing an account of his former exploits.
These insults, however, nothing affected the high spirit of Argyle, who
contented himself with sarcastically telling his persecutors that he deemed
it well that they had nothing worse to alledge against his character. He
suffered with the same composure.
Monmouth, in the meantime, with scarcely more than a hundred fol-
lowers, landed on the coast of Dorsetshire ; and we may judge of the great-
ness of his popularity from the fact, that though he landed with so slender
a retinue, he assembled upwards of two thousand men in four days. As
he proceeder? to Taunton he increased his force to six thousand, and could
liiive had double that number, only that he was obliged after the first few
days to refuse all but such as could bring their own arms with them.
At Bridgewater, Wells, and Frome he was joined by great numbers of
young men, the sons, chiefly, of the better sort of farmers; and such was
the enthusiasm Miat was now excited on his behalf, that James begun, and
with good reason, to tremble for his throne. But Monmouth was essen-
tially unequal to the vast enterprise that he had undertaken. Though he
had much of his father's personal courage, he had still more of his father's
levity and love of show and gayety. At every town in which he arrived
he spent precious time in the idle ceremony of being proclaimed king, and
thus fritterc:! away the enthusiasm and hopes of liis own followers, while
giving time to James to ( oncentrate fonie enough to crush him at a blow
Nor (lid the error of Monmouth end here. Lord Gray was the especial
favourite <if the duke, and was therefore deemed the fittest man to be en-
trusted with the command of the insurgent cavalry; though it was well
known that he was deficient in judgment, and strongly suspected that he
was not overburdened with either courage or zeal. Fletcher of Saltoun,
a brave and direct, though passionate and free-spoken man, strongly re-
monstrated with the duke upon this glaringly impolitic appointment, and
finding his remonstrances productive of no effect, retired from the expedi
tioM in disgust. Even the loss of this zealous though stern friend did not
move the duke, who continued hi^ confidence to Gray— to repent when
repentance could be of no avail.
\Vhil(! Monmouth had been wasting very precious time in these idle
mockeries of royal pomp, James and his frieiuls had been far otherwise
snd more usefully employed. S'x British regiments were recalled from
HollamI, and three thousai\d regulars with a vast numl)er of militia were
seiU, under Fevcrsham and Churclnll, to attack the rebels. The royal
force took up its position at Sndgemoor, near Bridgewater. Tliey were,
or seemed to be, so carelessly posted, that Monmouth delerminiMl to give
them the attack. The first onstit of the rebels was so enthusiastic that
the royal infantry gave way. Moinnouth was rattier strong in cavalry,
*n(\ a sjuale gond charge of that force would now have decidtMl the day in
tus favour. But (iray fully confirnicd all the suspicions of his cowardice,
i»ad, while all were loudly calling up"!! him to charge, he actually turiu-d
nis horse's head and fled from the field, followed hy the greater number of
his men. Whatever ware the previous errors of the royal comminderi.
tVI
!'/!•
618
THB TREASURY OK HISTORY
lliey now amply atoned fur tliein by the prompt and able manner in whi(;h
tlu;y availed themselves of Monmouth's want of generalship and Gray's
want of manhood. The rebels were charged in flank again and again, and
being utterly unaided by their cavalry, were thrown into complete and
irretrievable disorder, after a desperate fight of above three hours. It is
due to the rebel troops to add, that the courage which they displayed was
worthy of a better cause and better leaders. Rank after rank fell and
died on the very spot on wliich they had fought; but, comnianded as they
were, valour was thrown away and devotion merely another term for de-
struction
But ihe real horrors of this insurrection only began when the battle was
ended. Hundreds were slain in the pursuit; quarter, by the stern order
of James, being invariably ri'fiised. A special comniisslon was al.so issued
for the trial of all who were taken prisoners, and Judsfc Jeffreys and Colo
nel Kirk, the latter a soldier of rorttnie who had served much among the
Moors and become thoroughly brutali-ed, carried that commi.ssion into
effect in a manner which has rendereil their names eternally detei-table.
The terror which these brutally severe men inspired so qnic^keiicil the
zeal of the authorities, and affcinled so inui-h encouragement to informers,
whether acluiited by hale or hire, tliat the prisons all over Kngland, but
espi^i'ially in the western counties, were speedily filled with unrortiiiiate
people of both se.\es and ofall ages. In some towns the prisoners were
so numerous, that even the ferocity of Jeffreys was wearied of try-
ing in detail. Intimation was therefore given to great numbers of prison-
ers, that their only chance of mercy rested upon their pleading guilty;
but all the nnforlnnate wretches who were tliuis beguiled into that pica
were instantly and en massi senleni-ed to death by Jeffreys, who took cure,
too. that the sentence should speedily be executed.
'I'lie fate of one venerable lady excited great remark and commisera-
tion even in that terrible time of general dismay and widely-spread suf-
fering. The lady in questicm, ^irs. (Jaunt, a person of some fortinic,
kiuuvn loyally, and excellent cliaracler, was induced by singer linmaniiy
to give sheller to <Mie of the fugitives fiiim Scducnioiir. It being uiiiler-
Btood that the slicltcreil wmild be pardoned on coiiditii)ii of givin<r evidence
against those who had dared to sbclicr tliein, this base and niiLrrateriil man
informed against Ins benefactress, who was iiihuinanly scMitenccd to death
by Jeffreys, and actually exei-nted. Kirk, too, was gtiilty of the iiinst
enormous and filthy cruelties, and it seemed doulitful whether Jeffreys
and his stern master intended only lo liitiinidaie the pei>|>le of l'<ii;ilaiid
into siilimiss:iiiii, or actually and fully to exteriiiluate them.
M<Himoutli, whose rash enierprise and uiiinsiified ambition had canned
BO much confusion and blncilslied, inile frHin the I'atal field of Sedgeniiior
at so rapid a jiaee, that at abinil twenty .piles ilisiain'e his horse I'e I dead
beneiidi him. 'I'de duke hid now id' all his niiineroiis followers luil ciiie
left with him, a (iernian nolilenian. Monminith being in a desidate pnrt
of till! eonniry. and at so ciMisiiler.dile a di>taiice from the scene of battle
and bloodslieil, entertained some l> ipc \\:;\\ lie miirlil escape by means uf
disguise, and nu'eting with a pnor .^lieplii rd, be gave the man smne iruld
t(» exchange eloth's with linn, lie and Ins (Jerinan friend now tilled ihrir
po<'keis with (iejil peas, and, provided only 'villi this wrelidied lonl. pro-
ceeileil, towards iiijhifall, to conceal Ihemselves among the liill fern \t Inch
grew rankly ami aliundanlly on the Mirroundiiig moors, liul the piirsuiit
and aveiigirs of lilood were not so I'u' disi mt as llie misgniileil duke .'■up'
posed. A party (d' horse, having followeil elosely in his track, eani ' up
with the peasant with wlioiii he liail eX' bauired ilolhes. iind fioni lliiS
man's informaiion the duke was speedily discovered anddraBiied fioiii liii
hiding plar(> Ills in;ser.fli|e plijilit and the horrors of the file that lie lait
MO correctly aniieipaied, h.id now so coinpleit |y unmanned him, tint lie
burst iiii(
ca()tois t(
sioii 11;,^
over , (111^
Drisoii. J
"f C.Mlllllo
'"'"g. riileij
natural cli;
ish, ,j t|„, ,.
/''■^t ilicse .
his OWll ;|(,,
''■'iniipli 4V(i
than .f.iiii,.,^.
"'••> 'lad ,„
Of 1'^ vinile,
of J 1,0 s; ;„
Ofler,;,! hill) I
•"^'I'l-'s ha,J ,„
80"''l affroiu
W'ier to a vol
''0111 (lie niun
sealed.
'*•"' as Mor
;*''" •■''•"' that J
'"'('<' for mere>
prese,,,.,. „f „,;
;'''''■<•' snhmiss
'',"••'<''' him a n
oni.e luier fai;
ned „ Charles
'0''' ''im that hi
qUe.s||o„ 'j,,|^^
^"''"'■'•oin his
"••"'nes., i„ (,js ,
,,/^''"'i led to,
""".CO,,!,! scarJ
Haviicr learned]
^"l^' gave i(,e „J
more expert in |l
""'•"iinised, thaf
.*"•' Mo||||,„„t|,,
^'O'" Hie block. ,
made (wo more i|
HMd dls;i;„st. Till
and' '/' '''•'"""" "'[
*"" Jones, dukil
t^xx due to ,,|, L
f''''"'l'-'l into iro'iJ
''«:f(;^'"i'y and olJ
'"'"•'"a! fight or 1
comparatively en I
THE TREASURY OH' HISTORY.
61»
burst into an ai'oiiy ofl'mrs, and in the most humble maimer implored his
capiois to allow hiiii to liseape. But the reward offered fur his apprehen-
sion was loo ti'iii.itinif, and the dn-ad of the king's anger too great, to be
over ■onieiiy llie unluppy captive's solicitations, and lie was hurried to
Dri.-'on. Kven now his elinging to life prevaileil over the inanifest dictates
of ciiinnoii sense, anil from his prison lie sent letter after letter to the
king, tilled wiih the most abject entreaties to be allowed to live. The
natiiial cliarai-ier of Jiniiis and the stern .severity with which he had pun-
ish. il ilie reliellion of the meaner olTendurs, might have warned Monnionlh
(hat these degrading .submissions would avail him nothiiitj. But, in fact,
ids own absur lly otlensive manner during his brief period of antici|iaiive
trinmpli would have steeled the lie-iri of a far more placable sovereiini
than .limes. MiMimoiiih's proclamation.', had not slopped at callini> upon
tlie |ie.i| Id i.f Kuyland lo rebel against lite r undoubt dly 114 nfu s ve'r. isjii;
tliey had in a ma iner, whi(di wonl I liav • been revoiti g if ih : v rv" excess
of il(< virulence had not rendered it ab.surd, vilified the personal eharaeter
of .1 i.n s ; and while thus offending him as a ma.i. had at the sane lime
offered liini the siill more unpardonable offence of attacking his religion.
James had none of ih niii^ninimity which in tliese circumstances of per-
sonal affront would liave foun I an argument for pardoning the treason, in
oriler lo avoid even liie appearance of punislnng the personality ; and
from the moment that Monmouth was captured, his fate was irrevocably
sealed.
Had as Monnionlh's conduct had been, it is not without conleinpt that
we read that .lames, iliough deiermiiied not to spare him, allowed him to
liopt! for inerey, and even granted him tin interview. Admitted to the
pre.seiii'.? of the king, Moninouih was weak enough to renew in person the
abject siihmissnnis and solieitalions by which he had already degraded
himself in writing. .\s lu^ kiieli and implored his life. James sternly
Irtiiied him a paprr. Il eonlaiued an admission of his illegitiinacy, and
of the niter falsehood of the rejinrt that Luey Waters had ever been mar-
ried to Charles II. .Moiiinouili signed the paper, and James then coldly
tolil him thai his repeated treasons rendereil pardon altogether out of the
question. 'I'lie duke now at length perceived iliii hope was at an end,
ruse from his siippliaiii posture, siiid left the apartment, with an assumed
lirniiies.s In his step and scorn In his eounlenaiKte.
Wlien led to the scaffold Moninonlh behaved with a degree of fortitude
that could scarcely have been anticipated from his previous abjeclnesg.
Haviiii; learned that the executioner was the same who had beheaded
Lord William Rus>cll, and who had put that nobleman to muidi agony, the
duke irave the man some money, and good-liumoiiredly warned him to be
more expert in his business on the present occasion. The warning had
an effect exiictly opposiii; to what Monmouth intended. The man was
«() confused, that ai the first blow he only wounded that sufferer's neck;
'iiid Miiiimoiith, bleeding and ghastly with pain and terror, raised his head
from the block. Mis look of agony still farther unnerved the man, who
made two more ineffectual strokes, then threw down the axe in despair
and disgust. The reproaches and threats of the sheriff, however, caused
liiin to resume his revolting task, whinli at two strokes more he completed,
and J. lines, duke of M(mmouih, was a lifeless corpse. Monmouth was
popular, and therefore his fate was deemed hard. But his treason wan
wholly uiijustifi.dile. his pretended claim to the crown as ubsnnlly ground-
less as the claim of the son of a known harlot could be ; and pity is far
less due to liis memory thtiii lo that of the nnfortuuato people whom ht
deluded into treason by his rashness, and delivered to the gallows by his
incapai'iiy and ohslinai-y. Snyitiif ludliing of the vast nninbers who fell
in actual (ighl or in llie'suhsetiiient pursuit, for their fate was at the least
comparatively enviable, upwards of twenty were haijed by the milt<ary:
630
THK TREASURY OP HISTORY
and Jeffreys hanged eighty at Dorchester, and two hundred and fifty at
Taunton, Wells, and Exeter. At other places still farther victims were
made; and whipping, imprisonment, or ruinous fines were inflicted upon
hundreds in every part of the kingdom. And all this misery, let us not
forget, arose out of the rebellion, and the fraudulent as well as absurd pre-
tensions of the duke of Monmouth.
As though the civil dissensions of the kingdom had not been sufficiently
injurious, the most furious animosities existed on the score of religion.
The more James displayed his bigotry and his zeal for the re-establishment
or, at the least, the great encouragement and preference of popery, the
more zealously was he opposed by the popular preachers, who lost no op
portunity of impressing upon the people a deep sense of the evils which
they might anticipate from a return to the papal system. The terrors and
the blandishments which the king by turns employed caused many per-
sons of lax conscience to affect to be converted to papacy. Dr. Sharpe,
a protestant clergyman of London, distinguished himself by the just sever-
ity with which he denouHced these time-servers. His majesty was so
much annoyed and enraged at the doctor's sermons that he issued an order
to the bishop of London to suspend Sharpe from his clerical functions
until farther notice. The bishop very properly refused to comply with
this arbitrary and unconstitutional order. The king then determined to
inc'udc the bishop in his punishment, and issued an ecclesiastical commis-
sion, giving to the seven persons to whom it was directed an unlimited
power ill matters clerical. Before the commissioners thus authorised,
both the bishop and Dr. Sharpe were summoned, and sentenced to be sus-
pended during the king's pleasure.
Though a bigot, James was undoubtedly a sincere one. He readily be-
lieved that all argument would end in favour of popery, and that all sin-
cere and teachable spirits would become papist if full latitude were given
to teaching.
In this belief he now determined on a universal indulgence of con-
science, and a formal declaration informed the people that all sectaries
should have full indulgence, and that nonconformity was no longer a
crime. He again, too, sent a message to Rome offering to reconcile his
people to the papal power. But the earl of Castlemain, who was now
employed, met with no more success than Caryll had met with at an ear-
lier period of the king's reign. The pope understood governing better
than James, and better understood the actual temper of the English peo
pie. He knew that much might, with the aid of time, be done in the wa>
of undermining the supports of the protestant church ; while the rash and
arbitrary measures of James were calculated only to awaken the people to
watchfulness and inspire them with a spirit of resistance.
Not even Rome could discourage James from prosecuting his rash
measures. He encouraged the Jesuits to erect colleges in various parts
of the country ; the catholic worship was celebrated not only openly but
ostentatiously ; and four catholic bisnops, after having publicly been con-
secrated in the king's chapel, were sent to exercise their functions of
vicars apostolical tliroughout the kingdom.
But the king was not unopposed. He recommended Father Francis, a
Benedictine monk, to the university of Cambridge, for the degree of mas
terofarts. The university replied by a petition, in which they prayed
the king to excuse them upon the ground of the father's religion. An
endeavour was then made to terrify the university by summoning the
vice-chancellor before the high commission court; but both that finic-
tionary and his university were firm, and Father Francis was refused his
degrees.
The sister university of Oxford displayed the like conscientioui and de-
i rmincd spirit The presidency of Magdalen college becoming vacant
''ic king
'''arnier,
**''", ill 01
'Jo honou
refused to
showed hi
fellowship,
*• D. I6e
consequen(
"I which V
subjects an
foreign pri;]
•^sif toadc
ordered thai
'he conclusi,
'and now cc
warmness A
respect to th(
'0 resist at t\
Accordiiig-i
.Asaph, Kenn
bishop of CI,
bishop of Bri.
'•'ey stated th
"y law establi,
eiic'e to his mi
proaching to a
•si'ops were s
"'em if they ve
f'J""' time u,m
'»■«; and were J
'"f! lower on ti
On the twam
'''ace; aiidasii
"■''•■" also, nnd ;
'"ainpionsof tl
'nost intense in
m on eithe'r s
"ftlie bishops."
"^'"'edin,)eJibe
yc.s(mins(er-hal
"'" ''''s'dt, and u
, ' «?« to village
'" "'e c-mip at ^
'"','■' heartiness
"".'.'r'H'hattha
I " IS nothinir.
^'?'';";^..fhni;e
. A'"' do von <• J
Jlic simnts off
'iTainst the his ,,,
"^'"■'^AirRomeh
\\
THE TUEA8URY OF HISTORY.
631
iicis. a
If mas
iiraye(\
An
fiinc-
ised lii>
land de-
1 vacaut
(he king rerommended for that lucrative »iid honourable situation a Dr.
Farmer, who was a new and merely time-serving convert to papacy, and
who, in other respects, was by no means the sort of character who would
do honour to so high a preferment. The fellows respectfully but firmly
refused to obey the king's mandate for the election of this man, and James
showed his sense of the refusal by ejecting all but two of them from theii
fellowships.
A. D. 1688. — An increasing disaffection to the king was the inevitable
consecjuence of his perseverance in this arbitrary course, many instances
of which we might cite. But heedless alike of the murmurs of iiis own
subjects and of the proljable effect of those murmurs upon the niinds ol
foreign princes, James issued a second declaration of liberty of conscience.
As if to add insult to this evident blow at the established church, James
ordered that this second declaration should be read by all clergymen at
the conclusion of divine service. The dignitaries of the church of Eng-
land now considered that farther endurance would argue raliier luke-
warmness for the church or gross personal timidity, than mere and due
respect to the sovereign, and tiiey determined firmly, though temperately
to resist at this point.
Accordingly, Sancroft, archbishop of Canterbury, Lloyd, bishop of St.
Asaph, Keim. bishop of Bath and Wells, Turner, bishop of Kly, Lake,
bishop of Ciiichester, White, bishop of Peterborough, and Trelawney,
bisiiop of Bristol, drew up a respectful memorial to the king, in which
lliey stated tiiat their conscientious respect to the protest4nt religion as
by law established would not allow them and their clergy to yield obedi-
ence to his mandate. The king treated this petition as something ap-
proaching to a treasonable denial of his rights. The archbishops and
bishops were summoned before him at the council, and he sternly asked
them if they ventured to avow their petition. The question remained foi
some time unanswered ; but at length the prelates replied in the afHrma-
tive. nnd were immediately, on their declining to give bail, committed to
the Tower on the charge of having uttered a seditious libel.
On the twenty-ninth of June in this year the trial of the b ; s took
l)l;ice ; and as it was evident that in defending the church the ; relates
were also, and at a most important crisis, boldly standing forwan. as the
(Mianipions of the whole nation, the proceedings were watched with a
most intense interest by men of every rank, and, save a few bifioied or
interested papists, by men of eveiy shade of religious opinion. The law-
yers on either side exerted themselves greatly and ably ; and two of the
judges, Powel and Holloway, plainly declared their opinion to be in favour
of the bishops. The jury, however, even now had grave doubts, and re-
mained in deliberation during the entire night. On the following morning
Westminster-hall was literally crowded with spectators anxious to know
the result, and when the jury appeared and returned a verdict of " Not
guiliy." a mighty cheer arose within the hall, was taken up by the crowd.s
outside, and passed from street to street, from town to country, and from
villaiie to villasie. James was at the time dining with Lord Faversham
iti the c;imp at Hounslow, ten miles from London. The cheers of the
people reached even to this distance, and were re-echoed by the soldiers
with a heartiness and loudness that actually alarmed James, who eagerly
iiKjiiired what that noise could mean.
"It is iiothing, sire." replied one of the attendants, "but the soldiers
slmminif .It tlie acquittal of the bishops."
" And do you c-all that nothing!"' replied James : " but it shall be all the
worse for them all."
The shouts of the soldiers at the failure of James' arbitrary attenipi
JjTainst the bishops was, indeed, an ominous sign of the times. His
iiToits for Home had htcn repudiated and discouraged by Rome ; and now
623
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
oven his very scldiery, upon wliom alone he could rely for strength, tps-
tified ''ieir sympathy with the popular CHUse. But the infatuated monarch
did not even yet know ihe full extent of his peril. Many of the leading
men of the kingdom were in close though eantious correspondence with a
foreign potentate, and tlie most extensive and formidable preparations
were being made to hurl James from a throne which he had so signally
proved himself unworthy to fill.
Mary, eldest daughter of James, was married to William, prince of Or-
ange, who was at once the subile and profound politician and the aecom-
plislied and tried soldier. To this able and proii^stant prince the malcon-
tents of i^nglanil, who now through James' incurable infatuation included
all that was best and most honourable as well as most influential of the
nation, turned their eyes for fleliverance. He had long been aware of the
discontents that existed in England, but kept up an appearance of perfect
amity with the; king, and even in Ills correspondence with Ihe leading men
of the opposition wanly avoided ccnnmittiiig himself too far, and alTccted
to dissuade them from proceeding to extremities against their sovereign.
But the ferment occasioned by the affair of the bishops encouraged him
to throw off the mask ; he had long been making preparations for siw.h a
crisis, and he novv resolved to act He had his preparations so complete,
indeed, that in a short time after the acquittal of the bishops, he dropped
down the canals and rivers from Nimeugen with a well stored fleet of
five hundred vessels and an army of upwards of fourteen thousand men.
As all William's preparations had been made on pretext of an intended
invasion of France, he actually landed in Kiigland, at Torbay, without hav-
ing excited the slightest alarm in the mind of James.
William now marched his army to Rxeter and issued proclamations, in
which he invited the people to aid him in delivering them from the ty-
ranny under which they groaned ; but such a deep and general terror had
been struck into that neighbourhood by the awful scenes that had followed
the affair of Monmouth, that even the numerous and well-appointed force
of William encouraged but few volunteers to join him. Ten days elapsed,
and William, contrasting the apatiiy of the people with the enthnsiasiic
invitaiions he had received from many of the leading men of the connlry,
began to despair, and even to consult wilh his oflieers on the propriety of
reeinharking, and l^^■lvillg so faithless a gentry and so apathetic a populace
to endure the miseries which they dared not rise against. But at this
critical moment he was joined by some men of great influence and note;
his arrival and his fonrc became generally known, and multitudes of all
ranks now declared in his favour.
Ti>;> iiiovemeiit once eimimenced, the revolution was virtually accom-
plisl cd. Kvcntlie most favoured and cinifidential servants of James now
abandoned him ; and whatever might have been the faults of the unforai-
n:ite kiiig.it is impossible not to feel deep disgust at the unnaturii! and
unaraiefnl conduct of some of those who now coldly abaiidoneil lilm in
the moment of his deepest perph-xity and need. Lord Churchill, for iii-
staiii-e, afterwards diike of Mariliorougb. and undoubtedly one of the great-
est generals Kiigland h.is ever possessed, acted upon this occasion with
a most seaiidaliius iiigratiiuile. Originally only a page .n the royal house-
hold, be had by the king's favour been raised to hiijh command and Incra-
iiv(! honours. But now wiien his talents and his sword were most neeiicd
by the king, he not only deserted him, but also influenced several other
leading cliar.icters to desert with him, including the duke of Grafton, an
illeifiiimiite son of Cli.irlcs II.
Hilt the most sliainefiil desertion, and that which the most deeply pained
and disgusted the nnfortuiiaie kiinr, was that of the princess Anne, who
\vMi ever been his most favoured and, seemingly, his most attached
daughter But this illustrious lady, i;nd her husband, the prince of Deii-
laarl
sens
Evci
Vr
ranki
the II
been
Sir K
inaste
to full
mob, I
'le wai
detent!
duke o
ceived
he poss
Butt
engage(
meiu up
'"{isniiich asi
:".""'s, inipol
'"jusiiee witl
ereataiKl n-rl
'■'ff'its „f ihel
"'ifious ! 'pf
""'"•red that
^no was nov
THE TIIEASURY OP HISTORY.
623
tPH-
uch
iiiig
ilha
iio«9
rally
ifOr-
com-
ili'on-
:luded
)f the
of the
)prfect
i<r men
.ffffted
B reign-
;ed liim
such a
mplete,
(iropped
fleet of
nd men.
intended
tout hav-
vtions, in
, ilie ty-
error had
I followed
ited force
9 eliipsed,
llnisiasiic
coimlfYi
•oprifiy ot
ti populace
lul 111 iWs
and nolH ;
ides of all
jly nccom-
le iiiifof'"-
|r,inir-,il and
ipil him in
j.ill, for '"■
If the «ri'at-
rtsion with
,yal house-
and lucra-
lost neeiU'd
;t.rivl othei
[Irafio'i' an
loplv P'''"f^
Anne, wim
|m Kiiached
Vee of neiv
mark, now joined the rest in desertinar the king, who in his too tardy
sense of his helpless situation passionately fxclaiuied, " God help me'!
Even my own childfen desert me now."
Unable to rely upon his troops, seeing only enraged enemies among all
ranks of his subjects, and so deserted by his court that he had scarcely
the necessary personal attendance, he sent the queen, who had rei:enily
been confined of a son, over to Calais ; and then, with only one atiendant,
Sir Kdward Hales, a new convert to popery, whose fidelity to his unhappy
master cannot be too highly applauded, he secreP'" left London, intending
to follow the queen to France. He was rei-ogiiised and slopped by the
mob, but being confined at Itochester, he was so carelessly guarded, that
he was able— probably from secret orders given by William, whom his
detention would have embarrassed — to escape with his natural son, tlie
duke of Berwiirk, and they arrived safely in France. He was well re-
ceived by the French court, and encouraged to persevere in the intention
he possessed, of at least making an end(!avour to reconquer his kingdom.
But that kingdom had finally rejected him, and was even at that moment
engaged in discussing the means of erecting a secure and free govern-
ment upon the ruins uf his most unwise, gratuitous, and absurd despotism.
CHAPTER LVI.
THE REION OP WILLIAM III.
A. o. 1689 — The most influential members of both houses of parliament,
the privy council, with the archbishop of Canterbury, the lord mayor and
other leading men, now debated upon the course that ought to b(! taken.
King James was alive ; he had not formally resigned his throne ; no a(;lual
hostilities had taken place between him and his people, nor had he by
arms or by law been formally deposed. But he had fled from the knig-
doni at the mere appearance of an invader, and on the bare, however well-
founded, assumption of the hostility of his people and their concert with
the invading power. A clearer case of constructive abdication it would
not be easy to coiKTivi;, and both houses of parliament at once proceeded
to vote that the king h;!d abdicated.
But another and iim;.': liflicult point now remained for consideration.
Taking the king's abdication to be undisputed — who was to succeed him ?
Could he, because weary of the throne or unable to maintain himself upon
it, cut (iff the entail »/ the throne? His queen was recently delivered of a
sou ; that son, by the well known English law of succession, had right of
inheritance prior to the princesses; ought he not. then, to be madi; king,
and a regency appointed 1 But, if so, would not the paternity of James
enable him to continue his despotism througli his son when the l.ilt(;r
should attain his majority ? The point was a most important one, ;in(l as
ditficult of solution as it was important; but we have ever been of opinion
that the leading statesmen of tliat day decided upon it very much in the
spirit of the son of Philip, who cut the (iordian knot which he found him-
self unable to untie. The revolution was, undoubtedly, a necessary one,
forJame.s' tyranny was great and insensate; and it was a glorious one,
inasmuch as it was accomplished without bloodshed. But these co'isider-
ations, important as they are, must not prevent us from denouncmg the
injustice with which the leading men of England, finding themselves in
great and grievous difficulty how to reconcile their own liberties and the
rights of the infant son of the abdicated king, pronounced that son suppf"-
liiiiious ! The most ridiculous tales were told and credited ; it was evei.
averred that the queen had never been pregnant at all, but that the child
who was now pronounced supposititious had been conveyed to the apart-
iS'ji
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
mciUs or the queen from those of its real mother hi a wurmuig pan I But
when men have determined upon injustice any pretext will nerve their
turn. The young prince, then, v/as pronounced illegitiinuto, and the
throne being vacant it was then proposed to raise the princess of Oriin(j;i',
James' eldest daughter, to the throne as her hereditary riglit. But to thii
course there was an insuperable and unexpected obstacle. The high him]
Btern ambition of the prince of Orange forbade him, in his own course btit
Expressive phrase "to accept of a kingdom which he was to hold only by
his wife's apron strings." He would either have the crown conferred
upon himself, or ho would return to his own country and leave the Kn-
glish to settle their own difficulties as they best mi^ht ; and accordingly
the crown was settled upon William and Mary and their heirs, the udinni-
istration of alTairs being vested in William alone.
Though the declaration of toleration issued by James had given suuh
deep and general offence, it had done so only as it indicated the desire oj
James to deprive both the church of England and the dissenters of security
from the inroads of papacy. Presuming from this fact that toleration
would not in itself be disagreeable to the nation, William commenced his
reign by an attempt to repeal the laws that commanded uniformity ol
worship. But the English, as has well been remarked, were " more ready
to examine the commands of their superiors than to obey them ;" uiitf
William, although looked upon as the deliverer of the nation, could only
so far succeed in this design, as to procure toleration for such dissenteri
as should hold no private conventicles and should take the oaths of allegi-
duce.
The attention of William, however, was very speedily called from tin
regulation of his new kingdom to the measures necessary for its preserva
tion. James, as we have said, was received in France with great friend-
ship: and Ireland, mainly catholic, still remained true to him. Having
assembled all the force he could, therefore, James determinod to niiike
Ireland his point d'appui, and, embarking at Brest, he landed ut the port of
Kinsale on the 22d of May, 1689. Here everything tended to (latter liis
hopes. His progress to Dublin was a sort of triumph. Tyrconnel, tlio
lord lieulonant, received him with loyal warmth and respect 5 the old army
was not merely fiiitliful but zealous, and was very easily increased by new
levies to the imposing force of for^y thousand men.
Some few towns in Ireland, being chiefly inhabited by prolestants, had
declared for King William, and among these was Derry, or Londonderry,
and to this town James at once proceeded to lay siege. The military
authorities would probably have been glad to have deliveriul the place np
to their lawful sovereign ; but a clergyman, Mr. George Walker, placed
himself at the head of tlie protcstant inhabitants of the town, iind workeil
up ttieir minds to such a pitch of enthusiasm that they resolved to hold
out the place, until it should be relieved by William, or piirish in the at-
tempt. The enthusiasm spread to the very lowest and w<iuk(!Ht of tiio
population ; and though famine and fever made fearful ravages, and nui^Ii
loatlisome olijccts as cats and rats became coveted for food, tho besieijed
still held out. This devotion was at length rewarded. A slore-HJilp,
heavily laden witli provision, broke the boom which had Ixhui laid across
the river, and tlie famished inhabitants of Derry received at once an aliiiii-
dant supply of provisions and a most welcome addition to their garrison
of hale and fresh men. James, dur'.ig this obstinate siege, had lo.st riiiii)
thousand of Ins troops, and as the aid now thrown into the town rendereil
his success mor(! unlikely than ever, he witlidrew his army in the nigiii.
and prepar(!(l to meet William, who in person was about to attack him.
A. D leno. — The hostile armies came in sight of eaeii other u|)on ilic
opposite sides of the river Boyne, whiidi might easily have hecMi fonlml
but for ditches and old houses which rendered tho banks defensible. Tu
this faciliti
sacrifice,
determine
and fired w
eral of his
On (he f(j
ading the m
and tlien he
without any
find an obsi
Swiss aides,
and tlie (uric
caused the
very speedilj
in no slight
troops, who
sliould have
But though J
been signally
on this oecas
impulses of 1
niiuided the s
even detachii
repulsing the t
army was as c
posite conduct
hundred were
"lat number,
brave and able
cheering on his
A. D. 1091
't did not altoj
army again ini
leaderstiip of t
'i'liis army was
nature of the " r
enabled him !o
But, though fii
'"flexible resolu
'ell mto disord(
nve thousand o(
. Williiiin now
aided by the tro
obstinate defcnc
'lie horrors wliic
»iult, the Irish 1
"or cruel, and ht
proposed to surn
should have that
'..and 'hat all
Hn,i es and proj
*'cotlaiid, Aho,
«'iHJ.aiion, and
soveinmeii!.
*• D. IG92.~ w
'estant interests
CHiiuged in oonti,
l^iow the eneigie
Vol 1.-40
THE TKEASURY OF HISTORY.
639
(his facility of ambush, ia fact, the life of William very nearly became a
sacrifice. As he rude uut along his lines to reconnoitre his opponents and
determine upon his plan of battle, a cannon was secretly pointed at him,
and fired with such good aim that he was wounded in the shoulder, sev-
eral of his stair being killed by his side.
On the following morning William commenced operations by cannon-
ading the masking houses from which he had sulTcred so much annoyance,
and then he led over his army in three divisions. They crossed the river
without any considerable loss, formed in good order on the opposite side
and an obstinate battle ensued. Tlie Irish, as well as tlicir i'rench and
Swiss allies, fought well and zealously, but they were inferior in cavalry ;
and the furious charges of William's cavalry, led on by himself, at length
caused the Iri.sh to retreat, and the mere mercenary Swiss and French
very speedily followed. Perhaps the victory thus gamed by William was
in no sliglit degree owing to the fact of his having personally led on his
troops, who were thus inspired with a zeal and courage which James
should have lent to his troops by a similar personal devotion and daring.
But though James' personal courage was beyond all question, and had
been signally shown during the Dutch war in the reign of his brother, he
on this occasion allowed the prudence of the sovereign to outweigh the
impulses of the soldier. Posted on the hill of Duninorc, which com-
manded the scene of action, he gazed upon the eventful battle without
even detaching a squadron of the horse wliieh surrounded him to aid in
repulsing tiie terrible cavalry charges of William. The defeat of the Irish
army was as complete as might have been anticipated from this very op-
posite conduct of tiie opposing leaders. Of James' troops neaily Kfteen
hundred were killed and wounded, while William lost barely a tliird of
that number. Uut he sustained a heavy loss, indeed, in the death of the
brave and able duke of Schomberg, who wai shot as he crossed the river,
cheering on his men.
A. D. IG91. — Disastrous as the battle of the Boyne had proved to James,
It did not altogether destroy his hopes. By great exertions he got an
army again into condition for serviL-e, and it was now comniitie.l to the
leadership of General St. Ruth, a man of known gallantry and conduct
This army was met by that of the English at Aughriin; and the boggy
nature of the ground in which St. Uiith had taken up an admirable position
enabled him to repulse the linglish with great loss in several charges.
But, though galled and weakened, they returned to the charge with
indexible resolution, and St. Ruth being killed by a cannon ball, his men
fell into disorder, and retreated to Limerick with the loss of upwards o(
five thousand of tlieir number.
William now proceeded to besiege Limerick, the garrison of which city,
aided by the troops who had escaped from Aughriin, made a gallant and
obstinate defence ; but the English gained ground so rapidly that, to avoid
tiie horrors which must have resulted from the place being taken by as-
sault, the Irish leaders demanded a parley. William was neither bigoted
nor cruel, and he offered no objection to the terms on which the garrison
proposed to surrender. These terms were, that tiie catholics of Ireland
should have that freedom of religion which they had enjoyed under ("liarles
I., and Miat all Irish persons should beat liberty to remove witli their
•nnii/es and property to any part of the world, excepting England and
Scotland. Above fourteen thousand availeii themselves of iliis latter
slit u.ation, and were conveyed to France at the expense of the English
soveinment.
A. p. 1G92.- William aspired to the distinction of being head of the pro-
'eslanl interests in Europe: hence tiie country was almost perpetually
CHiiaged in continental wars ; and if it were not absolutely iieci^ssary to
Plow the eneigies of tlie English nation into the scale, it suited the king's
Vol L— 40
526
THIC TREASURY OF HISTORY.
warlike disposition ; for tlioiijrii he was by no meiins uniformly successful
at the head of his troops, he possessed the necessary courage and forti-
tude, and was, ocyond ail doubt, a superior military commander. We
shall not, however, enter the arena of his warlike achievements, as gen
eral of the allied armies, in the long and arduous struggle agamst tht
power and restless ambition of Louis XIV., but keep our attention fixed
on those matters which more exclusively refer to England. Among these
was the celebrated victory off La Uogue gained b); the Knglish and Dutch
fleets, over the French. The latter consisted of sixty-three sliips, and the
confederate fleet of ninety-nine; but scarce one half could come to an
engagement. The French fleet was entirely defeated, and driven to their
own coast; and at La Ilogiie and other places, no less than twenty-one
of their largest men-of-war were destroyed, within two or three days after
the battle. Among the rest, the French admiral's ship, the Rising Sun,
was set on fire, wilhin sight of the army that was to have made a aes(;cnt
upon Kngland. Not a single ship was lost on the part of the English.
At this time William was in Holland ; but as soon as the fleet arrived at
Bpithcad, the queen sent £30,000 to be distributed among tlie sailors, and
|old medals for the oflicers, in acknowledgment for this splendid and
timely victory.
With the celebrated treaty of Limerick perished the last hope of James
to regain his English dominion by the aid of Ireland. The king of France
lUowrd him a considerable pension, and his d.uigiitcr an<l English friends
Dccasionally aided him to a (considerable amount. He passed his time
in study, in chanty, and in religious duties ; and even the poor monks of
La Trappc, to whom Ik; paid freijueiit visit-s, confessed themselves edified
oy the mildness of his manners end lUo humility of his sentiments. We
especially dwell upon this lichaviour of .lames, not only because it shows,
m a strong point of view how bad a king a good man may be; in oilier
words, how much of a peculiar ability niu.st lie added to the greatest and
best virtues of a private man to nrevcnt a king from failing, to his own
and liis people's vast injury, in the fnllilnuMit of the tremendous duties o(
the throne, but also because it goes to refute a cruel calunniy whicii but
too many historians have joined in perpetuating upon the memory uf
James.
Exi'ited as men's minds were by the revolution, wliat could be nioro
probable than that l.igolcd and Ignorant admirers of the expelled James
should resort to any means, however wicked, to a.ssail William lipon wlial
they, as being still loyal to the absent king, nmst have viewed as a guilt-
ily usnr|)ed throne. The <laslar(ily crime nf ;issassiniition was resorlni
to against Willi.un ; and the vile crime of the foiled asfassins, has. with-
out the shadow of a proof, been attributed to tlii' suggestion of James
Ilnl, whether as man or monarch, every action of his life ia opposed tn
the i)robal)ility of tiiis vile impnlat'ou. Tyrannous, arbitrary, ami bigoted
lu) was; but he was stern, direct, and sturdy. Even in his earlier tlayn
he would have resorted to open force, not to dastardly treachery ; and
after the treaty of Limerick had deprived him of all reasonabh- hope o'
recovering his kingdom, his iniii^ evidently became impressed wiili ii
deep sense of the winMhlessnesrt of wurldly pr(is|)erity and greatiies?.
He becamt! more a monk in sjiirit than many were who wore the iiionk-
ish cowl; Mild so far, we think, was he from iicing willing to remove his
gucccHsfiil rival by the hand of the a^^as.«in, lliiil it may be dmililcd
whether he did not deem the nsur|ie<l greatness of that rival far more in
the liglit of a curse than of a blicssing.
JamcH survived the extinction of his kingly hopes rnthei more than
■even years. His ascetii! way of life, acting upon a frame much cii.
feebled by previims struggles and chagrins, tlir(!w him into a painful iind
tcdiouR (liReasc, and he died un the sixteenth uf Septeinhur, 1700 —iii^ lani
moments
advantage;
before his
pomp, in tl
A. D. Kil
close of hi
stepped the
Tiiough
"■eign, sufn(
as could b(
beheaded oi
grew wearj
politics wer
gaze of an c
filiated rath(
affairs of a *
required, for
tlierefore, al,
England, on
flisturbed bal
summed up ii
iiial genius of
autieipatiiig tl
in creating th
'las also been
gles under wli
and greatness
treaty of Ryg,
|var with Fran
''"gland by t
L'rcignty by H
'jiiid. III coiiiin(
tlio check give
• nuicc.
, \yitli war thi
boyhood he ha
imiid and expos
'brown from hi
listed upon bei
'be motion of
•>'"' irritation a
■"I'l other skilfu
tbirtecnth year
b'sl moments tl
''■■'y» liefore hi,
»••"«' of Europe
porjaiit iniellig,
^•'old and re
■""laMe man. .
yotcd to war aiK
'or private vieei
r<'iran| to the f,,,.
'lot r.isily refraii
"■*""' bis power i
';•••"' abroad, an.
tliey deservcd-f
would allow hini
THh, TREASUaY OF HISTORY.
627
moments being spent in enjoining his son to prefer religion to all worldly
advantages, however allnring. At his own especial request, made just
before his death, James was interred, without any attempt at funeral
pomp, in the church of the Knglish Benedictines at Paris.
A. D. 1097. — In our desire to trace the loyal exile, James, to the very
close of his eventful and unfortunate career, we have somewhat out-
stepped the chronological march of our history.
Though an able politician, and though, at the commencement of his
reign, sufficiently well inclined to use and preserve so much prerogative
as could belong to the elected monarch of a people who h;id recentl)
beheaded one sovereign and driven another into e.xile, William vory soon
grew weary of disputing with his cabinet. In truth, merely domestic
politics were not VVilliam's forte. He had the mind and the expansive
gaze of an emperor rather ui-ni the minute views of a king, and was cal-
culated rather to rule natici - ihan to watch over the comparatively small
affairs of a single stale. He saw how much the vast power of France
required, for the welfare of Europe, to be kept in check; and he gladly,
therefore, allowed his ministers to infringe upon his prerogative as to
Kngland, on condition of their affording him the means of regulating the
disturbed balance of power in Europe. Tlie history of his reign may be
summed up in two words — war and fundini^. Aided by the real and orig-
inal genius of Burnett, bishop of Sarum, William contrived that means of
anticipating the taxes, of mortgaging the resources of the nation, which
in creating the national debt has doubtless led to much evil, but which
has also been the means of carrying England triumphantly through strug-
gles under which it otherwise must have sunk, and to a pitch of wealth
and greatness to which it ("ould never have aspired, even in wish. The
treaty of Ryswick at length put an end to the sanguinary and expensive
war with France. It has been observed that the only benefit secured to
England by that treaty was the formal recognition of William's sov-
ereignty by the French king. But it should not bi; forgotten that Eng-
land, in common with all the rest of Europe, was served and saved by
the ciieck given to the gigantic power and the overweening ambition of
Trance.
With war the king's life may almost be said to have terminated. From
boyiiuod he had been of a feeble constitution, and long inquietude of
mind and exposure of body had now completely exhausled him. Being
ilirown from his horse he fractured his collar-bone. It was set, but he in-
<istcd upon being carried to his favouril(! residence, Kensington pulaco.
The motion of the carriage disunited tlio fractured bone, imd the pain
and irritation caused fever and diarrlwia, which, in spite of all tliat Bidloe
and other skilful surgeons could devise, terminated llie king's life, in the
tinrteenth year of his reign and the fifty-second of his age. Even in his
last moments the "ruling passion" was strong within him, and only two
days before his death he held a long and anxious conference on the
stale of Europe with the earl of Albemarle, who hud brought some im-
portant intelligenee from Holland.
(\)l(l and reserved in his manners, William was far from being an
amiable num. Hut he was moderate in his private expenses, ;;iid so de-
voted to war and statesmansliip that he had neither time nor inclination
for private vices. As a sovereign he obtained his power by an entire dis-
regard to the feelings and interests of hi.t father-in-hiw, such as wo can-
not easily refrain from taking to be the evidi'nee of a bad heart. But ho
used his power well, defendnig the honimr and the interests of his sub-
jects abroad, and doing as much for toleraliim and hberty at home iks
they degirved— for ho did all thai their own prejudices and Jcalousici
would allow liiin.
628
THE TKEASURY OF HISTORY.
CHAPTlOll LVIl.
THE REIGN or ANNG.
A. n 1702. — William III. having survived his wife, by whom he left no
issue, Anne, second daugliter of James 11., married to Prince George of
Denmark, ascended the throne amid a general satisfaction, which one
might reasonably have expected to be greatly checked by the remem-
brance of her extraordinary and unnatural treatment of her father in tlie
darkest hour of his distress-
Anne, at the time of her accession, was in the thirty-eighth year of her
age, pleasing in her person and manner, domestic in her habits, and, with
the dark exception to which we have alluded, of amiable and excellent
character.
One of the first acts of the queen was to send a message to the house
of commons announcing her intention of declaring war against Franco;
and this intention was warmly applauded by the house ! Yet the rc'^n
of this queen lias been very truly called the Augustan period of literature ;
so true it is that the ferocious instincts of mankind resist even the soft-
ening influence of letters. For war at that period England h^id none of
that real necessity, that impulse of self-preservation as to either the pres-
ent or the future, without which war is little, if at all, better than whole-
Bale and legitimatized murder; but haired of the French natfon contin-
ued in full force, although the power of the French to be mischievouj
was already very greatly curtailed ; and the Dutch and Germans not only
joined England, but actually declared war against France on the very
same day. Though such a combination of powers was strong enough to
portend danger even m the wealthy and warlike France, the French king
received the news without any apparent feeling, except that of mortifi-
cation that the Dutch should venture to be hostile to him ; and this feel-
ing he expressed by saying, that, "as for those pedlars, the Dutch, they
should be dearly taiiglit to repent their impertinent presumption in de-
claring war against a king whose power they had formerly felt as well as
dreaded."
Of the campaigns that followed this declaration of war we shall not
even attempt to give the details. Even where the historian's pages have
no limit but his own will, there is, probably, no portion of his labour less
useful to his readers than his minute account of battles, sieges, marchiis,
and countermarches, which must bo unintelligible to all except military
leaders, without the aid of maps so expensive that few readers can com-
mand them. Hut in the present case such detail^), besides being beyomi
the limits of our pages, are really unnecessary. Uleiiheim, Kamiliies,
Oudenard, and Mul|)la(|uet, were victories as useless as they were cosily
and decisive; they gratifii'd the splendid ambition and the sordid avarice
(if Marlborough, but to England th(>y were entirely unproductive of solid
benefit.
It is a singular fact, and one not very creditable to the nation, that while
enormous treasure was wasted in sanguinary and useless victories, and
llie most unbounded applause was bestowed upon the victors, oiu! of the
most important and splendid conquests ever made for Entrland, w.is re-
warded not merely by neiflcct, but by absolute and cruel insult. We al
hide Id the caplmo of (iitiraltar by Sir (ieorije Kooke. Sir (Mondisliy
Shovel and Sir George Huoke had been sent out to watch a fleet wliicii
the French were known to be eipiippiiig at Drest, and Sir (Jeorge ":i<
further ordered to convoy some lriiiis|Port-stiips to Barcelona, win re il.i'
prince of llcsse made an un.siicccMsful ati;ick. 'riie troops having fiuli' I
uii this point were rc-embarkcd, and the English cotnnianderB, uilvkmi^ to
turn the e
raltar, the
nable by ii
in truth
Spaniards ,
'"ff upon a
est to the i
prince of I.
the garrisoi
!'"e folJowii
"le defende
tains Hi,;|ig
"lefortificat
** mine, by i
wounded.
above, maint
«o fearfully
now landed 1
storm. Wlie
Portaiice to 1
trade and sen
'I'icd to annov
loo true, that ,
'0 the costly
Ocorge Rookt
sliortly aftorwi
^'<\S of Spain I
"'"'.•'« lie was
fcsides, WHS s
"oi'ld to onlin,
""' emperor of
Slice ssioii, aiic
t' larlcs, llieref,]
["'"•l)it,iiit« of tl
'" "i's detcriniil
?"PI'I"'|| him ul
'"fee of n(Mrlv I
"•'^•.«'"allwl,eiJ
f/"c/"; but in r
"("'"O". Ill,, col
f|'''i.s..ted by ,|,ol
"'f ' .irl of JV(,J
''^"'•" "s Ins ,,:]
„ ""■ <-irl of if
•".It ace 'n, I
it,,.. ° ' hoiij
'"^•V-^'THses.
!'"'■"■'• "/"•" if
'" '•"iise „CC|,,,
l''"iisin,| „„.„ ** ,L
''""'" "tat |„. .J
""""' •-•omniaiid
THE TIlEASUaY OF HISTORY.
turn the expeditio:! to some advantajire, determined upon attacking Gib-
raltar, then ill tiie possession of the ^Spaniards, who, deeming it impreg-
nable by its own strength, kept it but inconsiderably garrisoned.
In truth, the situation of Gibraltar is such that it might well lead the
Spaniards into an overweening opinion of its strength, the town stand,
iiig upon a tongue of land which is- defended ou every side but that nt*ar
est to the Spanish territory by an inaccessible rock. Upon that side tho
prince of Hesse landed eighteen hundred men, and proceeded to summon
the garrison. The governor paid no attention to this summons, and on
the following day the fleet commenced a warm cannonading, by wh.ca
the defenders of the south mole head were driven from their post. Cap-
tains Hi(;ks and Jumper now led a numerous party, sword in hand, int''
llie fortifications, but they had scarcely entered when the Spaniards sprung
a mine, by which two lieutenants and a hundred men were killed and
wounded. The remainder, gallantly headed by the captains named
above, maintained their post in spite of the horrible explosion which had
so fearfully thinned their numbers, and the rest of the seamen being
now landed by Captain Whitaker, the mole and the town were taken by
storm. When it is considered that Gibraltar has been of imnuMise im-
portance to England ever since, both in protecting our Mediterranean
trade and serving as an outfitting and sheltering port for our navies des-
tined to amioy an enemy, it seems in(;redible, but is, unfortunately, only
too true, that parliament and the ministry, so lavish of rewards and praise
to the costly and useless services performed elsewhere, refused Sir
George Rooke even the formal honour of a vote of thanks, and he was
shortly afterwards displacted from his commiind.
Philip IV., grandson of Louis XIV. of France, having been nominat'
king of Spain by the will of the late king, was placed upon the thione,
and, as he was apparently agreeable to the majority of his subjecis, anJ,
besides, was supported by the power of France, all opposition to i^im
would to ordinary minds have appeared hopeless. But Charles, son of
the emperor of Germany, had formerly been nominated to the Spanish
Slice ssion, and France herself had been a party to that nomination.
Cliarlcs, therefore, encouraged by the promised support of the warlike
iiiliabiiuntH of the province of (-atalonia, determined to assert his right.
Ill this (letcmiination he was strcngihened by Enjrland and Portugal, who
supplied him with two hundred transports, thirty ships of -var, and a
fiirce of ii(!arly ten thousand men. Considerable as tills force was, it yet
was small when compared to the niigiity resources of the Spanish king
de fdcio; but ill the juilgment of inllltary men, as well as in the popular
opiiiioii, till! comparative sniallness of (Charles' force was amply com-
pi'iisiited by tho genius and romantic bravery of the commander of it,
llip c.irl of Peterborough, who gave Charles the aid of his vast fortune
as well as his personal exertions.
The carl of Peterliorough was one of the most extraordinary men of
that age. Though very iniu'h dcformril In iiersoii, ho excelled in all mil-
itary exerci.ses. At (ifiecii he fmylit as a vi)|iiiiteer against the Moors
in Africa, and In every action he was disliiigiiislied for daring and eoii-
(liict. Tlie great experience he had a('(piir( d, and llic Intliieiice of his
cluracter iipmi the soldiery, were inncli and justly relied (Hi to forward
the cause of Charles. Ills very first action justified that reliance, as he
tiiiik the strong city of Haiccioiia wiili Us well provided narrls<in of five
llioiisand men. Had the earl "f Pelerlioroiigh now been lel'l to the prompt-
iii(is of his own liigh and chivalrous spirit, there h but little roiun to
iliMilit that he would have achieved still more brilliant siiccesses. lint
ioine petty intngnes, by which liutli Cliarles and the Kiiglisli g((vernment
Very weakly allowed llieniselve.s to be ihiiH d, led to the recall of the earl,
wlioie command wui Iransferred to Lord (Jalway. That nobleman soon
'w
wk\ 1
m
iKi
r .
■I!
1
1
Pi
t
'i'l
r
i
i
p
630
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
after came to a general action with the Spanish troops, commanded by
the Duke of Berwick, who had taken up a position on the phiins near the
town of Almanza. For a time Charles' troops, consisting chiefly of
Dutch and English infantry, seemed greatly to have the advantage. But
in the very heat and crisis of the action, the Portuguese horse, which
protected eit^er flank ol ChaJes' line, were seized with a sudden and dis-
graceful panic, and fled in spite of all the efforts that were made to rally
them. The ih ke of Berwijk immediately closed in upon the exposed
flanks, and Galway, losing men at every step, had barely time to throw
his army into a square and retire to a neighbouring eminence. Here they
were comparatively free from the attacks of the enemy, but they were
destitute of provisions and ignorant of the country; and as it was evi-
dently the design as it was in the power of the enemy to starve them
into submission, the oflicers reluctantly agreed to capitulate. A fine army
of t°n thousand men tlnis became prisoners of war; and Philip was more
firmly th^u ever seated upon his throne, not a voice now being raised
against him except in the still malcontent province of Catalonia.
We will now turn to the more important domestic events of this reign.
Though the acces^^ion of .Tames I. to the English throne; had to a certain
extent united England and Scotland, there was still an independent Scot-
tish parliament. In practice this was often inconvenient and always
dangerous ; the votes of the Scottish parliament often ran counter to
those of the English parliament, and it required no remarkable amoinit oi
political wisdom to foresee, that, under certain circumstances, such, for
instance, as actually occurred in the reigns of George I. and Georsje II.,
this difference might be fatal by strengthening the hands of a pretender
and plunging the country into a civil war. Theoretically, the sepante
prtiliament of Scotland was ridiculously indefensible. Scotland and Eng-
land being already united under one crown, how absurd it was that the
parliament at Westminster, held perfectly competent to enact laws fur
Cnmberland and Norlhnmherland, became legislatorially incapable a few
feet over the border! Hut so much more powerful are custom and preju-
dice than reason, that the first proposal to do away with this >it once ab-
surd and dangerous distinction was received as though it had been a pro-
posal to abridge some dear and indefeasible liberty of the Scottish people.
For once reason prevailed over idle or interested clamour, and both par-
liaments siinnltaneonsly passed an act appointing atid authorizing com-
missioners, named by the queen, to draw up articles for the parliamentary
union of the two kingdoms — that term being in itself an absurdity from
the very day of the death of Queen Elizabeth.
The commissioners, quickened in their proceedings by the queen's de
sire for dispatch, speedily jiresented for the consideration of the two p ir
liaments a series of articles, by which full provision was made for retain-
ing in force all the existing laws of Scotland, except where alteralinii
would manifestly benefit that country; the courts of session and other
courts of Scotlisli judicature were also preserved, and, in fact, the main
alteration was tlie abolition of the anomalous separate parlianiiMit of
Scotland, and giving that coimtry a representation in the parliament of
Great Britain of sixteen peers and forty-five commoners. There was,
bolh in Scotland and on the part of the tories in England, consiileriblp
opposition made to these really wise and necessary articles, but coiniiinn
sense and the innnence of the crown at lem;ih prevailed, and the articles
were passed into law by a great inajority in both parliaments.
Hitherto the whig niinistry, snpporleil by the powerful iiiflnence of tfic
Hiiclii'ss of Marlliorongh, had triumphed overall the efforts of the torie.";
bill the duchess had been guilty of two capital mistakes, by which she
now found her infliienee vi ry irreiilly <liiniiiislied. In the first place, fur-
etfing that she owed her vast iiiflnciire over the queen far more to lar
persona,
political 1
those per
qjueen by
influence,
the persoi
placed it) j
ner gratiti;
and zealoi
was not 01
much incli
of Mr. Har
favour, and
of the whig
broke, and
the persona
Iriumph ovc
curred to di
age it by sh
A clergyn
sermons in I
sent and dii
fluency whic
he soon beca
appointed to
of the "giiii,
departure fro
nous and des
senters was v
declared to b«
fiUacked by iJ
•Samuel Gerrt
theological ct
"C this .serino
■■itTair wouhj h
'"">g of the a I
(^■oinplaiiit of
a manifestly
''ave a differei
of checking :
tlieir consider;
and scandaloii
of the house,
'le gloried ill
of a weak nia
dfiily dragged
nave other wis(
sciirity were
*ui'li a man as
arlicles of ii„p
agf r on liehalf
'i'he hannle,
of fii-litioiis
for tlire.! wee
s<;t aside on ;„
I he Lords sat
principal rank,
iHiii the examj.
Ill
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
fi31
tin
pir
't:un-
iltioll
main
ji'iit (if
It'Ut "f
w.is,
lllUltH'll
iirtfU''
(if 111''
jell nhf
,.,.. f.ir-
to lut
personal complaisance and agreeableness than to her really considerable
political talents, she became so proud of her power, that she relaxed in
those personal attentions by which site had obtained it, and disgusted the
queen by an offensive and dictatorial tone. While she tiius periled lier
influence, she at the same time unwittingly raised up a rival to herself in
the person of a Mrs. Masham, a poor relation of her own, whom she
placed in a confidential situation about the queen's person, relying upon
her gratitude, and expecting to find her not a dangerous rival, but a pliant
and zealous tool. But Mrs. Masham speedily perceived that the queen
was not only personally disgusted by the hauteur of the duchess, but also
much inclined to the tory opinions ; she consequently took up the party
of Mr. Harley, afterwards Lord Oxford, who was personally in the queen's
favour, and who was extensively and constantly intriguing for tlie ruin
of the whigs. In conjunction with Mr. St. Joiin, afterwards Lord Uoling-
broke, and Sir Simon Harcourt, a lawyer of great abilities, and aided by
the personal influence of Mrs. Masham, Harley doubted not that he should
triumph over the whigs; and an event, trilling enough in itself, soon oc-
curred to develope the queen's leaning towards the lories, and to encour-
age it by showing how extensively tiiat parly existed among the people.
A clergyman named Sacheverel had nuii'li distinguished himself by his
sermons in favour of high-church prmciples and in condemnation of dis-
sent and dissenters. Imaginative, impassioned, and possessed of that
fluency which even men of good judgment so often mistake for eloquence,
he soon became an oracle and a ftivourite with a very large party. Being
appointed to preach on the fifth of November, at St. Paul's, he made use
of the "gunpov/dcr plot" as an argument from which to infer that any
departure from the doctrine of non-resistance might lead to the most hei-
nous and destructive wickedness, and that the existing toleration of dis
senters was very likely to be ruinous to the church of England, which he
declared to be as ill defended by its pretended friends, as it was fiercely
attacked by its determined enemies. The lord mayor of that year, Sir
Samuel Gerrard, no very accurate judge, it may be presumed, of either
theologi(!al correctness or literary elegance, allowed the printed edition
of tills sermon to be dedicated to him, And here, probably, the whole
aflfair would have ended and been forgotten, but for the injudicious med-
dling of the archbishop Dolben's son, who in his place in parliament made
com|)laiMt of the sermon and read all the most violent paragraphs of it j
a manifestly unfair proceeding, inasmuch as the same passages might
have a different effect when read with or without their context. Instead
of checking Mr. Dolben's olFiciousness by voting the matter unfit for
their consideration, the committee voted the passages rea<l to be seditious
and scandalous libcds; and Sacheverel was ordered to attend at the bar
of the housi', where he avowed the alledged libels, and plainly said that
he gloried in having published them. Even this vain and silly exultation
of a weak man, whom an almost equally weak opponent had thus sud-
denly dragged into the notoriety he coveted and would probably never
have otherwise obtained, did not instruct the house that ceniempt and ob-
scurity were llie severest pains and penalties that could be inflicted upon
such a man as Sacheverel ; and a conimilteo was appointed to draw up
articles of iinpeactnnent against him, anil Mr. Dolben was named man-
ager on behalf of tlu! eiMuinoiis of England.
The liariiilcris di'olaination of a vain man was thus raised into a degree
of fictitious iinportaiici! which was really disgraceful to the people, and
fur three weeks all tin! public imsiiiess of both houses of parliament was
set asideonaccounlofairi.il which ought never to have commenced.
The Lords sat in Westiniiisicr II. ill, whicii was daily besieged by tlie
principal rank, fashion, and licaiily of the capital, the queen herself set-
lui!i the example by attending as a private auditor of the proceediiign.
K.U
THE TREA8UKY OF HISTORY.
Mr. Uiilhpii, whose injudicious meddling Iiad occtasioned this mock-
lieroie fmce, was assisted in his absurd prosecution by Sir Joseph Jekyll,
Solii-iior-general Kyre, the recorder, Sir Peter King^ Genernl Stanhope,
Sir Thomas Parker, and Mr. Walpole; all gentlemen whose talents were
degraded by so silly a business.
Dr. Sacheverel was defended by Sir Simon Harcourt, Mr. Phipps, and
Drs. Frii'nd, Smrdlridge, and Atterbury ; and the trial, absurd as its origin
was, produced a display of great talent and eloquence. Unfortunately
the silly passion shown by the house of commons communicated itself
to the people out of doors. Most serious riots look place, in which the
rabble in their zeal for Dr. Sacheverel not only destroyed several dissent-
.ng meeting-houses, but also plundered the houses of several leading dis-
senters, and the disturbances at length grew so alarming that the queen
published a proclamation against them. The magistrates now exerted
themselves with some vigour; several ruffians were apprehended, and
two convicted of liigh treason and sentenced to death, which sentence,
however, was commuted.
While tlie populace was rioting without, the lords were trying Sacli
cverel. Tie was very aiily defended, and he personally delivered an ad-
dress, of which the composition was so immeasurably superior to that
of his sfTiiions, that it was generally supposed to have been written for
him by Dr. .Mierbury, afterwards bishop of Rochester; a man of great
genius, hut of a turn of mind which fitted him rather for the wrangling
of the bar, than for the mild teaching and other important duties of the
Christian ministry. A majority of seventeen votes condemned Sach-
everel, bill a protest was signed by thirty-four peers. Partly in defer-
ence to this protest and partly from fear that severity would cause dan-
gerous renewals of the riotous (•oiuluct of .Sacheverel's rabble fnenils, the
sentence was extremely light, merely prohibiting the doctor from preach-
ing for three years, and oniering his alledged libels to be burned by the
coiuinoii hangman, in presence of the lord mayor and the two sheriffs.
The warmth wliicli the people in general had shown on behalf of the
doctor showed so extensive a prevalence of tory principles, that the
queen's secret advisers of that party thought that they might now safely
recoiniuciid a dissolution of (larliameiit. The queen complied, and a
vast majority of lories was returned to the new parliament. Thus con-
vinced of the corri'dness with which Uarley had long assured her, thai
she might safely indulge her inclination to degrade; tlie whig p.Trty, the
queen proceeded ac<'ordiiigly. She began by making the duke of
Shrewsbiii-y lord chamberlain, instead of the duke of Kent. .Soon after-
wards the carl of Sumlerhmd, son-in-law to the duke of Marlborough,
was deprived of his olTice of secretary of state, which was conferred
upon the e.irl of Dartmouth; the lord stewardship was taken from the
duke of Itevonshire :iiid given to the duke of liuckingham, and .Mr.
Henry St. .lohii was made secretary in lieu of Mr. Hoyle. Still more
swei'pinur alterations followed, until at last no stati? oflTice was filled by a
wliiL', with the single exception of the duke of Marlbonmgh.
The parliament soon afier passed a resolution warmly approving the
course pursued by the (pieen, and exhortiiiij her to discountenance and
resist all such measures as those by which her royal crown anil dignily
had ri'ceiiily been tlircatcncd. From all this it was clear that the
power of Marlborough, so long supported by the court intrigues of
his duchess, was now coin[ileli'ly destroyed by her imprudent hauteur.
His avarice was well known, and it was very extensively believed that
the w,ir with France would long since have been brought to a coiicliisioii
if the pacitii' inclinations of the French king had not been constantly ;iii(t
systciuatically thwarted by the iliike for the furtherance of his own am.
iiiuus s<-hcmes. And though the *ory ininisiry cuntmued the war, and
the almos
secuted w
lately idol
thanks of!
Flanders, \
borough in
to contrast
the duke.
As t)ie ej
more wearj
mined to ta
ONs that tin
their peacea
him in souk
ceived bribe
six thousaiii
tract to supi
dismissed In
Tfie poet 1
returned wit)
arrange the p
to Holland, w
Dutch the pn
vour to indue
ed to the im
parties were
soon, howevei
France, were ;
government to
to a separate
A. D. nm
St. John, wnf
faultier, to m;
received by t|
treaty. 'l'|,e
Piirtially cared
which Englan(
Protestants wli
opiuioiLs.
A. D. 1713.— i
conducting tlie
growing up be
had for a long
policy. iJut ih
not to say cei
a question upor
suspected of be
tlicqiieens suci
pledged to the .
The wliigs wi
disguised enmit
riie queen in viL
"fi d'arcd that th
creased by fit-r n
W"s not only de,
'hat her illness x
A. n. 171 J — T
1)111 hy powerful
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
G33
the almost entirely tory parliament recommended tiiat it slioiild be pro-
Becuted with all poyiHlc vigonr, the monilication ami degradation of the
lately idolized duke were aimed at by evt-ry possible means. Tiuis the
thanks of tlie house of commons were refused to him for his services in
Flanders, wiiile they were warmly given for those of the earl of Peter-
borough in Spain, and the lord keeper in delivering them took occasion
to contrast the generous nature of the earl with the greed and avarice of
the duke.
As the expenses of the war increased, so the people grew more and
more weary of their war mania. The ministry consetpiently now deter-
mined to take resolute steps for putting an end to it ; and as it was obvi-
ous that the duke would use all tlie influence of his command to traverse
their peaceable policy, they came to the resolution of pro(;eeding against
him in some one of the many cases in which he was known to have re-
ceived bribes. Clear evidence was brought forward of his having received
six thousand pounds per annum from a Jew for securing him the con-
tract to supply the army w.ith bread ; and iipwi this charge the duke was
dismissed from all public em|)loyments.
Tlie poet Prior was now sent on au embassy to France, and he soon
returned with Menagcr, a French statesman, invested with full powers to
arrange the preliminaries of peace ; the ear! of Strafford was sent back
to Holland, whence he had only lately been recalled, to communicate to liie
Dutch the preliminaries and the queen's approval of them, and to endea-
vour to induce the Dutch, also, to approve them. Holland at first olyect-
ed to the inspection of the preliminaries, but after much exertion all
parties were induced to consent to a conference at Utrecht. It was
soon, however, perceived that all tlie deputies, save those of Kngiand and
France, were averse to peace, and it was then determined by the queen's
government to set on foot a private negotiation with France with a view
to a separate treaty.
A. D. 1713. — Karly in August. 1712, Viscount Bolingbroke, formerly Mr.
St. John, was sent to Versailles, accompanied by Prior and liie Abbo
Qaultier, to make arrangements for the separate treaty. He was well
received by the French court, and very soon adjusted the ternis of the
treaty. The interests of all the powers of Europe were well and im-
partially cared for ; but the noblest article of the treaty was that by
which Rngland insisted upon the liberation of the niunerous French
protcstants who were confined in prisons and galleys for their religious
opinions.
A. n. 1713.— But while the ministry was thus ably and triumpiiantly
conducting the foreign affairs of the nation, serious dissensions were
growing up between Harley and Uolingbroke. These able statesmen
had for a long time been most cordial in tlicir agreement on all points of
policy. Hut the daily increasing illness of the queen, an . the proi)ability,
not to say certainly, that she would not long survive, brought forward
a question upon which tiiey widely dilTored. Uolingbroke, who had been
suspected of being a strong Jacobite, was for bringmg in the pretender as
the queens successor < while Harley, now Lord Oxford, was as strongly
pledged to the Hanoverian succession.
Tiu! wliigs watched with delight and exultation the growth of the ill-
disguised enmity between these two great supports of the tory iiarly.
The queen in vain endeavoured to compose their dilTc^rencHs, and it is to
befcnr;)d that the sufferings of the last months of her life was much in-
creased by her anxieties on this account. Sin; daily grew weaker, and
was not only despaired of by her physicians, but was herself conscious
that her illness would have a fatal termination.
A. D. 171t.— The queen at Iciigili sunk into a slate of extreme lethargv,
bui by powerful medicines was .so far recovered that she was able to walk
634
:hg theasury of history.
about her chamber. On the thirtieth of July she rose as early as eight
o'clock. For some tiuie she walked about, leaning upon the arm of one
of her ladies, when she was seized with a fit of apoplexy, from which no
medicines could relieve her, and she expired on the following morning, in
the forty-ninth year of her age and the thirteenth of her reign.
Though Anne possessed no very brilliant talents, her reign was in the
main prosperous and wise, and was wholly free from all approach to
tyranny or cruelty. Literature and the arts flourished exceedingly under
her; Pope, Swift, Addison, Bolingbroke, and a perfect galaxy of lesser
stars, very justly obtain for this reign the proud title of the Augustan age
of England.
CHAPTER LVIII.
THE REIGN OF GEORGE
A. D. 1714. — Anne having Uft no issue, by the act of succession the En-
glish crown devolved upon George, son of the first elector of Brunswick,
and the princess Sophia, grand-daughter of James I.
The new king was now in his fifty-fourth year, and he bore the character
of being a man of solid ability, though entirely destitute of all shining
talents, and of even the appearance of any attachment to literature or the
arts. Direct, tenacious of his purpose, and accustomed all his life to ap-
plication to business, great hopes were entertained that his accession
would, at the least, secure order and regularity in the conduct of public
affairs. His own declaration was, " My maxim is to do justice, to fear no
man, and never to abandon my friends."
As it was feared that the intriguing genius of Bolingbroke might have
m.ade some arrangements for an attempt on the throne on the part of the
pretender, the friends of George I. had procured from him, as soon as it
was tolerably certain that Anne could not survive, an instrument by
which the niost zealous and influential friends to his succession were
added lo certain great ofliccrs, as lords justices, or a commission of
regency to govern the kingdom until tlie king should arrive.
As soon as the queen expired, the regency caused George I. to be pro-
claimed in *11 the usual places, the important garrison of Portsmouth
was reinfor ,ed, and measures were taken at all the other ports and garri-
sons to ded'at any attempts at invasion. The vii^our and vigilance thus
displayed prevented any outbreak or disturbance, if any such had ever
been actually contemplated ; and the regency ftlt confident enough to
deprive Bolingbroke of his oflice of secretary of state, with every cir-
cumstance of insult. Ilis oflice was given to the celebrated poet and
essayist Addison, of whom a curious anecdote is related, very character-
istic of the inunense difference between the qualities of a scliolar and
those of a man of business. Mr. Secretary Addison, renowned as a
classical and facile writer, was very naturally called upon to write tlia
dispatcii to amiouncc the death of Queen Anne to her successor ; and so
much was he embarrassed by his anxiety to find fitting terms, that liia
fellow-councillors grew impatient, and called upon the clerk to draw mil
the dispatch, which he did in a few dry business-like lines, and ever afler
boasted himself a readier writer than the facile and elegant writer of the
delightful papers in the Spectator!
On landing at Greenwich, (leorgc I. was received by the assemblnd
members of the regency, attenddl by the life guards under the duke o(
Northinnberland. iFe immediately retired to his chamber, where he Rave
audience to those who had been zealous for his succession. From tiiis
moment the knig showed a determined partiality to the whigs, whici
gave gre
by the I
conferred
utter con
The gr,
that party
state of d
tendency
whigs !"
Undeter
the whig p
tiality of t
cations of
late niinisti
utation of
duct of the
kill/? would
termination
of pleasing
porters of t
honest enoi
peared to be
Following
Jiamentary (
charges agai
as chairman
house, and m
Harley; and
diately taken
affani rose tj
house eoidd i
*' The wori
now impeaci
master; I iin
and other crii
Lord Oxfor
had seemed ti
greatness.
Kven ainon
the extreme v
"istance, poin
Oxford, liai,(l>
all men, and
question did
not patiently
Walpole, in'ii
gentleman tov^
as Sir Joseph
the charge did
•^l'" human
sneered down,
to im|»eacli Le
'"at he siioulil
point a (lebate
•ari hnuseir, w
orders of the
l<,"o»vii ;,nv, lie
"''I nian. Me
THE TREASURY OF HIS lORY.
63.5
like ol
jj:ive
111 this
Twbicl
gave great and general disgust ; a feeling that was still farther increaseri
by the headlong haste with whicli the whig ministers and favourites
conferred all offices of trust and emolument upon their own partizans, in
utter contempt of tiie merits and claims of those whom they ousted.
The greediness of the whigs, and the pertinacious partiality shown to
that party by the king, threw f. great part of the nation into a dangerous
state of discontent, and there arose a general cry, accompanied by much
tendency to actual rioting, of " Sacheverel for ever, and down with the
whigs!"
Undeterred by the increasing number and loudness of the malcontents,
the whig party, confident in their parliamentary strength and in the par-
tiality of the icing, commenced the business of the session by giving indi-
cations of tiieir intention to proceed to the utmost extremes against the
late ministers. In the house of lords they affected to believe that the rep-
utation of England was much lowered on the continent by the con-
duct of the late ministers, and professed hopes that the wisdom of the
king would repair that evil ; and in the lower house they stated their de-
termination to punish the alledged abettors of the pretender; a sure way
of pleasing the king, and an artful mode of confounding together the sup-
porters of the pretender, with loyal subjects of George I. who yet were
honest enough to oppose so much of liis system of government as ap-
peared to be injurious or dangerous to the country and to himself.
Following up the course thus indicated, the ministers appointed a par
lianientary committee of twenty persons, to examine papers and find
charges against the late ministry ; and shortly afterwards Mr. Walpole,
as ciiairman of this committee, stated that a report was ready for the
house, and moved for the committal of Mr. Matthew Prior and Mr. Thomas
Harley ; and those members, being present in their places, were imme-
diately taken into custody by the sergeant at arms. Mr. Walpole then
again rose to impeach Lord Bolingbroke of high treason. Before the
house could recover from its astonishment. Lord Coningsby rose and said,
" Tiie worthy chairman of the committee has impeaclied the hand, I
now impeach tiie head ; he has impeached the scholar, 1 impeach the
master; I imp(!acli Robert, earl of Oxford and Mortimer, of high treason
and other crimes and misdemeanors."
Lord Oxford was now completely abandoned by nearly all those wlio
had seemed to be so much attached to him ; a too common fate of fallen
greatness.
Even among the whigs, however, there were some who disapproved of
the extreme violeMice of tlie present proceedings. Sir Joseph Jekyl, for
instance, pointing out an overstrained article that was charged against
Oxford, handsomely said tiiat it was his way to mete out equal justice to
all men, and that as a lawyer he felt bound to say that the article in
question did not aniounl to treason. But the heads of the faction would
not patiently listen to such moderate and honourable language; and Mr.
Walpole, in'a tone and with a manner very improper to be used by one
gentleman towards another, replied, that many members quite as honest
as Sir Joseph, and better lawyers than he, were perfectly satisfied that
the charge did amount to treason.
Tiie humane and honest opposition of Sir Joseph Jekyl being thus
sneered down, Lord Coningsby and the other managing whigs proceeded
to impeacii Lord Oxford at the bar of the house of lords, and to demand
that lie slimild immediately b°! committed to custody. Upon this latter
point a debate arose in tlie house of lords, which was terminated by the
eari himself, who said that he had all along acted upon the iinnicdiale
itrder.s of liie late queen, and that, having never offended ai;aiiist_ any
known law, he was wholly unconcerned aliout the life of an insignificant
old man. lie was consequently committed to the Tower Uioiigh the
I
636
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
celebrated Dr. Mead positively certified that his oommittal would endan-
ijer his life. The duke of Ormond aud Lord Boliiigbroke, against whom
the proceedings were no less vindictively carried on, fled to tlie continent,
upon which the earl marshal of England was ordered to erase their names
and arms from the peerage list, and all their possessions in England were
declared forfeit to the crown.
A. D. 1715.— The pretender, who had numerous friends in England and
Scotland, looked with great complacency upon these violent proceedings,
judging tliat the discontent they caused could not fail to forward his
designs upon the crown; and while tiie king was intent upon alienating
the alfections of a large portion of his people in order to support a greedy
faction, an actual rebellion iiroke out. Two vessels, with arms, ammu-
nition, and officers, were sent from Franee to the coast of Scotland, and
the pretender promised that he would speedily follow witli a greater force.
The carl of !\lar was consequently induced to assemble his friends and
vassals to the number of three hundred, and to proidaim the pretender-
As the cause was popular, anil no opportunity was lost of magnifying
the force with which that princ;e was to arrive in Scotland, Alar soon
found himself at the heail of an army of ten thousand men. But while
he was completing his preparations to march southward, the duke of
Argyle at the head of only about six thousand men attacked him near
Dumblain, and though at the close of the engagement both parties left the
field, yet the loss inflicted upon Mar was so great as virtually to amount
to defeat, and the injury thus done to the cause of the pretender was in-
creased by the conduct of Simon, Lord Lovat. That restless and
thoroughly unprincipled man held the castle of Inverness for the preten-
der, to whose forces it would at all times have served as a most impor-
tant point (Tappui ; but Lord Lovat, changing with the changed fortune of
his party, now basely surrendered the castle to the king.
The kngiish ambassador in France, the accomplished and energetic
Lord Stair, had so well performed his duty to the king, that he was able
to send home the most timely and exact information of the designs of
the pretender; and just as the rebellion was about to break out in Eng-
land, several of the leading malcontents wctc seized by the ministry and
committed to (dose custody. For one of these. Sir William VVyndham,
his father-in-law, the duke of Somerset, offered to become security ; but
even that wealthy and powerful nobleman was refu.sed. The rebellion
was thus confined, in the west of England, to a few feeble and unconnec-
ted outbreaks ; and at Oxford, where it was known that many young men
of family were among the malcontents, all attempt was prevented by the
spirited conduct of Major-general Pepper, who occupied the city with his
troops, and posilivtdy promised to put to death any student, no matter
what his rank or connections, who should dare to appear beyond the
limits of his own college.
In the niirtii of England the spirits of the malcontents were kept up, in
spite of all the ill success that had hitherto attended their cause, by their
reliance upon aid from the pretender in person. The earl of Derwent-
water and iVIr. Foster raised a considerable force, and being joined by
some volunteers from the Scottish border, made an attempt to seize New-
castle, but the gates were shut against them, aud, having no battering
train, they retired to Hexham, whence, by way of Kendal and Lan-
caster, they proceeded to Preston. Here they were surrounded by nearly
eight thousand men, luider generals (^arpenler and Wills. Some fighting
ensued, but the cause of the rebels was now so evidently hopeless, tliav
Mr. Foster sent Colonel Oxburgh, of the royal army, who had been taken
prisoner, with ()roposals for a capitulation. General Wills, however, de-
ilincd to hear of tluun, except as armed rebels, to whom he could show
no other favour than to leave them tu the disposal of gcvcrnment, instead
of givinj
nieii wer
officers M
the other
men thro
Had till
marched
would pn
ance in Si
mon-sense
attempt ai
cisely that
moment u
sacrificed ;
IJunkirk, a
tliis adequa
proceeded
car] of Mar
He now pic
jiis rights ai
intention of
proclaimed
Kven the vu
hopelessness
nim," and sti
who had sac
means for a i
at Montrose-
'cvity, joined
most firmly h
he was unabi
needs have ir
The goveri;
rebellion ; it i
who had beei
"f more than
twenty ofRcei
disgusting ac
I>erwentwatei
and Widdn„„
Mackintosli, a
, Nithisdale,
'roni prison a
executed upon
which made tl
"uring all t
iinnoticed and
'teraily disgus.
to be allowed
••ehellion, the \.
lively venial, e
the peers in VV(
the lords and c-
A. D. 1721 1
ofa fleet under
attempt on K,),
disappointed by
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
t!37
of giving tiiem over to instant slaughter by his troops. Thi; unhappy
men were consequently ohii^eil to surrender at discretion ; some of their
officers who had deserted from the royal army were immediately shot,
the other officers and gentlemen were sent to London, and the common
men thrown into the various prisons of Lancashire and Cheshire.
Had the pretender promptly joined the earl of Mar, and, joined by him,
marched to effect a junction with the earl of Derwentwater, the event
would probably have been very different; but having delayed his appear-
ance in Scotland until his friends were thus overpowered in detail, com-
mon-sense should have dictated to him the folly of his carrying his
attempt any farther for the present. But, alas ! common-sense was pre-
cisely that quality which the Stuarts were least gifted with! At llie very
moment when the prisons of England were filled with his ill-fated and
sacrificed adherents, he hurried through France in disguise, embarked at
Dunkirk, and landed in Scotland with a train of six gentlemen ! With
this adequate force for the conquest of a great and powerful kingdom, he
proceeded through Aberdeen to Feteresso, where he was joined by the
earl of Mar and somewhat less than two-score other nobles and g(!Utry.
He now proceeded to Dundee, caused a frothy and useless declaration of
his rights and intentions to be circulated, and then went to Sfone with the
intention of adding the folly of being crowned there to the folly of being
proclaimed in all other places of note through which he had passed.
Even the vulgar and the ignorant were by this time convinced of the utter
hopelessness of his cause ; and as he found that " few cried God bless
him," and still fewer joined his standard, he quite coolly told his friends —
who had sacrificed everything for him — that he had not the necessary
means for a campaign, and then embarked, with his personal attendants,
at Montrose— leaving his dupes to their fate. Such baseness, such boyish
levit}', joined to such cold selfishness, ought to have made even those who
most firmly believed in the abstract rights of the pretender, rejoice that
he was unable to obtain power in England; since so heartless a man must
needs have made a cruel monarch.
The government had acted with vigour and ability in suppressing the
rebellion ; it now acted with stern unsparing severity in pmushing those
who had been concerned in it. The mere herd of rebels, to the number
of more than a thousand, were transported to the colonies. Two-and-
twenty officers were executed at Preston, and five at Tyburn, with all the
disgusting accompaniments of drawing and qtiartering. The earls of
Derwentwater, Nithisdalc, and Carnwarth, and the lords Kenmuir, Nairne,
and Widdrington were sentenced to death, as were Mr. Foster, Mr.
Mackintosh, and about twenty other leading men.
Nitliisdale, Foster, and Mackintosh were fortunate enough to escape
from prison and reach the continent; Derwentwater and Kenmuir were
executed upon Tower-hill, and met their fate with a decent intrepidity,
which made the spectators forget their crime.
During all this time the earl of Oxford had remained in the Towei,
unnoticed and almost forgotten. When the numerous executions had
literally disgusted men with the sad spectacle of bloodshed he petitioned
to be allowed to take his trial; rightly judging that, as compared to actual
rebellion, the worst that was charged against him would seem compara-
tively venial, even to his enemies. He was aciiordiugly arraigned before
the peers in Westminster-hall, and some technical dispute arising between
the lords and commons, the lords voted that he should be set at liberty.
A. D. 1721.— Passing over, as of no importance, the sailing from Spain
of a fleet under the duke of Ormond, for the purpose of making a new
attempt on England ; the pretender's hopes fmrn that expedition being
disappointed by a slornj which entirely disabled the fleet off Cape Fim'*-
638
THE TREASURY OF HISTOUY.
terre ; we come to a domestic event which originalcil in liiis year and
reduced thousands of people from affluence to bcgirary.
The South Sea company, to which government was greatly indebted,
was in the habit of contenting itself with five per cent, inlorosl, on ac-
count of the largeness of its claim, instead of six per cent., winch the
government paid to all the other public companies to whi(!li it was in
debted., A scrivener, named Hlount.of more ability than principle, av lucd
himself of this state of things to commence a deep and destructive pa.i u(
the scheme. It was quite obviously to the advantage of the nation ic u.^y
five rather than six per cent, upon all Its debts, as wcM as i!,iMn Die one
considerable debt that was due to the South Sea com,)any m', on th(
other hand, it was well worth the while of that wealthy >"ii|ji|);: ly to add
as much as possible to the already large amount \ipon which live per cent
interest was punctually paid by the government, lilonnt p\it tlic case so
plausibly on the part of the company, and so skilfully throw in the addi-
tional inducement to the government of a redu<'tion of the interest from
five to four per cent, at the end of six years, that the scluime seemed to
be an actual reduction of one-uixth of the whole national iiurden inunedi-
ately, and a reduction of a third at the end of six years. ICviTy eniujur-
agement and sanction were consequently given to llio plan I)y wliii-h the
South Sea company was to buy up the claims of all other creditors of the
government. Hitherto only the fair side of the sclieino had been display-
ed; now came the important question, wliere was the South Scu com-
pany, wealthy as it might be, to find the vast sum of nioiuiy n(!(!(!8sftry for
renderiii'f ii. the sole government creditor? Blount was reaily with his
reply, jiy a second part of his scheme he proposed to enricth the nation
enormously by opening up a new, vast, and safe tra<Ie to llio South Seas ;
and daming prospectuses invited the public to exciiange governnuMil stock
for equal nominal amounts in the South Sea stocks — said to be vastly
more valuable. The cunning of Blount and his fello\v-ilire(!tor8 was so
well aided by the cupidity of the public, that when the hooks were opened
for this notable transfer there was a positive struggle for the precedence ;
a consequent run took place for South Sea sliari.'s, which in a few days
were sold at more than double their original value, and ere tlie end of the
delusion, which was kept up for several months, the shares met with a
ready sale at ten times their original cost! When wo relU'ct that a thou-
sand pounds thus produced ten thousand to the speculator, and a hundred
thousand a million, we may judge how much excitemtsnt and (•ag(TneHfi
prevailed. Enormous fortunes, of course, were made in the transfer and
re-transfer of shares, and to thosn who sold out while the (UdiiMion was
still at iis height the scheme w: :, vt ry El Dorado. But the gniat ma-
jority oi' :lie supposed fortunate po:.':-' sb'^ -i of South Sea stock were f r
too well pleased with their pro^jiecls to , . ^. ',h them, > y imagiiicii
it difficult to put a sufficient vai . lir ■;•. ine ■ ;irobabilities (»l vast and ev(,T-
increasing interest! Among this number was the poet rtay, who, though
a scholar and a wit, was, nevertheless, in the actual business of life, as
simple as a child. Ho was strongly advised by his friends to sell some
stock which had been presented to him, and thus, while the stock was at
its highest value, secure himself a competeneo for life. But no ! like lliou-
sands more, he persisted in holding this precious stock j and all who did
so found their scrip mere waste paper when the company was called upon
to pay the very first vast and very genuine demand out u( ))ronts wlncli
were represented as being etjually vast, but whicdi had the slight defect o(
being wholly imaginary. Thousands upon thousands of fMinilies were
by this artful and most vile scheme reduced to (iomplelo ruin, and nothing
that has occurred in our own time — replete as it is with biibliles ami
swiiulling directors — is calculated to give us any ade(piato idea of the
suffering, the rage, and the dismay that were felt in all parts of the ki'i;;-
dom. 1
disastroL
cupidity J
of the iir
as far as
variety of
lions of p
'"to the h
"ot positi
thousands
affluent, w
usefully ea
So extei
"lilt the fi
bring forw;
there was s
afl^jirs Wert
ministry go
ordered the
lords Nortl
several othi
sufllcieiit lei
Chester and
"f the others
bishop, who
it Tyburn.
Scarcely le
apinst the e,
' 'le house of
and a most id
twenty days,
until he shoul
."> less than ti
oy. niasniiich
Pnices as hat
Sf'enis but a >
onffht to have
"y, ". especial
exif" nee to r
'"^t make a w|
"'■ '"o heavy;
•"'"■ » llicfi j( ,y
^- o. 1737 __
s'lovvu at least
";•"■ l>een abo-
''•'ctoraic, he
'"■■'"h that gl^^
"'"' 'I'e subse(
pcrfiiriiipd by t,
<'^nab„^ |,f,,J
'fof his han,;'
"' ' !'• sur<;eoii
"" '"''e folhnvin
"» 'he sixtv-eig
THE TREASURY OF HISTOHY.
en
doni. The goverinnpiit did all tliat it consislciitly cmikl to rcmrdy the
disastrous effects prodiiciul by individual knavery m inig upon ;(!ueral
cupidity and credulity. The cliiel managers of the seiieme were icprived
of the immense property they had unfairly acquired by it, and redresses
as far as possible afforded to the sufferr.Ts; but in tiie almost infinite
variety of transfers which had taken place, it inevitably follow, il that mil-
lions of property passed from the hands of those who speculated foolishly
into the liands of those who were more sagacious and more wary, though
not positively involved iu the jruilt of the deception ; and for mai\y years
thousands had to toil for bread who but for this scheme would have been
affluent, while thousands more enjoyed wealth not a jot more henestly or
usefully earned than the gains of the veriest gambler.
So extensive were the sufferings and confusion created by this event,
that the friends of the pretender deemed the crisis a tit one at which to
brinjj forward his pretensions again. But, as was usual with 'lat party,
there was so much dissension among the Icadin!^ malcontent-, and their
affairs were so clumsily conducted on the part of some of thtii, tiiat the
ministry got intelligence of the designs which were on foot, and -uddenly
ordered the apprehension of the duke of Norfolk, the earl of Orr.ry, the
lords North and Grey, Atterbury, bishop of Rochester, Mr. Lii; cr, and
several other persons of less note. In the investigation that fu lowed,
sufficient legal evidence could be found only against the bishop if Ro-
chester and Mr. Layer, though there could be no moral doulit of the guilt
of the others. All, therefore, were discharged out of custody except the
bishop, who was banished the kingdom, and Mr. Layer, who was ha iged
at Tyburn.
.Scarcely less sensation was caused by an accusation which was brought
against the earl of Macclesfield, of having sold certain places in chancery
Tiie house of commons impeached him at the bar of tiie house of lor' Is,
and a most interesting and well contested trial ensued, which lasted lor
twenty days. The earl was convicted, and sentenced to be imprisoned
until he should pay a fine of thirty thousand pounds. He paid tiu; money
in less than two months ; and his friends deemed him very hardly done
by, inasmuch as it was proved on !he trial that he had only sold such
places as had been sold by former chancellors. To us, however, this
seems but a very slender excuse for the oftence; as a judge in ecjuity he
ought to have put a stop to so dangerous a practice and not have profited
by it. especially as the honourable precedent of Chancellor Bacon was in
exis' nee to remind him that in chancery as elsewhere, "two blacks do
not make a white." As to the fine, large as the sum seems, it was not at
all too heavy; no small portion of it having been the produce of the offence
for whi<;h it was imposed.
A. D. 1727. — From the very commencement of his reign George I. had
shown at least as much anxiety for Hanover as for Kngland, and having
now been above two years prevented by various iiauses from visiting the
ili'ctnratc, he appointed a regency and set out for Hanover in a .state of
health that gave no reason to fear any ill result. The voyage to Holland
and the subsequent journey to within a few leagues of Osnaburg, were
performed by tlie king in his usual liealth and spirits, but as he approached
Osnalnirgf he suddenly call(?d for the postillion to sto|). It was found that
one (if his hands was paralysed, his tongue began to swell, and no efforts
of tlu' surgeon who traveled with him could afford him any relief; and
on ilie following morning he expired, in the thirtieth year of his reign and
m the sixtv-eiglith of his age
1
610
l-HB raiXASUHY OF H1ST0R\.
HIAPTKR LIX.
THE RKWS OK GK(iU(iE
A. n. 1707. — George the Second, like his deceased fiitlier, was a German
by birlli, l;inHiiagi', and sentinients. In their pcrsoiiid qiiahlies, sdso, they
bore a stnkinij rcsenibiance : both were honest, jnst, phiin-dealing men;
botii were alii<i! j)arsinionions and obxiiiiate; and as both were beset bj'
pohtieal factions whose raneonr knew no bonnds, so each of those men.
arclis liad to contend with tlie caprice or veniihty of rival statesmen, as
by tnrns they (hrected the coinx-ils o( the nation.
Tiie king was in the forty-fonrth year of his age on coming to the
tlirone; and lie took the first opporinnity of declaring to his parliament
that he was determined to aillii^re to tlie policy of his predecessor. Owing
to the previons contineiitd wars in whicli ICngland had taken ii part, the
kingdom was involve<l in a labyrinth of treaties and conventions. Much
discontent was also felt and expressed on many points ol domestic policy.
Dangerous encroachments had been made in the constitution by the repeal
of the trienni:il act ; by fre(|nent Bus|iensions of the habeas corpus act ; by
keeping tip a standing army; and i>y the notorions venal practices eni-
ployeii ill establishing :i system of parliamentar> corruption. At first
Home change in the ministry appeared in contempi.ition; but after a. little
time it was settled that Sir liohcrt Walpole should contimie at the head
of the administration; with Lord Townshend as director of the foreign
alTairs and .^Ir. I'elham, brother to the dnki? of Newcastle, is secretary-
nt-war. Tlieie was, however, a great and concentrated mass of opposi-
tion gradually forming against VNalpole, which required all his vigilance
and ability to overc(mie.
Peace was establislied at home and abroad ; and the new parliament,
which asKcinbled in .I.innaiy, IT'iH, afl'ordcd no topic of inter(^st ; but in
the sni'i'ceilmg year the cmnmons complained of the occasional publica-
lion of their proceedings, ami it was niianimonsly resolved, " That it is
an indignity to, and a breach of the privilege of the house, for any person
to presniiie to yive, in written or printed newspapers, any account ur
mimiles of tlie debates or oilier proceedings of the iionse or of any com-
mittee thi'ieof , and that, upon the discovery of tin; author, iVc.this house
will proceed against the olleiiders wiMi the ntliKist severity." An address
to his majesty was also presented by the eoiniiions, complaining of serious
de|)reilatioiis having been committed by the Spaiii.irds on Drilisb shiiis,
III manifest violation of the treaties snlisi>tiiig between tlu: two crowns;
mid re(|nestiiig that active measures might be taken to jirocure reasonalilc
■atisfaetion for the losses sustained, and secure his majestv's subjects tin'
free exercise of commerce and navigation to and from the Uritisli planta-
tions in America. This was fnilowed by a defensive treaty betvvecii
Great llnt'.iin, I'Vancc, .Sjiain, anil Holland- the ipieslion lictween I'liiglaiid
and Spain ,is to naval capinres being left to future adjudicati(Mi by coiii-
missioners.
*. 1). 17.'10. — Some ehaiiBes now took place in the ministry. I,<ird Hat
rintftoii was made secretary of state, in the room of Lord Townshend, who
appears to h.ne interfered mure with the alT.iirs of the nation than WiH
ngre( able to Sir Uobert \Val|iole, to \\ bom he was related by marriage.
The latter, it is said, upon being asked the eaiisc^ of liiH difrcrence with lin
iMoiher-in-lav, drily replied. "As long .is the firm of the house \\:\f
Townshend and Walpole, ,all did very well ; but when it became Waljuili'
Hiid 'I'ownsheiid. tbiiiL's went wrong and a separatimi ensued." About the
kuiiiu time the duke of Dorset wuh appiniiteii lord licutciiuiit of Ireland .h
the root
Trevor,
Witfi
of prosp
and froi
most abi
New-Yo
were rec
from our
that direc
A. IJ 17
80'i. who.
cal aspec
alliances 1
latory add
f>y a phah
equanimit'
delinquenc
and punish
committed
longing to
under the p
and to 01 he
rapacity of
hut by Jicen
Hobinsoii, \
•^CRper, had
Ciipital of 50
the remaiiidc
moiis haviiifi
iniquitous si
eashier and
'•inl'(>zzij,|„
rpsolved, tTia
8"i"y of n,;,i
L'orporation,
•^states, and |
'n tho foil,
"''■<mi moils;
•"' wine ami
lies of o.\ei,s(
Prccedeuted.
eminent mere
Pfsciu their
and ilie „,j„„
to tlic nieasiir
noioiis rej„i,.,
Iroin outward
niURl Inive (|,„
Pt'iiding ,lan„e
.*•''■>■ little 01
princess roy.d
'""nraliz,,(M,n i
'*"■ ""iieid.iin
l""f"'lainaii„n
"leml.eiH (,,r
"fllifirdniyi
Vol. C
II
mm TREA3URV OF HISTORY.
641
nil itr
I'lmi-
llllUHC
Idrcss
■own? ;
Jiiiililf
■IS llu"
|)\;\uf.i-
(wci'ii
y com-
:.l H.it
„l,\vlio
all vv.i'*
,irri;u:'''
is,. \v;i><
IViill'cl''
Lull 111''
Vmii'l ■"
the room of Ijord Carteret ; the duke of Devonshire, privy seal, and iiord
Trevor, president of the council.
Wild the blessings of peace England was now enjoying a high degree
of prosperity; her trade with foreign nations was constantly increasing;
and from her American colonies tiie imports of sugar, rum, &c., were
most abundant. The whale-fishery also on the coast of New-England,
New-York, &c., was highly productive. The most flattering accounts
were received from our trans-atlantic friends ; and the tide of emigration
from our shores, but more particularly from Ireland, was fast flowing in
that direction.
A. I) 1732. — The parliamentary session was opened by the king in per-
son, who. in an elaborate speech, complimented the country on its politi-
cal aspect., and dwelt with evident satisfaction on the late continental
alliances he had entered into. This was naturally followed by congrratu-
latory addresses from both houses ; and the minister saw himself surrounded
by a plr.ilanx of supporters, too numerous for the opposition to disturb his
equanimity. But amid the general prosperity there were some public
delinquencies which seemed to require the strong arm of justice to unmask
and punish. The most glaring of tliese, perhaps, was an enormous fraud
committed by certain parties who had the management of tiie funds be-
longing to the "charitable corporation." Tliis society had been formed
under tlie plausible pretext of lending money at legal interest to tiio poor
and to oih(Ts, upon security of goods, in order to screen them from tiie
rapacity of pawnbrokers. Their capital was at first limited to 3(),ono/.,
but by lit'enscs from the crown they increased it to 600,000/. (icorge
Robinson, M.P. for Marlow, the cashier, and John Thomson, the warehouse
keeper, iiad suddenly disappeared, and it was now discovered tliat for a
capital of 500,000/. effects to the amount of 30,000/. only could be found,
the remainder having been embezzled. A petition to the iiouse of com-
mons liaving been referred to a committee, it clearly appeared that a most
iniquitous scheme of fraud iiad been systematiiially earned on by the
caslii(!r and warehouse-man, in concert with some of the directors, for
eml'czzling tlie cajiilal and cheating tlie projirietors ; on which it was
resolved, that Sir lloiiert Sutton, witli nine otliers, who had been proved
guilty of many fraudulent practices in tiie managi'tnent of the charitable
corporation, should make satisfaction to the poor sutfcrers out of tlicir
rstales, and be prevented from leaving the kingih)in.
In tlie following year tlie cmsr nrlieine was first introduced into the liouie
of coininons; and although it was sininlv a plan for coiiveiting the diiiies
on wiiK! and tobai-co, which had been liitlierlo duties of customs, into du-
ties of excise, the fcnnent which this pro|)osinon excited was almost un-
precedented. The sheriffs of Lomlon, accompanied by many of the most
eminent merchants, in two hundred carri;iges, came down to the Iiouse to
present their petition against llii^ lull; oilier petitions were also presented ;
and the niiiiisler finding that his miijorily was sinall and the opposition
to the measure so univers'il, (Ictcrniined on wiilidrawing it. Tiie most
riotous rejoicings followed; and if a correi't jiiilinneiit niiijlit be formed
from outward iiiipearaiices, the iiihalnlants of l.oiiilon and Weslininster
must liiive thiMi«lit they had obtaineil a di liverance from some great iin-
peiidiiig danger.
Very little occurred during the succeeding year worthy of rentark. The
prinress royal was married to the prince of Orange; a bill p;issed for the
iialuraiization of his royal highness; and the "liapiiy i>air"lrl"t Si. .lames'
for Holtenl.im on the V.'2d of April. Parliament was now dissidved by
proclmnation. The king had previously prorogued it, after thanking the
inembers lor the niiiny signal proofs they had given him for seven years
of their duly and attachiiient to his person and government ; and cuncludid
Vol. 1.— 41
642
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
witli a prayer that providence would direct his people in the choice of tlieii
representatives.
A. D. 1735.— When the new parliament met in January it was seen that
the elections had made no perceptible change in the composition of the
house ; the leaders of parties were the same ; and nearly the same motions,
amendments, debates, and arguments were reproduced. Indeed, if we
except some angry disputf^s which occurred between the ministers and the
f)rince of Wales, relative to the income allowed out of the civil list to the
alter, scarcely any event worthy of remark took place for a long time.
The affair to which we allude thus originated. Motions iiaving been made
in eaeh house of parliament to address his majesty to settle 100,000/. per
annum on the prince, it was opposed by llie ministers as an encroachment
on the prerogative, an olFicious intermeddling with the king's family affairs,
and as an effort to set his majesty and the prince at variance. Uut the
truth was, there had long been a serious inisuiidcrstanding between these
royal personages, arising chiefly from the prince being at the head of the
opposition party ; and now that tliere seemed no chance of his obtaining
the income he required, it was highly resented by him, and caused an en-
tire alienation between tiie two courts of St. James's and Leicester-nouse.
Nor can it be wondered at that the prince siiould feel liimscif grossly
slighted, when out of a civil list of 800,000/. a revenue of 50,000/. per an-
num oidy was allowed him ; although his father when prince had 100,000/.,
out of a civil list of 700,000/. The breach grew wider every day; and at
length so rancorous had these family squabbles become, that in the last
illness of the queen, who expired ill November, 1737, the prince was not
even permitted to see Iter.
The growing prosperity of Kngland during a long peace was duly ap-
preciated hy Sir Hobert Walpole, and he neglected nothing that seemed
likely to insure its continuance!; but the arbitrary conduct pursued by the
Spaniards on (lie American coasts, and the interested clamours of some
Kniilish inerehants engaged in a contraband trade with the Spanish colo-
nies, led to a war between the two countries, which lasted from the year
173!> to 174H.
In oriler to prevent the ships of any other nation from trading with the
American colonies, the Spaniards employed vessels called gnarda-costas
to watch and intercept thi'm ! but instead of confining iheinsclvcs to this,
their ieuiliinate olijecf, the captains of tiic Spanish guard-ships frequently
interrere(l with Uritisli inerehants, who were on their way to other .Amer-
ican colonies, and, under pretenc(! of searching for contraband goods,
hoarded their sliip.i, anil sometimes treated the cii'Ws with the greatest
barbarity. Tlii' aci'onnts of tlu'se indignilies created a desire among all
classes of his inajesly's subjects l(ir indicting on the Spanianls signal and
speedy retriliiitiiiii : Imt llie pacific policy iif the iniiiiHler was mimical
to the adoption of vigorous measures. ('apl;iiii Jenkins, the masler of a
Scottish merehiiiil-ship, who was examined at the bar of the hmise of
coniinons, declared that he was boarded by a guard:i-costa, who, after ran-
sai'kiiig Ins ship anil ill-treating liis crew, tore off one of Ins ears, .iiul
Ihriiwiin; it in his face, tidd him" lolake it to his kini;."' I'pon lieintraskcil
what he itioiight when he found himself in the liamls of such ImrbMrnns,
Jenkins replied, " I reeommeniled my soid to (Jod, and my cause to my
country." These words, and the display of his ear, which, wrapped up
in cotton, he always earned abniit him, tilled the house with iiidigii:iiinii ;
but It uas not till more Ihiin a twelve-month afterward* that nn order in
council was issneil lor making reprisals (mi tlie Spaiiiarils.
A. ri. 1710. — Till' war with Spain had now eonimi'iii-ed, and the niosl
■trenuoiis exertions were iiu:!" to put the navy in the liest possible eoiiili.
lion. Admiriil Vernon, with a siiidl force, captured the nnportant city nl
I'orlo hello, UP the AnieriiMn isthinuM. Uut it appeared ut the close ot
the yea
many o
At thi
eonr. f
tlic com
Soon afi
house of
councils
early hoii
the resul
fined to a
frery leng
gerous; I
isfaction i
cussion w
from Wal
lion was i
a similar i
A. D. 17
Bello indu
Spanish ci
mand of a
"n the side
Horn fo ra
Were frusir
eral Weiitv
the admiial
Ihe expedii
characterist
ertected, ail
"■'lops and .
Nor was th
these disast
Caplureil se
treasure, th
such severe
ron wii.s (in;i
li is finie
least. ,|H t|„.
VI., Ilieliist
idl the iHjvvi
tile possessK
lliiiii,'aiy J y
nieiits. Nr',1
^lle Coiiiid In
•"'d and ihi ,,
liaving at his
Silesiii, iiiiii „
t'> ••oiiteiid w
li'iof lliviiri
"'l">'|MIII, |»o
('ciilors, oil
I'his she he.
jroops even II
HiiiKi'arv, anil
«<• bv a soleni
•"••r rigliis.
aieni voted a
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
643
1> tlie
iistiis
ttiis,
jiciuly
Kmi'v-
[idOlls,
illfSl
liiK nil
•,i\ ;iik\
iiiiic'.il
|r of 11
ilSl' of
r nul-
ls, ;iml
ask I'll
.irnn"*.
to my
ICll lip
ir.iliou ;
■i\v( I"
nil"*!
coilill-
Jiiiy I'l
IIOHC Ul
the year, that tlic Spaniards had taken upwards of 400 English vessels,
many of them riclily laden.
At this period the violence of party politics was displayed in all its ran-
cour. Many chuiiges look place in the cabinet; and Walpole, descrying
the coming storm, presented two of his sons with valuable sinecures.
Soon after, Mr. Sandys gave notice iliat he should make a motion in the
house of commons for ttie dismissal of Sir Robert Walpole from the king's
councils forever. On the appointed day tlie house was crowded at an
early hour, and the public were in a state of breathless expectation to learn
the result. Tlu! accusations ajfainst the minister were by no means con-
fined to any particular misconduct, but were vafrue and indefinite. The
very length of Mr. VVaipole's power, said Mr. Sandys, was in itself dan-
gerous; to accuse him of any specilii: crime was unnecessary, the dissat-
isfaction of the people being a sufficient cause for his removal ! The dis-
cussion was long and animated, and the debate closed by a powerful speech
from Walpoli', whicii made a deep impression on the iiouse ; and the mo-
tion was negatived liy the large majority of '-'90 against 106. In the lords,
a similar motion met with the like result.
A. D. 1741. — The suct-ess which had attended Vernon's attack on Porto
Belli) induced the government to send out large armainents against the
Spanish colonies. In conjunction with Lord (y'atlicait, who had the com-
mand of a numerous army, Vernon undertook to assail Spanisli America
on the side of the Atlantic, whilt! Commodore Anson sailed round Cape
Horn to ravage the coast of Chili and Peru. Part of these arrangements
were frustrated owing to the death of Lord Cathcart, his successor. Gen-
eral VVentworth, being an ofiicer of little experience and very je.ilous ol
tiie adiniiars popularity. As might be expected where such was the case,
the ex[)eiiition lamentably failed of its object; incapacity and dissension
characterised their operations; nothing of the sliglilest importance was
eflected, and they reiuriii'(l home after more than fifteen ihousaiul of the
troops and scaini'ii had fal ii viriims to the diseases of a tropical climate.
Nor was the result of the expedition under Anson calculated to retrieve
these disasters ; for although lie plundered the town of Patia, in Peru, and
caplurrd several prizes, amoni.'' which was the Spanish galleon, laden with
treasure, that sailed annually from Acapulco to Manilla, he encountered
such severe storms, particularly in riniiiding Cape Horn, that his squad-
ron was finally reilnced to only one ship.
It is time that we rftniii to tiic alTairs of conliiiental Kurope, so far, at
least, as llicy involve Hnglaiid. In Octiihcr, 1710, the I'iniicror ('liarlis
VI., Ilie last inale heir of ihe iiouse of Austria llapsburg, died. Almost
all liie [wwers of llurope iiad, by the "pi:igiiiatic sani'lion," guaranteed
till' possessions of Austria to the ari'li-diiciiess Maria Theresa, ijueiMi of
lliinuary; yet no power except Kiiiriaiid was inllnenceil by its eiigaue-
ineiits. Scarcely had the Huiiganan qiiecii succeeded her I'atlier, when
she fiiniid lierselV siiirmiiiili'd liy a host of enemies. IJut the most power-
ful ami the most wily of them was Frederic III., kinjj of Prussia, who,
liaviiig at his command a rich treasury and a weli-appoiiiieil army, entered
Silesia, and soon eoiii|Uireil it. Knowimt, iiowever, tll.it she liiid not only
tM eonleiid with I'Vanre, who had lesolved to elevate Charles .Mlierl, elec-
liir of Havana, to the empire, but also numbered among her foes the kings
ofSp.iiii, Poland, and Sanlnna, he olhred to support her against all com-
jietitors, on the eoiidilion of being permitted to retain his aciinisiiioii.
riiis she heroieallv and mdimiimily refused ; and, alihoiigh the French
troops even meiiaeed her capital. >laria Theresa conveneil the states of
iliingarv, and made a pow itIuI appeal to the nobles, which they responded
•o bv a "solemn deelaralion that they were all ready to die in ilelenre of
her rights. .\nolh(r large army was qunkly raised; Ihe Fnglish parlia-
aieni voted a subsidy ; and so great was the allachmenl of the Knguslj
m
iiti
^f* I
Ii
I
IN:
544
THE TREASUUY OF HISTORY.
people to her cause, that the pacific Walpole could no longer control the
desire that was manifested for becoming parties in the war.
A. D. 1742. — In the new parliament, which was opened by the king -n
person, it was evident that the opponents of Walpole had greatly strength-
ened themselves ; and being shortly after able to obtain a trifling majority
ofvotesonthe VVestminster election petition, Sir Robert expressed his
intention of retiring from office. He consequently resigned all his em-
ployments, and was created earl of Orford, with a pension of 4,000/. a
year, his majesty testifying for his faithful servant the most affectionate
regard.
England, accustomed to consider the equilibrium of the continental
states as the guarantee of her own grandeur, would naturally espouse the
cause of Maria Theresa ; while it was quite as natural that the king o(
England, as elector of Hanover, would be ready to enforce its propriety.
But there was another motive at this time still more powerful, namely,
the war which had recently broken out between England and Spain ; for
it could not be expected that, in a continental war in which the latter coim-
try was one of the belligerents, England would omit any opportunity that
oflfered of weakening that power. Yet as long as Walpole was the di-
recting minister, the king restricted himself to negotiations and subsidies.
But when Walpole whs superseded by Lord Carteret, the cause of Maria
Theresa was sustained by the arms of F'ngland, and by larger subsidies,
while the king of Naples was forced by an English fleet to the declaration
of neutrality. England had at length become a principal in the war; or,
as Smollet observes, " from being an umpire had now become a parly in
all continental quarrels, and instead of trimming the balance of Kurope.
lavished away her blood and treasure in supporting the interest md allies
of a puny electorate in the north of Germany."
A. D. 1743. — George U. was now at the head of the AuLio-electoral
army, which on its march to Hanim met and engaged the French under
the command of marshal the duke of Noaillcs and some of the princes of
the blood. They begaii the battle with their accustomed im[ietuosiiy,but
were received by the English infantry with the characteristic coolness
and steady intrepidity for which they are so eminently distinguished. In
this buttle the king showed much passive courage, and his son, tlie duke
of Cumberland, was wounded ; but it proved a decisive victory, 6,000 of
the French having fallen, while the loss oi\ the side ^' the British did not
amount to more than one-third of that lunnber.
About this time a treaty was concluded between England and Russia
for fifteen years, in which it was stipulated that the empress should fur-
nish his Britannic majesty, as sonn as required, with a body of 12.000
troops, to be employed according to the exigeiu-y of affairs ; and that
Great Britain should furnish Russia with twelve men-of-war, on the first
notice, in case either of them were attacked by an enemy and demanded
stich succour.
A. I). 1744, — To remove the Hanoverian dynasty from the throne of
these realms, seemed to be the darling object of the courts of France am!
Spain, who were secretly planniiig to restore the Stuart race ni thi' person
of the son of the late [irclender. Declarations of war between Iriincc
and Etiuland accordingly took place; and in May the king of France ar-
rived at fiisle, to open the campaign in Flanders, with an army of l-0,n0(i
men, commandeil liy the celebrated Marshal .Saxe. TIk; allied arriucs.
eonsisling of Knglish, Hanoverians, Austrians, (uid Dutch, ainoiniting in
he whole to about 75,00(1, advanced »vilh the apparent nitention of attack-
ng thi' enemy; but. after performing miinerons nieonsistent and inexpli-
"able movements, without ri>kmg either a siege or a battle, the siiinincr
ipsed nway, and they retired into winter-quarters. Mimntime some m
decisive
fleets in
Towa
resigned
iluding I
torn" adi
flrst lord
set, presi
3ecretari(
Mr. Pitt,
promised
A. D. 17
tivity, du
twenty y(
pally chai
desire of |
home, u
tained; ct
rights of tl
in Italy
superiority
-■^nglo-elec
The Frciicl
to which pi
by nine o'cj
Uritish infa
down ever3J
the village (
of the semi(
pelled to rei
out though 1
marshal to (
and the allie
Thirty yp
tip that rebe
disastrously
niarWed a gi
^011, Charles
"young pret
pied in eiidei
Charles Fdw
tiike advanta
"ow that the
tlie loss at F(
finnined to a
j^y a small p.i
Here he was
'ii'iiMilf at tli(
'"K'lly pleasei
oresscd th.'iii..
towards Kdj.
L-astle still hel
•ood palace, v
iiiinself regen;
clair.alioii wa.-?
•"^ir John ('..
•ollccied soiiK
Dunbar by sea
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
04A
lussm
fiir-
19.000
Umt
firs!
inilt'il
IIP of
|u uiii!
Inrson
lr;iMi'''
I'c ar-
to,ooo
rinins.
|i>K '■'>
hv 11'
decisive engagements had tiikeii place between the English and combined
tleets in the Mediterranean.
Towards the close of the year Lord Carteret, now earl of Granville,
resigned his office, and a coalition of parties was formed, which, from in-
tluding lories, whigs, and patriots, obtamed the name of the " broad bot-
tom" administration. Mr. Pelham was chancellor of the exchequer and
first lord of the treasury ; Lord Hardwicke, chancellor ; the duke of Dor-
set, president of the council; the duke of Newcastle and Lord Harrington,
secretaries of state ; and the duke of Bedford, first lord of the admirality.
Mr. Pitt, afterwards earl of Chatham, gave them his support, having been
promised a place as soon as the king's aversion could be overcome.
A. D. 1745. — Robert Walpole, earl of Orford, after a life of political ac-
tivity, during which he had occupied the most prominent station for
twenty years, died March 18, aged 71. His general policy was princi-
pally characterized by zeal in favour of the protestant succession; by the
desire of preserving peace abroad, and avoiding subjects of contention at
home. Under his auspices the naval superiority of England was main-
tained; commerce encouraged; justice impartially administered; and the
rights of the people preserved inviolate
In Italy the united armies of France and Spain, owing to their vast
superiority in numbers, were enabled to vanquish the Austrians ; and the
Anglo-electoral troops in the Netherlands also met with serious reverses.
The French army under Marshal Saxe was strongly posted at Fontenoy ;
to which place the duke of Cumberland advanced on the 30ih of April, and
by nine o'clock in the morning the troops were engaged. The valour of the
British infantry was never more signally disjilayeii ; for a time they bore
down everything before them ; but the Dutch failing in their atleinpt on
the village of Fontenoy, and the allies coming witiiin the destructive fire
of the semicircle of batteries erected by Saxe, were outflanked and com-
pelled to retreat. The loss on each side amounted to about 10,000 men ;
but though the victory was not absolutely decisive, it .nabled the French
marshal to take some of the most considerable towns of the Netherlands,
and the allies retired for safety behind the canal at Antwerp.
Tliirty years had elapsed since the chevalier de St. George had stirred
up that rebellion which had ended so fatally for his own liopes, and so
disastrously for his adherents. Since that time he had lived in Italy, had
married a grand-daughter of John Sobieski, king of Poland, anil had one
son, Charles Edward, who was afterwards known in Miifjlaiid as the
"young pretender." While George H. and his ministers were fidlyo('cu-
piod in endeavoring to bring the war in Germany to a successful issue,
Charles Edward received every cncourageinrnt from Louis of France to
take advantage of that opportunity, and try his sliciiglii in Britain. And
now that the national discontent was gaining ground in conseqncnce of
the loss at Fontenoy, and otiier ev(!iit8 not much less disastrous, he de-
termined to attempt the restori lion of his family ; and accompanied only
by a small party of his most (l(!votcii friends, he landed in ihe Hebrides.
Here he was soon joined liy the Higliland chieftains, and speedily found
himself at the head of several thousand hardy mountaineers, who were
higiily pleased with his atValde manners, and with genuine enthusiasm ex-
oressed themselves ready to die in his service. Tlieir first movement was
towards Edinburgh, which city surrender d witliont resistance, but the
castle still helil out. The youny pretender now tonk possession of Holy-
rood palace, where he proclaimeii his father king of (Jrcat Britain, and
liiinself regent, with nil tiie idle pagiiantries of state. Mean" '.ue a pro-
clamation was issued, ofi'ermg a reward of 30,ooi)/. for his aiiprehension.
Sir John ('ope, the eommaiider of the king's troops in Scotland, having
•oliected some reinforcements in the north, proceeded from Alicrdeeii to
jiuiibur by sea, and hearing that the insurgents were resolved to haZHrd u
IN
ill-
%'
,1 ,•!
i »
645
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
DHltle, he encamped at Preston Pans. Here he was unexpectedly attacK-
ed, and with such vigorous onslaught, by the fierce and undisciplined
Highlanders, that a sudden panic seized the royal troops, and in their
flight they alnndoned all their baggage, cannon, and camp equipage, to
their enemies. Klated with success, the rebels entered England, and pro-
ceeded as far as Derby, without encountering any opposition. Here,
however, they \earned that the uuke of Cumberland had arrived from the
continent, and was making preparations to oppose them with an over
whelming force; and it was therefore finally determined, that as they
could neither raise recruits in England, nor force tlieir way into Wales,
they shouL hasten their return to Scotland.
The pretender had good reason to believe that important succours would
be sent to him from France, or it is not likely he would have crossed the
border. But the vigilance of Admiral Vernon prevented the French fleet
from venturing out; and thus all hope of foreign assistance was cut off.
The forces of the pretender were greatly augmented on liis return to
Scotland ; but finding that Edinburgh was in possession of the king's
troops, he bent his course towards Stirling, which town he captured, and
besieged the castl-j. .Matters had now assumed a very serious aspect,
and public credit was most seriously affected ; but there was no lack of
energry in the government, nor any want of |)atrioiism among the nobility,
mercliants or traders of England; all ranks, in fact, united with ready
zeal in meeting iIk; exigeticy of the occasion. Many new regiments were
raised by wealthy and patriotic individuals ; and it was found that by liie
voluntary exertions of the people 00,000 troops could be added to the king's
forces.
A. D. 1740. — In .January General Hawley had suffered a complete defeat
in endeavoring to raise the siege of Stirling. Ihit a day of terrible retri-
bution was at hand. On the lOth of April the royal army, under the com-
mand of the duke of Cumberland, encouiilered the troops of ti\e pretender
on CuUoden-moor. The Highlanders l)egan the attack in their wild, furi-
ous way, rushing on the royal troops with thinr broadswords and Locha-
bar axes ; but tlie English, being now prepared for this mode of attack, re-
ceived them with fixed bayonets, keeping up a steady and well-sustained
fire of musketry, while the destruction of tlieir ranks was completed by
discharges of artillery. In thirty minutes tlie battle was converted into a
rout ; and orders having been issued to give no quarter, vast nunibers
were slain in the pursuit. Thi; loss of the rebels was estimated at about
4,000. while liie mmiber of killed in the royal army is said to have scarcely
exceeded fifty men! Intoxicated, as it were, with their unexampled vic-
tory, the contiuerors seemed only bent on merciless vengeance, and tiie
wlidie country around became a scene of rniclty and desDlation. .As tu
till? iiiifortimale prince Charles Edward, he escaped with dillieully from
the bai'le, and after waiKlering alone in the inouMliiins forsevcral inoiillis,
in various disguises, he found means to make his escape to France.
" One great cause of the pretender's preservation, was the belief that he
had been slain, which arose from the following circumstance. Amoiij?
his friends, who followed as much as possible in Ins track, a party «a»
surprised in a hut on the side of the llciialdcr nioiintain, by the soiilicrs
who were in search of hiin. Having seiziil ihciii, one nnnied Mackenzie
effeited his escape ; upon wliicli liis compiiiKins told tlie soldiers that it
w.is tlie prince ; the siddiers iliereiipon lied in piir.snit anil overlixik the
yontli, who, when ln' found their error, resolved to sacrifice his life, in the
iiope It might save Ins niasier's. He bravely cniilended with them, re-
fused ijiiarter, anil ilied with his sword in his hand, exclaimiiiir. as he tVIl
" Villi have killed your prince." And this dcidaratiDii was iMdieved by
m.iiiy. "We cannot, however,'' siiys the biiii;raplier of ihe evenis of
I'ulloden, " willioul pride, inenlioii the astonishing fact, that though iha
»u:n of
apprehe
the revv
very inq
degradii
whom n
IJ'thof !
tlemen a
for that ]
at Itoscii
was kind
courage ;
with a re
of ambit i
The du
for his bi
addition t
the gover
tions of tl
•ndictmen
and Croin
AH three
Tower-liil
had eiiga^
family to t
was brand)
vear) had i
encouragii)
remanded i
headed.
his behavi
nnihitude .
it, ho repea
'lien laying
sitroke,
A. D. 174
coiitiiicit
tliither, toj
''i'ivantagi; i
"lenceti the
•'Xceptioii o
Iiinguiillv cii
5''lh of .iiily
horror and
differed jiitl
*?overnor, i .
the fortress,
tlienist'lves
"lid tlius I,,
the allies, ih
cessful.
At sea (h
meiit with tl
^nd si'vernl
into their h,\
UelleisJe, and
II
THE TKEASURY OF HISTORY.
«47
IkenziP
Ithat il
ik itie
, 1:1 tho
I'lii, re-
lic IVII
\hh\ by
hliH of
JU'.n of thirty thousand pounds sterling was lonj publicly offered for liis
apprehension, and though he passed through very many hands, and both
the reward and liis person were p'jrfectly well known to an intelligent and
very inquisitive people, yet no man or woman was to be found capable of
degrading themselves to earning so vast a reward by betraying a fugitive,
whom misfortune had thrown upon their generosity." At length, on the
liHh of September, the young pretender embarked with twenty-five gen-
tlemen and one hundred and seven eommon men, in a French vessel, sent
for that purpose to the coast ; and after a passage of ten days he arrived
at Itoscau, near Morlaix, and immediately proceeded to Paris, wliere he
was kindly received by Louis XV. But his hopes were forever fled. The
courage and fortitude he displayed in Scotland seem to have forsaken him
with a reverse of fortune, and during the remainder of his days no trace
of ambition marked his actions.
The duke of Cumberland had now become the idol of the nation ; and
for his bravery at Culloden the parliament voted jC25,000 per annum in
addition to his former income. Several acts were passed for protecting
the government of Scotland, and securing its loyalty ; and many execu-
tions of the rebels took place in different parts of the kingdom. Bills of
indictment for hi^rli treason were found against the earls of Kilmarnock
and Cromartie, and Lord Balmerino, who were tried in Westminster-hall.
All three pleaded guilty ; Kilmarnock and Balmerino were executed on
Tower-lull, but Cromartie's life was spared. Foremost among those who
had engaged to venture their lives and fortunes in restoring the Smart
family to the throne of Kngland was Lord Lovat, a man whose character
was branded with many vices, and whose great age (for he was in his 90th
year) had not deterred him from taking an active part in fomenting and
encouraging the late rebellion. Being found guilty by his peers, he was
remaniled to the Tower, where, in a few inontiis afterwards, he was be-
headed. At this last scene of his life he behaved with great propriety:
his behaviour was di<!;nirted and composed ; he surveyed the assembled
multitude with a cheerful countenance, and taking up "the axe to examine
it, he repeated from Horace,
"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori!"
then laying his head on the block, it was severed from his body at a single
btroke.
4. D. 1747. — Wc must now briefly allude to the state of affairs on the
comment. Karly in the spring the duke of Cumberland led his troops
thither, to join our Austrian ami Dutch allies. The French had a decided
.HcUantagt? in point of numbers, and Marshal Saxe, their commander, com-
menced the campaign with the invasion of Duicii Brabant. But, with the
exception of the jiege of Bergenop-Zoom, by the French, the war was
languiillv carried on. This celebrated siege, however, lasted from tho
itiUi of .Inly to the 1.5th of September, and presented a conlinned scene of
fiorror and destruction ; but though the town was burned, the garrison had
Miffered little, while heaps of slain were formed of the besiegers. The
governor, calculating from these circumstances on tho impregnability of
the fortress, wati lulled into false security; while the French tro' ^s threw
themselves into the fosse, mouiiled the breaci>es,and entered the garrison,
and thus became masters of the navigation of the Schehlt. In Italy,
the allies, though forced to raise the siege of Genoa, were generally sue-
cessful.
Ai sea the Knglish well maintained their superiority. In an engage
ment with the French off Cape Finisterre, the Knglish were victorious;
and several richly laden ships, both outward and homeward boiiinl, fell
into their hamls. A<lmirat Hawke, also, defeated the French fleet, ofl
Uellcisle, and took si.\ sail of the line.
'1
H
!: : /I
648
THE TREASUaY OF HISTORY.
In November a new parliament assembled, and the ministers deriveo
much popularity on account of the suppression of the late rebellion, as
well as for the naval successes. All parties, however, were tired of the
war, and preparations were made for opening a congress at Aixla-CUiapelle
preliminary to a general peace; but as the issue of it was uncertain, the
usual grants and subsidies were readily voted without inquiry. Though
so long since began, it was not till October in the following year that this
treaty of peace was concluded. The chief parties to it were Britain, Hol-
land, and Austria on one side, and France and Spain on the other. By it
all the great treaties from that of VVestpiialia m 1648, to that of Vienna in
1738, were renewed and confirmed. France surrendered her conquests in
Flanders, and the English in the East and West Indies. But the right of
British subjects to navigate the American seas without being subject to
search by the Spaniards, was suffered to pass unnoticed, although that was
the original bone of contention and the basis of the attacks made on Wal-
pole's ministry. Tiie only advantage, indeed, that England gained, was
tile recognition of the Hanoverian succession, and the general abandon-
ment of the pretender, whose cause was from thenceforth regarded as
hopeless.
A. D. 1749. — The war being at an end, the disbanding of the army nat-
urally followed, and, as must ever in some degree be the case at such a
time, the idle and unemployed committed many depredations on the
public. To remedy this, a colony was established in Nova-Scotia, where
Lord Halifax went out as governor, and laid the foundation of a town,
which, in compliment to its projector, the earl of Halifax, was named
after him. It was soon found that the soil of Nova-Scotia was inca|)able
of repaying the labourer for his toil, and many who had been transported
there obtained leave to go to more southern latitudes. Those who re-
mained excited the jealousy of the native Indians, who still resided on the
borders of this barren spot ; and the French, who were the first European
settlers there, encouraged this jealous feeling. Meantime the animosity
between the English and French grew stronger, till at length the latter
claimed tiie whole territory between the Mississippi and New-Mexico on
the eiist, ■uid to the Apalachian mountains, on the west. From the fact
of their having been the first to discover that river, they took from the
English, who had settled beyond those; mountains, their possessions, and
erectiul forts to protect all the adjacent country.
A. I). 1751. — The first event of any importance this year was the death
of Frederic, prince of Wales, which happened on the 10th of March, in
the 45111 year of his age. His death was caused by an abscess in his side,
that formed from the blow of a cricket-ball which he received while play-
ing at that game on the lawn of Cliefden-house, Bui^ks, a collection oi
matter having been produced that burst in his throat and sufl^ocated him.
The |)riuce had long been on bad terms with his father, whose nieasures
he uniformly opposed ; and though the anti-ministerial party, imd a con-
siderable portion of the people spoke highly of his benevolence and luu-
nificence, and loudly applau<led his conduct at the time, it is clear thai
much of his patriotism originated in a vain desire for popularity. He left
five sons and three daughters ; his eldest son, George, being only eleven
years old: a regency was consequently appointed; but the king surviving
till the prince attained his majority, there was never anv occasion for it
to act.
The most memorable act passed in the course of this session was that
for regulating tlie conimcnc^emiMit of the year, and correcting the calendar
aecorduig to the (Jregorian computation. The New Style, as it was
termed, was intrnduced by Vo\)o Gregory XIU. in the 16th ciMitury, auii
had lung been adopted by most slates on the continent. Uy tins at'i,
tlurufure, it was jirovided that the year should begin ou the Ist day ol
lanuary,
eleven int
1753, shoi
lution to I
ing made
ever, in th
days. Uil
the regula
disorderly
gance whii
ment oecu;
Among t
than the c
who had fo
we regard 1
polished co
but he was
inspires coi
The new
first biisines
land, which,
tion to siiak
of tranquillii
liament ; bu
caused see
succeeded in
unanimity m
A. D. 1755.
between the
sions. Hos
without the I
der Uieskau
Gen. Lyman
ulated to atta
were importe
for hostilities
reduced by
forts on the
defeat ; the g
slain, and tht
provincial mi
courage, nobi
main army,
upwards of 7(
and provisioni
'-iliiiK't, com,
availed himse
'lie attack of
sals at sea im
three hundred
that year by I
A n. 1750.—
iwelfemonth,
icct of compla
and Nova-Sco
land or Irelam
ovenari troops
measure wliic
THE THEASUttY OF HISTORY.
649
on
fact
tlie
and
■nth
in
iide,
phiy-
on 0}
liini.
con-
inu-
ttml
i left
Ipven
'iviiij,'
for it
t\nit
■nilur
WHS
i iU'l,
day
January, instead of, as heretofore, on the 25th day of March, and ihat
eleven intermediate nominal days between the 2d and 14th of September,
1752, sliould be omitted ; the Julian computation, sujjposing a solar revo-
lution to be effected in tlie precise period of 365 days and six liours, hav-
ing made no provision for the deficiency of eleven minutes, whicii, how-
ever, in the lapse of eighteen centuries amounted to a difference of eleven
days. Hills were also passed for the better prevention of robberies, for
the regulation of places of amusement, and for punishing the keepers of
disorderly houses ; the necessity of this arising from the sjiiril of extrava-
gance which prevailed throughout tiie kingdom, as dissipation and amuse-
ment occupied every class of society.
Among the domestic events of this year no one created more sensation
than the death of Henry St. John, V;«connt Bolingbroke ; a nobleman
who had for half a century occupied a high station in the country, whether
we regard him in the character of a statesman, an orator, an author, or a
polished courtier. He possessed great energy and decision of character,
but he was deficient in that high principle and singleness of purpose that
inspires confidenee and leads to unquestioned excellence.
The new parliament was opened on tlie 10th of May, 1753 ; and the
first business of the house was to take into consideration the state of Ire-
land, which, in proportion as it advanced in civilization, showed a disposi-
tion to shake off its dependence on England. The kingdom was in a state
of tranquillity at the session which terminated the labours of the last par-
liament ; but, previous to the new election, the deatii of Mr. Pelhani
caused several changes in the government offices ; the late minister was
succeeded in the treasury by his brother, the duke of Newcastle ; and
unanimity now prevailed in the cabinet.
A. D. 1755. — We have before alluded to the animosity which existed
between the English and French relative to their North American posses-
sions. Hostilities were now commenced by the colonial authorities,
without the formality of a declaration of war. A French detachment un-
der Uieskau was defeated with great loss by the British, commanded by
Gen. liyman and Col. Williams. The North American Indians were stim-
ulated to attack the British colonists, and supplies of arms and ammunition
were imported from France. The British ministers immediately prepared
for hostilities ; all the French forts within the limits of Nova-Scotia were
reduced by Colonel Monekton: but an expedition against the French
forts on the Ohio, commanded by General Braddock, met with a severe
defeat ; the general falling into an ambuscade of French and Indians, was
slain, and the regular soldiers fled with disgraceful precipitation. The
provincial militia, however, led by Colonel Washington, displayed good
courage, nobly maintaining their ground, and covering the retreat of the
main army. The loss of the English on this occasion was very severe;
upwards of 700 men, with several oflicers, were slain ; the artillery, stores,
and provisions became the property of the victors, as well as the generars
f'abiiK't, containing his private histrnctions, &c., of which the enemy
availed himself to great advantage. Two otiier expeditions, destined for
tlie attack of Crown Point and Fort Niagara, also failed. But the repri-
sals at sea more than compensated for those misfortunes, as upwards of
three hundred merchant ships and eight thousand seamen were captured
that year by British cruisers.
A n. 1750.— Notwithstanding hostilities had been carried on nearly a
iweiveinonth, war was not formally declared till May 18: the chief sub-
,ec.t of complaint being the encroachments of the Fr^-iich on the Ohio
and Nova-Scotia. This was followed by tlireats o, mvasion upon Kng-
land or Ireland, in consequence of which a body of Hessian and Han-
overian troops was introduced to defend the interior of the kingdom ; a
measure which gave rise to considerable disconlent, as most peoulo
650
THE TRKASURY OF HISTOIIY.
tlioiiglu tliiit the ordinary force of either country was sufficient to repel
invasion. Uut whilst tiie government was providing for its internal
security, the enemy was making serious attemjits to wrest from us our
possessions both in the East and West Indies. The reduction oi
Minorca was a favourite object of the French government; a formidable
force was landed on the island, and close siege laid to Fort St. Philip,
which commands the principal town and harbour. The governor, Gen-
eral Blakeney, made a long and able defence; but Admiral Byng, who
had been entrusted with the charge of the English fleet in the Mediterra-
nean, and was ordered to attempt the relief of the place, seems to have
been destitute of any decisive plan; and, after avoiding an action with a
French squadron, he returned to Gibraltar, abandoning Minorca to its
fate, which, to the infinite chagrin of the nation, fell into the hands of
the enemy.
The surrender of Minorca was an unexpev;;ed blow^ and the rage of the
people at its loss was directed against the unrorlunate Uyng, who being
tried by a court-martial at Portsmouth, was condemned to death for not
doing his utmost to engage the enemy, but recommended to the mercy
of tlie crown, as it did not appear to the court that it was through
cowardice or disaffection. (Jreat exertions were made to save the admi-
ral's life, but in vain ; he was ordered to be shot on board the Monarque,
and he met his fate with coolness and intrepidity.
Ill America a second series of expeditions against the French forts
signally failed ; while the marquis de Montcalm, the governor of Canada,
captured Oswego, where tl.) tiritish had deposited the greater part o/
their artillery and military s o f'S. But it is time that we call the reader's
atteiitiijii to the progress of uffairs in our Kastern possessions.
A. 1). '757. — The jealousy which had been created among tlie petty iii-
depeii 'out f.iinces of India, by the privileges which the emperor of Delhi
had granted to the Englisii settlers at Calcutta, had risen to an alarming
height; but successful means had been used to allay their fury until the
ac(!essi()n of the ferocious Suraja Dowla, souhbadar of Bengal, who was
enraged at the shelter which the English afforded to some of his destined
victims. He advanced towards Calcutta, when the governor and most ol
the local authorities, panic-stricken, made their escape in boats, leaving
about a hundred and ninety men, under the control of Mr. Ilolwell, to
make the best of their forlorn situation. The mere handful of English-
men, composing the garrison, for a short time bravely defended thein-
selv(!s, hut when they fell into the power of the infuriated Suraja, he
ordered the unhappy prisoners, then amounting to one hundred and forty-
six, to l)e thrust into the prisfjii of Calcutta, called the Black-hole; a room
less than twenty feet square. Here the heat and foulness of the : ^
reduced them to the most pitiable state imaginable ; and when on the fui-
lowing morning an order came for their release, only twenty-three were
found alive. The news of this horrid catastrophe reached Madras just
when Colonel Clive and Admiral Watson, Hushed by their recent victory
over the celebrated pirate Angria, had arrived at Madras to aid in the
destruction of the French influence in Deccan. Calcutta was therefore
the scene of their next operations; and no sooner did the fleet make its
appearance before that city than it surrendered. The French fort ol
Chandcrnagore was reduced; several of the Suraja Dowla's own palaces
were taken, conspiracies were formed against him, and tli(! haughty chief-
tain felt that the sovereignty of B'.igal must be decided by a l)aitle.
Contrary to the opinion of all his officers, Clive resolved to engage liiui,
although the disparity of their forces was prodigious, lie acM'ordiiigly took
up a j)osition in the grove of Plassy ; his tro()])s in the whole not exceed-
ing 3,'J()0 nuMiiOfwhom only nine hundred were Furo|)caiis ; while Suraja
Dowla had with him fifty thot:sand foot, eighteen thousand horse, and
♦fty piec
enemy, ai
eomplete
in killed j
dominion ;
which, in
A. D. 17;
change in
was at this
Chatham)
being oppo
would hav(
;iples had
tarnished b
was theref(
military op
first-named
boiirg, and a
eminence, f(
ed by the ei:
the French
Forbes was
approach ab
Abcrcrombic
valour of his
fortified.
All expedi
taiits of Cam
would be res]
'I'll us when (,
tered no vcrj
regard the a
vaiiced towai
Crown Poiiii
Niagara. Ai
out in this he
made him ain
persevere in
flight, under t
inaccessible s
(own. The n
that so darint
foops. A ha
contest with e
"■'IS just begii
'lie breast of \
fl'-w from ran
loss of his gei
words " They
f=<"k in a sol
'"'iiig told it i(_
"laniiiis (je Mc
I'lr intrepidity.
VnuiiCul rival,
''c exclaimed,
render of Q,„.li
e-iU'H uy the ;jr
THE TREABURY OF HISTORY.
C51
♦fty pieces of cannon. So great were the errors committed by the
enemy, and so skilfully did the Uritish commander use his means, that a
complete victory was won, at the astonishingly small loss of seventy men
in killed and wounded. This event laid the foundation of the British
dominion in India ; and in one campaign they became possessed of territory
which, in its wealth and extent, exceeded any kingdom in Europe.
A. D. 1758. — While victory followed victory in the eastern world, a
change in the Knglish ministry led to similar successes in the west. It
was at this period that the celebrated William Pitt (afterwards earl of
Chatham) was brought into office, with Mr. Legge ; bui both of them
being opposed to the expensive support of continental connexions, lliey
would iiave been dismissed by the king, but for the popularity their prin-
iiples had acquired. In North America the British arms had been
tarnished by delays and disasters that might have been avoided ; and it
was therefore resolved to recall the earl of Loudon, and entrust the
military operations to generals Abercrombie, Amherst, and Forbes, the
first-named being the commander-in-chief. Amherst laid siege to Louis-
bourg, and aided by the talents of Brigadier Wolfe, who was fastrisintf into
eminence, forced that important garrison to surrender. This was follow-
ed by the entire reduction of Cape Breton, and the inferior stations which
the French occupied in the gulf of St. Lawrence. Brigadier-general
Forbes was sent against Fort du Quesne, which the French at his
approach abandoned. But the expedition against Ticonderoga, which
Abercrombie himself undertook, failed of success; the number and
valour of his troops being unequal to the capture of a place so strongly
fortified.
An expedition was now planned against Quebec ; and as the inhabi-
tants of Canada had good reason to believe that their laws and religion
would be respected, they were prepared to submit to a change of masters
Thus when General Wolfe proceeded up the St. Lawrence, he encoun-
tered no very serious opposition from the Canadians, who seemed to
regard the approaching struggle with indifference. While Wolfe ad-
vanced towards Quebec, General Amherst conquered Ticonderoga and
Crown Point, and Sir W. .lohnson gained the important fortress of
Niagara. Amherst expected to be able to form a junction with Wolfe,
but in this he was disappointed; and though the inadequacy of his force
made him almost despair of success, the ardent young general resolved to
persevere in this hazardous enterprize. Having effected a landing in the
night, under the heights of Abraham, he led his men up this apparently
inaccessible steep, thereby securing a position which commanded the
town. The marquis de Montcalm was utterly astonished when he heard
that so daring and desperate an effort had been achieved by the Fnglish
troops. A battle was now inevitable, and both generals prepared for the
contest with equal courage. It was brief, but fierce ; the scale of victory
was just beginning to turn in favour of the British, when a ball pierced
the breast of Wolfe, and he fell mortally wounded. Thi; unhappy tidings
flew from rank to rank; every man seemed determined to aveiiiri! the
loss of his general; and with such impetuosity did they charge, that the
words " They run !" resounded in the ears of Wolfe as, (fxpiring, ho
sank in a soldier's arms. "Who ruuT' he eagerly inquired; md on
being told it was ihe French, he camly replied, " I die happy " The
inanpiis de Montcalm fell in the same field, and met his fate with simi-
lar inirepid'ty. In skill and valour he was no way inferior to his more
youllirul rival. When told, after the battle, that his wounds were mortal,
lie exclaimed, "So much the better : I shall not live to witness the sur-
render of Quebec." In a few days after tiiis battle, the city opened its
gato u» Uie British, and the coini)iele subjugation of the Canadas speedily
loJVgvcd
i'
«'■;
i
*:
653
THE THEASUHY op H18T0HY.
A. D. 17C0.— Ill lliG East Indies the success of the KiikuhIi was Nciinrcly
less decisive tiiaii in America. By land and liy sea several victories had
been gained in tiiat quarter : and at length Colonial Coolo and the French
general, Lally, fought a determined battle at VVandewaHJi (Jan. Ul), in
which the French were signally defeated and their inlluenoo in the Car-
natic destroyed.
The war on the continent, in which the English Inul taken a very active
part, liad now raged for four years, without gaining any other ad'viuitiigj
than the gratification of defending the possessions of their sovereign in
Germany. England, indeed, was now in a state of unparalU^led glory.
At sea, the conduct of her admirals had destroyed the naval jHnver of
the French ; in the Indies her empire was extended, and the Fiigiisli
rendered masters of the commerce of the vast peninsula of IlindoNtan;
while in Canada a most important conquest had been achicvc.'d. 'I'hese
important acquisitions made the English very impatient of tiie (lurinan
war; and they asserted that the French islands in the West Indies, more
valuable to a commercial people than half the states of (jermaiij, migl*
have been gained with less expense and risk than had been spent in de-
fending one paltry electorate. In the midst of these disputes, Ueorge II.
died suddenly, on the 25ih of October, in the 77th year of his age, and
the 34th of his reign. The immediate cause of his disease was a rup-
ture of the right ventricle of the heart. If we impartially regard the cliar-
acter of this king, we shall find both in his private and pul)lic conduct
room for just panegyric. Tliat during his whole reign he evinced a re-
markable affection for his Hanoverian subjects is certainly true ; yet his
exposing that country to tlie attacks of the enemy, rather than neglect the
rights of England in North America, clears him of the imputation o/
partiality. In his temper he was hasty and violent, yet his general con.
duct was so little influenced by this, that it was generally mild and
humane. He was impartial in the administration of justic(!, sinceri! and
open in his intentions, and temperate and regular in liis manner of living
Under his reign the agriculture, commerce, and industry of Cinsat Itritaia
daily increased ; and his subjects, even when at war with tho moNt power-
ful nations of Europe, enjoyed peace at home, and n('(iuired glory abroad.
Great progress had been made in this reign in disseininating a taste for
general literature and the arts ; and though it was not tho fashion for the
magnates of the land to be very liberal of their patronage; to sticli as
devoted their minds to the advancement of science, still much was done
towards pioneering the way for a future age, when a solution of many of
the phenomena of nature might .seem to demand more serious attt;ntion.
Among tlie great historians were Hume, Gibbon, and Robertson. In
philology and criticism were Warburton, lientley, anil Itoyle. Mjilhcma-
tics and astronomy could boast of Halley, llradley, and Maclanriii.
Theology was distinguished by the eminent names of I'otter, Hoadley,
Sherlock, Doddridge, Watts, Ciiandlcr, and iniiny others. I'aiiiling
had its Reynolds, Ramsay, and Ilogartii ; music its Handel, Itoyce, (irccnc,
and Arne ; and among the votaries of tlu; muses were I'opc!, Akeiisi<le,
Thompson, Young, Gray, Glover, and others scarcely less distinguished
CHAPTER LX.
THE REIGN OF GEOKGE III.
A. n. 17G0.— George II. was succeeded by his grandson, Oeorge Hi.,
eldest son of Frederic, prince of Wales, whose death lias been mentioned
as oc Mirring in 1751. On his accession to the thnuic he was twenly-lwo
years of age; affable, good-tempered, upright, and religioUH. Uiu educd*
IK,"; .^;?
M^'m
! -i
m,','i
".W*:
lie,
t,\o
m
i
r»
ftf
ffi!
Br
|:(|
1'
li
If !■
Ir
'•. '■
m
■t
m-i
tlon had bee
tage over hi;
111(1 institutic
sequemly in;
containing pi
parts of the ]t
On his maj
the duke of ^
presiding gei
Lord Northii
of tile counc
chancellor o(
and Lord Hoi
king met his i
with, " Born f
the tiourisliinj
and the cxtinc
support of the
were declared
granting to iiis
A. D. 17t)l.—
declaration of
the duke of M(
cordingiy niad(
tials look pjacf
majrstips were
Xoon after th
hy the pourts o
intention on eii
house of IJourb
was relying on
Imslilitifs with
at sea the hono
appeared to be i
lint neither pow
discovered that
and Madrid had
lile intentions o
iires of Spanish
were adverse ;
''i''"li''r-in-law, I
i'lixiiiiis to iiitnx
ceiUed 111,, prcii
pi'iisKiii of 3,()00i
ti) his wife (on v^
llieir eldest son,
A. n. 17f>-3 —A
jiiid oecnrrcd, it I
'"'iisi's of Uonrb(
i^iiy showed no
and (Ml the lib of
Mow w.is striiek
folliiwcd by ibc R
"t. Vincent. Th
•iiree^sfiil ; a flp,
the ..art of \||„.,„
nf r^nba, wbieli si
The riches acijinr
THE TRKA8TJRY OF HISTORY.
653
tlon had been under the direction of Lord Bute, and he Iiad a great iidvan-
lage over his predecessors, in being acquainted with the language, luibits.
ind institutions of his countrymen ; his first entrance into public life con-
gequently made a favourable impression on his subjects, and addresses,
containing professions of the most loyal attachment, poured in from all
parts of the kingdom.
On his majesty's accession, the nominal head of the administration was
the duke of Newcastle ; but Mr. Pitt, principal secretary of state, was the
presiding genius of the cabinet. The chief remaining mcmbcrB were
Lord Northington, afterwards lord chancellor ; Lord Carteret, presiden
of the council; the duke of Devonshire, lord chamberlain; Mr. Legge
chancellor of the exchequer ; Lord Anson, first lord of the admiralty,
and Lord Holdernesse, secretary of state. On the 18th of November the
king met his parliament, and in a popular speech, which he commenced
with, " Born and educated in this country, Iglory in the name of Hriion,''
the tlourisliing siate of tlic kingdom, the brilliant successes of the war,
and the extinction of internal divisions were acknowledged; while the
support of the " protestant interest," and a " safe and honourable peace,"
were declared to be the objects of the war. An act was then passed for
granting to his majesty an annual income of 80,000/.
A. I). 171)1. — One of the first important acts of the new monarch was a
declaration of his intention to marry the princess Charlotte, daughter ol
the duke of Meeklenburgh-Slrelitz: the necessary preparations were ac-
cordingly made ; she arrived in I.c)ndon on the 7th of September, the nup-
tials took place that evening in tlie royal chapel, and on the 22d their
majesties were crowned in Westminster-abbey.
Soon after the king's accession, negotiations for peace were commenced
by the courts of France and Groat Britain, but there was little honesty of
intention on either side ; Mr. Pitt being firmly resolved to humble the
house of Bourbon, while th(! duke of Chouiseul, on the part of Friiuce,
was relying on the promises of Spanisli aid, to enable him to carry on
hiistilities with increased vigour. The war languished in (lermany ; but
at sea the honour of the British flag was still nobly sustained. Peace
appeared to be desirable for all parties, and negotiations were resinned;
but neither power was willing to make concessions, and Mr. Pitt having
discovered that an intimate connexion between the courts of Versailles
and Madrid liad been formed, proposed in council to anticipate thi.' hos-
tile intentions of the latter, by seizing the plate-fleet, laden with the treas-
ures of Spanish America. To this the king and the rest of the ministers
were adverse ; the eonseqiience of which was, that Mr. Pitt and his
brother-in-law. Lord Temple, sent in their seals of olTici'. His majesty,
anxious to introduce his f.ivourite, (lie earl of llnte into the cabinet, ac-
cepted the premier's resignation, and in return for his great services, a
pciisioii of .3,000/. per iiiiiiuiu was settled upon him, which was to continim
to his wife (on whom the title of baroness Chatham was conferred) and
their j'ldest son, for their lives.
A. n. nfiv?.— A very few months after the late changes in the cabinet
had occurred, it became fullv evident that the " family compact" of the
houses of Hourlmn li.id been .(.inpleted. On this occasion the new min-
isiiy showed no want of alacrity in maintaining their country's honour;
and oil the Ith of .laniiary war was declared against Spam. The first
blow was struck by Admiral Uodiiev, wliocai)tiired Martinico ; which was
followed by the surrender of the dependent isles, Oreiiada, St. Lucie, and
8t. Vincent. The next expedition undertaken by the Knglii-h was efjiially
lurrc'Hsfii! ; a fleet under Admiral Pococke, assisted by an army under
the earl of Mbemarle, was sent ayainst Havauna, the capital of the island
nfCuhn, which surrendered after a vigorous resistance of two months.
The riches acquired by the Knglish on this occasion amounted to iv^wf
1*
S54
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
ships of the line, besides money and merchandise to the amount of four
millions sterling.
While these successes attended the British arms in the West Indies, an
armament from Rliidnis, under General Draper and General Cornish, re-
duced the island of Manilla, and its fall involved the fate of the whole
range of the Philippine islands. The capture of the Hermione, a largo
Spanish register- ship, took place soon after, and tlie cargo, which was
estimated at a million sterling, passed in triumph to the bank at the sar...
hour in which the birth of the prince of Wales was announced to the pub
lie (April 12, 1762).
An attempt made by S|)ain to subdue Portugal having proved unsuc-
cessful, and both France and Spain being heartily tired of a war whicli
threatened ruin to the colonies of both, they became desirous of peace ;
this being agreeable to the Britisli ministry, of whom the earl of Bute was
then at the head, preliminaries were speedily set on foot. Indeed, so
anxious was his lordship to avoid a continuance of hostilities, that he not
only stopped the career of colonial conquest, but consented to sacrifice
several acquisitions that Britain had already made. The definitive treaty
was concluded at Paris on the Uih of February, 1763. Florida was re-
ceived in exchange for llavanna; Cape Breton, Tobago, Dominico, St.
V^incent, Grenada, and Senegal were retained ; the conquest of Canada
remained intact, and th(; British nation had also gained large possessions
and a decided superiority in India.
A. D. 1763, — In Germany the marquis of Granby signalized liimself at
the head of an army ; and, in union with the king of Prussia, would in all
probability have succeeded in expelling the French troops, had not a gen-
eral treaty of peace |)ut an end to the contest. Britain by the coloniiil
war obtained complete maritime supremacy; she commanded the eninu
commerce of North America and Hindostan, and had a decided superi-
ority in the West Indian trade. But during the "seven years' war'' a
qucslion arose whicli led tov(!ry iin|)ortant discussions; France, unable to
iiiaiiitain a commercial intercourse with her colonies, opened the trade to
neutral powers; Kiigland declared this trafTu; illegal, and relying on her
naval superiority, sijzed neutral vessels and neutr;il property bound tu
hosiilc ports. TIm' relurii of peace |)ut an end to the dispute for a season,
but the subject has .since bei'ii the fruitful source of angry discussion iii
every subsequent war.
The can of Bute, under whoso auspices the late peace had been made,
iiad always been beheld with jealousy by the popular party, who accuse;!
him of having formed that " iiilluence behind tile throne greater than lln-
throne ilsell," — though il really seems to have been a mere delusion, fos-
tered and eiurouraued for factious purposes — now suddenly resigiieil Ins
ortice of first lord of llu^ treasury, and was succeeded by Mr. George Greii-
ville.
The |)iil)lic alteiiliiMi was now almost wholly bent on the result of ilic
trial of John Wilkes, nieinhir for Aylrshiiry, a man of good talents and
classical taste, hut who iMire a vrrv pinlligate eliaracler. Disappoinled hi
Ins expectalioiis from the ininisu\. he assumed the part of a violent
patriot, and inveighed velieinenily against tli(? mi'asnrc>i pursued by yiiv-
eminent. The press t iied with pnlilical painplilcls, to which the niiiii!*-
terii'l party seeincil iiidiUcrenl, iiiiiil llir ;ippc;ir,ince of No. 'r.! of the .Yi/r//i
liiilim, in which very strong and si'iirnluiis abuse was published again"!
tlu: king's sptcch delivered alllie close iif p^irliniurnt. A general warrant
was tliereupiui i>'Siicd fur apprebfiidiiig the iiulhor, jirinter, and |iul>li'«lMr
of il . and .Sir. Wilkes being taken into cusiod)', he was sent to the Ttiwri
and all his paprrs were sri/cd. He was al'lerwarils tried in the court ni
tuiniiion pleas Hind acquitted. Lord Chief-Justice Pratt declarinm iigaiiiiii
the legali
names of
But Wi
infonnatic
and the A
matter enc
stormy d(;l
expelled fi
" An Kssa;
burton wai
against hiii
we may he
logical bou
to the fine t
of the sentt
county of 3
ministerial
the earl of
in the Towe
A. D. 1765
by the pHssi
which alien,
total separat
in order to p
the French, i
|he expenses
iato parliaine
oilier duties (
■ill.v, the resi!
eral disccmte
■let. A chat
Hockingham,
limited durati
Ireasiiry. Tl
•■iirl of Chatl
cliaiir(.ll„r, ,„
'I'he ad'airs
lionse. .Mr.
Colonel Clue
had opposed t
making iiu ei
.Vear the coini
heeii in Ihe
princes, by
"aiiie of III! |.;,
sii'ain the rapa
•'ompaiiy, hv V
'I'lie «falih(
of gllVI'||l|||,.„t
had ,iiiy right
» appeiire,) thii
liig proved lli;,t
"leir doiiiinioiif
'••"llinerri;,! ;.,ss
'rol of parliann
The metropo
"'winch a selo
Miud, ulreiidy
THE TBEASUIIY OF HISTORY.
655
the
niiick'.
nil iln-
on, (<>^-
(I'd his
I of lllL'
llti M\'\
illlU'li 1"
Vlull'lU
by U'l^-
!■ Mlllli"-
jiKiiii^t
Iwiirrii'i
lllllll-lK'
.'rowel
|<'oiirt "'
ii^^iiiiiti
the legiilily of general warrants; that is, warrants not specifying
names of the accused.
But Willies, after liis release, having republished the offensive paper, an
information was (iled against him at his majesty's suit, for a gross iitiel,
and the North Briton was burned by the common hangman: nor did the
matter end here; the legality of general warrants gave rise to several
stormy d(;bales in the house of commons, and at length Mr. Wilkes was
expelled for having printed in his own house an infamous poem, called
" An Kssay on Woman," with notes, to which the name of Uiaho[) War-
burton was affixed. As he did not appear to tli'' indictment preferred
against him, he was declared an outlaw. He then retired to Frapce ; and
we may here as well observe, though in doing so we overstep our chrono-
logical boundary, that in 1708 he returned to England, and, by subn)iuing
to the fine and imprisonment pronounced against liini, procured a reversion
of the sentence of outlawry. lie then otVered himself to represent the
county of Middlesex, and was unanimously chosen, in opposition to the
ministerial candidates. lie afterwards commenced a prosecution against
the earl of Halifax, and recovered 4,000/. damages for his imprisonment
in the Tower upon aii illegal warrant.
A. D. 1765. — This year is rendered important in the annals of Fhigland
by the passing of an American stamp act, winch gave rise to those disputes
whicli alien. lied the colonies from the mother country, and ended in a
total separation. As the late war had been entered into by (ireat Dritain,
in order to protect her American settlements from the eiicroachmcnls of
the French, it was tiioiighl reasonable that they siioiild contrilnite towards
tile expenses which had been incurred. A bill was accordingly broiiifht
into parliament, ai-.d received the royal assent, for imposmg a stamp and
other duties on fiTty-three articles of their commerce. However, eventu-
ally, the resistance made by the Americans to these imposts, and the gen-
eral discontent which prevailed in Kngland, occasioned the repeal of the
ai't. A change in the ministry, by the introduction of the marquis of
Rockingham, was the immediate! consiH(uence ; but his rule was of very
limited duration, and the duke of Grafton was appointed first lord of the
treasury. The privy seal was bestowed on Mr. I'itt, who was created
earl of Chatham ; Iiord Camden succeeded Lord Northington as hu'd
cliancellor, and Mr. Townshend was made chancellor of the exchecpu^r.
The atrairs o( lUr Kast India Company now claimed the attention of the
house. Mr. Vansiltart had acted as governor-general from the liiiii! of
Colonel Clive's return to Kngland in 17(iO. Itut the viceroy of ilengal
had opposed the c(Mnpany, and a war I'lisued which ended by the Ihiglish
making an entire cviKiuest of l\n' kingdom of Itengal. Tin; preceding
year tlii^ company sen' over Lord ('live, « ho found that iK' ir agents hail
i)fen in lh(! haliit of xacting large sums as presi.'uts from the native
princes, by which means they had accumulated great riches, and the
name of an F.nglishman had become odious. Lord ('liver resolved to re-
strain the rapacity of these persons, and he conidudeil a treaty for the
company, by which they would enjoy a revenue of 1,700.000/.
The wealth of this powerful body rendered it loo forinidabh' in the eyes
of government, and a iiuistion arose whether Hie Hasi Iinlja Company
had any right to territoiial jurisdiction. On exaininiiig into their iinrler.
it appeari'ii thai they were prohiliiled from making conquests ; iiml it lie
ing proved that they had subdued sor.ir of the native princes, and annexed
their dominions to the eompiuiy's selilcnienls, it was agreed that this
idinmerrial association shouhl be brought m some degree under the con-
trol of parliament.
The metropolis was for a long time agitated with the affair of Wilkes,
of which a setof restless deniagogiits look a Ivanlnue to disliirb the pnlilio
iiind, already over-e.\ciled by the opposition to the measurei of govern-
♦I '':
656
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
merit as regarded the North American colonies. Bnt no national event
worthy of historic.il record occurred for some considerable time.
One or two matters of domestic interest which happened during this
period must, however, he noticed. The first relates to an address from
the corporation of London to the king, which was presented on the 23d
of May, 1770, in which they lamented the royal displeasure they had
incurred in consequence of their former remonstrance ; but they still ad-
hered to it, and again prayed for a dissolution of parhament. To which
his majesty replied that " he slioukl have been wanting to the public, as
well as to himself, had he made such an use of the prerogative as was
inconsistent with the interest, and dangerous to tiie constitution of the
kingdom." Upon this, the lord-mayor Ueckford, p. high-spirited and fear-
less democrat, be^'ged leave to ans:i;er the king. Such a request was as
indecorous as it was unusual; but in the confiision of the moment, leave
was given, and, with great fluency of language, he delivered an extern
pore address to liis majesty, concluding in the following words : — "Per
mit nic, sire, to observe that whoever has already dared, or shall hereafter
endeavour, by false insinuations and suggestions, to alienate your ma-
jesty's affections from your loyal subjects in general, and from tiie city
of London in particular, and to withdraw your confidence from, and regard
for, your people, is an enemy to your majesty's person and family, a
violator of the ])ubli(; peace, and the betrayer of our happy constitution
as it was establislied at the glorious and necessary revolution." No
reply w;is given, lint the kinsi; reddened with anger and astonisiiment
^Vh('n his civic lordship again appeared at St. James' the lord-chamber-
lain informed him that his majesty desired that nothing of the kind mighl
happen in future.
An ex-officio persecution against Woodfall, the printer and publisher Oi
the " Public Advertiser," in which the " Letters of .Junius" originally aj)
pearcd, having placed him at the bar. Lord Mansfield informed the jury
that thoy had nothing to do with the ititeuHnn of the writer, their province
was limited to \hbfart of publishing; the truth or falsehood of the alledged
lilicl was wholly immaterial. Tiie jury, howrver, after being out nine
hours, found a verdict of guilty of printing and jmhlishing unlij, which in
effect amounted to an acquittal. These celebrated " Letters" were equally
distinguished by tlie force and elegance of tlieir style, as by the virulence
of their attacks on indivichials ; and though conjecture has ever since been
busy to discover the autlior, and strong circumstantial evidence has been
brought forward at different times to identify different persons with the
niithorsliip, no one has yet succeeded in the attempt.
ncfore tliis time (1771) the parliamentary deba'cs had only been given
in monthly magazines and other periodicals published at considerable
intervals. The practice of daily reporting now commcnc(!d ; but as it
was an innovation on the former jiractice, and in direct violation of the
standing orders of the house, several printers were apjirehended and taken
before Lord-mayor Crosby and Aldermen Oliver and Wilkes, who dis-
charged them, and held the messenger of the commons to bail for false
imiirisonment. The house of coinmoiis, enraged at this daring coii'einpt
of their authority, committed their two members, Crosby and Oliver, to
till! Tower; but eventually the matter was suffered to drop; the aldermen
were lioerated ; and from that time the publication of the parliamentary
proceetnngs has been connhrd at'.
Oil the death of Mr. Townsheiid, who did not long survi'chis appoint-
ment to the office of cliaiK-elhu' of the exchequer, he was succeeded by
Lord North — Lord Chatham liaMiiij now loit his inthieiice over the minis-
try, and being dissatisfied with their iiroeeediiigs, resigiitd his place an
lord-keeper of the privy si'al, ami retired from tie cares of government.
\n the latcarraiigeineuts made luiween govcrnm"nt and the Kusi India
t^'ompaiiy
Lord Noi
American
lature, if
Custom-hi
collecting
infnngenu
ish coihmc
at Bo.ston,
and the c;i
defiance, a
inhabitants
siderable ai
Boston, iint
When th(
of the act, s
provinces, a
'0 put the ac
"as franiiiiii
raised tlieir
association,
eiiant, to hre
(he Boston |
restored to it
hameiit asse
'roubles of A
'''iathain,iin(l
>vere also rej<
'il the bar of i
A. D. 1775.-
was evideiitlJ
"leir (Miise wi
"ain their mi
prepare arms
'"''he United
reiicy, and we:
"le authority c
eral (iaire, wh
"•■»y. 'I'hjs o/J
"floinjiiKj to tl
sent tliiilier a (
'0 Dosldii, ihes
l"tve siK ceeiled
lurce to cover
"iiioiini,.,! t„ .J
"'niiiideil. Wa
'•'ids, elated wj
'iicreased viirim
l"li'l)|Mlrr(i||;a''MII
"f iipwanis of 1
''lt>r(s of every,
'"<■»■ entrusted t
"'!•• In the n,r
"f these resohii
Ine generals If
•■"•illidaled by t
'"K'ltof thetem
'"'ice ea|le,i I),,,
Vol.. I. — l-i
• \
THE TUiSASUHY OF HISTORY.
r,57
h given
lcr;ible
kt as it
of Uie
ll taUi'U
llio ilis-
l)r false
In" iMiipl
Ivcr, to
Mcniu'"
LiMitrvry
Ippoint.
l(k>l by
iiiinis-
ll;ii"t' '•'H
liiiirnt.
kl IiiJia
Company, permission was given to the latter to export teas free of duly.
Lord North hoped that the low price of the article would induce the
Americans to pay the duty charged on importation by the English legis-
lature, if only for the mere purpose of allowing the right of taxation.
Custom-houses had been established in their seaports, for the purpose of
collecting; these duties ; which being considered by the Americans as an
infringement of their liberty, they resolved to discontinue the use of Brit-
ish coihmodities. Accordingly, when three vessels, laden with tea, arrived
at Boston, they were boarded during the night by a party of the townsmen,
and the cargoes thrown into the sea. This, followed by other acts of
defiance, and a repetition of similar rebellious conduct on the part of the
inhabitants of South Carolina, gave great olTence, while it occasioned con-
siderable alarm in England, and acts were passed for closing the port of
Boston, and for altering the constitution of the colony of Massachusetts.
When the order to close the port of Boston reached America, a copy
of the act, surrounded with a black border, was circulated through all the
provinces, and they resolved to spend the Isl of June, the day appointed
to put tiie act into execution, in fasting and prayer. Whilst each province
was framing resolutions, tiie other bills reached Massachusetts. Tliese
raised their irritated feelings to the highest pitch, and they formed an
association, in which they bound themselves, by a solemn league and cov-
enant, to break off all commercial intercourse with Great Britain, until
the Boston port-bill and other acts should be repealed, and the colony
restored to its ancient rights. In this situation of affairs the Britisli par-
liament assembled, when a conciliatory plan for accommodating the
troubles of America was proposed in the house of lords by the carl of
Chatham, and rejected. The petition and remonstrance of Thi Conuress
were .ilso reje(;te(l, and an application made by their agents to be heard
ut the bar of the house of commons was .'cfused.
A. u. 1775. — An open rupture between the i)arent stale and its colonies
was evidently approaching with rapid strides. Determined to support
their cause witli the utnios: vigoin', the Americans at once proceeded to
train their militia, crccc powdermiils in Philadelphia and Virginia, and
prepare arms in eery province. Thsy also assumed the appellation of
"The United Cccnies of America," established an extensive paper cur-
rency, and were very active in raising a regular army. On the other hand,
the a\nhority of cne British government was promptly supported by Gen
cral (Jage, who had lately been apjiointed governor of .Massachusetts"
llay. Tliis officer having received intelligence that some military slere*
belonging to the provincials were deposited at a place called Concord, he
sent tintlier a detachment of soldiers to destroy them ; but on ihcirrelvrry
ut Hoslon, these troojis were pursued by a body of provincials, who wcvlrf
have sui ceeded in cuttiujf them o(V, had not the general sent out a h:t»o
force to cover their retreat. The loss of the English on this occasior.
amounted to '^7.3 men; of the Americans only 50 were killed and 3R
wounded. War had therefore now actually connnenceil ; and the provin-
I'iaN, dated with their success, pur.«ucd their hostile iiilentious with
increased vigour. ll;iving a short time after surprised the fortresses of
Tii'oiiih loga^and Crown Point, and by that means possessed themselves
iif upwards of 100 pieces of cannon, besides ,i large (juanlity of nnlitary
sloris of every descri|iti(m, they assembled mu army of '.'0,000 mi'U, which
thev entrusted to (iKoimi': Wasuinctdn, and resolved to lay siege to Bos-
ton! In the meanlmie the English caliinet having receiveil intelligence
iiflhcse resolute proceedings, sent a rcinfoicement to their army, with
the generals Howe. Uiirgoyne, and Clinton. The Americans, not at all
.aiiitndated by these measures, i)ersislcil m blockading Boston; and in the
night of Ihe tenth of .Iiini' they took possessicm of and fortified an emi-
iinice called llnnker's hill, noiu which they could open a formidable ran-
Vol. 1.— IJ
m
^M 1.1
W
illT
,i|i
6S8
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
nonade on the town. To tiiis point General Gage sent two thousand
men, in order to dislodge them ; in which attempt they at last succeeded,
but not without a loss so heavy, that the English general resolved to
confine himself for the future to defensive operations.
Hitherto, notwithstanding their uninterrupted success, the American
colonists had disclaimed all idea of assuming independence; b\it, on the
contrary, as was averred in a petition from the' congress, presented to the
king by Mr. Penn, a descendant of the founder of Pennsylvania, they
were extremely desirous of effecting a compromise. He at the same
time assured the government, that if the present application was rejected,
they would enter into alliance with foreign powers ; and that such allian-
ces, if once formed, would be with great difficulty dissolved. 'I'he peti-
tion was, however, rejected ; an act was passed, prohibiting all trade with
the colonies, and another, by which all American vessels were declared
enemies' ships.
The Americans, finding that their endeavours to conciliate the ministry
were ineffectual, gave orders to their generals to endeavour to subjugate
such of the colonies as remained faithful to Great Britain. Two parties
were sent into Canada, under General Montgomery and Colonel Arnold,
who, after having surmounted innumerable difliculties, laid siege to Que-
bec ; but in this attempt they 'ere overpowered ; Montgomery was killed,
Arnold was wounded, and tht.r men were compelled to make a precipi-
tate retreat. While the Americans were thus unsuccessful in Canada,
the British governors in Virginia and North and South Carolina had used
their best endeavours to keep those provinces in alliance, but without
effect ; they therefore found themselves obliged to return to Kngland.
General (lage was recalled, and thj commaml of the troops at Boston
devolved on General Howe, who was soon after obliged to evacuate the
place, and repair to Halifax, in Nova-Scotia. The royal forces had no
sooner relinquished the town than General Washington took possession
of it, and, with the assistance of some foreign engineers, fortified it in
such a manner as to render it almost impregnable. It now wanted little
to effe(!t a total alienation of the colonies from Great Britain ; and ihn
fact (if having subsidized a large body of (Jerman mercenaries for tiie pur-
pose of assisting in the subjugation of the revolted provinces, served as a
fair excuse for the congress to publish the declaration of independence oj
the llurleen United States, which took place on the 4th of July, 1770.
Tliis bold measure was determined on at a time when the congress had
no very flattering pros|)cct before their eyes, and little to encourage tlimi
save the indomitable spirit of resistance that everywhere manifi'^ltil
itself to British supremacy, lis army was a ruw militia, and it was un-
provided to any »!Xtent with ships or money ; while the Knglish forces,
greatly augiiienled, were preparing to besiege New- York. General Howe
hiid been joined by his brother, I.ord Howe, and on the 2Gth of August
the campaign opened by the Knglish taking possession of Long I.shiiul,
preparatory to an attack on New-York, which was captured on the 'Jlsil
of September, Washington evacuating that city with tin! utmost preilpi-
tation. The city was soon after set on lire by some ini-iMidiaries, who li;id
concealed themselves, and nearly a third part of it was destroyed. Aficr
an nndeviating cours(! of victory. General llowe led his troops into winicr-
quarters ; but in the disposition of them lie departed from his usual piu-
d(;nce,and allowed them to be loo niiicli scattcrerl, which occasioiicd ilic
Hessian troops, who, from their depredations and cruellies, had ronscil
llie resentful feelings of the inhabitants of Ni'w-Jersey, to be sinpiised
In llicir rtinto imenls, where nearly 1000 were taken (irisoners, and iiiaiiy
slain.
A. D. 1777.— Gratified with the intelligence they received of Howe's
lui'cesses, the Kiijflisii miuialry determined to follow them iq) by scikIiii^
»ii army
states, tc
seemed t
deCeated
while Bu
soiuliwar
reached S
erals Gau
men, wen
paign whi
turned out
appeared t
A. D. 17;
with her c(
'ions and a
parently cii
great distui
ainbitioi), w
riiisr, and pr
"'■ ''-iigland,
eoniinerce, i
sioii of .suci
threatened )
power and
"ere receive
''t'ginning to
heiMi so long
(■'^ble ronion:
r raiice, and I
Aitierican co
simply profit!
■■'" doubt thai
"priiiig up a,
cfie.'lved till e
t-ripDled an
out danaer, tli
Pvery day wa
' 'i''y liad est;
"ircMLs at IIk;
""IS; and IJK
»y two of III,.
•I'l'l America \
'''icaiion of till
oolcit. Tlun,
war wit), Kr;,,,
'ii'iriNiiiiig repn
inciii of iiic ,11
'J*" li'miinalinB
""'■presented th
"le disl)()„oi,r t,
"''llieirc()i„,iry
■)" invasion
uddiess wiis I
«"'' slalioi,i„„
'"'te to ||„. ,|,.,-,
["""•'I hy the „
••"r'l Cli,-,tl,,„n.
'"'""place ill „
in
THE TREASUaV OF HISTORY.
659
I3S hilll
as iin-
forct's,
Isl-.iiul,
Iprc'ciiii-
|,vl\o li;»l
Afii't
winter-
lual \)iu-
lined (111'
ronsi'il
Uirprist'd
|nl unniy
llowc'e
an army under General Bnrgoyne, from Canada through the northern
states, to co-operate with Howe in the South. For a time evsrything
seemed to promise a favourable issue to this project : Sir William Howe
defeated Washington at tlie battle of Urandywine, and took Philadelphia;
while Uurgoyne, having reduced Tic(nideroga, was pursuing his march
southward. But innumerable difficulties lay in his way, and when he
readied Saratoga, he was surrounded by the American forces under gen-
erals OatTJs and Arnold, and he and his whole army, amounting to 5752
men, were compelled to surrender prisoners of war. Tlius ended a cam-
paign which at the outset seemed so promising; but, disastrous as it had
turned out, neither the confidence of ministers nor of the British people
appeared to be at all abated.
A. D. 1778. — Whilst England was engaged in this unfortunate contest
with her colonies, a cessation seemed to have taken place in the conten-
tions and animosities of other nations, and their whole attention was ap-
parently engrossed by speculating on the novel scene before tiiem. The
great disturbers of mankind appear to have laid aside tlieir rapacity and
ambition, wl...'st they conlemplaled the new events which were transpi-
riinr, and predicted the conclusion of so strange a warfare. Tiie enemies
of Kiiglaiul, who had long beheld, with apprehension, the increase of het
commerce, and many of England's old allies who envied her tlie posses-
sion of such valuable colonies, were astonished at the revolution which
threatened her, and looked forward with pleasure to the time when her
power and glory should be wrested from her grasp. The Americans
were received, protected, and openly caressed by France and Spain, who,
beginning to feel the inllueiice of tiiat commerce from which they had
been so long excluded, treated the colonies witli respect, and rejected tiic
feeble remonstrances of England's ambassadors. Happy had it been for
France, and lia|)py for the world, if, content with reaping tiie benefits of
American commerce, they had remained s|)ectators of tlie contest, and
simply profited by the dis"sensi<)ns of their neighbours. For it is beyond
ail ilonbt that the seed of republi(;aiiism which was sown in America
s|iiung up and was nurtured in France, nor could its rank growth bi
checked till every acre of that fair land had been steeped in blood.
Oripnied and pent up in situations from winch they could not stir with-
out danyer, the royal troops exhibited a most forlorn appearance, while
every day was adding to tlie strength and resources of the insurgents.
They had establisluid for themselves an efficii'iit governmtmt ; they had
ageiita at the principal Kiiropeaii courts; they raised and maintuiiied ar-
mies ; and they had, in fact, been ree()gnis(:<l as an inde|)eiident nation
oy two of the priiii;ipal power.s in Kni'opc. The treaty bitween France
aiiil .\inerica was completed, and the discussions which anise on the iio-
tilicalion of this circiimslanee to the British parliaineiit, wert; stormy and
violent. Though both parties were uiiaiiimous in their opinion that a
war with Framu; was unavoidable, yet the ojiposition, who had from the
lieginning reiirohated the American war, insisted that the acknowledg-
ment of the indep(!ndencp of the colonies was the only etfectual m(;tliod
of terminating the (jonlest. The ministerial party, on the other hand,
represented the disgrace of bending beneath the power of France, aiwl
the (lishoiiour of leaving the American loyalists exposed to the rancour
uf their eoiinlrymen.
.\n invasion "(. I England being at this time threatened by the French, an
Hdilress was moved for recalling the lleets and armies from America,
mil! stationing them in a place where they might more encctiially coiiiri-
biitelo the derence of the kingdom. This measure was vigoninsly op-
posed by the adiniiiistraiinn, and by some meiiibers of the ojiiiosileii;
Lord Chalhain. wllll^elll^lrnlllies had lately |irev(iited him from altiMiiUiig
In his place in uarlianient, evinced Ins decided disapprobation of ii he h nl
li it,.
rr'
'I T
o60
THE TIIEASI/RY OF HISTORY.
entered the house in a ricli suit of bhick velvet, a full wig-, nnd wrappeci
in flannel to the knees, and was supported to his seat by his son and
soii-in-law, iMr. William Pitt and Viscount Mahon. It is said that he
looked weak and emaciated ; and, resting his hands on his crutches, he at
first spoke with dilTiculty, but as he grew warm his voice rose, and be-
came, as usual, oratorical and affecting. " My lords," said he, " I rejoice
that the grave has not closed upon me, that I am still alive to lift up my
voice against the dismemberment of this ancient and most noble mon-
archy." He was replied to with great respect by the duke of Richmond,
when on attempting to rise again he fell back before uttering a word, in
a convulsive fit, from which he never recovered, and died a few days
after, in the 70th year of his age. May 11, 1778. His merits were trans-
cendant, and his death was lamented as a national loss. Apart from the
aberrations originating in an ardent love of power, his course was splen-
did and magnanimous ; and it was truly said of him by Lord Chesterfield,
that his private life was stained by no vices, nor sullied by any meanness.
Contemporary praise and posthumous honours were showered down upon
the man of whom the nation was justly proud. His remains were inter-
red with great solemnity in Westminster abbey, and the city of London
erected a flattering tribute to his memory in Guildhall.
A French squadron was sent from Toulon to the assistance of America,
under the command of Cf)niit d'Estaing, who reduced the island of Grena-
da, while a body of his forces made themselves masters of St. Vincent.
In other parts of the West Indian seas the British arms were ably sup-
ported liy the bravery and vigilance of the admirals Hyde Parker and
Rowley. On the 27th of July an indecisive action was fought olT Hri'si,
between the French fleet, under M. d'Orvilliers, and a British squadron,
under Admiral Koppel. Sir Hugh Palliser, the second in command, ac-
cused the admiral of not having done his duty; he was accordingly tried
by a court-martial, and honourably acquitted ; in fact, it appeared that he
had been so badly supported by Palliser, that he was unable to make any
use of the slight advantage he obtained.
Sir Charles Hardy, a brave and experienced officer, whose services had
been rewarded with the governorship of Qrccnwieh Hospital, was ap-
pointed to succeed Keppel in the command of the channel fleet. In tiii;
meantime, the Spanish court was prevailed on by the French to take up
arms in defence of America, and to accede to the general confederacy
against Great Britain. As the danger to which the nation was now ex-
posed was become truly alarming, it was thought advisable to raise volun-
teer companies in addition to the militia, and in this the spiiit and mag-
nanimity of the people reflcct(!d great credit on the national character.
Strengthened by the alliance of Spain, the French i)egan to extend theii
ideas of conquest, and thinking that a blow near at hand \.;'s more likely
than operations carried on at a distance; to alarm the fears of ilie Fnglisli,
they made attempts on the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, but in each
they were completely frustrated.
But the old enemies of Britain had grown arrogant durmg the nnnalii-
ral contest that was waged witii the unruly scions of her own stock, and
preparations were now made fin' Britain itsidf. A junction was efl'eotcil
between the French and Si)anish fleets, which made tfieir appearance in
the channel, to the number of sixty sail of thi! line liesides frigates. Tliis
formidable armament was opposed by a for(;e mucliinfe'"ioi, under Admi-
ral Hardy, who leisundy retired up the channel, enticing them to follow
him, but, with all their immense siipi^riority, they chose rather to decliiu'
an encounter; it is true they for .some tinn; contmued to menace ami
insult the British coasts with impiiniiy, but wilhuiit accoinpliHliing anylliiiig
furth'T than the capture of the Ardent man-of-w:ir, wl ch by acVideiil
had fallen in with the combined flc'ts.
In cal
nod, we
" seven
ror Jose
of the k
together
France ti
to abaiid(
A. D. 1\
'lament t
a plan of
«t opened
change w
siifjject fo
•Jilnre in t
and financ
'or genera
of the kiiij
at this cris
Sir Georo-f
tlie act of '
on the Ron
tion. The
readiness t(
country, wi
'ation of Sci
t>ill did not I
"' Kngiand
ject was to
statutes wlii
"lajority of t
correctly de
persons who
would have
George Gore
'iioie correct
finding this
portunityof ■.
thereby gaini
{"'sed it into
free from ev(
meeting- of th
"ley should a
June, when tl,
commons, pra
lioimn cathol
On the fo]|(
force," the tn<'
was every rea
C'lve the appr
^'les in their h
rented the peti
"te (•onsiderati
"e dLsciissioii
"it-ni tiie ppo,
'■•It lolic chape
" <lemoli.sh an,
'o»ing Monda
?,
THE TREASURY O^ HISTORY.
661
up
;racy
ex-
/oUiii-
nvag-
acter.
likely
i-rlisli,
each
rt'
nuaui-
•k, an'l
fected
incc in
■rills
I'ollovv
Ice Mv\
ivllii'ig
IcVidenl
In calling the reader's attention to the state of the continent at this pe-
riod, we have to notice tliai tiie peace which followed the memorable
" seven years' war" was temporarily menaced by the efforts of the empe
ror Joseph to obtain possession of Bavaria; but the prompt interference
of tlie king of Prussia, who brought into the field an immense army,
togeiiier with the remonstrances of Russia, and the unwillingness of
France to second the ambitious designs of Austria, induced the emperor
to abandon his aggressive intentions.
A. D. 1780 — Tlic first busmess of importance that came before the par-
liament this year was the state of Ireland, which brought from Lord North
a plan of amelioration that met with the approbation of the house, and, as
it opened her ports for the import and export of her manufactures, the
change was hailed as a happy omen for tlie sister kingdom. The next
subject for legislative discussion was the wasteful and extravagant expen
diture in the different official departments of the state ; and the eloquence
and financial knowledge of Mr. Burke, were amply displayed in a plan
lor general reform, which was seconded by petitions from various parts
of liie kingdom, praying for a change of men as well as measures. But
at tills crisis the attention of all parties was attracted by a sudden alarm.
Sir George Saville had in the preceding session proposed a bill to repeal
the act of William III., which imposed certain penalties and disabilities
on the Roman catholics, and which passed both houses without opposi-
tion. The loyal conduct of this body of his majesty's subjects, and their
readiness to risk their lives and fortunes in defence of their king and
country, were generally acknowledged ; but in consequence of the popu-
lation of Scotland expressing a dread of granting toleration to papists, the
bill did not extend to that kingdom. This encouraged a set of fanatics
in England to form themselves into an association, whose professed ob-
ject was to protect the protestant religion, by revising the intolerant
statutes which before existed against the Roman catholics. The great
majority of the members of this " protestant association" were at the time
coriectly described as "outrageously zealous and grossly ignorant" —
persons who, had they been unassisted by any one of rank or influence,
would have sunk into oblivior. from their own insignificance; but Lord
George Gordon, a young nobleman of a wild and fervid imagination, or,
inoie correctly, perhaps, one who on religious topics was a monomaniac,
finding this " association" would be likely to afford him an excellent op-
portunity of standing forth as the champion of the protestant faith, and
thereby gaining a good share of mot -notoriety, joined the club, and thus
raised it into temporary importance. He became their chairman, and,
free from even the apprehension of any fatal results, he proposed in a
meeting of the society at Coachmaker's-hall, on the 2!)th of May, that
they should assemble in St. George's Fields at 10 o'clock on the 2d of
June, when they should accompany him with a petition to the house of
commons, praying a repeal of the late act of toleration granted to the
Roman catholics.
On the following Friday, the day appointed for this display of " moral
force," the nienib(!rs of the house were much surprised— although there
was every reason, after this public notice, to expect nothing less— to per-
ceive the approa(;h of fifty thousand persons distinguished by blue cock-
ades ill their hats, with the inscription, " No Popery." Lord George pre-
sented the petition to the house, am. moved that it be taken into immedi-
ate consideration ; but his motion was rejected by lOa voles to fi. During
(he discussion his lordship frequently addressed the mob outside, and told
them the people of Scotland had no redress till they pulled down the
catholic chapels. Acting upon this susrgf^lion, the populace proceeded
to demolish and burn the chapels of the foreign ambassadors. On the fol-
lowing Monday the number of the mob was greatly increased by the idle
I 11
f
662
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY
I
and the profligate, who are ever reaily for riot and phmder. Their vio-
lence was now no longer confined to the catholics, but was exerted
wherever they could do most miscliief. They proceeded to Newgate,
and demanded the immediate release of such of their associates as had
been confined there. On receiving a refusal tiiey began to throw firebrands
and combustibles into the keeper's dwelling-house. 'I'he whole building
was soon enveloped in flames, and in the interval of confusion and dismay
all the prisoners, amounting to upwards of three hundred, made their es
cape and joined the rioters. The New-Prison, Clerkenwell, the King's
Bench, the Fleet prison, and New-Bridewell, were also set on fire ; and
many private houses shared the same fate ; in short, on that night London
was beheld blazing in no less than thirty- six different places at once. At
length they attempted (he Bank, but the soldiers there inflicted a severe
chastisement on them. The military came in from the country, and, in
obedience to an order of the king in council, directions were given to tlie
officers to fire upon the rioters without waiting the sanction of the civil
power. Not oidy had the most fearful apprehensions been excited, and
great injury done, but the character of the nation in the eyes of foreign
powers could not fail to sufler almost indelible disgrace from such brutal
and tumultuous scenes. It was not until a week had elapsed that tran-
quillity was restored, when it was found that 458 persons had been killed
or wounded, exclusive of those who perished from intoxication. Under a
warrant of the secretaries of state. Lord George Gordon was committed
to the Tower on a charge of high treason ; but when brought to trial the
charge could not be sustained, and this most mischievous person was
acquitted. However, though ho escaped punishment for these proceed-
ings, he was afterwards imprisoned for a libel on the queen of France,
and ended his days in Newgate. Out of the rioters who were tried anil
found guilty, twenty-five of the most violent were hanged.
We gladly turn from these scenes of civil tumult to a more agreeable
part of an historian's duty. The commenc<'menl of the year was attended
with some considerable naval advantages to Great Britain. The fleet
under the command of Sir Hyde Parker engaged a French squadron in
the West Indies, and captured nine merchantmen. The success which
attended Admiral Rodney was more important. On the 10th of January
tie attacked, ofiT Cape St. Vincent, a Spanish fleet, (consisting of eleven
ships of the line, captured four of them, drove two more on shore, iiiiii
burned another ; thence proceeding to America, he thrice encountered tlit'
French fleet, under the count de Guichen and though he obtained no de-
cisive success, he prevented Washington from receiving naval aid in his
meditated attack on New- York. A very severe loss was soon after s\is-
tained by the Knglish : on the 8th of August the Spanish fleet fell in witli
the trade-fleet bound for tlie Fast and West Indies, the whole of which,
consisting of fifty-four merchantmen, was r-aptnred ; their convoy, tlit
Ramillies of 74 guns, and two frigates, alone escaping.
The operations of the war, taken altogether, not\» jlistanding the pow-
erful alliance against (Jreat Britain, had hithert:' been supported with
vigour and magnanimity. Yet while Kngland was frustrating every attenij't
of her open and declared enemies, a confederacy was formed throughoii!
Furope, which, as it acted indirectly, could not well be resisted. This
confederacy, termed the "armed neutraliiy," was ])laniied by the empress
of Russia, who issued a manifesto, asserting the right of neutral vessels
to trade freely to and from all ports belonging to belligerent )i.)wers, ex-
cept such as were actually in a state of blockade ; and that all efliects be-
longing to the subjects of the belligerent powers should be looked upon
as free on board such ships, excepting only such goods as were coiilni-
band ; in other words, that " free vessels were to m;>ke fn'e merchandise.'"
Uussiu, Denmark, and Sweden were the first to biml themselves to the
conditio
courts t
Kngland
lean vvai
proof wi
congress
their per
A. D. 1
was reiie
under Li,
•^xpecttatii
American
orces of
fresh /aun
reverses.
overwliehi
'ified hinis
became pr,
harbour su
expectatioi
•n that qua
sequence.
immediai
ney, in ,;oi,,
ment of Ki
immense pi
"f the captf
«in this occ;
were interce
<he Gtiiofth
equadroii offl
place; tlie e(
'"•re awav .
iiiuch disa'ji
*■• o. 178;.'.
decided advjL
supcriijrity (,
Willi whieli s
"'J,' the recen
sury to carry
fiatioii suffen
'l-llliaiit vi,;to
'"'ve of their,
'-■ofitent rose
W"'- -li the ar
government A
war, were lou
""'se disaster
"■es'gn, and at
«n<o,.ki„gi,a
^ir. fr ox, print,
besides Lr)r(l
-'Vdmiral Kenn
posts. TheV^
"ree mouths
ihe marquis „{
s'lfceed th.-it 11
"'■. Fox, Mr. J
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
666
pow-
wilh
conditions of tliis league; Holland (juickly foLowed tlu; example; the
courts of Vienna, Berlin, Naples, and, lastly, Portugal, the oldest ally of
England, joined the assoeiation. From the commeneement of the Amer-
ican war the Ijutcli had shown great partiality to llie revoUers, and as
proof was at length obtained of their having concluded a treaty with the
congress, the Knglish government determined on taking vengeance for
their perfidy, and war was instantly declared against them.
A. D. 1781. — At the commencement of this year the war in America
was renewed with various success. The progress of the llritisli forces
under Lord Cornwallis, in Virginia and the Carolinas, had raised great
expectations of triumph in Kngland, and had proportionably depressed the
Americans; but the British general had to contend against tlie united
orces of France and her trans-atlantio ally, and though he obtained some
fresh laurels, his successes were rendered ineffectual by his subsequent
reverses. At length, after making a most vigorous resistance against
overwhelming numbers, while defending Yorktown, whe»e he had for-
tified himself, he was compelled to capitulate, when the whole of his .u my
became prisoners of war to Washington, and the liritish vessels in tho
harbour .surrendered to liie French Admiral de Grasse. As no rational
expectation of subjugating America now remained, the military operations
in that quarter of the globe were regarded as of comparatively little con-
sequence.
Immediately after the declaration of war against Holland, Admiral Rod-
ney, in (!onjunction with General Vaughan, attacked the important settle-
ment of Kuslatia, which surrendered to them without resistance. The
immense property found tiiere surpassed the most sanguine expectations
of the captors ; but it unfortun;itely happened, that as the riches acquired
on this occasioi\ were on their transit to England, the ships conveying it
were intercepted by the French, and twenty-one of them were taken. On
Ihe Gth of the following August Admiral Hyde Parker fell in with a Dutch
equadron oflF the Doggers' Hank, and a most desperate engagement took
place ; the contest was fiercely maintained for two hours, when the Dutch
bore away for the Texel with their convoy, and the English were too
much disa 'led to pursue them.
A. D. 17H'J. — Though the enemies of Great Britain had at this time gained
decided advantages by land, and in numerical force possessed a manifest
superiority by sea, yet such was the courage, persever;ince, and power
with which she contended against them single-handed, that notwithstand-
ing the re(!enl disasters in America, and the enormous expenditure necea-
aary to carry on so fierce and extensive a warfare, the sjilendour of the
nation suffered no dinjinution, and exploits of individual heroism and
brilliant victories continued to gladden the hearts of all who cheiished a
love of their country's glory. At the same time popular clamour and dis-
content rose to a high pitcli on account of the depressed slate of trade
vv'i. -h the armed neutrality had caused, while invectives against the
government for the mal-admiiiistration of affairs, as regarded the American
war, were loud and deep. 'Vhc whig opposition, making an adroit use ot
tiiese disasters against Lord North and his tory friends, induced them to
resign, and about the end of March they were succeeded by tiie marquis
of Kockingham, as first lord of the treasury, the earl of Shelburne and
Mr. Fox, principal secretaries of stiite, and Lord Tluniow, lord cliancellor;
besides Lord ("amden, the dukes of Richmond and Grafton, Mr. lUirke,
Admiral Keppel, General Conway, &c., to fill the other most important
posts. The present ministry, iiowever, had not continued in office above
three months before a material change was occasioned by tiie death ot
the. marquis of Rockingham. The earl of Sludburne being appointed to
succeed tliat nobleman^ his colleagues took offence, and Lord Cavendish,
Mr. Fox, Mr. Uurke, and several olhcrs resigned. Mr. Townsiiend way
£64
THK TllKASUIlY OF HISTOUY.
I
then made secretary of stale, and Mr. Pitt, second son of Lord Cliathiim,
succeeded Lord Cavendish in the office of chanci!lh)r of ihc (^xehiMiuer,
Negotiations for peace were now comnienecd by the new utiniHtry, but
without at all relaxing in their efforts to support the war. The iNhuiila of
Minorca, St. Nevis, and St. Christoplier's were taken by the Krcneli ; Hnd
a descent on Jainai(ta was meditated with a fleet of tiiirty.four Nliipn, lliey
were, however, fortunately met by Admiral Rodney off Dominica, and a
most desperate engagement ensued, of nearly twelve hours' conlituiance,
which terminated in the total defeat of the French ; their admiral, Count
de Grasse, being taken prisoner, with the Villc de Paris, bcHiiieH hIx other
ships of the line and two frigates. In this action the bold iiauti(;al ma-
ncBUvre of breaking the line and attacking the enemy on both sides at
once, was first tried and successfully executed. This gloriouH action way
fought on the 12th of April ; and about the same period, the Heel under
Admiral Barrington captured, off (Jshani, two large French men-of-war,
with ten sail yf vessels under their convoy.
During this period the arms of Spain had been more than iisiitiUy suc-
cessful. In America they conquered the Fnglish fortresscH on the Missis-
sippi, as well as Pensacola and all Florida. Uut all tluMr ellbrlH, in eoin-
bination witli their French allies, against Gibraltar, proved fruitles.s; its
brave governor. General Elliott, returning their tremtindous emmoiuidt'
with a well-directed and impetuous discharge of red-hot balls from the
fortress, thereby utterly destroying the floating batteries which Ihe be-
siegers had vainly boasted were irresistible. Ever and anon during the
last five years this memorable siege had been carried on ; but on the day
after this memorable bombardment and defence (Sept. 13), not n vestige of
all tlieir formidable preparations remained.
In the East, Hyder Ally had succeeded in gaining the ea[)ilul of Arcot,
and his success gave him strong hope that he sliould drive the llrilish
from that part of the globe ; but Sir Kyrc Cootc was vietoriouH in nnire
than one decisive engagement with Hyder, whose death soon after gave
the goverimient to his son Tippoo Saib; and as he appeared tiontewliat
disposed to be on good terms with England, cffairs there wore a betlei
aspect. .Still the war in the East had a humiliating termination.
Some serious casual disasters occurred during the course of [\w year.
Four large ships foundered at sea on their return froii\ the \Ve>il Indies;
and the Royal George, of 100 guns, a fine ship which hud been in port
to refit, was, while earefning at Spiihead, overset by a gust of wind, and
about 700 persons, with Admiral Kempenfelt, were drowned.
A. n. 1783. — The famous " coalition ministry," of incongruous cehibrity,
was now formed ; the duke of Portland being first lord of the lr(!asury;
Lord North and Mr. Vox, joint secretaries of slate ; Lord John Cavt.'iiditili,
ehaiii'cllor of tlie exchequer ; Viscount Kc|)()el, f:.-"'! lord of the uclmiralty ;
Viscount Stormont, president of the council; and tlxMian of i;iiil;:.;!v.l<)id
privy-seal. These seven cunslitutcd the new cabinet, tliu whigs having
a majority of one over the three lories, North, CarlisUs and Slornionl.
It was an ill-assorted and insincere compact, an abandonment of principle
for power, which soon lost iheni tlie confidence and support of lite nation.
Negotiations for a general peace commenced al Paris, under the auspi-
ces of Austria and Russia; and the basis of it being arranged, it was
speedily ratified. Great Britain restored the island of St. Lucia to Frain;''
also the settlements on the Senegal, and llie city of Pondi(rlierry, in liie
East Indies ; while France gave up all her West India eonqneslH, wiili the
exception of Tobago. Spain retained Minorca and West Florida, F.asl
Florida l)cing also ceded in exchange for the Uahamas. And between
England and Holland a suspension of hostilities was agreed to in Ihe firsi
place ; but in tlie sequel it was sti|)ulated that Ihert! should be u giMieraS
restitution of all places taken during the war, excepting tlu; town ut
Negapatai
Britain.
In the tr
thirteen U
quishitig A
same. To
these states
••.•ghtofnav
tions or per
Such wae
American c
hundred mil
extent and [
tlie mother-i
ment of the
tageous to I
reality, was
nierce of Kn
increased iiic
'" the period
Nova-Scotia
India islands
rapidly imprc
The coaliti
Fox thought I
eminent of In
niercial affairs
hers, chosen f
cither house «
authority in tl.
determined o(
Tliurlow .>.,)s»-i
worthy of ;( in
llie diaitem (nt,
bill war (finiiv
me.ss.io- (roin
seals of ujfice!
would be disan
were sent to tf
A. D. 1784
was appointed ,
Lord Sydney (J
made secretaric
"fKuiland, priv
'<iciiii,o;;d mas
"■i'lty, and Mr. t
Bible to carry oi
m tlie house of (
The elections
!iie jiarliament a
pie will, evident
"le East India C
"leasures as mio
""sly opposed iV
P'Tied, framed a
to the crown the
hamentary coinii
uiercial affairs wi
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
F,f.5
Negapatain, with its dependencies, which sliould be ceded t.i 'iiad
Britain.
In the treaty with America, the liing of Great Britain acknowledged the
thirteen United States to be " free, sovereiffn, and independent," relin-
quishing for himself, his heirs, and successors, all right and chum to the
same. To prevent disputes in future on the subject of boundaries between
these states and the adjoining provinces, lines were minutely drawn; the
right of navigation on the Mississippi was declared free ; and no coufisca-
tioas or persecutions of the loyalists were to take place.
Such was the termination of tlie contest between Great Britain and the
American colonies ; a contest in which the former lost upwarti.s of one
hundred millions of money, and through which a federative state of vast
extent and power sprung into existence. But great as the change was,
the mother-country had ultimately little real cause to regret the detacli-
ment of the thirteen provinces : freedom of commercial relations, advan-
tageous to both countries, superseded a right of sovereignty wliich, in
reality, was of far less value tlian it appeared to be. In short, the com-
merce of I'ngland, instead of being destroyed by the war of independence,
increased most rapidly, and English trade was never more prosperous tliaii
in the period that succeeded the loss of the colonies. The Caiiadas and
Nova-Scotia shared in the rising prosperity of America, and the West
India islands, emancipated from unwise commercial restrictions, also
rapidly improved.
The coalition ministry was now to be subjected to a severe test. Mr.
Fox thought proper to introduce to parliament two bills for the better gov-
ernment of India, by which the entire administration of the civil and lom-
mercial affairs of the company were to be vested in a board of nine mem-
bers, chosen for four \r i"*, and not removable without an address from
cither house of u .lameni. That such a board would be an independent
authority in il; state was quite manifest, and it accordingly met with a
determined opposition, particularly in the house of lords, where Lord
Tliurlow luisitvi il, that if the bill passed, the crown woulil l)i' no lonsier
wortliy of a ni *,ii of honour to wear ; that " the king would, in fact, take
the diat?*'ni fnsni his own head, and place it on that of Mr. Fox." The
bill wu? 'hrownoutby the lords, and this was immediately followed by a
mesN.tg- irom the king requiring Mr. Fox and Lord North to send in their
seals of oifice by the under secretaries, as " a personal interview witli him
would be disagreeable." Karly the next morning letters of dismission
were sent to the other members of the cabinet.
A. D. 1784. — A new administration was now formed, in which Mr. Fill
was appointed first lord of the treasury and chanceiin of the exchequer.
Lord Sydney (late Mr. Townshend) and the marquis oi Carmarthen, were
made secretaries of state ; Lord Thurlow, lord liigli-rhancellor; the duke
of Rutland, privy-seal; Earl (Jower, president of the council ; ihe duke of
Iticnuioi'.d, master of the ordnance; Lord Howe, trst lord of the admi-
ralty, and Mr. L»iiiid-,'.«: treasurer of the navv. It h.-ing, t;r.i.7u,rop imnnc-
sible to carry on public business winle the coalition party had a majority
in the house of commons, a dissolution of parliament became miavoidable.
The elections turned out favourably for the new ministers, ami when
'.lie parliament assembled, his majesty met the representatives of the peo-
ple with evident satisfaction. lie directed their attention to tiie affairs of
liie East India Company, advising them at the same time to reject all such
measures as might affect the constitution at liome. Mr. Pitt had strenu-
ously opposed Mr. Fox's India bill, and now finding himself ably sup-
piirted, framed a new one for the government of India, which transferred
to the crown tiie influence whicii Mr. Fox had designed to intrust to par-
liamentary commissioners, but leaving the whole management of com-
mercial affairs with the court of directors.
It'
666
THE TH.KA8UHY OF HI3T0RY.
!
A. D. 1786. — I'arly in the snssion Mr. Pitt introduced to piirliament liis
coUibralcil plan of a "sirikinij fund" for the gradual reduction of the na-
tional debt. It appeared that the condition of the revenue was in so flour-
islituiT a state, that the annual receipts exceeded the expenditure hy
900,000/. It was therefore proposed that this sum should be increased to
one million, and placed in the hands of commissioners appointed for the
purpose, to be applied to the dis-liargc of the national debt. After somo
opposition, and an amendment suggested by Mr. Fox, the bill passed.
On the 2d of August, as the king was alighting from his carriage, a
woman approached liim under pretence of offering a petition, and at-
tempted to stab him with a knife she had concealed. His majesty avoided
the blow by drawing back, when she made another thrust at him, but was
prevented from effecting her purpose by a yeoman of the guards who
seized her at the instant. On being examined before the privy council, it
appeared that slie was a lunatic, her name Margaret Nicholson.
Nothing at tliis period excited equal interest to the trial of Mr. Hastings,
the governor of Bengal, who had returned to England, possessed, as it
was asserted, of inordinate weallli, obtained by unfair means. The trial
was conducted by Mr. Uurke, who exhibited twenty-two articles of im-
pea( hnient against him. On the part of the prosecution Mr. Sheridan
appeared viniiictively eloquent. He said, " The administration of Mr.
llasiinps formed a medley of meanness and outrage, of duplicity and
depredation, of |)rodigalily and oppressiiui, of tfie most callous cruelty,
contrasted with th<! hollow affectation of liberality and good faith. Mr.
Hastings, in his defence, declared, "That he had the satisfaction to see all
his ineasur<'s terminate in their designed objects ; that his political con-
duct was invariably regulated by truth, justice, and good faith, and that
be resigned his charge? in a stale of established peace and security, with
all the sources of its abundance unimpaired, and even improved." The
trial listed seven years, and ended in the acfinittal of Mr. Hastings, at
least of ail intentional error; but his fortune and his health were ruined
by this protracted prosecution.
The debts of the |)rince of Wales engrossed iniieh of tlie public atten-
tion at this period. His expensive habits and uiunificent disposition had
brought his atVairs into a very enibiirrasscd state; and l\w subject having
undergone parliamentary discussion, an addition of .')0,ono/. was made to
his former income of .')6,0(l()/., and tli(' sum of 181,000/. was granted by
parliamenl for the iiayinent of his debts.
A. I). 17HH.— An event occurred about this lime in Holland which
threatened the lran(|uillity of Miirope. I'>er since the ackiiowledgemeiit
oflhc independence of thi- United Provinces, two powerful parties had
been continually sirnggling for the superiority; one was the house ol
Orange, which had been raised to power by their great services to the
state, liotli against the tyraiuiy of Spain ;ind the efforts of Trance; the
other was tlie aristocralieal party, whudi consisted of the most wealthy
individuals in the country. Tiiis |)arty was secretly favoured by France,
and was denomiiialecl the "parly of the states," or " the republican party."
The prince of Orange being at length coinpt'lled to leave the Hague, ho
applied to I'liigland and I'russiit for protection, who lent their aid, and thu
stadthidili'r was reinstated.
It was during this session that tlio attention of parliament was first en-
gaged in attempting the abolition of the slave trade. It was first poiiit<'il
out by the Quakers in the independent provinces of South America, who
in many instances had emancipated their slaves. A number of pamphlet'^
were published on tlie subject, several divines of the established cbiin'li
recommended it in their discDurscH ; the two universities and after thrin
the «lio|e nation, prcsinlcd prtilions praying for the interference of par-
lament to fiir\» ird tiie liuinant di'si;;ii of African emancip.ition. .Mr
WiibeH
stances
to defer
Town
by the f.
much so
most em
His majf
examinal
iidJourne(
was a gn
certain, b
gPiit durii
to tliis offl
finned tha
little less
modified n
the cuslod
'lousidiold.
"ceded, foi
"f March li
his recover
khigdotn.
A. n. 178r
'•Onstitutioi,
'■• form of If
■■^'r- I'itt pro
Slid to provi
bicsse on tin
other. In tl
he wrong to
tahlished, an
xvhich was n
'he observati
diict of i,„|j
l^'r- Fox thin
hit opinions i
'"'ion. Mr.
i"' iintidote ((
•""lent he ()
hreacli was il
'"ifftiislKxl Rta
A. 1). I7tlO.-
"■■'•hy and eon
misery, never
'''•"'ed iiarrati
prnnpr ),p,„|
"'' {'••'e-thinki,
'" 'hat eounir3
iind liceiitiousii
•:'hso|i,(„ ,„„„.„
'•'■I" "IriUfirle I
Aimnrnn ,.|,,,„
;■'"'' "n Ih.'ir re
""'ircouiiirvni,
"'fn heirnsplier
''hullitionofpo
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
en?
whid)
jitiS !>«>!
louso ol
lo thr
,cc ; Itiu
|\v(>;<Uliy
Fnmrc,
It p;\rly"
mm\ lUu
I first. •"">■
lH)iiil''il
Ll clinri'l>
Tier 111""
iif l»:'f-
Ion. Mr
VVilberforce brounjlu tlie subject before parliament ; but as many circum
Btances arose to ri^tanl the consideration of it, a resolution was carried
to defer it till a future opportunity.
Towards tlie close of the year tht; nation was thrown into great dismay
by tlie fact that the king was suffering' under a severe mental malady ; so
much 80, that on the 4th of November it was necessary to consult the
most eminent physicians, and to assemble the principal officers of state.
His majesty's disorder not abating, but the contrary app'.aring from the
examination of the physicians before the privy council, tlie iiouse twice
adjourned; but hearing on tiieir re-assembling the second time that tliere
was a great prospect of his majesty's recovery, though the time was un-
certain, both houses turned their thoughts to the establishment of a re-
gent during his majesty's incapacity. The right of the prince of Wales
to this office was asserted by Mr. Fox, and denied by Mr. Pitt, who af-
firmed that for any man to assert such a right in the prince of Wales was
little less tiian treason to the constitution. After violent altercations, .1
modified regency was carried in favour of the prince ; the quocni to have
the custody of the royal person, and the appointment to places in fiin
lious(diold. For the present, however, these arrangements were not
needed, for the health of the king was rapidly improving, and on the 10th
of March his majesty sent a message lo parliament, to acquaint them of
his recovery, and of his ability to attend to tlio public buhiiiess of tho
kingdom.
A, n. 1780. — According to a promise given by the king, that the Tlrilish
constitution should be extended to Canada, that province now applied for
a form of legislature. For the better accommodation of its inhabitants
Mr. Pitt proposed to divide the province into Upi)er and Lower (Canada,
and to provide separate; laws which might suit the French-Canadian no-
blesse on the one hand, and the Hritish and American colonists on tho
other. In the course of the discussion, Mr. Fox observed that it would
be wrong to abolish hereditary distinctions where they had been long es-
tablished, and equally wrong to create those distinctions in a country
which was not suited for their establishment. This drew from Mr. Hurkc
the observation that "it bccami! a duty of parliament to watch the con-
duct of individuals and soci -lies dis|)ose(l to encourage innovations."
Mr. Fox thinking these senlnnents contained a censure on him, defended
Ins opinions by a full explanati. 1 of his sentiments on the French revo-
lution. Mr. liiirko had previously written a work, intended lo ojierate as
an antidote to the growing evils of rejuiblicanism and infidelity. In par-
liament he denounced the insidious cry of liberty and eiiuality, and a
breach was thus mach; in the long-cemented friendship of llieso two dis
linguished statesmen which ever after remained unclosed.
A. II. 17!tO.— At this period France had begun to exhibit scenes of an-
arcliv and confusion, which, for iiKHistrous wickedness and wide-spread
misery, never before had their p.irallel in the world's InstDry. A e(m-
deineJl narrative of those revolutionary horrors will be found under the
proner head We shall here simply observe, rn pn.^tant, Ihiit the progress
of free thinking, miscalled plidosophy, which had been much encouraged
ill that country during the last century, had dilTused a spirit of innovation
and licentiousness that was higlily unfavourable to the existence of an
absolute mmr.irchv. Moreover, the participation of France in the Amer-
ican siiuifffle for independeni'c, had instilled into the minds of the Hallo.
AmcrnMu champions of liberty a perfect detestation of regal aulhority,
and on their return from that vaunted lanil of freedom, they imparled to
thnr couiitrvmeii th>' spirit of liberty which hail been kindled in llie wcs-
tern lieini>plieri'. Iliil, perhaps, the more immediate cause of this wild
fbullilion of popular fury arose from the embarrassed stale of the finances.
'.ThF
1
'1
^^^B
I'll
I
In
'A
i--
il
i'
1
1
y
!
■>»
■/I'
668
THE TIIEASUHY OF HISTORY.
which induced Louis XVI. to assemble the stiiies-general, in order to
consider the measures by which this serious evil might be remedied.
During the present session, a message from the king informed the house
of some hostile proceedings on the part of Spain, who had seized three
British ships that were endeavoring to establish a foreign trade between
China and Nootka Sound, on the west coast of North America, the Span-
iards insisting on their exclusive right to that part of the coast. Orders
were immediately issued for augmenting the IJ'^'ish navy ; but the ex-
pected rupture between the two countries was averted by timely conces-
sions on the part of Spain.
A new parliament Iiaving met on the 20th of November, the king, after
making some remarks on the state of Europe, observed that the peace of
India had been disturbed by a war with Tippoo Sultan, son of the late
Ilyder Ally. The business of the session was then entered into, and
various debates occurred with respect to the convention with Spain, and
the ex[)('nsive amount that had been prepared anticipatory of a war witli
that power.
A. D. 17!)1, — The whole kingdom was now divided into two parties,
arising from the opposite views in which the French revolution was con-
sidered; one condeujinng the promoters of Gallic independence as tlic
subverters of all order, while the other considered the new constitution
of I'" ranee as the basis of a system of politics, from which peaci", happi-
ness, and concord would arise to bless the world! On the 14th of July,
the ainiiversary of the demolition of the Uastile, the " friends of liberty"
agreed to celebrate that event by festive meetings in the principal towns
in the kingdom. Tliese meetings were rather unfavourably regarded by
the opponents of the revolution, as indicative of nrinci|)le8 inimical to the
British constitution; but no pul>lic expression or disapprobation had yet
appeared. In the metropolis and most of the other towns these nuuHings
liad passed over without any disturbance; but in the populous town of
Hirmingham, where a dissension had long existed between the high
I'hnrchinen and the dissenters, its consequences were very alarming. A
seditious handbill having been eirculaied about the town by some unknown
person, created a great sensation. The friends of the intended ineelinji
thought it necessary to disi'laim tlie sentiments contained in the Imnd-
bills ; but as tlu'ir views were misrepresent('d, tlie hotel in which the
meeting w.i!« held was soon siirnninded by a tumultuous mob, who ex-
pri'Ksed their disapprobation by slioiits of "Church and King!" In the
evening the mob ileniolished a Unitarian meeting-house belonging to the
celebrat<Ml Dr. Priestly, and afterwards attacked his dwelling-house and
destroyed his valuable library. For three days thR rioti-rs continued llirir
de[iredaiii)ns, but tran(|nillity was restored on the arrival of the milit!iry,
and some of the ringleaders were executed.
A. D. 170-.'. — Parliament assembled .Ian. .Tl, and were agreeably sur-
prised by a declaration of the minister, that the niiaiices of the iialuni
would allow him to take off taxes to the amount of ,C'.*O0,0i)0 and to apiiro-
pri:ite ClOd.dOO towards the reduction of the national debt. He then di'.s-
canted (III the (lotirishiiig slate and happy prosjieets of the nation, dc-
cliriiig at the same lime how iiitiinately eoiinecU'il its prospeiily wii-^
with the preservation of peace .ibroad and tiaiKpiillity al lionie.
The duke of York liaviiig iit the close of the previous year niarrii<d llii'
princ'i'ss Kredcrica (^'harlotia, < Idest daughter of the King of i'russi.t, the
comnioiis [iMssed a bill to settle C,'.'),0IM) per aiinuni on the duke, and
X'-'.oiMi on the dui'hess should she survive hiin. The linuse, also, during
tlii-< session, went into a eommlltee on the Afrieiin slave-trade, and uave
ii as llieir cipiiinm ibat it should be abolished. In the course of debale
Mr. I'lit and many others spoke in favour of its immediate aliojitimi.
After mail} divisioim the term was limited to tliu tst day of J.iniii rv,
1796. I„
indefinite (
The war
Jucted by
comnieiicei
ions. Thi!
conclude pj
sons as hos
A- D. 1790.
after your ov
t ic new poi
throughout G
^yere issued /
'lie govf'riimf
suppression o
suits of Fro,,,
'femagojr„e „.
'"''Jitioii. To
'•■imatioii was
''"•')ad, .-iikJ pii
■■'"d various oti
the National A
^o'liid, althougl
'" tlie meant
'■'*""?■ An all
■"'•'- 'he osten.sil
I' ranee, win, (|,
property of :i||
**"'K. com,n;i,|,j
''"•""■•I man.f,.
'^'""dd siil„„jt ,,
■''vord if injury.
.'••'Pl'Mie;,,,;, „i,,
,';"'fe: ■", •'•■throne,
"'■" ,"'<• rovalis,:
'■"yi'l aiithf.rnv
'■ '«''|y •••MKined
;;'!"•;'' ff^'vernine
"''"''•- flK" inoirJ
'"■■'.vng i„ ,)„. J
^Jji'-truilloiinel
^y'"!'' these ,1,"
>'i,'ilanee of t|„.
••'•volii(,o„;,ry nril
""fy '•oii.ii„.t of
"""•ly senin.ieni
• Id assonatj,,,,, \
'"•prot,,.(,o„ of
'"f flaino of civil
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
669
1796. In the liouse of lords several of the peers were in favour of its
indefinite continuance.
The war in Iiuiiii against Tippoo Saib had lately been vigorously con-
ducted by Lord Cornwaliis, who, having surmounted all impediments,
commenced tiie siege of Seringapalain, ihe capital of Tippoo's domin-
ions. This reduced that prince lo such difficulties as compelled him to
conclude peacie on the terms oflered by the earl, and to deliver up his two
sons as hostages for llie performance of the conditions
CH.\PTER LXI.
THE REION OF OEUROK III. (CUNTINUEO.)
A. D. 1790. — "When your neighbour'.s house is on fire it is well lo look
after your own," says a trite but wise old saw. The rapidity with which
the new political principles of the French republicans were ditTu.sed
throughout Great Britain, and the numerous inllammatory libels which
were issued from the press, awakened well-grounded apprehensions of
'i\e govermnent, and induced the legislature to adopt measures for the
suppression of ttie growing evd. Tlie moral as well as the political re-
sults of French republicanism were fast developing ; and every reckless
demagogue was busily at work, disseminating the poison of infidelity and
sedition. To put a stop, if possible, to tiiis state of things, a royal proc-
lamation was issued for tlie suppression of seditious correspondenco
abroad, and publications at home. Tlie London Corresponding Society,
;md various other societies, had recently sent congratulatory addresses to
the National Assembly of France! Hut the heart of Kngland was still
soimd, although some of the limbs were leprous.
In the meantime affairs on the (continent became every day more inler-
csiing. An alliance was entered into between Russia, Austria, and I'rim-
sia, the ostensible object of which was lo re-establish publi(! security in
TraniM', with the ancient ordiir of tlungs, and lo jirotcct the persons aiul
property of all loyal subjects. On the 2.5th of July ttie duke of Uruns-
wick, commander-in-chief of the allied armies, issued at Coblentz his cel-
ebrated manifesto to the French people, jiromising prot(!ctiou to all who
should submit to their king, and threaiening the city of Paris with fire and
sword if injury or insult were offered to Uwn or any of his family. Tlu;
republicans, indignant at this foreign inlcrference, now resolved on (lie
king's dctbroneiueut. Having l)y llieir mischievous |iu!ilnMtions turned
Ihe tide of disgust against their sovereign, and |)ersuaded tlit! populace
that the royalists had invited the allieg lo invade them, Ihe suspension of
royal aullmrity was soon after decreed, the king and his fannly were
closely I'onfiiied in Ihe Temple, all persons who were attaelied lo monar-
clueal government were east inlo prison or massacred ; and. lo crown the
whole, Ihe inolfensivi" monarch was led forth to e.xecuticm, and while
praying to the Almighty lo pardon his enemi s 'g'">"iii>i"U*'y P<""ished
by the guillotine.
While thesi! detestable scenes of murder we. ■ disjiayed in Friince, the
vigilance of the Knulisli goveniiueiit was exceed by Ihe propagation of
revolutionary principles, and it was compelled lo employ such measures
;is the daiigcri>us eircnmsiances of Ihe country demanded. The Haiigui-
iinry conduct of the French revolutionists, llieir extravagant projects and
unholy sentimenis, naturally iihirined all persons of rank and property,
and assocjalions of all classe.s who hail anything to lose, were formed for
Iheproteilioii ol' liberlv and properly against Ihe elTorls of annreliistii and
levellers. Hut stdl there were many desperate eharaeiers ready to kindlH
ihe Hamo of civil war on thu rtr«t favourable opportunity. Another pro
m
K {
rif' P
i
it
II
670
THE TKEASURY OF HISTORY.
clamatioii was tneijibre issued, in which it was stated that evil-disposed
persons were acting in concert with others in foreign countries, in order
to subvert the laws and constitution ; and that a spirit of tumult and sedi-
tion having; manifested itself on several oucasions, his majesty had re-
solved to embody part of the national militia. This was, ir. fact, a mea-
sure absolutely necessary on another account, it being clear that the
r'rench republic had resolved to provoke England to a war, by the most
unjustifiable breach of the laws of nations: this was their avowed design
to op II the river Scheldt, in direct opposition tv) the treaties of which
Kiiffhuid was a guarantee, and to the manifest disadvantage of the com-
merce of the United Provinces, who were the allies of Kngland.
So portentous was the political aspect at this lime, that it was thought
necessary to simmion the parliament. In the speech from the throne, iiis
majesty de(;lared that lie had hitherto observed a strict neutrality in regard
to (he war on the continent, and nad refrained from interfering with tlie
internal affairs of France ; but that it was impossible for him to see,
without till! most serious uneasiness, the strong aiu' increasing indications
wlii( li appeared there, of an intention to e.vcite disturbances in other coun-
tries, to disregard the rights of neutral powers, and to pursue views of
unjust coiKjuest and aggrandizement. He had therefore taken steps for
making some aiigineiitation of his naval and military force ; and he re-
(•oiiiinended the subject to the serious attention of parliament. After very
long and animated debates on the address of thanks for the king's sneecii
(during which many of Hie opposition, who were l)y this time thoroughly
disgusted with the French revolutionist'*, deserted their party), the motion
was carried by a large majority.
The next bubjeet which engaged the attention of parliament was the
alien liill, which authorized government to dismiss from the kingdom such
foreigners as they should think fit. During the month of December an
order of government was also issued for preventing the exportation of
••orii to France; and several slil|)8 laden with grain were compelled ici
unload their cargoes.
A. I). 1793.— That a war between Great Uritain and France was speedily
:i|iproacliiiig, was believed by all parlies; yet war was neither foreseen
nor pri'incditated by tiie king's iniiMSters; it was the unavoidable result of
i-iicumsiances. In a decree of the French eonvenlion on the l!ttli of
.\()V(!mber, 1792, tiiey had declared their intention of extending their Ira
tcriilly and assistance to the disaffected and revolting sulijects of all inoii-
arcliical governments. 'I'lie disavowal of this assertion was demanifeii
by till- llrillsh ministry; but as this was not complied with, M. Ohaiive-
liii, ambassador from the late king of Friinee — llioiigh not acknowlediicd
in iliat light by the republic — reci^ived orders to leave the kingdom. In vnuie
of the alien act. In coiiseipience of this measure, the French coiiventiiiii,
on the 1st of February, declared war.
No sooner was Great llritain involved in this pvenlful war, than a
treaty of commerce' was concliuled with Uussia, a laryi^ body of troops
Was taken intollu? service of trovernmeiit, and an engagement was (^iilend
jiiloby the king of Sardnila, wlio agreed, for an annual subsidy of '.200,0(10/.,
to join tli(! Austrians iii Italy with a very considerable military forci*.
Allianees wen; likewise formed with Austria, I'riissia, Spain, liollaiid,
i'lnliigal, and Ktissia, all of whom agreed to shut llieir ports against llic
vessels of Fraiire. Denmark, .Sweden, and .Swiizerland, however, re-
fused to join ihe coiifederHcy. The kiiii; of the Sicilies agreed to fiiriiisli
(iooo troops and four ships uf the line ; the eiiijiire also furnished ils cmi'
tiiiLfeiits to llie Austrian and I'rus.sian arhiies, and llritish troops wire
buiit to \Uv proteciiiiii of llollaiiil, under the comtiii>iid of llie duke of York
The French ariiiv , eniiiinaniled by General Diiiiiouiiex, invaded llol
lund, and ImMii^ t.tk< ii Itreda, (tcriruydunbur^, and tiuiiie other placen,
Hdvancei
brigade (
met with
Dumouri
defeated
Neer-win
numbers.
PHiinent,
divided (h
{fenerais,
and free h
under the
nis supplje
hiin to ihei
"ions, and
"ot share t
self obliged
%ili(6 (as
now Louis
The duke
s'effe to an
their coiique
kirk and eo
"Hval arinai
["i-ces ; but,
'"'ig' delayed
town. The
'" such nuin
retreat, to av
'Tid having ti
"t'/it. At Va
peror of Gerii
command.
'J'he princif
an agreenientl
•^•■ed n,t the I,
restored to i-f
''"''« (own, hoj
P'Tior force ()£
7"niated, f,„J
""' ftiKish shJ
«''"ier with ail
were eoiis,i,„e,
P"l''"n Houapil
Ihatdavhisprl
'"'le e/forls I
llaviiiirpro.jiyjl
Hliaiever iiiiglif
' '•; and as t|„.
"I'les were olii
'''iveii „ii|, j„„L
successive defef
«<'ii!l>uig in trii
•Mes w,-,s j,„„„,
""' ''Vciieh coil
*<'re serioiislv
"".'"oied, ju ,;,,
'" (lie I'Just ai
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
671
lllr.m :t
troops
I'lHi'l't'il
|o,i)iiii/.,
forrc.
IIoIIiukI.
Ivcr. i'-
llMlllsIl
Ills coil-
i)s were
[ilYorK
f(l llol
advanced to Williamsladt, which was dcfoiided by a detaohnient from tlie
brigade of the Knglish guards, just arrived in Holhiiid. H ire tlie French
met with a repulse, and were compelled to raise the siege \'ith great loss.
Dumouriez then left Holland to defend Louvain; but being afterwards
defeated in several engagements with the allied armies, particularly at
Neer-winden, his soldiers were so discouraged, that they deserted in great
numbers. At length, weary of the disorganized state of the Frencii gov-
ernment, and finding himself suspected by the two great factions which
divided tlic republic, Dumouriez entered into negotiations with the allied
generals, and agreed to return to Paris, dissolve the national convention,
and free his country from tlie gross tyranny which was there exercised
under the specious name of equality. But the conventionalists witlilield
his supplies, and sent commissioners to thwart his design.'^ and summon
him to their bar. He instantly arrested the oificers that brought ilu; sum-
mons, and sent them to the Austrian head-(|iiarters. But the army did
not share the anti-revolutionary feelings of the general, and he was him-
self obliged to seek safety in tlie Austrian camp, accompanied by young
Kgalil^ (as be was then styled), son of the execrable duke of Orl(;ans, and
now Louis Philippe, king of the rrencli!
The duke of York, who was at ilie head of the allied armies, had laid
siege to and taken ValcMciennes, and he was now nnxious to extend
their conquests along the frontier ; he accordingly marched loward.s Dun-
kirk and commenced the sieg(! on the 27tli of August. He cxiiccted a
naval armament from Great Uritain to act in conjiniction with tlic land
forces; but, from some unaccountable cause, the heavy artillery was so
long delayed that the enemy had time to provide for the defence of the
town. The French troops, commanded by Honrhard, poured upon tlxMii
in such numbers, that the duke was couipcllcd to mak(^ a i)recipitate
retreat, to avoid losing the whole of his men. lie then tame to JMiyland,
and having held a conference witii the minisiurs, returned lo tlic conti-
nent. At Valenciennes it was decided in a council of war, that the em-
peror of Germany should take the held, and bt! invested with the supremo
command.
Tiie principal persons of the town and harbour of Toulon entered into
an agreement with the Urilisli admiral, I.ind Hood, by which they deliv-
ereil up the town and shipping to bis protection, on condition of its being
restored to France when the Itourbon restoration should be elFccted.
The town, however, was not for any long time defensil)le against th(' su-
perior force of the enemy which liaci come to its rescue; it was therefore
evacuated, fourteen thousand of the inlialiitauts taking fefnye on board
tilt! liritish ships. Sir Sidney Smith set lire lo the arsenaN, wlndi, to-
gether with an immense quantity of na\al .stores, and sliijis of the Inie,
were coiismned. On tiiis occasion the artillery was commanded by Na-
poleon Itonaparte, wliosi- skill ;ind courage was conspicuous, tiiiil from
that day his promotion rapidly took place.
The "elTor's ni.ide by the {'"reiicli at this tiini were truly Hstonistiingf.
Having jirodigionsly increased their forces, they were resolved to roiuiuer,
whateviT might be the cost of human life. Kvery day was a <lay of bat-
tle; and as ihi'y wen; continually reinforccil, the veteran armies of the
allies were obligcil to nive way. On llie 'JJiid of !)ecrml)er lliey were
driven with iinmensc slaughter from Ha-jciiaii ; this was followed up by
successive' (leftMts till the 17tli, when tiie Fri'iich army arrived at Weis-
(leinbing in triumph. During this last inoiiih the loss of men on both
»ides was immense, being esliinati'd at between 70.000 and HO.Oon men.
Tlie French concluded the I'atiipainn in triumph, ami liie allied powi^rs
were seriously alirmcd ;it tlie ihiliciilties which were necessary lo la; se.i
tiiiinnled, in order lo regain the ground that had lieeii lost.
In the Kast and West Indies the Knuhsh were nuccesHful Tobago,
!:»l
in'
Ti'i I* . J
(jra
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
St. Domingo, PondiclKTry, and tlie French settlements on the coast ul
Mahib:u- and Coroinandel, all si-rendered to them.
A. D. 1791.— From the great and important events which were trau
sacting on the continent, wc turn to the internal affairs of Great Britain.
The French republic having menaced England with an invasion, it was
proposed by ministers that associations of volunteers, both of cavalry and
infantry, might be formed in every county, for''the purpose of defending
the country from the hostile attempts of its enemies, and for supporting
the government against the ciTorts of the disaffected.
On tlie 12th of May a message from the king announced to parliament
the existence of seditious societies in London, and that the pa|)crs of cer-
tain persons belonging to them had been seized, and were submitted to
the consideration of the house. Several members of the Society for Con-
stitutional Information, and of the London Corresponding Society, were
apprehended on a charge of high treason, and committed to the Tower.
Among tlum were Thomas llar.ly, a shoemaker in Piccadilly, and Daniel
.\dams, secretaries to the before-named societies; the celebrated John
Home Tooke ; tiic Kev. Jeremiah Joyce, private secretary to Farl Stan-
hope : John .\ugustus Uonney, an attorney ; and Messrs. Tlielwall, Rich-
ter, Lovatt, and Stone. They were brought to trial in the following Oc-
tober, and had the good fortune to be acquitted.
Every appmirance on the gr nd theatre of war indicated a continuance
of success to the French in the ensuing campaign. The diligence and
activity of their govermnent, the vigour and bravery of their troops, the
ability and firnmess of, their commanders, the unwearied exertions of all
men employed in the public service, astonished the whole world. Filled
with an enthusiastic devotion to tiie cause in which they had embarked,
their minds were intent only on the inililary glory and aggrandisement
of the republic. While the whole strength which could be collected by
the allies amounted to less tlian four hundred thousand men, the armies
of France were estimated at upwiirds of a million.
Though the superiority by land was at present evidently in favour of
the Ficncii, yet on the ocean "Old England" inaiiilaiiicd its predominaiK^e.
During the course of th(^ summer the islaml of (Corsica was subdued; and
tli<^ whole of tii(! West India islands, except part of Guadaloupe, surren-
dered to the troops under the conmiand of Sir (Charles Gray and Sir John
JerM^. Th(. channel fleet, uwh'v its veteran commander. Lord Howe,
sailed from port, in order to intercej)t the Drest fleet, which had ventured
out to sea to protect a large convoy that was expected frorr America.
The hostile fleets descried eaidi otiier on the 23ili of M.iy, and as an en-
liaiii'imnt became inevitable, the enemy formed iit regular order of battle.
On the morning of the 1st of June a dose action commeiiied ; tin- enemy's
fleet, consisting of twenty-six sail of the line, and the British of tw(!nty-
five. Thougii tlu; battle did not last long, it was very severe, and proved
decisive, seven of the French ships being compelled to strike their colours,
one of which, la Vengcur, went down with ail her crew almost immedi-
ately on being taken possession of. In the ea|)tiii'ed ships alone, the
killed and woundeil amounied to 1270. The total loss of the Uritish was
;t06. When intelligenei? of this memorable victory arrived in England, it
produced the greatest exultation, and the metropolis was illuminated three
Biiccessive nijjhts.
This naval loss of llie French, though it considernbly diminished the
Rfdoiir of their seamen, was greatly overbalanced by the general success
of their military operations. The principal tiieatrc! of the contest was the
Netherlands, where generals Jourdan and I'ichegrii had not less than
20n,min good troops, headed l)y many expert and valiant oftjeers, ami
i\!iiindanily sii|)pli(Ml with all the reipiisites of war. To o|)pose this forini-
li.ible force, the allies assembled an army of liC.OOO, commanded by the
fimpdro
the iuk
loss i}{ ,
confli, tj
JimateJ
sisiible,
Bruges ;
i-'ieniies,
torious ci
were eiju
niainiaiiK
masses o(
licans foii
they wi'i-fi
But the
Netlie.>-Iaiii
''''pain and
as to disiu
riHich redu
flcnliy the ,
Europe. J
energy uhj,
'vlieliii t.'ie
•I'liivaiiiiig a
'tiss /brtu'i'i;,,
'"'"lies, a s(.
campaign eii
I'l-uiee.
We shall ,
'>«'Uierlan(ls,|
ii";te,i with
liois-le-Diic
■'superior mm,
'■'LToss the \l
leinhcr Oevi
""mediately i
•'"» royal In'iri,
•'I 'Uiiheinr
■Voveinber,
;"■ tiie rivers
VJ'.'^nniimg at'
'ri)n;i.s w,.,.,,
•'"'■">y, seizin"
-|< 70,01)0 „„,„'
""the l<;.||„r
'^ilhanislaiK, I
•■''""i.int of (iin
f"'l>''IIIOIIS. Ilild
'■••^'"iped in ;, |„
'"'•■■""e III.! ,,hj
'■';*'"l"lloiiized
'■/■""ie<l, r.'pir.
".Hl.Hl ({,.„„|
' "" ll.is new „
""■y scMin hill
L'llsll si.|z,.,| III,
"""■'•. the FlMi,
V, ". 17!!.-,.—
Vof.. L-c;
THE TRKASUEY OF HI3T0HY.
67J
Ipd llie
iras llic
Is lli'.in
\ii, ■.iiiil
, forini-
by tlie
pin|«5roi 'li ^enon, assisted by generals Clairfait, Kamiitz, Priiicn Coburg,
the luko oi V'otk, &c. Numerous were the battles, and enormous the
loss ill Vile o.i each side during tliis campaign : in one of these bloody
conftiv Is aloiii', the battle of Charleroi, the loss of llie Austrians was es-
tnnateJ at lo.vlOO men. The armies of France were, in fact, become irre-
sistible, and the allies retreated in all directions ; Nienport, Oslend, and
Bruges ; Tournay, Mons, Oudenarde, and Brussels ; Landrecies, Valen-
ciennes, Conde, and Quesnoi— all fell inio their lianils. Uurni^f this vic-
torious career of the French in the Netherlands, their armies on ihe Rhine
were equally successful ; and though both Austrians and Prussians well
mainiained ttieir reputation for skill and bravery, yet tiie overwhelming
masses of the Fretich, and the fierce enliiusiasni with whicli these repub-
licans fongiit, wert n)ore than a match for the veteran bands by whom
they were opposed.
But the military operations of the French were not comined to the
Netherlands and the frontiers of Germany; they had other armies both in
Spain and Italy. 'J'iie kingdom of Spain, winch was formerly so powerful
as to disturb, by its ambition, the peace of Kurope, was at this time so
much reduced by superstition, luxury, and indolence, that it was with dif-
ficulty the court of Madrid mainiained its rank antmig the countries ol
Furope. It was tiu'refore no wonJ.er that the irnpetnosity and untiring
energy whici) ■ oved so d sirnctive to tiie warlike (jiernians, should over-
wiielin t!ie in irmies of Spain, or that tiieir strongholds should prove
unavailing a' ...st sncii resolute foes, in Italy, too, the French were not
less fortunate. Thongii Ihey had to combat the Austrian and Sardmian
armies, a series of victories made them masters of Piedmonl. and the
cam[)aign ended tliore, as elsewhere, g. ■ tly in favour of revolutionary
France.
We shall now return to the operations of tlii! common eiKMny in the
Netherlands, wiiich, notwithstanding the a])pn)ach of winter, were con-
•incied with great perseverance. The duke of Voik was posted between
liois-le-l)ue and Breda, hut being attacked willi great impetuosity by the
superior numbers of I'iciiegru, he was ov(!rpowereil, and obliged to retreat
across the Macse. with the loss of about l,.50l) men. On the ',Wi\\ of Sep-
tember Ot!veiMinir was taken by the enemy, and Hois-le-l)iic surrendered
immediately after. They tluMt followed the duke across the .Maese, when
Ills royal highness found it necessary to cross the Uliine, and lake post
at Arnheim. Nimeguen fell into the hands of the French on the 7tli of
NoviMiiber, and as the winter set in with iiiicoinnion severity, the whole
of tli(! rivers ami lakes of llolliiiid wert; bound uj) by the frost. At the
Vj'gmning of January, 171'.), the river Waal was froz(;ii over; the British
.roups were at Ihe lime in a most deplorable slate of ill lieallh, and the
enemy, s(!i/iiig the favonralih? opporiniiity, crossed tiie riv(^r with an army
«if 70,11(1(1 men. and having repuls"d the force which was o|iposed to them,
Oil the Kiili "f .lanuary took possession of Amsterdam. The fortresses of
Williainslaili, ilieda, Itergen-on-Znom, ailniilted the French, the shattered
rcnniant of the British army was obliged to retreat, under tlie most severe
pnvaiKMis, and in a season unusually inclement; and the priiurc of Orange
escaped in a lilllc boat, and landed in Knuland, where he ami his family
hcciHiie Ihe obiecis of niyal liberality. The United Provinces were now
iiV(i|iiiioni/.cd altir 111"' model of France; the rights of man were pro-
'■liiiincd. rcpicsciiiativis chosen, and "he country received the iniiic of the
il:i'nvian Ucpiililic. It' there were any in lloilaicl who seriously expected
tliat this new order of iliings was likidy to jirove lMMielic;al (o the country,
llicv soim hid I'xpcricnce to the contrary; for, <ni the (Uie hand, the F-n-
i;lisli seized their cidnnies and destroyed their eoininerce, while on the
iitlicr. the Ficiich treated them with all the haulciir of insolent ciinqnerors.
A. n. 17;i.'.. — At the conclusion of the past ycK the aspect of allairs on
Vol,. I.— i:!
i
M
'iT-^
TllK TKKASURY OF HIHTORY.
ihP oiitiiiniit was most gloomy and unpromising. Tlie French republic
had suddenly become more extensive by its conquests than Frauee hail
been since tlio days of Charlemagne ; they had acquired an increased
population, estimated at thirteen niillions, which, added to twenty-four
millions contained in France, constituted an empire of 37,000,000 people.
As this immense population inhabited the centre of Europe, they were
able by their position to defy the enmity of nil their neighbours, and
to exercise an i'lfliience almost amounting to an universal sovereignty.
The consternation of Great Britain and the allied powers was greaily
increased by tiie conduct of the king of Prussia, who withdrew from the
coalition, and concluded a treaty of peace with the French convention.
This act, in addition to the dismemberment of Poland, was commented on
in the Britisli parliament in terms of severe and merited censure. He had
received large subsidies from Kngland, and was pledged, as a member of
the coalition, to do his utmost towards the overthrow of regicidal France
and the restoration of the Bourbons ; and his defection at such a time was
as unprincipled, as the effect of it was likely to be disastrous. But the
English and Auslrians, encouraged by the distracted state of France, more
especially by the royalist war in La Vendee, continued their efforts, not-
withstauiiing, Spain followed the example of Prussia, and the duke of
Tuscany, also, deserted the allies.
Though mifortunate in her alliances, and unsuccessful in the attempts
made by her military force i^n the continent, (Jreat Britain had still the
s.itisfaclion of beholding her fleets riding triumphantly on tne ocean. On
the 23d of June, Adn.iral Lord Bridnort attacked the French fleet off L'Ori-
ent, and captured three s!iii)8 of the line. Some other minor actions also
served to show that Britain had not lost the power to maintain her naval
superiority. .\s FloUand was now become subject to France, letters of
reprisals were issued out against the Hutch ships, and directions were
given for atta<;king their colonies, with the iiiieiiticui, however, of resloriiu;
fhem when the stadthholder's government should be re-established. Tii<
Cape of Good Hope was obliged to submit to the British anus, together
with Trincoiualee, and all the other I'niled seltleuients except Batavia.
The other events of the year may be thus snuiuiod up : — The marrinire
of the prince of Wales with the princess t^aroline of Bnmswick ; a match
dictated by considerations of what are ternieil prudence, rather than iif
affection ; the prince's debts at the time amounted to fi'20,000/., and parlia-
ment agreed to grant him ]3'j,000/. per anniMU in addition to his income
arising from the duchy of (.'orinvall, a iioriion being reserved for the grad
ual liquidation of his (lel)ts. — The deatli of I,()uis XVII., son of the unfor-
lunati! Iiouis XVI., and lawful sovereign of Fnuice, in prison. — The acquit-
tal of Warren Hastings, after a trial which litid lasted seven years. — The
commencement of the societies of United Irisliincn airainst, and of Orange
clubs in favour of, the government. — A dearth of corn in Kngland, witli
consiMpu'iit high prices, great distress, and riots which created miudi alarm.
In seasons of scarcity and conscquen'. high [irices, the multituile arc
easily excited to acts of insubordination. At this per. id tlieir attention
had been roustMl to |)(ilitical subjects by some meetings lield in the open
fields, at the inslaiwe of the r'orrespcuidintr societies, where the usual in-
vectives against goverinnent had foruieil the staple of their discourse, and
the [icople had been !nere than usually excited. A report was cin-ulatcd
that vast bodies of the ^ saffccted would make tlicir appe;ir;ince when the
king procecilcd to o|)en parliament ; anil so it proved, for tlu! ainaziiig
number of ','00,000 persons assemliled in the park on that occasion, Oct.
19. An immense throng surrounded his majesty's carriage, claniouroiisly
'oeifcrating" Bread !" "Peace!" "No Pitt!" some voices also shouting out
No King!" while stones were thrown at the coach froin all directions,
id, (Ml p.issiiig through Palace-yard, one of the windows was broken liv
a bullet f,
said to till
scandaioii
feriijg a tti
ceriied in
*• D. 179
armies ant
of Great U
sight appei
"le froiitiej
Jourdaii ; i
extraordiua
•ike PicJieg
publican an
'' Ihe siege
veloped. H
opposed to ,
"y Gtiieral J
<^" 'lie 9ih uf
at Millesimo,
'ne village of
';'"-'ty- .Mass
Junug the da
suiiie reinfoic
made 14,000 ,]
having been d,
'*'"'ns, wiiicii u
'-•oiifederaey, U
"f ""-3 duchy „
fallowed bv si,
"t- king of sai
"iietion.
''■''« Austria,
"'* situation oji
^"u Cremona, J
^"""•y- 'i'hesc
ffuard of (j,f, ,.,,
"""-•'1 preeip,,;,!,
'""''• A batn.
fu'iiioaading- ke,
"•'«i' artiJl,,.,-y, I
"y^ ^''- forced ; b
y^'ix-h army wo
^r position, he
•"■'■thLs object.
;;[/'-« troops, he
"'^"".' Austrian ;
'J/'Poiients, tliat /
''"-■ Wiaitered -rni
P'"'^ued by a i„rg
^sooumthei?
'';'0"ly place of I
,f «<■, Bonaparle .
■'"."<;xt„u..„aeeu
'ytlm unpro«
'"'g terms, ji,. .,
'^'"' "10 citadel'of
ed
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
67&
a bullet from an air-gun. On entering the house, the king, much agitated,
said to the cliancellor, " My lord, I have been shot at." On his return these
scandalous outrages were repeated, and a proclamation was issued of-
fering a thousand pounds reward for tlie apprehension of the persons con-
cerned in these seditious proceedings.
A. D. 179G. — The unremitting struggle on the continent between the allied
armies and those of France, was far too important as regarded the i-iterests
of Great Britain for us to pass it lightly over, however little it may at first
sight appear to belong strictly to British history. Tlie Trench armies on
the frontiers of Germany were commanded by their generals Moreau and
Jourdan ; the army of Italy was conducted by Napoleon Bonaparte. Thi.s
extraordinary man, whose name will hereafter so frequently occur, had,
like Pichegru, Jourdan, .Moreau, &c., attained rapid promotions in tlie re-
publican armies. In 1791 he was a captain of artillery ; and it was only
at the siege of Toulon, in 1793, that his soldierly abiaties began to be de-
veloped. He had now an army of 50,000 veterans under his command,
opposed to whom were 80,000 Austrians and Piedmoiitese, commanded
by General Beaulicu, an officer of great ability, who opened the campaign
oil the 9th of April. Having, after several engagements, suffered a defeat
at MiUesimo, he selected 7,000 of his best troops, and attacked and took
the village of Dego, where the French were indulging themselves in se-
curity. Massena, having rallied his troops, made several fruitless attempts
during the day to retake it ; but Bonaparte arriving in tlic evening with
some reinforcements, renewed the attack, drove the alhes from Dego, and
made 14,000 prisoners. Count Colli, the general ol the Sardinian forces,
having been defeated by Bonaparte at Mondovi, requested a suspension of
arms, wliich was followed by tlie king of Sardinia's willulrawal from the
confederacy, tlie surrenderof his most important fortresses, and the ce.«sion
of tlie duchy of Savoy, &c., to the French. This ignominious peace was
followed by similar conduct on the part of the duke of Parma, wlio, like
liie king of Sardinia, appeared to liave no alternative but that of utter ex-
tinction.
The Austrian general, Beaulieu, being now no longer able to maintain
his situation on the Po, retreated across the Adda at Lodi, Pizzigheltone,
aim Cremona, leaving a detachment at Lodi to slop the progress of the
enemy. These forces were attacked, on the 10th of May, by the advanced
guard of the republican army, wlio compelled them to retreat with so
iiuicli precipitation as to leave no time for br(!aking down the bridge of
liodi. A battery was planted on the French side, and a tremendous
cannonading kept lip; but so well was tiie bridge protected by the Aus-
trian artillery, that it was the opinion of the general olKcers that it could
nut be fori^ed; but as Bonaparte was convinced that tlie reputaiion of the
i''rein!li army would suffer iiiucli if the AuslrJans wen allowed to maintain
ilicir position, he was determined to encounter every risk in order to
clTccl his object. Putting himself, therefore, at ilie head of a select body
(if'his troops, he passed the bridge in tiie midst of a most destructive fire
of tiie Austrian artillery, and then fell with such irresistible fury on his
opponents, that he gained a complete victory. Maislial Beaulieu, with
the shiittereJ ^»'miiaiits of his aniiv, made a hasty retreat towanls .Mantua,
pursued by a large body of the French. Pavia, Milan, and Verona, were
MOW soon in their hands ; and on the lili of June they invested Mantua,
ilie only place of importance which the emperor held in Italy. Not long
after, Bonaparte made himself master of Ferrara, Bologna, and Urbino;
and next menaced tiie city of Rome. As tlie pope was incapable of re-
sisting this unprovoked invasion of his territories, he .vas reduced to the
uecessilv of soliciting an armistice, which was granted on very humilia-
ting teriiis. He agreed to give up the cities of Bologna and Ferrara,
with the citadel of Ancona, and to.deliver up a great number of paintings
ail)
Tin; THEASi;jiY of historv.
and statues, ami to enrich the foiiqiipror witli sonic hundreds of the mosi
curious Miiiniis(M'i[)ls from the Vatican library.
The court of Vienna now recalled Itcaulien, and Rave the command to
Marshal VVurmser ; hut tlie tidt; of suc(;ess ran more strong against him,
if possible, than it had done against his predecessor. As Bonaparte was
at this time cniployed in forming a republic of the states of Ueggio, Mo-
dena, Bologna, and Ferrara, the Austrians had leisure to make new mili*
tary arrangements. They reinforced Marshal Wurmser, and formed a
new army, the command of which was given to General Alvinzi. At tiie
beginning of November, several partial engagements took place between
Alvinzi and Bonaparte, till the I5th, when a most desperate engagement
at the village of Areola ended in the defeat and retreat of the Austrians,
who lost about ]. •5,000 men. Mantua, however, was still obstinately de-
fended, but the garrison ceased to entertain hopes of ultimate success.
While the French army under Bonaparte was overrunning Italy, the
armies on the Uhine, under Jonrdan and Moreau, were unable to make
any impression on tiie Austrians. The armistice which had been con-
cluded at the termination of the last (-ainpaign, expired on the 31st of May,
when both armies took the field, and the archduke Charles, who com-
manded the Austrians, gained several aiivantages over both Jourdan and
Moreau, till, at the end of the year, the hostile armies, having been harassed
by the incessant fatigues they had undergone, discontinued their military
operations for the winter.
The successes of Bonaparte in Italy, and the general aversion with
which the people Iieheld tlie war, induced the British ministry to make
ov(Ttures for peace with the French republic. Lord Malmesbury was
accordingly dispatched to Paris on this important mission, and proposed
as the basis the mutual restitution of conquests ; but there was no dispo-
sition for peace on the part of the French directory, and the attempt at
pacification ended by a sudden order for his lordShip to leave Paris in forty-
eight hours. While these negotiations were on the tapis, an armament
was prepared at 15rest for tiie invasion of Ireland, which had long been
meditated by the French rulers. 'J'iie (lect, consisting of twenty-five
ships of the line and fifteen frigates, was intrusted to Admiral Bonvet;
the land-forces, amounting to 25,000 men. were commanded by General
Hoche. They set sail on the ISth of Deciembcr, hut a violent tempest
arose, and the frigate on hoard of which the general was conveyed being
separated from tiie fleet, ihoy returned to harbour, after losing one ship of
the line and two frigates.
A few incidental notices will serve to wind up the domestic events of
the year: — Sir .Sidney Smith was taken prisoner on the French coast,
and sent, under a strong escort, to Paris. — The princess of Wales gave
birth to a daughter, tlie princess Charlotte; immediately after which, at
the instance of the prince on the "vound of" incongeniality," a separation
took place between the royal parents. — A government loan of 18,000,000/.
was siil)scril5ed in fifteen hours, lietweeii the 1st and 5th instant. One
million was subscribed by the hank of England in their corporate capacity,
and 400,000/. by the direi.-tors iiuiividiially.
A. D. 1707. — Tlie garrison of Mantua, which had held out with astonish-
ing bravery, surreiKlcrwl on the 2il of Fc'bruary, but obtained very lionour-
ahlc t(!rnis. After this, Bonaparte recisived very considerable reinforcc-
iiKMits, and having cut to pieces tin; army under Alvinzi, he resolved on
peuelraiing into the centre of the Austrian dominions. When the court of
Vienna received information of this design, they raised a new army, tiie
command of which was given to the archduke (Miarles. The Frencii de
feated the Austrians in almost every euL'agement ; and Bonaparte, after
making 20,000 prisoners, efTccted a p issage across the Al[)s, and drove the
emperor to the necessity o{ requesting an armiatico in April a prelinui'-
>ry tret
retain tl
from til
sliould I
't«ly, le
vhich w
Knglai
'ad been
»f th«;m.
<idies to
.■Treat Uri
i nin upo
rated itsel
of the ban
committee
though the
"I't was pii
po;.nds we
was at firsi
confidence
OiieoftI
'J'e equipn
French, f
oil the Mth
Cape St. Vi
line in ordei
fleet, and se
^''g<'iir, and i
■■iiid blockade
"'ouiided; tl
to the peera-i
son, wlio wa
Rejoieinc
serious i„ut
'his uiitow;..,
'cut was first
received aiioi
^••tl ships' CO
hiitionofpriz
his lordship I
disafi'ectioii
'■"rgeries, and
orders were j
Spithead ran\
They then cIk
the admiralty
ail oath to be
'""ird, and tolc
and the kin.r's
inentingthtTp;,
claims Iwd be
"iiiliiiy and in
af the head of
who un.leriook
'eject repeue.
""^'iced on ho(
iK'liear, .ind, ;,ri
' 'ii'ker and
■"i.iated their
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
(>77
iry treaty was entered into, by which it w:is stipulated that France should
retain tl\e Austrian Netherhiuils, and that a new republic should bo formed
from the states of Milan, Mantua, Modena, Ferrara, and Bologna, wliich
should receive the name of the Cisalpine Republic. He tiien returned to
Italy, leaving minor details of the treaty to be adjusted afterward;", and
vhich was accordingly done at Campo Forniio, in the following October.
England was now the oidy power at war with France ; and great as
tad been the e.vertions of tiie people, still greater were ofeour.se required
»f tlit'ni. The large sums of money which had been sent abroad, as sub-
tidies to foreign princes, had dimiuisiicd the quantity of gold and silver in
fjrcat Britain ; this cause, added to the dread of an invasion, occasioned
A run upon the country banks, and a demand for specie soon comniniu-
cated itself to the metropolis. An order was issued to prohibit I he directors
of the bank, from payments in cash. On the meeting of parliament, a
committee was appointed to inquire into the state of the currency ; and
though the affairs of the bank were d(!emed to be in a prosperous slate, an
act was passed for confirmmg the restriction, and notes for one and two
po..nds were circulat<:d. The consternation occasioned by these measures
was at first very general, but the alarm gradually subsided, and public
confidence returned.
One of the finst acts of Spain, after declaring war against England, was
the equipment of a large number of ships, to act in concert with the
French. The Spanish Heet, of twenty-seven sail of the line;, was descrie<l
on the llth of January by Admiral Sir John Jervis, who was cruising olT
Cape St. Vincent, with a llrict of fifteen sail. He immediately formed ills
line in order of battle, and having forced his way through the encniy's
fleet, and separated one-thii-d of it from the main body, he attacked with
vigour, and in a short lime captured four first-rate Spanish inen-of-uar.
and blockaded the remainder in Cadiz. The Spaniards had C<00 killed and
wounded; the British, 300. For this i)rilliant exploit Sir John was raised
to the peerage by the title of earl of St. Vincent ; and Commodore Nel-
son, who was now commencing his brilliant career, was knighted.
Rejoicings for the late gloriou.s victory were scarcely over, when a
serious mutiny broke out in the channel fleet. The principal cause of
this untoward event was the inadequacy of the sailors' pay. This discon-
tent was first made known to Lord Howe, who in February and March
received anonyiuous letters, in which wi re enclosed petitions fronidilfer-
rnt ships' companies, requesting an increase of pay, a more equal distri-
bution of prize money, &c. The novelty of this circumstance induced
his lordship to make some inquiries; but as there was no appearance of
disalfeetion in the fleet, he concluded that the letters must have been
forgeries, and took no further notice of it. On the 1.5th of April, when
orders were given for preparing to sail, the crews of the .ships lying at
Spithead ran up the shrouds, gave three cheers, and refused to comply.
They tiien chose two delegates from each ship, who drew up a petition to
the admiralty and the house of eomujons, and each seaman was bound by
an oath to be faithful to the cause. At length Lord Bridport went on
board, and told them he was tiie bearer of redress for all their grievances,
and the kind's pardon ; and on the 8lh of May r.n act was passed for iiug
meuting the pay of sailors and mariners. The facility with which these
claims had been granted instigated the seamen at the Nore to ri.se in
mutiny and make furtlier di-mands. A council of delegates was elected,
at the head of whom was a bold and insolent man named Richard Parker,
who undertook to comniaml the fleet, and prevailed on Ids companions to
reject repcite(l()n"ers of pnrdoii. Trepiirations for hostilities were com-
menced on liotii sides, when dissensions among the disaffected began to
inpear, .ind, after some hbiodshed, all the ships submitted, iriving up
Parker and Ins fellow-deleirates : some of whom, with their leader.
°K. iaied their oirences by an ignominious death.
m
m
M
1)78
THE THEASURY OF UlrtTOIlY.
Notwithstanding the hitc dangerous mutiny, the idcii was very pniviilont
in the i;ountry, liiat if a hostile fleet were to nuiko its iipiKianincc, the
men would show themselves as eager as ever to fight for the honour of
Old Kngland. In a few months afterwards an o|)i)orlunity oceurn il of
testing their devotion to tlie service. The Uatavinn n^puhiic having lltled
out a fleet of fifteen ships, under the eonnnand of their udnnral, Dc
Winter, with an intention of joining the Freneh, Admiral Dnnoau, who
commanded the British fleet, watched them so narrowly, that they found
It. impracticable to venture out of the Texel without risking an iMigage-
meiit. The British admiral being obliged by tempestuouH we.ithcr to
leave his station, the Dutch availed themselves of the opportiniily,
and put to sea; but were descried by the Knglish fleel, whii'h imiiK!-
diately set sail in pursuit of them. On the lltli of October tiie I'lnglish
came up with, and attacked them olf Camperdown; and afKn' a gallant
fight of four hours, eight ships of the line, including thoHi; of the admiral
and vice-admiral, besides four frigates, struck tlieir colours. Thi! loss of
the Knglish in this meinorable action amounted to 700 men ; thi! loss of
the Dutch was estimated at twice that number. The gallant Adiniral
Duncan was raised to tlie peerage, and received the title of Visi-ouiil
Camperdown, with an hereditary pension.
About three months previous to this action Admiral NcIhoii, actitig on
fallacious intelligence, made an unsucoessful attack on Santa ('ru/, in
the island of Tenerilfe; on which occasion the assailants sustaijied
great loss, and Nelson himself had his artn shot olT.
A. D. 1798. — As the French republic had at this time subdued all its
enemies except England, the conquest of this country was the principal
object of their hopes. The vast extent of territory whiish the i-'rench
tiow possessed, together with the influence they had obtained over the
councils of Holland, retidered them much more forniiijaiili' thun they
had been at any former period. The circumstances of the Krilish nation
were, however, such as would discotirage every idea of lui invasion.
Its navy was more powerful than it had ever been ; the vi(Mories which
had lately been gained over the Dutch and Spanish lleets, had conlirmi'd
the general opinion of the loyalty as well as bravi^ry of its seamen ; luid
all parties btirying, for a lime, all past disput(!s in oblivicm, ntianimotis-
ly resolved to support the govermnent. On the mtietiiig of parliament,
in .laimary, a message from the king intimated that im invfisiim of the
kingdom was in contemplation by the French. This c(Hiniiimication
gave rise to very active measures, which plainly manifested tht; spirit
of unanimity which reigned in (ireat Britain. Besidiis a large addition
made to the militia, every county was directed to raist! bodies of cavalry
from the yeomanry, and almost every town and consiileriible village
had its corps of volunteers, trained and arme<l. 'i'ho island was never
before in such a formidable state of internal defcnict!, luid a warlike
spirit was diffused throughout the entire population. A volnittary sub-
scription for the support of the war also took jilace, by which a million
and a half of money was raised towards defraying the extraordinary
demands on the public purse.
While this universal harmony seemed to direct the (JouncilH of (Jreat
Britain, the Irish were greatly divided in their sentiments, and at length
commenced an open rebellion- In the year 1791 a society hud been in-
stituted by the catholics and protestanl dissentiTs, for the purjiose of ob-
taining a reform in parliament, and an entire deliveramiu of the Roman
catholics from all the restrictions under which they laboured on lU'i'oiiiit
of religion. This institution was projected by a peiion named Wolfe
Tone; and the members, who were termed the Vniled Irishman, were so
niinierous, that their divisions and sulidivisions were, in a short time,
extended over the whole kingdom. Though a reform of |iarliiiment wan
the osteni
but zealoi
and, by e
a republic
(iid the nui
were they
nominated
Arthur 0'(
Their cons
with such
into effect,
by the gov(
Fitzgerald
A second ci
but not unti
the castle o
be surprisec
moment. 1
^liiy, a bod
on the towm
from Lord (
of them we
strong, agai
forth to nice
became niasi
ter, from i\e
iit Wexford
(General Nuj
Miinio, near'
tiicir greatest
mentoii Vinei
them. Vario
of which the
III llie pres(
prudent by th
military man
chosen for tli
tlieSOth of Ju
his majesty's j
and surrender
resolute cond
and the insui
of August, al
General Hunil
'nsh, lauded
But instead of
pected, they wi
prisoners of wr
— a rebellion \v
excesses on eai
tlie time that ik
victims.
'I'he preparat
were apparenijj
out at Toulon, i
consisted of thir
"^.-ty.fivebail.be
THE TEBASUaY OF HISTORY.
«r>
ry
the ostensible object of tliis society, yet it soon proved tiiat their secret
but zealous endeiivouis were directed to the bringing; about a revolution,
and, by effecting a disjunction of Ireland from Great Britain, to establish
a republican form of government similar to that of France. So rapidly
did the numbers of these republican enthusiasts increase, and so confident
were they of the ultimate success of their undertakinj;, that in 1707 ihey
nominated an executive directory, consisting of 1 rd Edward Fitzgerald,
Arthur O'Connor, Oliver Bond, I)r. JIac Niven, a. id Counsellor /'inniet.
Their conspiracy was planned with sucii consummate art, and conducted
with such profound secresy, tliat it would, doubtless, havt; been carried
into effect, but for its timely discovery in Man^li, by a j)erson eiuployed
by the government, when the principal ringleaders w' re appreh ''ded, and
Fitzgerald was mortally wounded wliih; resisting the olRcors of Justice.
A second conspiracy shortly afterwards was in the like manner delected,
but not until a general insurrection had been determined upon, in whi :;>
the castle of Dublin, the camp near it, and the artillery barracks, were to
be surprised in one night, and other places were to be seized Mie same
moment. But the (lame of rebellion was not easily extinj rs < J. la
May, a body of rebels, armed with swords and pikes, ma 'e at .^inpts
on the towns of Naas and Wexford ; but they experienced a hignal defeat
from Lord Gosford, at the head of the Armagh militia, and four hundred
of them were left dead on the field. They "afterwards marched, 15,000
strong, against Wexford, and upon defeating the garrison, which sallied
forth to meet them, obtained possession of the town. Subsequently they
became musters of Enniscortliy, but being driven back, with great slaugh-
ter, from New itoss, they wreaked their vengeance upon their captives
at Wexford in the most barbarous manner. On the twelflli of .Iiine,
General Nugent attacked the rebels, 5000 in number, commanded by
iSIunro, near Ballynahincli, and routed tliein with great slaughter. But
their greatest discomfiture was that which they sustained in their encamp-
ment on Vinegar-hill, where (ieneral Lake attacked and completely routed
them. Various other minor engagements ensued about this time, in all
of which the rebels were defeated with considerable loss.
In the present divided and dangerous state of Ireland it was judgea
prudent by the legislature to appoint to the lieutenancy of that country a
military man of acknowledged prudence ,i ..i I ravery. The person
chosen for the station was Lord Coriuvalh '•"•. arrived at Dublin on
the 20th of June. His first act was to iniblisii ;. proclamation, offering
his majesty's pardon to all such insurgents as would desert their leaders,
and surrender themselves and their arms. This proclamation, and the
resolute conduct of the government, h- 1 a great effect on the rebels,
and the insurrection was in a short tune suppressed. On the '2M
of August, about eight Immlreil Frenchmen, under the command of
(ieneral Humbert, who had come to the assistance of the rebellious
Irish, landed at Killala, and made themselves masters of that lown.
But instead of being joined by a considerable body of rebels, as they ex-
pected, they wore met by General Lake, to whom they surrendered as
prisoners of war. An end was thus temporarily put to the Irisli rebellion
—a rebellion which, though never completely organized, was fraught with
excesses on each side at which humanity shudders. It was computed at
the time that not less tVun 30,000 persons in one way or other, were itti
victims.
The preparations which had been making for the invasion of England
were apparently conliiiued, but at the same lime an armament was fitting
out at Toulon, ihe destination of which was kept a profound secret. It
consisted of thirteen ships of the line, with other vessels, amounting in all to
lorty.five sail, besides 200 transoorts, on board of which were 20,000 choice
irH
1 II
S89
THE TREASDHY OF HISTOIkY.
troops, will! horses, artillciy, and an immense quantity of provisions and
military stores. All Knropc hrlicld with astonislnnent and rippri'hension
tiiese niiy:hiy prppar;itions, and scpnicd to wait in awfnl cxpi'ctalion for
tiie storm of \v:ir tliai was al)()iit to burst on some devoted land. This
arnianieni, wliidi wns umlcr liu; (.'onimand of General Honaparte, set sail
May 20tli, iiii,| haviiiy; lakeii possession of the island of Malta on the Is'
of June, (iroceedcd iDwanIs Kiiypt, where it arrived at the beginning of
July ; il.'s iiltiinate (U'siinaliou iifiny- said to be the \v,\M Indic!*. ii<i ihe
Red Sea. Sir Iloralio Nelsdu, wjio was sent in puri-uit ol the Krencli
fleet, biiiiy' wholly igin)raiit of it.s ileslination, sailed for j\a[)les. where lie
obtained iiifuriuaiHin of the surrender of M;dla, iind aeeorilinsily duecicd
his course towards ili.it island. On his arrival he had the mortilicatioii
to find thai lionaparh was },Mnie, and eonjecturini; that lie had sailed to
Alexandria, he imiiu'diately prepared to follow, lie was, however, afrain
disappoiiiied, fur on reachini,' Alexandria ho learned that the enemy had
not been there, \fler this, tjie IJritish squadron iiroceeded to Uliodes,
ami thencf to Sicily, where thi'y hail the salisfaedon of liearinjj; that the
enemy iiad been olVCiiidia about a nioiilh before, and had 5,'one to Alex-
nndria. 'i'liiiherward lluy pressed all sail, and on the 1st of Aiijfust
d(!scried tln^ Freneli lleet lyiii)i in Alioukir bav. Uoiw.parte had lauded
his army (mi llie .'Jtli of .Iiiiy. and haviiijj maile liimself master of Alex-
andria, iie (hew up liis iraiis|)((rts within the inner harbour of that city,
and Iiroceeded with his army along the banks of the Nile. 'I'lie French
fleet, commandeil by Adiiiir.i! Urueys, was drawn up near the shore, n\ a
comjiaet line of battle, ihiuked by hnir friifales, and protected in the front
by a batii ry pianled on a.sin.ill island. Nelson decided on an iinmeiliate
attack that eveiiiii;f, and regardless of the posiliun of the Krencl;. led hiii
fleet between them and the shore, so as to place his enemies between two
fires. Tiie victory was coaiplele. Nine ships ol the line were taken,
one was burnt iiy her captain, and tin; admiral's ship. I/Orient, was blown
Uj) in tile action, wiih her conimander and the (.'reaier |»art of her crew
The loss of the i:ii;;lish Was !)()() sailors killed; that of the l''reiich far
jfreiiler. 'I'lie {j;''Uious coniluct of the brave men who achieved Ibis
«i{{nal iriumph was the llienie of every tongue, and Ihe intrepid NcImoii
was rew irdcd with a pci r.iire and a jieiisioii.
The victory of ilic Nile produced a powerful effect lhrou;ihoiit Ihirope
The formidable preparations which had inenticcd Asia and Africa with
iminediale ruin were ov( nlirown, and seemed to leave beliind tliiun an
everlastiiiif mmmmeiit of tin; c xireinr folly and uiiceriainiy of biinmn
Und(U'takiuus. The deep despondeiu'y which liai. darkened the hori/.on
of Kurope was suddenly disp( lied, the dread of flallic veiii;cance seeineil
to vanish in a moment, and Ihe minds of men were awakeneil inio ueijon
by the ardent disiie ol resioriiiL' traiKpullily to Knropc. A second lali-
tion was iinmcdi ilcly huined a;ranisl l''r nice, under the auspices of (ireat
Uritahi, and was eiiteri d into by Austria. Russia, llic Oiioman I'or'c, and
Naples. 'I'owards lli<; close of Ihe yeai ihe island of ,^lllun■ca surrendered,
Willi scarcidy a show of resislaiice, to (ieneral Smart and ('ommodore
Duckworth.
We niiist now lake a ylaiice of ihe static of llriiish afTairi in India.
Ti|)|ioo Sail) haviiiy entered iiilo a secret correspoiidenci! with llie Kreii'li
republic, the i,'overnoi-j,'iiicral demanded an expiaiiation of bis Mileiiiions!
and as this demand was not ciMiiplied willi, licmr.il Harris invaded Ins
territories. ,\fler soiiie shuht en^'aijcmeiits, Ihe Hi iiisli army advanced to
Herinuapalam, the capital of Tippoo, and oil the lib of May. after :t L'd-
luiit and dc s|ier.ile resi-taiice. Ihey succeeded in taknm it, the sullan beiajf
killed while deli iidinu: Ihe linlress.
A. I) PUD. — In eonscijuencr' of the eonfi'deriiey winch had been foniiH'J
tguliist the i-'reiich republic, tliu uumpuigii uf tliii year becnine purtiou
farjy
-..../ in
aer Gei
Charles
The An
'" make
"■inyof
the fVei
''■■isleii u
F'i'ench n
ha.sfc, aiu
"'ilh (heii
"';u ill (hi
"if inispai
Uhii; f
tempt was
'" I'einstaii
'"'■,' "-as ac
Ahercroiiii,
'?diniral >fj
'"If. bpsi,(,.,
"(■Sept,.,,,!,,
^vfii'-h amoii
"•as at first
"ifir rei,if„f,
f""-t from (hi
''''S'»Jved to r
i'""'; '"Id. as
„ -^'^'ei- tlie hi
""' av(Mve,| ii
'•"•"Plf, and r,
■'affa wns e irr
■^^'-f. u hi,.,, ),
'If me( „.,„, .„
f SIS(,„„.,, „f ,
ilarinjroxpioK,
"PHierl hi., „,.,
J;"' '"•'•'> ea,„„
';'/i"is. (hen
,),„ ', • "ow
V'" pile.. /,v ,„
;" •''"■r.iaii„„ ,
•"■"'.'^' "Inch It,
y>y<;, s„|,|,
'^''"■'•d inlcll,,,,,,
Jf'iirned (>„„;',,
•'" .V "''ranicl ,,
'lit he was no
"ti^ions i„ /,>,,
";';;''i "ris thvrrl
r '"," '" 'l"Ve .SI
"'^"lif army („
'^'■"l-I.Ahoi.kiV; I,
' sii
THE TIIEASIJHY ok
lariy mterestino- * Pro, i ' 68'
'o makna stand untitl,, "^^ ^''""^'' Enrich, wli,.-, f"'"'^^'''»'>d-
'••'ny of Austria, 'id''^^,f;-'''^ed '•<'i"f.>,v,>,o ,'"',';'>' ^^"^ enabled
'he French to relinquiS, .?""' "'"'•^'- ^^norars nvar • u ', "":"""'"<^. an
hasten ,0 the assi Xe' ,/ hi'' '■"'■1^^'^ i- l^^y'un^'lT^"^^'^'^'i
1' renc'h (rpiipr;,) \T.,=I , ''" i'rchdike' hut uJ: ^ '"''''nnnied to
with tlieirccier ■'■■' "^"fc surroinuJod s., cm nT /'' ';''""'-^" '" W'lt
""U n, the space .'rrr;''"'''-, ^" ^■'i'^'' «o severe i',''-''' "'^^' ""'y S^OO
^Vhih, fh,,,e ovent« «■.-„ .... "•" "^"=""18 to
'If in-'t uiih an onnone < v '"^'"-^ ""^ '"-"f") seWt m n '">' '"
■■"'■''istaMe,. of that D . „ 1 ^'T"''' hi^ pr mress Tl , ' ''^V ''.'" ''.'iv
f'"nilmrihanapreea,le tor, "■'""■'' ''''"' ■'•■ndered s „ , r ^""''"
."P«'"..d ins fen,.!,,,: ,-..':'..^';.'"":. ••■"•><. On the Mil, r >,,''', ""j/^"" "!"<•'
iliiiiiiii
'roM, hm ^r """"■'■"' ^'•■''.•r. an,| sailed ,nih H '^ "" '"•'■'"•'fiiiKlv
Vtf.irULU ". (he ^r„„d ^..iiiui
I'
Hi
TIIK TUEASURY OF HI8TOUY.
of !•' ranee, lie in the true Cromwelliati fashion, w'lh the assistance of a
strong jjiirty, dissolved the assembly of representatives, and usurped the
govnrnnieni with the title of (thief consul, which was at first conferred on
nim for ten years, but was afterwards confirmed for life.
In order to render his usurpation popular, Bonaparte began to make
professions of a pacific character, and entered into a correspondence for
a negotiation witli the principal powers at war with the republic. In his
coininunications with the allied sovereigns he departed from the forms
sanctioned by the custom of nations, and personally addressed his letters
to the monarclis. The substance of the note addressed to his Britannic
majesty was conveyed in two questional, " Whether the war which had
for eight years ravaged the four quarters of the globe, was to be eternal ;'
and " Whether there were no means by which trance and England miglit
come to a good understanding 1" In answer to this letter, an official note
was returned by Mr. Grenvillc, who dwelt much on the bad faith of revo-
lutionary rulers, and the instability of France since the subversion of the
ancient monarchy. The overture which was transmitted to the court ot
Vienna was of a similar nature, and experienced similar treatment; but
the emperor of Russia, being disgusted with the conduct of Austria in the
lute campaign, withdrew from the confederacy.
A. n. IHOO. — The often discussed question of a legislative union between
Oreat Britain ,ind Ireland engaged the attention of politicians at this time,
and gave rise to much angry feeling. Some serious dilTicultieshad arisen
from the existence of ind('|)endent legislatures in Kngland and Ireland, and
tliere was reason to fear that while separate interests were made jiara-
nionnt to the general good, old grievances nnght again lead to disatfection,
and the result be a disinembernient of the em|)ire. To prevent such an
evil the ministers of the day cons; leie<l their boundcn duty; and though
the 'iicasun; at first met with grea: ipposilion, it was eventually carried
by consiiierable majorities, and took place on the 1st of Jamiary, IHIII.
My this arrangement the Irish were to have a share of all the connncrcc
of t ir'sd Britain, except such parts of it as bidoiigi'd to chartered companies.
The conimoiis of Ireland lobe rcnresented in the imperial parliament by
a hundred members ; the spiritual and temporal peerage of that country
by lour liishops and twenty-eiglit lay-lords, holding their seats for life.
During the past winter and the early part of spring the greatest distress
was felt by the poorer classes on acc(nint of llu' sctircity ami extraordinary
high price of liread ; in order to mitigal(! wlinh, an act was passi^d pro
liibitiiig the sale of that great necessary of lift! until it had been baked
twenty-four hours, from a well-founded notion that the consumption ol
stale bread would lie much less than new.
( III the Llth of May, as the king was reviewing a battalion of the gii,ir<ls
III Mvde I'ark, a ball was fired in one of the vollies liy a soldier, wliicli
woiiiiili'd a gentleman who was standing not many yards from his maies-
ty ; but whether it was from acciilent or design emild not be discovi'red
And on the eviMiing of the same day a much more :ilariniiig eircumslaiii'd
iici-inreil at Drury-lnn' theatre. At the moment his majesty eiiti'red llic
royal box, a man s'uml up in the pit ami dlsch.irged a pistol at the king
the ball proviileutially missed him, and the olleiider was iiiiiiii li.itely
sei/.cd, when it appeared that his name was Jaini'H Hatfield, fnniLrrly a
jirivate siddier, and that he was oecasioiially afllietcd with mental deraiigi^-
iiiciit, from a wound he hail received iii the head, lie was aeeordiiigly
" provided for" as a liinalic. 'I'lie eoiislernatioii occasioned by these
oeeurreiici'S was succeeded by many signal proofs of aiructionulu luyultVi
i^'specially on the ttli of .liiiie, his majesty's liirlh-day.
The campaign of MOil was opened with great nsoliiiion on both sides.
Independently of tlie oilier troops of I'ranee, an additional army of fiO.OOi)
men was asseinhled at Dijon, and it was publicly annouuceil In the French
papers, ih
?"d in Ital
i'liportaiit
''City oftli
sequences
/Ja'y. uiidi
"eiioese ;
der of Gi.„
suddenly jo
St. B.inani
into the Mil
rcinforceine
rear of tlie A
encounter w
vantage; an,
I lie Austriiii
nieneing tj,,,
(lefcat of tl -
nvcd with a r
"ic Aiistrians
the Freiieli st;
following day
^vas gr.inted c
af'cr, iioiiapar
' '" ihe .■ii-d „
"as .signally ,
being 10,006 m
that III,; ,.„,,„,,.,
^'iis uas r,)jj,„
oil the <tU, of J,
A. D. JrtOI (
f'.'yiil sty J,, ami
timed Kliigiloi
*»'/'' •"""■abs,
HSI-l,'. ()„ ,|„. J
'01-8 foril,,. ('„,,]
presented the I,,
H.v the treaty ,
""' I- rcnel, n'mil
I'oiniiioii ener.rvl
''aiil „(• Uuss,^,; J
'"■""'d iK'iitraliivl
"'"'"'III .Sl,|„|,„i,|
Ji"i''(iir,' ih,. UiiiT
,""■"■••-• Tl„. „s„l
"' ''"' 'iK'ipali,.,,. f
,""'"'■"" ■"■"l-calL
""' king's <.l.j,.,.tJ
<^"'i>.i'i,.e||,„„j^. ,f
"?" '"' III-* C„r,M,;'
"lii'-h, tli,.r,. was
1' Ir-iand t„ „„,
'^'•''•ify of Ih,. ,,„r
"'■'.I'My, a n,.w ,„|
■^"•- \dilini.t„„ „,,.
'•xch-.jM,.,.; 1^,,^,,
"'''•' lord of 111,.
"«"«-'s of g|.,u.. „ I
THE THEASURY Ol^ HISTORY.
ftSi
1,01)0
I iicb
papers, that it was itUeiuled as a reinforcement to the armies on the Rhiiiv
and in Italy, as circmnstances might require. No one suspected tiiat any
important phm of military operations wa.s concealed by the alTccted pub-
licity of this arrangement, so no precaution was taken to obv.ate the con-
sequiaices which miijiit arise from its movemenis. Tlie Ausirians in
Italy, under (ieneral Melas, ailacked Ma.ssena in the territory of the
Genoese ; and hciuj^ successful in several ohstuiate conflicts, the surren-
der of Genoa with its garrison followed. Just at this time Bonaparte
suddenly joined the army of reserve at Dijon, crossed the Alps over Mount
St. UiMuai'd, which before had been deemed impracticable, and descended
into the .Milanese without opposition. Haviiiir received some powerful
reinforcements from tiu^ army in Switzerland he placed hims('ll^ in the
rear of the AusM'ian army, and resolved on hazarding a battle. Their first
encounter was the battle of Moniobello, in which the French had the ad-
vantage; audit served as a |)rehide to the decisive battle of Marengo.
The Austriaiis numbered (!i),OUO ; the French, 50,000 ; the former com-
mencing the tight with unusn.d spirit and success. For a long time the
defeat of tl " French seemed inevitable. But General Desaix having ar-
rived with a reinforcenn'iit towards evening, a terrible carnage ensued, and
the Austriaiis were totally routed. The loss on each side was teriific;
the French staling theirs at IJ.OOO, and tiic Austriaiis at 15,000. On the
following (lay a cessaiiun of hostilities was proposed by the allies, which
was granted on condition of their abandoning Piedmont. Immediately
af'i'r, Boiia|)arte le-cstablislied the Cisalpine repiililic.
On the :ird of Deccmlier the Austrian army, under the archduke John,
was signally defeated at Ilohenlindeii, by (ieiieral Moreau; their loss
being 10,000 men and eiu'hty pieces of cannon ; the effect of which was,
tliat the emperor was driven to the necssity of soliciting an armistice.
This was followed by a treaty of peace, which was signed at liUneville,
on the iHh of February, ISOl.
A. i>. If^oi. — On the 1st of .Imuiary a royal proclamation announced the
royal siyle and title as " (Jeorge the Third, by the grace of God, of the
rniled Kingiloin of (ireat Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the
Faith ;" tlu! alisnrd titular assumption of king of France being now laid
aside. On tlie lird his .Majesty's (•oiincil look the oaths as privy cDiincil-
lorB for the Cmted Kingdom of (ireat Britain anil Irelaiiil ; and the king
presented the lord eliancellor with a new great se.il made for the union.
By the treaty of !,niievdle, (ireat Britain bec.ime the only opponent of
the French republic, and w is placed in a sitnation r<(piiriiig more than
common energy and prudence. Iiillueneed by the capricious emperor
Paul id' Uiissia, the principal northern powcr.s resolved on reviving the
armeil neiitralitv, and claimed a nulit of trailing to the pints of Fr.ince,
witlioiil snbiniiimg to their vessels bciiiu' starched. At this critical
jniiciiire the British ministry, on the llihof February, resigned their
otiices. The ostensible cause was a inisiinderstaiiihiig ndative to catho-
lic emancipation. It was iiiiderstood that Mr. Pitt had phdged Inmsell
to obtain .t repeal of the disabililn'S legally pending over liiat body ; iiut
tlie king's oli|ecU(iiis to the meisiire were loo deeply rooted, and too
coiisiMei>tioii-,lv formed (it being, as he believed, I'ontrary to the obliga-
tion of his eoi-oiiatioii oatlil, lor the minister to remove ihem; added U
whiili, there was the well-known ilislike entertained by the prolestants
of Ireland to eiteoiinier a citliolic magiRlracy, and the fears of the
clergy of the established cliundi. Owing to the indisposilion of his
m;ij>->ty. a new tiiinisirv was not firmed till the middle of .March, when
Mr. Niidinuton was chosen first lord of llie treasury and chancellor of ilie
cxeheipier; Lord Fldoii, lord high (diancellor . the earl of St. Viiii-enl,
first lord of the admiraltv ; the lords llawkesbury and Pelhain. seen>-
laries id' stale; and the Hon. ("ol. Yorku (lecretiiry of war. There ii
W'
m
584
THK TilKASCllY OF HISTORY.
lil'.u (l(Milit that tho now ministers were brought forward to do what their
preilt'eesM)rs were unable or unwilling to iici;ouiplish, numely, the putting
an end to the w;ir, and evading the agitation of the eutliolic question.
Mr. Addington, it is true, had given general satisfaction as speaker of
the house of commons, and he had acquired the king's personal favours
by his decorous manner and respectable character : but neither he nor
liis colleagues had any political reputation to entitle them to be entrusted
willi till! pilotage of tlie vessel of tlu' state, es|)ecially where it was
necessary to steer her amid the rocks and breakers of a tempestuous sea.
In order to counteract the designs of the northi'rn confederate's, an arma-
ment was fitted out in the Urilish ports consisting of 17 sail of the line,
with frigates, bomb-vessels, &-c., and I'ntrnsted to llie connnand (jf Ad-
miral 8ir Hyde Farker and \' ice-Admiral Lord Nelson. The fleet
eml)arkeil at Yarmouth on the 12th of March, and liaving passed the
Sound with very trilling opposition, a])pi'ar<Ml before Copenhagen on the
30tli. Uatleries of cannon and morlars \mic placed on every part of the
shore wiiere they might be used in annoying the Knglish fleet; the
nKunli of the harbour being protected by a chain, and by a fort construct-
ed on |)iles. An attack on this formidable crescent was entrusted, at
his own re(|iie,sl. to Nelson, with twidve ships of the line and all the
smaller craft. It began at ten o'clock in the morning, and was kept up
on both sides wiili great courage and prodigious slaughter for four luuns ;
by which lime 17 sail of the enemy had been burnt, sunk, or taken; while
three of the largest ol the I'liitplish ships, owing to the intricacies of the
navigation, iiad gnmnded within reach of tlu! enemy's land batUnies. At
this iunctme N( Ison pro[)osed a truce, to which the prince of Denmark
proin|)ilv acceded. 'I'lie loss of the Ihiglish m killed and wounded was
9 1-J ; thill of the Danes 18(10. The sudden death of I'aul, emperor of
Russia, who, il has been authenlically said, was strangled in Ins palace,
caused a change in foicign all'airs. His eldest son, Alexander, ascended
the llirone, and. ri'iioiincing the p(ditics of his father, eulered into a treaty
of ainily with Hngland; the norlliern confederacy was consequently dis-
solved.
At the time the expedition to Copenhagen was on the eve of departure,
a considerable Iditish force had been sent to l''gypt, in order to effect the
expnlsioii (It the I'rcnch from that coiiiiry This was under the command
of Sir Kaljjh Aiiercroinbie, who on llie-lh of March elfceled a disembarka-
tion, wilh ure.it spirit, in the (::(■>• of Ihi^ eiicmw at Aboukir, the fort of
which surrendered on the lOlii. (leii.ral Klelur, ulio commanded the
French troops in Kgypt after the de|iarlin(^ of linnaparte, had been assas-
sinated, and .^I(■nou was now the gciicral-iii-cliicf. On the 13th a severe
Hction look place, in which the Mngli^h had Ihe advantage ; butontheSlst
the eeli'lirati'd bailie of Alexandria was fought. The hjrce on each side was
about 1J,00(); and before daylii^ht the French coinini'liced tlu
long, desperate engagement Hiicee( (led ; but allcuglh tin! assailants
(lel'eat( il, and the famous corps of " Invincibles" almost amuhihiled
loss of the l'"r:ii( h in killed, woiiiideil,
.3.100; that of the Itritish 1 100
Abercroi'iliie, who
k. A
were
The
lid prisiMHTs, was upwards n(
imong whom was lh(> gallant Sir Hal|ih
lolily leriuuialiil a long career of military glory. He
was wounded in the thigh, ibmit the middle of the day; but iliat ]u> niicht
not damp the ardour of his troops, iiu concealed his unguish until the bat
lie was won.
The eoinmand of the llr^tish troojis devolved mi (Jeneril Hulchiiisoii,
an able ollicer, and Ihe iiitiiinle friend of Sir Kalph, who having inado
hiinsi If m.ister of the jxiris nf Kosetia, Cuiro, ainl Alexandria, completcil
e(Uii|ilest of I'luypt ibdUt the inidillf! of .Seplember ; w hell the I'rein'h
th(
1 *..' I r ' ■ '
!■ ipiliii.iled, upon eoiidiiioii of their being ciniveyed, with th(irarms, arid-
ler\. (Vc , to llieir own couiiiry. A l.n'ije diMiichinent of iroops from ibu
Indi-^ri ai
after the
^ T/,e „e
'n« preJin
part of the
""; majcst
Marcli, 1S(
qiiesis, ex(
"le Cape
powers. :
'*'', and rei
was to be
Naples. E
'ones and p
viously to tl
main entire
"■"PubJic of tl
ofNexvfoun(,
. 1 'le rcslor
joy. and Was
on wlii,.), it ,
nabitanis of
liouseofcom
mail is „/;,rt, ,,
ifiiidency of n
prognostic.! te
prospect was
fJclween t/,e r<
Having in va
was appoi,„,,j
S'-'l o'-^'i'sion,
P' noii()ii,._,,j
."'■"^■eiy, and .;,
''•"yr s(ri,t aihn
Hefore we ,,,
"nJi-'conspiracvr
'•o'lsiden.hle ;,i,,t
«;',""•»'"' good!
fields prison for f
,'';""'"•"", with i]
■'hoiiring rhsHv
P''"/'''' "lat on 1,1
"""'••ot ftlUm,, ,J
2' «"*'Tnine„f,|
" "'"'Iv and Tol
"'"'*<■ plans wer,.
exccnii,,,,^ ,^,,,j,^, '
'^'''■"•■'1 ill 0. Inf
V" ''••'<'«ii,s „f /,,
■ y'ifged fr,„„ „,„ '
•"Id on I he •JI,s|„f|
,7'^Pira(ors. was
""■•■"^^o-eonceril
THE TREASUtt\ OF HISTORY.
CtJd
Ini3i;u( army arrived, by way of the Red Sea, under Sir David Baird, jusi
after tlie coiic-liisioii of liie treaty.
The news of tliis important event reaehed I^ngland on tlie same daytliat
the prehminaries of a peace wiiii France \i'ere signed by Mr. Olto.on tlie
part of the French repubhc, and Lord Hawkesbnry, on the parlof his Uritan-
nm majesty. The definitive treaty was concluded at Amiens on the Q7tli of
March, 1803 ; by which (ireat Britain consented to restore all lier con-
quests, except the island of Trinidad, and the Dutch possessions in Ceylon.
The Cape of Good Hope was to remain a free port to all the contracting
powers. Malta, with its depend(Uicies, was to be I'vacuatcd by the Brit-
ish, and restored to the order of St. John of .lernsalem ; while the island
was to be placed under the ()rotection and soverei>rnty of the l;ing of
Naples. E<rypt was to he restored to the Sublime j'orte, wiiose terri-
tories and possessions were to be preserved entire, as they existed pre-
viously to the war. The territories of the iiueen of Portugal were to re-
main entire ; and the French agreed to evacuate Rome and Naples. The
republic of the Seven Islands was recognised by France ; and the fishery
of Newfoundland was established on its former footing.
The restoration of peace was universally received with transports ol
joy, and was in itself a measure so necessa.y and desirable, that the terms ■
on wliicti it had been concluded were passed over in silence by tlie in-
habitants of both countries. When the subject was alluded to in the
house of commons, Mr. Sheridan observed, " it is a peace of which every
man is ojad, but of which no man is proud." But though this apparent
tendency of the two nations to forget their mutual animosities seemed to
prognosticate a long continuance of the blessings of peace, the liappy
prospect was soon interrupted by symptoms of jealousy which appeared
bctw^een the respective governments.
Having in various ways gained tiu' popular voice in his favour, Bonaparte
was appointed consul for life, with tiic power of naming a successor. On
this occasion, lu; instituted a republican order of nobility— the legion
of liouour — to l)e conferred on military men as a reward for skill and
bravery, and on citizens who distinguished themselves by their talents or
their strict administration of jusli<'e.
Bi'fore we enter upon a new ciia|)ter, w(! are bound to notice a treason-
able conspiracy by cerlain obscure individuals, whi(di, at t;,t; time, caused
considerable alarm, ("olonid Dcspard, an Irish gcnilemaii of respectable
faimly and coiineitioiis, who had formerly given distinguished proofs of
valour and good conduct, but had subsecjucntly been confineil in (-"(dd-batl.-
fields prison for seditious practices, was apprehended at the Oakley-Arms,
Lambeth, with thirty-six of his confederates, principally consisliiigof the
labouring (dasses, and amoi'j.; them three soldiers of the guards. It ap-
peared that on Ins liberation from prison, Despard iinliiced a number of
violent fellows to believe tl,.it 'liey werecapal)le of suiiverting tlie pres-
ent government, and estaldishiiig i deimx-racy. In ordt'r to elTict this
measure, it was proposed to assassinate the king and i ))al family, to seize
the Bank <ind Tower, and imprison the members of |>arliament. Vast as
th"se plans wtn'e, yet it appeareil that iht,' time, mode, and place for their
execution, were arranged ; tli()ii'.ih only fifty or sixty persons were con-
cerned ill It. Informati(ni having been conveyed to ministers of this bold
ronsniracy, its jiiogress was nairowly watidied, and at the inonient when
tlie designs of the traitors were rijic for execution llicy were suddenly
dragged from their rendezvous and fully comniilted on a charge! of treason.
After a In, il wliiidi listed eighteen hours tin- coloiiid was found guilty J
and on llie '.'Isi (>f Febru.iry, 1h;iO, this misguided man, with six fellow
conspirators, was exeiMiled on the top of the new gaid in SouthwarV
l)('S|i,ird declined spiritual assist Mice, and ict his fate without contritioi
Kirrow, o' eimcern : the others suffered death with decency.
l!
T'T I
6M
THE TBKASURY OK H1.ST(1HV.
CHAPTER ^Xll.
Tiu; fEioN or ocoROE III, (continued.)
A. i>. 1H03. — The in iiy of Amiens proved delusive, and both coinbRt
an's, jpjilous and watchful, :-inod ready to r.iew llie coiifict. ''lie un
bounded ambition of thn Freir li cuds u induced iiim Ui t;ik. every oppor-
tunity of ill -idling our a'liba-isudots, in 'rder to oircasiiU .i renewal o(
hoatilities. Peace bad hardly jccmi concluded, v.-'.ir '^ tlio wh'ile fortresses
of Piedmont were dismaniler' am. .bat country \\ 'vncxid to Fraiure.
The same measures were pui.-.ued .vith regir-' to i',. m.i and Placentia;
and ^i nuni'.rous army was sent again' t Suitsi; ;iand, and that government
wa!» placed in the bands of the dependents of Uonaparte. Notwitbstand-
iiij; Uiese and several other acts of tyranny, bis iiritannlc majesty ear-
nestly endeavoured to avoid a recurrence to arms, and seemed willing to
suiTer the most unwarrantable a'rgressions, rather than again involve
Kurope in the horrors of war. Tins was construed by the Corsican into
a dread of his ill-gotten power. Nome olTicial papers were afterwards
presented to tlie Itritisb ministry. :n which he rcijuired that the French
emigrants who bad found shelter :n Kngland should be banished; that
the liberty of the press in Britain should be abridged, because some of
the newspapers bad drawn his cbai i^ter with a trutiiful pen ; and it ap-
peared, indeed, that nothing short of a species of dictation in the domestic
affairs of (?reat lirilain was likely to .■•.uisfy him. .Such insolent preten-
eions could not he brooked; all raid<s ■ f men seemed to rouse from their
lethargy, and the general wish was U> uphold the country's honour by a
renewed appeal to arms.
The extensive warlike jireparatioi.s going forward about this time in
the ports of France and Holland, exciird the jealousy of the British tiiin-
istry ; though it was pretended that they weri^ designed to reduce their
revolted colonies to obedience. An explanation of tho views of the
French goverinncnt was reijuested by Lord VVhiiworth, the Fnglish am-
bassador, but he was openly insulte<l by the first consul, who had the in-
decency to intim;ite, in a tone of gasconade, that (rrcat Hrilain was inia-
blc to contend single-handed with France. On the I'.'lb of May Lord
Whitworth presented the ultimatum of tbi! Itritisb government, wbicii be-
ing rejected, war was annminced on the Kith, by a niessagf! from bis
majesty to parlianu'nt. Almost immediately upon this, Bonaparte issu(Ml
a decree for the detention of all the Fnglish m France ; in uou... ij'icncc ol
which infrmgenicnt of international law, aliont l-',()()0 Fi>;^lish sul)ject3,
of all ages, were connnitted to custody as prisoners oi v. .ir.
This event was followed by the invasion of ILinovcr by a republican
nriny inuier (ieneral IMortier, thus openly violating the neutrality of the
(lerman empire, and breaking the peace wbi( i been separately concluded
with bis majesty, as elector of Hanover. Ilis royal highness the dnkc
of (lambridge, who was at that tune in Hanover, and h,id the command
of a small body of troops, was res'olved to t>p[)osi' the progress of the
in''aders ; but being urged by the regency to retire fnnn i\w >;'mtnaiiii,
be returned to Fiigland. Li a slu>''t time the French made themselves
masters of tin; electorate, and commilied the most tlagraiit acts of cruelty
on tin- uiifortimate inlia'.-itants. The Fll)e and the Weser being now un-
der the eonind of the l''renili, these riv<'rs were c'osed against Fiiglisti
connnerce. and Bonaparte also insisted that the pons of Denmark shoiilil
be shut against the vessels of (ireat Britain. In retaliation the British
L'o veinmenl gave orders for bloek;idiiig the Frenidi ports.
But It appeared liiat all minor sdv nies of aitgrandizemeiit wrrr
Id give place to the invasion and sub; .'ation of (treat Itiilain; for winch
purpose an immense number of traiiH|iorts weie ordend to be built vvitli
*'ie grea
ci.iit to
'ilia Win
niimlier \
tection, i
'o watch
'■"titiide V
"Gl, gave
'ioiiably s
'L'gular ai:
'''Vied, un
initeer coi
defence.
. Wiile m
invasion, a
'o form ai
Km met, bn
'ions transi
a'teiiipt to
^'k'ii Knim
'ii'iiis, marc!
carriage of
nied by his i
•■'■'yo. and hi
"'<• young la,
■^mall party c
'•-niiiiet and s
Pxiieme pona
■•"■'s were pas
enforce rnarti;
'n the Wci
"""■I- islands.
''"niiuao to M
"■'ihont a mofl,
'''■'It state, „m1
''I tlie l.',;st I
".:'';"'«• fainoul
Hel lesley. .viJ
!""■'' Mahratia'
uerar.
'•'■'■;^'« a 8(ro;ig,l
•f'-lnp of Afr.V
"' ''i-eat Briiai
'"' •^'"MiM retiirl
''''''• aceordj„„|r
'""•adh-TincTtJ
;',""-"'^'r. Pittl
■;''';"•. •■'lit nulliL
' ""' •■i>alition, i1
' •''■"'■'•'I'd to l,e I
'■'yn-oiis pro.seei
""I'Mdiiecl ,)„,
'"feat , -IS w.asl
"''■''"^^•■•l himsel
"■•^'•Ived to seeiiJ
""■''"•'"i"ns of til
''"""iiitf out the
.^i^
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
687
It vvr''
vvliu-U
till vvii*'
the greatest expedition ; and a flotilla was assembled at Boulogne, suffi-
ci.iii to carry any army which Franco mijilit wish to employ. This flo-
tilla w;:s frequently attacked by the Knglish, and whenever any of their
numlier ventured beyond the range of the batteries erected for their pro-
tection, they were generally captured by cruisers stationed off the coast
to watch their motions. These mighty preparations, and the menacing
attitude whicli was not allowed to relax on the opposite side of the chan-
nel, gave a new and vigorous impetus to British patriotism, and propor-
tionably strengthened the hands of the government. Exclusive of the
legular and supplementary militia, an additional army of 50,000 men was
levied, under the title of the army of reserve ; and in a few months, vol-
unteer corps, amounting to 300,000 men, were armed in their country's
defence.
While measures were being taken for defending the country against
invasion, a new insurrection broke out in Ireland, which had for its object
to form an independent Irish republic. It originated with Mr. Robert
Emmet, brother to him who had been so deeply implicated in the rebel-
lious transactions of 1798, and who had been expatriated. This rash
attempt to disturb the public tranquillity was made on the 03d of July,
when Eimnet, with a crowd of desperadoes armed with pikes and fire-
arms, marched through the principal streets of Dublin, and meeting the
carriage of Lord Kilwarden, chief-justice of Ireland, who was accompa-
nied by his nephew and daughter, the ruffians dragged them from the car-
riage, and butchered the venerable judge and Mr. Wolfe on the spot, but
the young lady was allowed to escape. Being attacked in their turn by a
small party of soldiers, some of the rioters were killed, aiul others seized.
I'lminet and several of the most active ringleaders, afterwards suffered the
extreme penalty of the law for theiroffence. In the sessiotiof Noveniher,
acts were passed to continue the suspension of the habeas corpus, and
enforce martial law in Ireland.
In th(^ West Indies the English eapturiid St. Lucie, Demerara, ana
other islands- A British fleet also assistinl the insurgent blacks of St.
noniingo to wrest that island frotn the French ; but it was not effected
without a most singuinary contest. It was then erected into an indepen-
ileut state, under its ancient Indian name of Hayti.
In tiie !;.ist Indies much greater Iriutnphs were achieved; among these
was the fanu)us battle of Assaye (Sept. 'J3), where Major-general Arthur
Wellesley, with a comparatively few troo|)s, completely defeated the com-
bined Maliratta forces commanded by Scindiah Ilolkar and the rajah of
Uerar.
A. D. 1804.— It was the opinion of men of all parties, that in the present
crisis a stronger ministry than tiiat which had been formed under the lead-
ership of Mr. Addingtoti, was absolutely necessary to direct the councils
of (ireat Britain; and the friends of Mr. Pitt became most atixious that
lie should return to the administration on the renewal of war. The min-
istrr accordingly sought the aid of that great statesman as an auxiliary ;
liiU, adhering to his well-known maxim "to .iccept of no subaltern situa-
liiiii," Mr. Pitt plainly sigiiided that the premiersiiip must be his. " Aut
('M'sar, aut millus." Thougii many were disajipointed to liiid that a pow-
.•ifiil coalition, in which Mr. Fox and his most eminent colleagues were
exiieeleil to be included, was not formed, yet the mainfest necessity of a
vigorous prosecution of the war excited a spirit of iinaiiiinity .n the nation,
iiid iiiiiuced tlie|iarhament to second every motion of the ministry.
ilieat as was the power to which Konaparte had by artful grailations
idv.iiiced himself, it was not snlFicient to satiate his nmhition; and he
resolved to secure to himself the title of ei,!|ieror. In order to sound the
iii.'iiiiations of the people, a book had been (Uiblishcd some time before,
pointing out tlie propriety and expediency of creating him emperor of the
llSml:!
^rv ' -WA
THE TIIEA8U11Y OF HI31011Y.
Gauls; after wiiicli, iiii ovortiiic, cquiilly iiisok'iit and absurd, was mafle
to Louis XVMIl., oircritig him iiideiiuiilies and a splnnilid eslabiislniient,
if he WDiild i-cii(>iMii'f his pii icnsiuiis to the crown of Krancu. This pro-
posal hcin;^- Heated with (he n)iit(,'iM|)t it nicrilcil, Bonaparte resolved on
takinj; auay the life of tin; duke D'Kngheiii, eldest son of the duke of
J3ourbon, on a surreptitious charge of haviiiif engaged in a conspiracy
aganist ilie first consul, and of serving in the arnues of the emigrants
against France. He had fixed his residence at Kttenhciin, in the neutral
territoiv of iIk; (dector of IJadcii, whern his chief occupation was study,
ami his jirincipai recreation the culture of a small garden. From this ru-
ral retreat he was dragged on the 15tli of March, by a body of French
cavalry, under the coinmand of (Jencral Caulincourt, and carried the same
day to the citadel of Strasbnrjrh, where he reinaiiu.'d till the 18th. On
the ^Oll) the duke arrived at Paris iind(!r a guard of gens d'armcs, and,
after some hours at the barrier, was driven to V'incennes. A military
commission appointed to try him met the same evening in the castle, and
the foul atrocity was coinpleied by his being sentenced to immediate ex
ecution; which having lak(!n |)lac(!, his body was placed in a cofTui partly
filled with lime, and bniicd in the castle garden.
Uonaparle having now nothing to apprclwind either from his declared
or coiic(sil('d <;iRiiii('s, prevailed on the people to confer on himself and
liis heirs the imperial dignity. The ceremony of his coronation accor-
dingly took place, Willi rciiiaikabli! solcinnity, on the lOtli of November;
and in tlu; lollowiiig F( briiary he aildn^ssed the king of Great Drilain a
letter, soliciting the eslalilisiinunt of peace. The answer of his Itrilannic
niajesly aekiiowledgeil that no olijeet would be dearer to liiiu than such
H peaci! as would he coiisisieiit with the security ami interests of his do-
minions; lint it added, that he declined entering into particular discussion
without coiisiilliiig his allies.
.\, D- 18(1.'). — Fnraged at the perseverance of Great nritaiii, and elated
by the uiipar.ilhded success which had allendcd all his measures, the
French empc^ror seemed now to consider himself as the disposer of king-
doms, and disregardetl all principles of ji, I'.H' and moderation. In order
to secure his own personal aggrandizfuncnt he made an e.venrsion to
Ital}', converled the Cisalpine re|)ublic into a kingdoi"., and assumed the
title of king of Italy. Me then united the Ligurian re[)iihlic to France,
and creeled the republic of laieca into a principality, in favour of his sis-
ter Kliza, wilt) had marriiMl the senator Hacchiachi. After these iinpre-
cedc'iiteil acts of aggression, he returned to France, and being once more
resolveil to effect the snbiiigition of the Dritish isles, he re[)aired to
Boulogne and reviewed his troops there, which were oslentaliou-ly
named " the army of F.ngland," and amounted to considerably more than
a hundred tlioiisand men.
S|)ain iiaving been compelled, in consequence of its d(!pcndence on
France, to becmne a party in the war with (ireat Britain, Bonaparte de-
termined, by uniting the naval strength of both nations, to strike a blov/
in several parts of tlie world at the same time. The greatest activity ac-
cordinuly prevailed in the French ports, where the fleets had hitherto re-
mained inactive ; and several siiuadrons having eluded the vigilance of the
British cruisi^rs, [nit to sea. A sijiiadron of live ships arrived in the West
Indies, and surprized the town of lioiiseau in Dominica; but being gal-
lantly opposed by (Jeiieral I'riivost, the governor of the island, thc^y hnii'd
a c(Mi(ril:iition of five thousand pounds, and prccipitiitcly n!-enil)arkcd their
troops. They ne.vt |)i'oi'eeded to St. v'hristopher's, where, havinii in;Kl«
grtat pi'cnniary exa<Mioiis, thi'y seized all the ships in the Br. -'•'":. e lOad.
These prizes wen; sent to (iaudalonpe; and the French squadron, fearful
of eiiioiiiiieriiig the British fleet, returnc ' to Kurope.
In (lie meantime a formidable lUx't of ti'u sail of the lino, with 10,000
men on i
iieuve ; \
SpaiiisJi a
'"or the \\
/'''■•-'iicJi an
I*"' an attc
lie travers
of ten ship
he eonciud
(iiatejy din
'""••■d .S(,„;,c
a'tiick on n
^/ Nelson's
'heir safety
the brave iV
P^'ched a m
"vertakino- 1
''/'^'■'ig- re/iit,
si.xiy-tlireo d
On the am
fquadron, eoi
^obt'ii .le.cri
"''-."• great sii
^^•","" After
f" ,""-" defeat o
in hasi,,. to Fe
.V""'-'J'"i, they'
""•y uere f c
been o.\p,o:,sed
""'"iral ill [|,^ ,'
''"''■« '"'o ti.e's
"/■the whole na
'«"fcd to bo red
y^^rs will, ),„ J
»>ul)scqii(.,)|),,]
'•^:'-sed the bav
;;■'"' fatigues "aj
'iL' fiirivcd at
/^""doii on jijo
was then ,„vp,,,|
'■"•'"-■'l that th^
■I ;7.""' "'"""•■ '1
:""'<''-avina; an, I
,"""a.d,ale/y „,,le
:' ,"""<-i' beeonuf
'MS duty.' Tlu
;)'•"*'"'. in the V,i
'^"yai S'n'erei.u
""'"^"' "'all parti
TUl. TUKASUKY OK IlISTORV.
889
men on board, set sail from Toulon, under the command of Admiral V'iile-
neuve ; who, iiaving procaudud to Cadiz, was thero reinforced by the
Spanish admiral, Gravina, and six large ships, and imniudialuly embarked
for the West Indies. When Lord Nelson received information that the
French and Spaniards had put to sea, he supposed that they were destined
("or an attempt on Alexandria, and accordingly set sail in tiiat direction.
He traversed tlie Mediterranean vvitli tlie utmost celerity, havini^j a squadron
of ten ships with him ; but finding that he was mistaken in his conjectufcs,
he concluded that the enemy had sailed for the West Indies. He imme-
diately directed his course towards tiiat quarter, and by drivini; the com-
bined squadrons from island to island, he prevented tiiem from making an
attack on any of the Oritish possessions ; nay, so universal was the dread
of Nelson's name, that they had no sooner arrived, than they consulted
tiieir safity in a precipitaic lliglit, and iiastily returned to Europe. Wheu
tlie brave Nelson was assured of tlie course of his adversaries, he dis-
patched a messenger to England, and immeuialely set sail in hopes of
overtaking the fugitives. He arrived at Gibraltar on the iJUih of July, and
having refitted his ships, lie resumed his position off Cape St. Vinceni,
sixly-three days after liis denarture from it for the West Indies.
On the arrival in London -'le information of the enemy's retreat, a
squadron, consisting of fiftee. il of the line, was dispatclied under Sir
llobert (balder, in the iiope of intercepting them. On tbe -'id of .luly Sir
lloberl descried the object o.' his mission, olf Ferrol ; and, notwithstanding
their great superiority, he did not iiesitato a moment in bringing tiiem to
aclioii After an obstinate engagement, the unequal confiict terminated
in the defeat of the enemy, who, iiaving lost two largo ships, procueUeU
in liasle to Ferrol. Being reinforced ' y the adiiiirals Grandallana and
Gonrdon, thciy' weighed anchor, and reii 1 to tiic iiarbour of Cadiz, wiiere
thty were I ' ckaded by Sir iiobert C;ii I', r. Some dissatisfaction having
been expressed in the public papers, rc'itive to the conduct of the Urilisli
admiral in the engagement off Ferrol, be applied for a court-martial to in-
quire into the subject; when, to his givat astonishment, and to the regret
of the whole navy, he was found guilty of an error of judgment, and sen-
tenced to be reprimanded — a reproach which he, v'lo had passed forty-six
years with honour in the service, fell deeply.
Subsequently to his arrival at Cape St. Vincent, Admiral Nelson tra-
versed tbe bav of Biscay in search of the enemy ; but being oppressed
Willi fatigues" and disappoininicnt, he resolved on returning to Kngland
He arrived at Portsmouth on the ISlii of August, and having reached
London on the -'Oili, experienced a most cordial and aflfectionate reception
from his irrateful countrymen. He would not, however, allow himseii' to
remain i I'inactivity, and being offered tiie command of an armamenl that
was tiieu preparing, he without licshalion embraced the opportunity of
serving his country. Having lioisted his flag on board tbe Victory, on tbe
foliou nig (Uiy he put to sea, and on his arrival at Cadiz he received from
AdmirarColliiigwood the cominattd of tlie British licet, winch now coii-
sisicd (if tuenty-sevcii .-^ail of the line. On the I9th of October Nelson
learned that tbe combined French and Spanish Heels, consisting of Uiirty-
tbrc; sail of tlic line, had put to sea from Cadiz, under admirals \ illencuve
aiul Gravina ; and on tlie 21st lie discovered them olV Cape Trafalgar. He
iininedialcly ordered tin,' fleei 'o bear up, in two columns, as directed by
Ian of attack, and issued this adnui-. lory signal
li'.s previous pi
_ this adnuii lory signal — which
li; s since hccdiiiVa nali.mai p.oveib—'- England expects every man to do
his duty.' The windward colmnn of the Kiigiisli ships was led by Lord
Nelson, in the Victory; the leeward by lle.ir admiral CoUmgwood, la the
lioyai S'wercign. About noon tie awful contest eo.,i!nenced, by the lead-
ing ships of the columns piercing the e'liemy's line; the others breaking
llirom!li in all parts, and engagii.ji- Hieir adversaries at the muzzle of llici/
Vol. L— 44
190
TIIK THEASURY OK HISTORY.
gum. Tlic ciipmy f()iii;!i with intrepid spirit ; but the superior skill which
opposed ihcin was ri'sislii'ss. Tlie fury of the b:-.t;!G was sustiiiiicd for
tlireo hours, wiieii muny ships of the combined fleet liiiving siruck, their
line fTiivo way : nineteen sail of the line, witii Villeneuve and two other Hag
ofliccrs, were taken ; the other ships, with Admiral Gravina, escaped.
This splendid victory, so preeminent in the annals of Britain, was pur-
chased with the life of tier greatest naval commander. In the middle of
the contest Lord Nelson received in his left breast a musket-ball, aimed
lit him fnun the ship with which he was engaged; and in about an hour
afterwards he expired, displaying in his deatli the heroic firmness which
nad distniguished every action of his life. The loss of this gallant man
i]anipe<i tlie joy which the news of so important a victory would have ex-
.'itcd; and it is difficiiU to say whether the general grief that was felt for
llie hero's death, or the exultation for so signal a triumph, preponderated.
Many iliere were, most assuredly, who would have relinquished the vic-
,ory to have saved the victim. His remains were deposited in St. Paul's
cathedral, and were aocompanied by a'procession more extensive and
magnificent than Knglaiid h:<d, on any similar occasion, beheld.
Of iliat pari of the Cadiz fleet which had escraped, four ships were after-
ivards ca[)tiir('(l by Sir Richard Stracliaii, oflF Ferrol, and were conducted
.0 a Urill^'h port. Thus the enemy's marine was virtually annihilated, and
the navy ( f Kiigland held, undisputed, the mastery of the seas.
It was far otherwise, however, with her e"i"l'^'"nal projects and allian-
ces. Am alliance oflTensive and do''^...^ive h:>d ',ong been im H'eciually ne-
gotiating with Russia, Austria, and Sweden; but it was not till the French
umpcror had arbitrarily annexed Genoa and Parma to his dominions, that
a treaty was concluded. The objects of this formidable coalition were
the liheralioti of Holland, Sardinia. Switzerland, and Hanover, from French
lyraiHiy ; liie restoration of tranquillity to the Italian states, and the re-
csiahlislimcnt of safety and peace in ..II Kurope. It was stipulated tliat
tiic ihrt'(! continental powers should furnish 500,000 men, exclusive of the
liritish troops. The military force at the disposal of France was ()50,000,
licsidcs a considerable number of auxiliaries. Uy one article of the; con-
federacy it w;is agreed that the continental powers should not withdraw
their forces, nor GrcLi! Britain her subsidies, ti'l a general pacification took
place with (he common consent of the contracting parties.
The dissali.sfacHion evinced against the French emperor in all the ter-
ritories whii'h he had seized, seemed only to raise his ambition. To in-
sure ih(! subjugation of Germany, he endeavoured to separate Austria from
the other iin[)erial sti-.tes. He issued a manifesto, reprobating the folly
and injustice of tjie confiulerate powers, and declaring that if hostilitif?s
were cdininenced against any of his allies, particularly against Bavaria, he
would in-'tiiiuly march his wliohf army to nivenge the atfront. Ht; said
thai ilic war wa.i criiated and maintained by the gold and hatred of Great
Britain, ;iMd boasted that he would fight till he had secured the indepen-
dence of ilie 'nrmanic body, and would not make pe.ico without a sutfi-
cient si'crity for its coiitinuaiice. The Aiistrians, disregarding these
threats, ciiicred Davaria with 5.'>,000 men, anil were vigorously supported
by the licrcditary stales. These forces, with those; furnished by Russia
and lilt Tyrol, seemed to promise success; but through the precipilaiuj
of the .\uslrians, th(! tardiness (jf the Russians, and the vigorous measure!
of Bonaparte, the great ob|ccts of the coalition failed, and the most disas-
trous reverses were expci iciiced.
The FriMich reached tin; binks of the Rhine in September, and efFected
a passiiLre over the nver; engaged the Austrians befor(; the KiiNsiaiis
could ji>iii tlicm, and defeated them with great loss at Wertnigcn and
(laiisbiirgh. In tiie meantime (ieneril llcriridotie, by tb(! order <i( i;,)-
rtaparte, 'jiitered the neimal territories of Franconia, and was there I'Micd
oy tbe Da
«na oy til
"le Ausii
October, ;
On the l!)i
tacking D
A fnw day
up in Uiii
picious cir
Tie tiisi
'"«■ iit len<
110,000 stri
U'lwilliiig t,
awaited ilu
«^ver, delay,
fiiposiiioi, ,
'"g" llie colli
J'le.s, tile Fn
'il-fiitcd pol
l^urope afie,
Its posilioi, n
cessiiy of fa]
^M that of ,
With which h
tria to propos
reinforceiiieii
quarters of i\
tilitics for a f
general peace
tii-'e, on Condi
to return lion
♦eiiice and tli
Tiie Russia
Austria, they il
but as the all
saciidce of lifJ
(iigious arinicsl
propose an ariJ
wisiied to lull]
Plnneiits, and 1
hud previ,„i.siyl
'""I UllMI t|„. f
;"ivantagcoft|I
I i;U his eiieinyl
'lieir forces, f
posed iniervicvJ
'""g eoiifc-eii,.;
extremities.
Tiie Frciiclj
''W)i weakness
«onihiM(.,l army
parte brou^rin ,
gamed a co'iiinl
battle of Ausic
'''Uipcrors." 'j'jl
mended by (;,.,,
'" l^'lied, w,„„, '
'riuiuoh of ,\;i|,
THE THKASURY OK HISTORY.
691
iinil
oy tbe Bavarian army of liO,000 cavalry and infantry, the Batavian division,
ana oy tlie army of Holland, under Marniont. The losses sustained by
the Austrians iiad hitherto been very inconsiderable; but on the 13ili of
Oc'tobiT, Meninircn, witli its large garrison, surrendered to Marshal Soull.
On tlie IDth, llie Austrians niaknig a sortie from the city of Ulm, and at-
tacking Uiiponl's division, were defeated, and 15,000 of their men taken.
A few days afterwards tlie Austrian general, Mai-k, who had shut himself
up in Ulm, with .30,000 men, surrendered to the French, under very sus-
picious circunistanoos, and his whole army were made jjiisoners of war.
Tie fnst Russian division, under generals Kulusoff and Merveldl, hav-
Hig at length eifected a junction with the Austrians, the French army,
110,000 strong, hastily advanced to attack ihem. Tlie alhed troops were
unwilling to engage a force so much more numerous tliau their own, and
awaited the arrival of the second Russian army. That arrival was, how
ever, delayed for a very considerable tune, by the meiiaf.iig and impolitic
o,;position of the Prussian armaments. Mad the king of Prussia, by join-
ing the confederates, avenged the insult offered to his Franconian territo-
ries, the French would soon have been compelled to return home; but the
ill fated policy he now adopted was the cause of all the disasters which
Europe afterwards suffered. The first Russian army, unable to inainiain
its position against the superior power of the enemy, were under the ne-
cessity of falling back upon Moravia, and in their rout had no alternative
but that of crossing the Uaiiubo, above Vienna. The imminent danger
with which his capital was now threatened, induced the emperor of Aus-
tria to propose an armistice, in hopes of gaining time for the arrival of
reinforcements. Count Guilay was accordingly dispatched to the head-
quarters of Napoleon, with proposals for concluding a suspension of hos-
tilities for a few weeks, as a preliminary step towards a negotiation for a
general peace. Bonapaitc; expressed his remiiness to accede to the armis-
tice, on condition that the Austrian monarch would cause the allied army
to return home, the Hungarian levy to be abandoned, and the duchy of
V^enice and the Tyrol to be occupied by the French.
The Russian armies having at length effected a junction with those of
Austria, ihey marched towards Austerlitz, where the French were posted;
but as the allied sovereigns were desirous of preventing the dreadful
sacrifice of life, which was inevitable from the conflict of two such pro-
digious armies, the counts Stadion and Guilay were sent to N.ipoleon to
propose an armistice. The French emperor supposing Ui-il tiiey merely
wished to lull him into a false security, beguiled them "vith aisful com-
lilimcnts, and solicited an interview with tlie Emperor Alexaiui'T. lie
liad previously discovered that the allies were rashly ;, Ivaiicing against
liim when the utmost caiiliou was necessary; and, in cnlir 'o take full
advantage of the (;ircumstaiicc, he cominaiided his army to feign a retreat,
that his enemy might be conlinncd in the idea of his being unable to resist
llieir forces. The Russian emperor declined in his own person the pro-
posed iiilervii^w, but sent his aid-de-(Mm|i as a proxy, who returned after a
long coiiference, fully persuaded that the French were reduced to the last
extremities.
The FrciK.'h h.iving by cautious movements kept up the idea of tlietr
liwii weakness and alarm, were attacked on the 1st of December, by tbo
combined army ; but when their arulices had been duly prolonged, Bona-
parte brought up all his troo|>s, and by the superiority of his numbers,
gained a complete victory. This was the well-contested and memorable
battle of Austerlitz, or, as it was often called, the battle of the "Three
Emperors." ThevAiisiro-Russian armies, amounting to 80,000, were {Com-
manded by (icNcral Kutusoll' and Friiice Lichteustcin ; and nearly 30,000
ill killed, wounded, and prisoners, with 100 pieces of cannon, attested the
triumoh of Namileon. in coiistquenceof this, an armistice was four davs
I'f
fir
H r
S92
THE THEASURY OF HISTOIIY.
afterwards effected; and on the OCth of llie same inontli, a pncifir; Ireiily
was concluded at Prcsbiirg between France and Ausiiiii. Uy tlio ternm
ngrecd on, France retained possession of tlic 'I'r,inHalj)in(' Icriitories ;
Ronaparte was acknowledjred king of Italy, but tlie ciowuh of Fninee and
Italy were to be forever separated, instead of bcinj} united inider ontj
head ; and the new made king was invested with the power of amiointinjf
an acknowledged successor to the Italian throne. On tin! other iianil, the
French emperor guaranteed the integrity of the eni|)ire of Austria, in the
state to which he had now reduced it, as well as the inl(!grity of the pos-
sessions of the princes of tlie house of Austria, Russia, Scr..
Prussia, which had insidiously held back, watciiing the pro^fress of the
campaign, determined for the present to i)ieserve peace with I'rance, and
concluded a convention with that power, by which Hanover wan pro-
visionally exchanged for Anspach, Cleves, anci N(Uif(;hatel. it has always,
indeed, appeared to us that the policy of Prussia was coriNtantiy directed
to tin; diminution of the Austrian power, in the hoj)e that tiie ini|ierial
crown might be transferred to the house of llrandenburg ; a feiding which
Donaparte insidiously encouraged as long as it suited liiH own viuwH uf
aggrandizement.
A. D. 1806.— The campaign of 1805 liaving thus fatally terniinut<M!, and
the Russian armies having returned across the Kl!)e, Napoleon resolved
to take vengeance on the king of Napleis, who had |)rovoked his wrath l)y
admitting some British and Russian troops into his dominioMH. {)\i the
morning after he had signed the peace of Presljiirg, the French em|)eror
issued a proclamation from his head-quarters at Vienna, ili.'ciarmg that the
Neapolitan dynasty had ceased to reign, and denouncing vengeance on
the royal family. Immediately after this threatening nianifesio reached
Naples, the Russian troops re-emharked, and the Hritisli determined on
retiiing to Sicily, without waiting the arrival of the eneniy. The crown
of Najiles was conferred on Joseph Bonaparte, wlio, being HU[)port<'(l hy a
numerous French army, look possession of his king<lom on tli(! l.'ltii of
February, 1800. The late king took nTugcs at Palermo, where lie was
protected by the tnmps and fleet of Great Britain.
As that part of the Neapolitan territories called Calabria pcrnisttul in
opposing the invaders. Sir J. Stuart, connnander of thi! Ilritisli forc(,'S in
Sicily, undertook an expedition for the purpose of restoring llie legitiniale
sovereign. Having landed his troops, consisting of 'liHOO men, he imme-
diately advanced to attack the Frencli general, Regnier, who oecn|)icd u
strong position near the plains of Maida, with an army of 7()()(» men ; but
the British troops charged the enemy at the jjoint of the hayiuiet, and
obtained a glorious victory; the enemy's loss being 4(100 men, killed,
wounded, and prisoners, while that of the Fnglish was only 'IT) killed and
285 wounded! Tim battle of Maida led to the expulsion of the French
from Calabria in less than a month ; but such considerable reinforcenn-nts
were received by Joseph Bonaparte that the authority of the new mon-
arch was established at Naples, and the Fnglish beinj^ under the necessity
of withdrawing their forces to the protection of Sicily, tin! ('ajabrians
were obliged to submit.
Shortly afier this Bonaparte erected Holland into a kingd(Mn, which he
bestowed on his brother, Louis, whose mild adniinisiralion, while it gained
him the good-will and afTection of his subjects, incenseil bis despotic
brother. He next subverted the (iermanii; constitulion, and established
the rnnfrdrratinn of Ihc lihiiie, of which he declared that he bail taken on
himself the office of "protector."
These momentous transactions on tlie coiilinent have iieees'<'irily iiiler-
nipted our narration of those events which relate exclnsivrly to fireat
l*>ritain. An important acc|iiisitioii wis made hj (ieneral Ilaird and Sn
Uonie Popham, wlio, after surmounting the ino.-i forinidabic ubfltaclc.-.
made th^
iiary, ex
qnest Wi
•'f a sqii;
J. Dnck\
Rut no
poriaiice
Kxcessiv
plan for ,
iind the |:
By a vot(
abbey, u'i
at the pub
tlie public,
during ;i
nioney, bu
his age ; a
than ever i
of the tyia
Soon [id
resigned tl
members o
fox, secret,
peer), lord
•inmediately
tnents comn
anticipated;
Prench rulei
A ineasurt
"'■oi'glit abo
Slave trade,
tjie opposjtjn
tintiaiiee, it t
tiiignishfid
celebrated ni
'I'Juse, in his
the late pr,.,,
'"i'li. he was
W'itlistandiiig
received sinTi
remains were
political oppo
We have bi
Prussia, whic
to extend her
strict neutrali
certain time ii
were expectet
the nation dec
battle of Aust(
oecanie entire
instigated by i
Hanover, by >
Oreat Britain,
his Prussian
"•"posed upon
f''i*'s/a, and S\_
3f Hie Pfussiui
THE TIIEASUR\ OP HISTORY.
6<M
he
[lied
lot in
llii'd
|i Ull
lilcr-
made Uiomsolvcs ni;i.slrrs of the Cape of Good Hope, on ihe 10th of Jan-
iiary, cxpciiciicini; little rnsistaiice from the Dutch governor. This coti-
quest was followed hy the eapture of three French ships of the line, part
of a squadron that had escaped from the harbour of Brest, and which Sir
J. Duckworth fortunately met with in the West Indies.
But no event that took place, favourable or othiTwise, was of equal im-
porianee to the death of Mr. Pitt, which happened on the 23d of January.
Excessive anxiety, application, and debility, added to the failure of his
plan for (hdivering Kurope from French tyranny, accelerated his death,
and the last words which quivered on his iips were "Oh, my country!"
By a vote of the commons, his remains wijre interred in Westminster
abb(?y, with the greatest solemrdly, and a monument was erected to him
at the public expense. By the same vote, his debts were discharged by
the public, and it was no small proof of his entire disinterestedness, that
during a long administration of twenty years, he did not accunuilate
money, but died insolvent. This great man departed in the 47lh year of
his age ; at a period, too, when such a master-mind seemed to be more
than ever needed to counteract the vast designs and universal despotism
of the tyrant of the continent.
Soon after the decease of Mr. Pitt, his colleagues in office unanimously
resigned their employments, and a new ministry was formed, the chief
member.^ of which were Lord Grenville, first lord of the treasury; Mr.
Fox, sei-retary of state for foreign affairs; and Mr. Erskine (created a
peer), lord high chancellor. Negotiations for a treaty of peace were
immediately opened, and from the cordiality with which the two govern-
ments commenced their proceedings the most happy consequences were
anticipated; but it soon appeared that the immoderate ambition of the
French ruler excluded for the present all hopes of an accommodation.
A measure which will forever reflect glory upon the British nation was
brought about by the new administration ; we mean, the abolition of the
slave trade. The bill was introduced hy Mr. Fox, and notwithstanding
the opposition it encotniterei! from those who were interested in its (con-
tinuance, it passed through both houses with a great majority. This dis-
tinguished act of humanity was, in fact, one of his last measures; this
celebrated and much respected statesman having expired at Chiswick-
liouse, in his 59th year, ou the 13th of September. Like his great rival,
the late premier, he gave early indications of superior capacity, and, like
him, he was educated for political life. It is rather remarkable, that not-
withstanding the irreconcilable opposition between him and Mr. Pitt, ho
received similar honours from the representatives of the nation, and his
remains were deposited in Westminster abbey, within a few inches of his
political opponent.
We have before alluded to the ill feeling existing between Austria and
Prussia, which had induced the latter to cultivate the friendship of France,
to extend her influence and dominions into Germany, and to maintain a
strict neutrality with the hostile powers. From this conduct, which for a
certain time insured the peace and entirety of Prussia, many advantages
were expected to residt; yet, at the same time, the military system of
the nation declined, and its reputation had greatly decreased. After the
battle of Austcrlitz, so fatal to the liberties of Kurope. the king of Prussia
became entirely subservient to the arbitrary will of Bonaparte ; and, being
instigated by that powerful tyrant, he took possession of the electorate of
Hanover, by which means he involved himself in a temporary war with
Great Britain. A (leace, however, was in a s'lorl time coiicluded ; and as
his Prussian majesty was unable any longer to submit to the indignities
imposed upon him, he entered into a confederacy with Great Britain,
Russia, ami Sweden. An instantaneous change took place in the conduct
sf the Prussian cabinet the precipitancy of whode present measures eouW
6!)4
THE TREASUHY OF HKSTOllV.
in
only bn equalled by tliRir former tardiness. The armies of the contend
in^ parties took the field early in October, and after two engagements, in
which the success was doubmil, a general battle took place at.Icnaon the
14th of that month. The French were posted along the Naale, their
centre being at ,Ieiia. The Prussians, under Prince Ferdinand, diike of
Brunswick, were ranged between Jena, Aiiersiadt, and Weimar. The
armies were drawn up within mnsket-shoi of each other, and at nine in
the morning about 2.'J0,000 men, with 700 cannon, wore employed in
mutual destruction. Courage and discipline on each side where nearly
etjual, but the French evinced superior military science. When the day
was far gone, Angereau arrived with seasonable reinforcements, which
being supported by a brilliant charge of Mnrat's cuirassiers, victory
declared in favour of the French. Napoleon, from the height whore he
stood, saw the Prussians fly in all directions. More tlian 'J0,000 were
killed or wounded, and 30,000 taken prisoners, with 300 pieces of camion.
Prince Ferdinand died of his wounds. A panic seizerl the garrison ; all
the principal towns of Prussia, west of the Oder, surrendered soonafterthe
battle ; and the remains of their army was driven as far as the Vist\d:i.
Blucher was eonipelled to capitulate at liU'oec. Bonaparte now entered
Berlin, and while there, received a deputation from the French senate,
complimenting him on his wonderful successes, but recommending peace.
On tlio approach of the French to the Vistula, the Russian armies ad-
vanced with great rapidity to check their course; a formidable body of
Swedes was assembled in Pomcrania; and the king of Prussia having
assembled his scattered troops, and reinforced them with new levies,
prepared to face the enemy, (u'lieral Henigsen, who commanded the
Russian forces, and w.'.s in daily expectation of a reinforccmeiif, was
attacked at Pnltiisk, on the 'JGih of necember; the engapeincnl was
very severe, but he succeeded in driving the enemy from the field of
battle. This CMiclnded the cainpaiffii.
A. n. li^O?. — At the beginning of this year the hill for (he emancipation
of the Roman ('alholics passed both houses of parliament, and was pre-
sented to the king to receive the roval assent. His majesty, eon-
seienliously believing that hi' could not simi ii without violating his (coro-
nation oath, ami l)eiiig desirous of testifying his altacbmenl to the
established religion, imi only refused to sign the bill, but desired that his
niinislers would foreve; abandon the measure. This they refused ; and
on the dismissal of Lord Frskiiie and severiil of his eolleagucs, Lord
KIdon was chosen lord chaiici'llor; the duke of Porllaiv' first lord of the
treisiiry ; and the Right Hon Spencer I'ereeval, ehaiicellor of the
excheipier.
Afi'T the surrender of the Cnpei of Oood Hope to the British nrmn nn
expedition was undertaken against the Spanish settlements In South
Ainericn. They proceeded n|)tli(' Kio (\v l,i I'lata, and having snrinoimted
innumerable dilficulties, landcil ilicir trnops near Hiieiios Ayres, and on
the 'Jf'th of .Iniic, IHOO, took posse^si(nl of the town. A general iiisiirree
tioii having been cxciicd soimi afterwards, the llrilisli troops were coin
pdleil to abandon it, iiml il \^ as found expedient to send to ll;e (^ipe foi
reiiiforeemeiits. Hneiios Ayres was au'ain attacked mi the 7ih of .Inly
1807, by Kearadmiral Murray and (■'eiieral Wliitelock. The sidiiiert
beiiiff orilered to enter the town with iinloailed nius'."ls, were received hy
a most deslrui'tive file from the houses, and after liaviiiif lost ',*,'> no brave
men, were for I to retire. A eonvention was then entered into with the
Spimisb coinmandcr, by which it wns siipiila'eil that a mutual re>iilution
of prisoiiiMs should take place, and that llie Hritisli troops should i variiatf
the coiinlrv. For his uiisoldierlike cmi'l'i 't in this f.ii il ex|)ei'iliiin,
• ■'■nerii Wliileloi k was trie. I by a emiit-miirii il on bis return lo Knglatid,
uiid rendered incapable uf Merving hi« uiajeiiiy lu future.
We nil
Ue of Pu
equal. I
have rem
scions ol
they wei
Markow.
in Kast P
favour of
of Februa
Russia sei
'imnediau
ili<- Russia
General U
been sent I
"lis repiji,s(
sia, and nie
t'lis tun,; s
of the coiiti
aiTairs, and
them to ma
"lent ensue
repulsed wii
armistice w
signed at Ti
'lis Prussian
'I'iie /iist
took place o
the river Xii
Tile two fii
braced each
i'apoleon's f
[lii-'y •■Xehaiii
''"'iich, pari
peace was ijr
favourable,
creation, and
mediate a pe,
taken to be il
his ineilmiion
The terms m
seventy. 'I'i
I'olisli provii
•jueror, by wl.
'lis ti'rriiories
to be closed ,
The unex II
nations of K
ho evervwhc
mark wi'mld .
liad gooil re.i,'
«f the Frciic .
it wtis |i ,.|,.f(
<>f the eiieinv,
"lent Id ilir Ii
basis ,,( III,. II,
mark, oil ciiiii.
uiltho tcniiiii,
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
69ft
We now return to the military op(M;ilioiis on tlie coiiliiuMil. The hiit-
tle of Pulliisk Imd left iho coiiteiuliiii,' parties in circumslain'os nearly
equal, lioiiaparle had retired into wniter-qiiarlt^rs, where he nil(Mided to
have remained till tiie r(^tin'n of spring
but as the lUissians we
re eon-
seious of the advantages resuiiinj; to iliein from the rigorous ulimale,
they were resolved to allow Inm no r(!pose. The Russian yeneral,
Markow. accordingly attacked the Freneh under Iternadolle, at Morungeti
in Kast Prussia, when a very severe action ensu^'d, which ternnnated in
favour of the allies. Another sanguinary encounter took pla"e ontheSth
of Februiiry, near the townof Kylau, when the fortunes of Fiance ,ind
Russia seemed to be equally balanced, and each party el,iini(.'il the vu'tiny.
Immediately after this eii^.i;;emenl IJoiiaparte disriaiched a messenger to
the Russian commander-in-chief, with overtures of a t)aeilic nature; but
General Ueuigsen rejected his olTeis with disdain, and repliiMi that " he had
been sent by his masters not to negotiate, but to fight." Notwithstanding
this repuls(% similar overtures were made by liona|)arte to ihe king of Prus-
sia, ami met wiXli no better success. The weak stale of the French army at
this time seemed to pnmiise the allies a speedy and furtun.iie tenniuaiioii
of the contest ; but tlic surrender of D.tntzic totally changed the face of
aiTairs, and by supplying the French with anus ami ainmumtioii, enabled
them to maintain a superiority. (Jn the 14th of June u general engage-
ment ensued at Friedland, and the concentrated forces of the allies were
repulsed with prodigious slaughter. Ua the 23d uf the same laontli an
ariuistice was concluded ; and on the 8ih of July a treaty oi peace was
signed at Tilsit, between the emperors of France and Russia, to wiiiub
Ills Prussian majesty acceded on tin; following day.
The first interview between lionaparle and tiie emperor Alexander
took place on the Uoth of .liiiie, on a raft cmistructed for th.it purpose mi
the river Niimiu'II, where two tents lii'.d been prepared for their reception.
The two emperors landed from their boats at the s.iinu tune, and eni-
liracetl each other. A magmlicuit dinner was afterwards given by
Napoleon's guard to those of Alexander and the king of Prussia , when
they exchanged uiiifornis, and were to hi; seen in motley dresses, partly
oartlv |{ussian, and iiartly Prussian. The articles by which
reiieli,
.aiices, rciiii
¥
peace was grantedto Russia were, iiuder dl the eircumsl
favoiirat)le. Alexander agreed to acknowledge the kings of llmiap.irte's
creation, and tlu; coiifederalion of the Rhine. Napoleon undertook to
mediate a peace between the Porte and Russia ; Alexamier having under-
taken to be the mediator between France and Kiighind, or, ni the evi nt of
his mediation being refused, to shut his porln against Untish eipinmeree.
The terms imposed on the king of I'russia were marked by eharaitcrmtic
seventy. T'ne city of Diiilzic was declared indc|iendeiit ; ami alt the
Polish provinces, wilh Westpli ilia, were ceded by Prussia to the eiiii-
queror, by wiiic
Ills territories, and om
h nieaiis the king of Prussia wasslripned of nearly ha
ilfof
-third »d' Ins revenues. All Ins |ioris were likewise
to lie closed against Kiiglaiid till a perm.>meiit peaei!.
The unexamphd inHueiice winch iVipolcmi had now acquired over
nations of Knrope, to sa
he everywhere exe
mark wtmld long preservi h
tlie
y iiothii'g of that spirit of dommatioii wliieU
vised, reiiilered it exiremcly impt liable that Deit-
ooil re.isons
to
had g
of the French einpert
it was
er neutrality; nay, lie' Fnglish ministers
btdieve that a ready Hcqiiieseence to tlie diclati'B
ir would be found III the court (d t'opeiiliig^il.
Alt
li ficfore feared thai the Danish lleet would fill into liie handi
Iif till)" enemy, it was thought expedient to dispatch a loniiidalile ariilH-
lo negiiiiaic wi'.h '.lii' .)aiiisli govei-nineiit. The
leet tlie neutralMv of Ueil-
IIK
nt to the I!. line an
brtNlH of the negoti.ition w.is a propovi
mark, on eom
pri
litioii lh:il Us licet should be depoRiti d 111 the llrilish port!
all the toriiimatioii of the v\ar uiih Fianei
As this piopos.i
•*r
i
690
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
Jected, ana as the general conduct of llie Dunes betra3-e(l their pnrtialit)
for the French, the armament, which consisted of twenty-seven shII oii
the line and twenty thousand land forces, under the command of Admiral
Qamhier and Lord Callicart, made preparations fo> investing tlie city. A
tremendous cannonading then commenced. The eatiiedral, many public
edifices and private honse.s were destroyed, with the saerilice of two
thousand lives. From tlie 2nd of Seiitember till the evening of the 5th,
the conflagration was kept up in dilTerent places, when, a considerable
part of the city being consunicd, and the remainder threatened with
speedy destruction, the general commanding the garrison sent out a flag
of truce, desiring an armistice, to afford time to treat for a eapiluhition.
This iieing arranged, a mutual restilniion of prisoners took jilciee, and
the Danish Ihu't, consisting of 18 sail of the lin(! and 15 frigates, together
with all the naval stores, surrendered to his Brilanniir majesty's forces.
The Danish governm(nit, however, ri'fnsed to ratify the capitulation, and
issued a declaration of war against Kngland. This unexpected enter-
prize against a neutral jiower .'^erved as an ostensible cause lor Uussia
to coininence hostilities against Great Kritain ; and a manifesto was pub-
lished on the 3'st of October, ordering the detention of all Urilish ships
and property.
The two grand objects to whiidi the attention of Bonaparte was prni-
cipally directed, were the annihilation of the trade of Great llrilain, and
th(! extension of his dominions. In oriler to attain tlu! former of these
objects, he, in November, IHOC, issued at IJerlin a decree, by which the
British is! nids were declareil to b" in a stale of blockade, and all neutral
vessels that trailed to liiem without his consent were subject to captnr
and cimfisiMiidn
hensions of the British rnercl
ttiliat
his new mode of warfare excited at first ilie appre
Its; but the ca'.)in('t were resolved to re^
e, Miiil accori
iligly issued the celebrated orders in cnu
nru, l>y wllicll
r ranee and all llie p(
Slate of bloidkadc, an
■rs under her influence were de<darcd to be in a
d all neutral vi ssris that should trade between the
hostile powers, without touching at some port of Great Ilriiain, were
liable ti> be si izeil. Tln^se ini[ireeedenleil measures were exireniely del-
rimcMlal to all neutral powers, especially to the Americans, who were the
general earners of c(donial produc-e. '!"liey, by way of retaliation, laid
nil embargo in al! the |)iirls of tint V\\\U I .States, ami, notwithstamling
the exlinctiiin of their eomnierce, hnig persisted in the miMsure.
Ill tlie conduct pursued by Ilon.iparie wiili res;)ect to I'<nltigal, ho re-
s(dved to act in such a manner as slioiiM i ilher involve that n iiioii in a
war Willi Kngland, or winild furnish him with a nre'enee An- invading it.
lie aecordiiiejy recpiired the court of l.isbon. first, lo shut their p(n'ta
n|.>aiiist (iri'at Ilriiain; secondly, lo detain ail Ihiglishmeii resi 'ing in
Portugal; and thirdly, lo confiscite all llnglish [iroperly. In ease these
(luiiiands were refused, be d( ' ired Ihal war would be dec lareil ag.iinsl
Ihem, iiiid, willKMii wailing for an answer, he gave orders for detaining all
inereliaiil ships that were in the port of Frani'e. As the prince-regeiit
could nut coinply with tin se ini[n'ri<)iis
lids vvilhont viidating tin
treaties thai existed between the two iiatii . i..' endeavoured to avoid the
danger which ilirealened him by agreeing to the first ((Miilition. The
pints iif I'liring d were aecordingly shut up, but this eonresNiiin served
only lit mil line the reselitilK nl of Ihniiparle, who immediately deehited
" thai llii- liiiUM' of lirag mza bad ee.ised lo reign," ind seiit an imiiieiiM'
army into I'orlugal, Mild r General Jiinol. In tins critical sniialioii the
nrinee-ri gent reiiidvei
his dnminions he retireil willi Ins family to the nr.ixiJM
IS tiiiopt lo the SI riporls, and \\\ ii Junol tiitered
Tlir subveii'on of Ihe giivrrinni III of Spain and tli expiil«li>ii of the
reigning rmiily was the iii At step mi the ladi'er of Napideon'n ambilioii.
Ill order to aei'oinplisli this it was his first caru (u fonieni discurd in tli*
royal fa mi
the anibitii
"ig monan
ou.sy, and
this perplf
armies intf)
who Was 1
'I'he ncu'-n
s'i')rtly afii
where an in
Way the tw
'•ation, and
'o the siicci
declaring ih,
I'oiiupane, \
•Mnrat.
As the Frc
Btronoest am
"f 20,000 nif
that the new
opposiuoii.
family rcachi
formed in the
assistance of
suiiieil the SOI
proclaimed |<
"as proelainif
set free, elol
eoiihl desire, ii
"ess of III,, j„
wilh which it
forth their exe
aslonisliiiiir sm
having remain
50,000 men, wi
and to reiire i,i
A. n. IHOH-
if the Spaiiian
■>ily, and a ge
•^iiigdom, 1,1
"le aiithoritv
juiilas, like ,j|,„
ll iving taken e(
'''"■s to Fnglan
'his, an arniv i
s.iil from fiir|<
severe eneinniii
a very slroiig p
l-'lbonle ( (Teclei
!l'eir linileil for.
inforced by a bo
Ihe eapiial' j„ |,,
■"■"ly iin.ler .Iini,
""■I lla- Hfitish
Hon .■iisiieij, and
'» ^illicit alone i
'•■ e,.:ie,| IV.,.,
J< e.i .■ -arniy
THE TREASURY OK HISTORY.
697
lie
lit
lU.
royal fnmily, whic^li he was too surrcssfiil in efTot-tiiig. I5y nncouriigiiig
the ambition of the heirapp:ircnt, ho cxcilcil the resciitinciil of thu reign-
g monarch, Chailps IV., renficrci tli(;in mutual objects of mistrust, jeal-
ousy, anil hatred, and plunged the nuiion into
ly and confusion. In
this per()l<"Xe(l stale of affairs, he invented an e^l'l|^e for intrmlucing his
armies into Spain, and compelled Charles lo resign the crown to his son,
who was invested with tlie soven ignty, witli the title of Ferdinanrl VII.
The new-made king, with liis father and the whole royal family, were
shortly afterwards prevailed on to take a journey to nayonne, iri France,
where an interview look place with the French emperor. On the 5lli of
May the two kings were compelled by Honaparte lo sign a formal abdi-
cation, and the iul'ants Don Antonio and Don Carlos renounced all claim
to the succession. This measure was followed by an imperial decree,
dcclarmg the throne of Spain to bo vacant, and conferring it on .losepli
l?onaparie, who had abdicated the throne of Naples in favour of Jouchitn
.Murat.
As the French forces, amounting lo about 100,000 men, occupied all the
Blrongest and most eonnnandnig positions of Spain, and as another iirmy
of 20,000 men, under Junot, had arrived in Portugal, it was imayined
that the new sovereign would take possession of the kingdom without
opposition. Hut no sooner had the news of the treatment of tlie royal
family reached Spain, than a general insurrection broke out; juntas wi're
formed in the difTcrent provinces, palriolic armies were levied, and the
assistance of I'ligland was implored. The supreme junta of Sevilh^ as-
sumed the sovereign authority in the name of Ferdinand VII., whom Ihey
proel
limeil king, and de(dar»'d war against France. Peace with Spain
was pro(daiined in London (ui the 5tli of July ; the Spanish prisoners wt
set free, clothed, and sent home; ai,d evcrylhii'j that the Spaniards
could desire, or liic Knglish atford, was liberally c-inied. The sudden-
ness of the insmreetion, the mtanimily which pi (hI, and the vigour
with which it w is r oi.diieled, amazed thr" surround ..,( nations, and called
forth their e.xerlions. The ( fTorts of the Spauiar<i.i v.cf,' crowned with
astonishing success; the nsnrpcr .losepb wa
s driven from the
:,p
al after
having n'inained in it about a week ; ami the Fri'neh, after losing about
rjO.OOO mill, were obliged to aliamlon the greate&t part of ilie kni|{(loin,
and to retire to the norlh of the Fbro.
A. n. 1H0>*. — Animated and encouracra ,/ the successful re sis! nice
if the Spaniards, tb" Portuguese also displayed a spirit of palrioiu; loy-
ally, and a general insurrection took pla— in the norlliern parts of that
kingdom. In the provinces from wliieti the Fn'iieh had been cxjioHed
the authority of the prmce-iegeut was re-''slablisli! d, an I provisional
juntas, like those of Spain, were formed. The supreme junta of Oporto
having taken elTceiual measures for raising ;in army, dis|)atclicd a'libassa
dors 111 England to solicit support and a-s;«.i;ti
n eousequei
)f
this, an army under Sir .\rtbiir Wellesley, consisting of 10,000 men, set
sail from Cork on the I'Jlh of .Inly, and landed in Oporto, where, after a
severe encmniter, he emnpelled the F.eiii'b general, Laborde, lo abandon
a very strona (lo-i.ion on the heiglits of Kolei.i. In the following iiiglit
I.iborde ( (Tec ted a jiinciioii with (Jenernl L"i«oii, imd they retreated with
their united forces icnxards l,isbon. The Urilish army havin^r hei n re
iiiforeed by a liody of troops under (Jeneral .\nslriither, proceeded towanls
the capital in pitr.M. if tlie French On the 21st of August, the French
army under .Innol, wi.o h id beee created duke of Abnnles by nonaparte,
met the Untish Iro ps at Hie villa'4e of Vimiera, when a very severe ac-
tion I'lisued, and terminal'd in lb" total defeat of the French, whose loss
m kiileil alone aincmiiteil lo .^.^OO infii. Sir Iliuh n.ilrymple, who hid
\y r.dled ("■■■en Oib'Mllar to like the eommaud of the llrilish forces,
jt.. i.'d '• • army at Cmira on the day after ihm .sjileiiiUil victory, and eon.
..S^»lt'
69g
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
chilled a treaty whirl) was lliouglit in England to be disadvantaj^eons, ano
bt'canie tlic suhjcct of iniliiary inquiry ; but Sir Aitliiir Welicsity giving
liis ti'stinuiny in its favciur. it may safely be inferred to have been wisely
concluded; and such was the residl of tho in'. esUgatiun. It fetimilated
that the l''n ik'Ii sliould evacuate Porlugid, with tlii'ir arms, but leaving
their magazines, and be transported to France in British ships, without
any restriction in regard to fuiure service ; having leave to dispose of
their private property (viz., their plunder acquired by contributions), in
Portugal. The Russian lleet in the Tagus, consisting of nine ships of
the line and a frigate, was to be surrendered to the Uritish government,
but to b(! restored after the peace, and the Russian officers and men to be
conveyed home in Knglish transports.
The convention of Cintra being carried into effect, the British forces
advanced to Lisbon, and having remained in that city about two months,
proceeded in diU'erent divisions towards Salamanca, in Spain. In the
meantime an army of 1.3,000 men, under Sir David Baird, having landed
at CoruniKi, was marching tliroiigli the norlhern part of Portugal towards
the ame point. Bonaparte having, with an immense army, entered
Spain, in urder to ( onduct the o|)eralion8 of the war, tlic patriot troops
under Belvulere, Bl.ike, and Castunos, were successively defeated, and
Napoleon entered Madrid in triumph. Sir .lohn Moore, the commander-
in-chief of the British army, being unable to keep the field in tlie pres-
ence of an enemy so much siipi'rior in numbers, while liis own troops
were suffeniig dreadfully frcjiii hunger and fatigue, retreated, in the midst
of wiiitiT, through a desolate and mountainous country, made almost im-
passable liy snow and rain; yet he cfT'cled his retreat willi great rapidity
and judgment, ami arrived at Corunna Jan. II, 1809. Soult look up a
position above the town in readiness to make an attack ns soon as the
troojis slimilil begin to .inbark. On the I'Uh, the op( ration having be-
gun, the French descended in four columns, \\hen Sir John Moore, ii.
bringing up Ilie guauls, « h« II' the fire was most destructive, received a
niorial WDcnd frmn ;i camion b.ill. U<neral liaird being also disabled, the
eiiiih. ::'.!!'! devolv'd on Sir John Hop*-, under whom the troojis bravely
continued the fight until nightfall, when the French retreated with the
loss of two thous.iiid men, and offV'red no further molestation. 'I'lic loss
of the Knglisli in I'ns battl< was staled at between seven and eight liun-
dr< d men , but their total it»«s in this arduous expedition was little less
than MX thousand, w ill their itruve and Doble ronwuander, wiiosu soldierly
skill ^iid yi'iieral h>|li (}ualiiies fairly entitled him to the rt-pect and ad-
nnruiK'il ill whicdi he wan univi-rsally held.
A. D 1809. — The most vi||foroiis exertions we»« no* made by tho French
for til*' complete siiliju;.'ation of Spain. Ilavitt/ defeated niid dispersed
Beverul bo(h< s of ihe .Spaiufli troops, they sat down before! Saragossa,
and made tlw iiiseh' - masters >(" it afti-r a d" sperate and sanguinary as-
sault. Tli<- French «riny itcn entered Portugal, uiidor Marshal Soult,
duke of haliiiatia. aiA took Op<.r(o. On the .irnval of another British
arinament, coiiBisling of above I'.irty ihousaiid iii<n, under generals Wid
lesh V iiiid Beresfoid, Soult wa» olijiged :o retire from Portugal willi eoii-
jiderable loss. Sir Arthur \Vel'<-«ley advanced ** rh rapiiliiy into Spain,
mid having united bis iroop« with a Spanish army of itiirljr-eight thou-
sand men, under O, lu ral (, i*i»i.i, tlrf-y iiirt<clied on .Madrnl. On the ','()tli
of Jiiiy (iciiernl f'liest.i'n ad* sliced guard was attacked by a detachment
of the I'lieiny, aii<l us a gt^ncral eiigagenieni was daily expected. Sir Ar
thur Wellcsiey Untk a stroiiit position 'tt I'alrtvera. On the following d.iy
a very obstinale fn<x\\^'m>tit coiniiwoed. which was continued with
various success till the ev< ,<og of the ^.'■'tli, when \Im> F'reuch retieali d,
leaving behind iheiii sevenK «n piec es "f cannon. T'.ie hi<fle\\aH iiinsl
•iivere, till' Kli;;lish bwMijf iii kllLc'. Wuiinded, and iniBsitij^. »\\ ihoiisUM^
men, whi
sand. Fi
Weileslev
T/ie Fren
afterward!
I'ish, eon
Spain to c
Austri,!,
tempted to
sula soon ;
war which
on the 6ih
to the arm'
triaii army"
'brty ihous;
eongreiralef
was his eel
the short sp
possession (
same month
left tank of
pertie and Ki
to Lohan, an
much weake
and both am
J'iiving been >
torrent of rai'
o*" "i'^ Aiistri
Uiiexpeci,.,! |„
Wliich they h(]
disadvaiitagp,
treated towar
"•iirds agreed I
Sc'lioeiihriin,
cede several d
course with till
vessels.
Ill I lie coursl
'he most foriiiJ
consisted of ail
'fi«ale,s, and ij
Ki»«'n to (he ,.,
objects of th„cL
"/ U^.|,.heren,l
"'"ir arsenals
Antwerp. . Th.l
•''"' 'lie imnieni
of Ihe nation [\
"lid IheivforeiiJ
of Ihe (irinaineil
hHd been decidd
'•■om what had
'ess, was compll
"■'■'••-I'.vs; bij
lolnlly li|iexp,.,.(|
•Hid Ihe ir,„,,,,
^^ 'he due ariij
THK TIIEASUIIY OF HISTORY.
699
L'lich
men, while the loss on the part of the French was estimated at ten thou-
Siiiul. For the great skill and bravery displayed in this action Sir Arthur
Well('sl(?y was created a peer, with the title of Viscuunt Wellington.
The French army was commanded by Vi .'tor and Sebastian!; but soon
afterwards the junction of Noy, Soult, and .Mortier in the rear of the En-
glish, compelled them to fall back on Badajoz, and Cuesta remained in
Spain to cheek the progress of the French.
Austria, stimulated by what was passing in Spain, had once more at-
tempted to assert her independence ; and Bonaparte had left the penin-
sula soon afier the battle of Corunna, in order to conduct iii person the
war which was thus renewed in Germany. Hostilities had been declared
on the 6th of April, when the archduke Charles issued a spirited address
to the army preparatory to his opening the campaign. The whole Aus-
trian army consisted of nine corps, in each of which were from thirty to
forty thousand men. Bonaparte, in addition to tl»e French corps, now
congresrated under his standard Bavarians, Saxons, and Poles ; and such
was his celerity of movement, and the impetuosity of his troops, that in
the short space of one moitli he crippled the forces of Austria, and took
possession of Vienna on the 13lh of May. On the 21st and 22d of the
same ninnth, the archduke Charles, who had taken his position on the
left tank of the Danube, engaged Bonaparte between the villages of As-
periie and Kssling, and completely defeated him, eompellinghim lo retire
to Lohan, an island on the Danube. The Auslriiins were, however, so
much weakened by this battle, as to be uii ihle to follow up their success,
and botli armies remained inactive till the Ith of Jidy, when Bonaparte,
having been greatly reinforced, relinquished his situation amid a violent
torrent of rain, and drew up h^s forces in order of battle on the extremity
of the Austrian li^ft wing. The allies were greatly disconcerted by this
unexpeiMed inovenicnt, and being obliged to abandon the strong position
which they held, an engagrnient commenced near Wagrani, under every
disadvantage, wlien the Fietudi were victorious, and the Austrians re-
treated towards Bohemia. A suspension of hostilities was soon after-
wards agreed on, which was Tdlowed by a treaty of peace, coiududed at
Si'lioenbl-un, Oct. 1'), by which the emperor of Austria was coni|)elled to
eeile several of his most valuable provinces, to discontinue! his inter-
course with the court of London, and to close his ports against British
vi'ssels.
In the course of the summer was fitted out with great secrecy one of
the most formidable aruianieiits ever sent from the shons nf Ihigl.ind. It
consisted of an army of 40,000 iiicii. and a Heel of ,39 sail of the line, 3fi
frigatis, and niiinerous gun-boats, &c. The command of the first was
given 10 the earl of Chatham, of the hist to Sir H Slraehaii. The ('hief
objects of till! enterprise were lo get piisseHsiiin of I'hishiiig and the island
of Waliheren, with the Freiii'h ships of war in the Scheldt; to des.iu<
tin ir iiisenals and dock-yards, and lo efTcet the r.'ductiiin of ihe city of
Antwrri). ■ 'i'he prrparations wliicli had been made for th's expediieni,
and Ihe immense sums of money expended on it, raised the expectations
of the nation to the highest pitch ; but it wan planned wilhout jiidgu.ent,
and Ihercfiire neeessarilv tmniiiated m loss and disgrace. On the arrival
of the nrmaineni in the' Scheldt, the contest between Austria and Fiance
had been decided; the military slate of the country was widely different
from what had been represented; and Antwerp, iiisti iid of bemg ih fence-
less, was completely fortified. The atta<'k on the ixlaiid of \\al<-iier(m
succ led, and Flii'shmg surrendered after an obsliimte rrsisimice of
IwrJM' diys; but I's ihe (dunlry .jsnined a poslnre of defence tlnit w«»
tuliilly iiiii'xpi'Cled, all idea of proceeding up the Sidieldl was .ibiiiidwned,
iiird liie irooj.s reniiincd at Walclcn n where ;,n cpilemi,- fex.f raj/ed.
Of 'ill! line army that left I'oitwiiioulh u few months before, yu« half
liii
Bi5si.
+■
roo
THli: TREASURY OF HISTORY.
perisheil on the pestilential shores of Walcheren ; and of tlie remainder,
who returned in December, many were afflicted with incurable chronic
diseases.
The (itlier events of the year may be briefly told. The French setlle-
ment at Cayenne .--urreMdered to an Eiigli.sh and Porlujjiiesc force, and
(he island of .Martinique was soon afterwards captured by Uritish arms.
A French fleet, consisting of leu sail of the line, whicii lay in llie Basque
roads, under the prdtcelion o'" tbf forts of the island of Aix, was attacked
by a squadron of gun-boat«, firi- .-l.ips, and frigates, under Lord Cochrane,
who captured four ships, disabli d several others, and tlrove ihe rest on
shore. A gillant action was likewise performed by Lord Ct)llingwood,
who, on the Isi o*" October destroyed, in the bay of Rosas, three sail o(
the line, twj fr'g.'les, and twenty trans,' •( .. To these successes may
be added, tb^ reduction of some small i:«! iids in the West Indies, and
the capir.rc* of a Russian flotilla and convoy in the Baltic, by Sir James
Saiunn'.ei,
In the early part of the y<'r.r, public attention was engrossed wi'th a
')arli-<'.neiitary iuijuiry into ti;e conduct of his royal highness the duke of
York, coniinan<l('r-jii-chiei'; against v.-bom Colonel Wardle, an ofl!icer of
nilitia, had brimglit forward a series of ilarges, to the effect that Mrs.
Hary .\nii Clarke, a once favoured courtesan of the duLe, had carried on
1 traffic in military ccMiimissicnis, with liis knowledge and concurrence.
During the progress of this investigation the house was fully attended, its
members appearmg highly edified bj the equivocal replies and sprightly
sallies of the frail one. Hut Ihe duke (hongh guilty of great indiscre-
tion, was ac(piiited of personal corniptio.i by a vote of tile house. He,
however, thoiigiit proper to rcsi^fn his employnien*. Various circiin-
stances which afterwards transiiired tended to throw considerable sus-
piciim on the motives .nd characters of the p- k-s who instituted the
inquiry.
A. n. IPIO. — The parliamentary session commenced with an inquiry
into the late calamitous expi'iliiion to Walcheren; and after a long dei)ate
ill the house of ('(iininoiis, the conduct of ministers, instead of being cen-
sure 1. w,is (Ic( hired to be worthy of commeiiihition. In the course of the
disciissjiiii, Mr. Yorke, memlier for Cambridge, d;»ily enforced the stand-
ing order of tlie house for the exclusion of strangers — a measiu'e which
w.is very uiij!0|iular, and became the .subject of very severe animadver-
sions in the London dctiating societies. .lohn (lalc Joncf, the director of
one of these siieieties called tlie "Hiiiish Forum," having issued r, placard,
iioiifying that the following question had been discussed there : — " Which
was a greaier oulra:,fc on the public feeliii);, Mr. Yorke's enforcement of
the standing ot i T to exclude strangers from the hoiisi! of commons, or
Mr. Winilhum .. attack on the [iress '" aiul that it had been niiniiimously
carried rigainst tin former. Mr. Yorke complained of it as a breach of
privilege, and Jones was coiiMnilted to Ne\' gate. On the \'i\h of March,
Sir Francis Uurdetl, who had been absent wiieii Mr. Jones was conimilted,
broiiglit forward a motion for his liber.ilion, on ilie j^Touud that his iin-
prisoniiieiit l)y the house of commons was an infringement of the law of
the laiiil, and a siibverMon of the |irinciples of the cmistitnlion. This mo-
tiiMl being IK galived, Sir Francis published a letter to his constituelits, the
electors of W'estminsler, in which he staled Ins reasons lor oliiecting to
liie imprisonriieiit of .Mr. Junes, and ad\erti'd in very )'i)iiited terms to the
ille(.';dit\ of the measure. This lelir-r wa.> hronyht forward in the bouse
by Mr- (.elhlirnliii , uho moved ilnit It was a scaiidaloui" publication, ami
that Sir Francis Bnrdell was ijnilty of a fl.igranl breaeli of privilejfe. After
ail a<l|oiiiiiineiit of ii«eel,, llii'se res(dntioiis were carried ; .iiiil a motion
that Sir I'raiicis Hiinleit ■lioiild b« coinmiiled to the Tower, was likewise
carried by a in ijonty of tiiiriy-sevcii incmlH rs. .\ warrant was aciord
tn^ly signc
and coinnii
illegality o
0th of Ap
police oflici
house, urn
Tower. 'J'
they heard
oil Tower li
for a time i
i»g that t.ici
killed. At I
was liberatei
partizaiis for
and returned
As for .Mr. C
^««'gate, am
double grieve
On the 31
made on die
morning his r
about the hea
|i"npiiig up i(
him across tin
'0 his master'
spccted tlio ro
the porter's ro
'"S open the ,
'•'It- Siibsequi
having failed i
fii'st alarm, an.:
"as hold on t
to the evideiir;
was belie v(m1 t,
posed injury,
"" tin,' rei,-,,
vaiiced Willi as
Spiinish anny ,
llK'ir victorious
'"'"■•'ver, niiicl
oaiidcriiiu- (■,■„„
I'ii'msclveH on I
»..s givatly su,
•^'■irshal Massel
I'<'nl Wellingi,
liuns. Will, ii
Hodrigoand.Mi
"'■re compelled
indliee the L'mi
L'liuist.iiic.s. a
«■■'■>' as laud.ibii
Kcnaut leiigiii I,
»"d therefore
•*iiiinim of i),|.
I''''<'<' ini the 'j;
'""i Portiig„j ;■.,
i/'^anls of
"'"I'lal, by uii
i()(
THE TUKASUllY OF HlSTOllY.
701
I'cn-
f the
land-
tik'h
vrr-
or of
(•■.ini,
liicli
111 of
iH, or
i0usly
ch of
uroh,
liittrd,
9 iin-
n\v of
S 1110-
s, UlP
10 l)if
llllUSI'
A It IT
lOlll'Il
(■VMM"
III,
in^fly signed by thn spoaker of the house of commons, f( ir the appvelicnsion
and cominitiiK^iit of the right hoiiounihle baronet. Sir FraiuMS urged the
illegabty of the speaker's warrant, and resisted tl\e execution of it till the
[)lh of April, when the serjeant-at-arms, aecompanied by messengers,
police otTieers, and detacliinenls of the milit; ry, forced open the baronet's
house, arrested him, and conveyed him, by a circuitous route, to the
Tower. The greatest indignation prevailed among the populace wluMi
they heard of the apprehension of tlieir favourite; and, having assemltled
on Tower hill, they attacked the military with stones and other missiles.
F'or a timi' ihe soldiers submitted to the insults of the multilude; but find-
ing that tneir audacity increased, they fired, and three of the rioters were
killed. At the prorogation of parliament, on the 21st of June, Sir Francis
was liberated from the Tower, ai\d great preparations were niarle by his
partizans for conducting him home, but he prudently declined the honour,
and returned to his house by water, to avoid tho risk of popular tumuli.
As for Mr. Gah; Jones, who clainu^d a right to a trial, he refused to leave
Newgate, and was at last got out by stratagem, loudly complaining of the
double grievance of lieing illegally imprisoned and as illegally discharged.
On the 31st of May an extraordinary attempt at assassination was
made on Ihe duke of Cumberland. At about half-past two o'clock in the
morning his royal highness was roused from his sleep by several blows
about tlie head, which were proved to have been given by a sabre; and,
jumping up to give an alarm, he was followed hy the assassin, who cut
him across the thighs. He then called his valet-in-wailing, who hastened
to his master's assistance, and alarmed the house. Having closely in-
spected the room, to see if any one were concealed therein, they went to
the porter's room to awaken Sellis, a Piedniontese valet; when, on forc-
ing Oj)en the door, they found him stretched on the bed, with his throat
cut. Subseiiueiit (urcumstances made it evident tliat this wrcich, aflcir
having failed in his attempt to assassinate the duke, had retired on the
first alarm, and put an end to his own life. Next day a coroner's inquest
was liolil on the bo'ly of Sellis, and after bestowing a patient attention
to the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of fclo dc-se. The assassin
was believed to have been actuated by i)rivate resentment for some sup-
posed injury, hul nothing definite was elicited.
On the retreat of Lord VVelliiiglon at Talavera, the French armies ad-
vanced wilh astonishing rapidity ; and having defeated and dispiT'cd a
Spanisii army of .50,000 men, at the bailie of Ocana, Nov. i;), they carried
their victorious arms into almost every province of Spain. Tliey were,
liowever, much annoyed, and someiiines. repulsed by the palri.its, who,
wandering from place to place, seized every op|iortiiinly of nvengiiig
i!u insclves on their rapacious invaders. The French unny in Portugal
w,.s greatly superior in nuinlcrs lo the English, and was coinniaiuled by
Marshal !\lassena, prince of i;>sling, who employed every art i lice to induce
Lord \Vi llingiiin lo leave the strong po-ilion which he held oi. liie nioun-
lains. With this view he undertook, siicessively, ihe sieges of CukUd
Rodngoaiid Almeida, both of which places, aitir imost spirited fesistauce,
ucre compelled to -iirrci.ler. All these .stratagems of Masseua could not
imhicc the L'ritish general lo liaz.ird a b.iillc under disadvantageous cir-
Liiinstances; and tlii' cautious enuduct of his lordship on this dcc.isioii,
was as lauil.dile as his cinuage .iiid rusoluUoii had formerly bi n. Mas-
sella at leiiglh began lo siis[Mrt that Ins opp,iiient wa.s aelualeC by fear;
iii'd llierefore diiemiine 1 lo ailack him m his intreiivliineuls, on the
siiinniit of Ihe mountain of Uiizaco. An iiigagement acci.r l.ngly look
pl.iee on the '.'Tlh of Scpleinber, when the i:mnbineil arniKso* England
;ind rortngal completely defeated tic I'lench, who lust on the oecision
'i|i\vards of ■-'-100 men. A few days after this eiigagcuii iit. the Hnlish
ai'iiural, by un unexiiected luoveincnl, relircd towards Li.-'bon, and oc-
llf'' t II
702
THK TUEASUIIY OF HI8TOKY.
cupird .-^11 impregnable posilidii on Torres Vedras ; whithir lie was foU
lowed ly 'Iiirsl::il Massenii, who enc'ani|)ed directly in his (ront.
While ihese even's we're taking place in Spain and I'ortugal, the suc-
cessful ter niiii'iion of some distant naval expediiions servetl to confirni the
gallantry of that liraneli of the service. 'J"he Dutch settlement of Am
boyne, with its depender/t islands, surrendered to a British force Feb. 1' ,
On the 8tli of August, a parly of IHO Uiitlsh seamen, under tlu^ connuanj
of Captain Ca\c, attacked Banda, the prnicipal of the Dutch spice islands,
and obligtul the garris(ni, consisting of 1000 men, to surrender. The im-
portant islands of Bourbon and the Mauritius were likewise reduced, at
the close of tiie year, by a British armament, under tiie command of Ad-
miral Bertie and Major*ieneral Abercrombie.
Several events look place ut this time on the continent of Europe, not
less remarkable for their novelty than for their importance. Bonaparte,
having divorced tlie empress Josephine, espoused on the 11th of March
the ari'lidiichess Aii'iia Louisa, daughter of the emperor of Austria. On
the 1st of July, I,( nis Uonaparte, king of Holland, after having made a
fruitless atteii,()t to nnprove the condition of his unfortunate subjects,
abdicated the tlirone in favour of his eldest son. That exhausted country
was immediately seized by Napoleon, and annexed to the French empire ;
Charles XI II. of Sweden, being a<lvaiiced in age and having no children,
clioM' for his successor Charles Augustus, prince of Augustinberg ; hulas
this prIiKM! died suddenly, it became lu'cessary to nominate his successor.
The candidates for this high odice were the prince of Holstein, the king
of Denmark, and the French marshal Bornadottc, prince of I'onte Corvo.
The latter being fav(!nred by Napoleon and by tlie king of Sweden, he
was unanimously chosen crown prince, and his installation took place on
the 1st (if November, in the presence 4>f the assembled diet. A few days
afterwards war was declared against Great Britain; all intercourse was
nroliibited, and the imjiortation of colonial produce luterdicted.
cHaptkr lxiii.
THK REIC.N OF CEonOE 111. [tHE RECENCY.]
A. D. 1811. — One of the first legislative acts of this year was the ajv
poinlmeiit of the princes of Wales, under certain resirictions, as regent in
coii8e(|M(iice of a return of iliat mental malady with which the king had
formerly lieeii icmporarily afTliCted. The; restrictions were to continue
till after I'cbruary 1, Ij^Iv!. It was (■x[iicted that a change of ministers
would immeili.itely take; place, but the prince declined nuking any change
in the admiiiisiratiim, or to accept any grant for an establishiiient in virtue
ol his new functions.
The protiresa of event^ in th(! peninsula again claims our attention.
Massciia, who at the close of the preceding year, had posted himsidf at
Saniartiii, met with such difTiciillies in procuring the necessary sufiplyof
provisiims, that he was in liiced to abandon his [losition on the Sili of
Slarili, Icaviiii; behind him a coiisiilerabic (jiiantily ol heavy ariillcry and
»iniinm:iion. He conlimici' his relreal ihmugh I'ortug.il, closely pursued
l.'V Lord Wcllingtim and <t('ii('ral lleresford. Nuinerous skirmishes took
rlaee between ilie oniposts of the hostile armies ; but on the l*jlli of May
a more iu'imrlant action ensued al the river Alliuera, between .Marshal
Siiiill and (ieneral Ben sford TIk' contest conlmiied with great iinpetu-
osiiv for seve.al Innirs, till at lenglh victory declared in favour of tlio
Aiiiilol'oriiiuiiese tniiips, and the French were compelled to rclrcat.
The loss of the French was esliiiialed al fl.OOO, amoiit; wlimn were live
generals i the loss of the allies amounted to about half that iiumtM'r.
Aftrr fhis 1
dajos, but 1
^'f the Freii
The w;ir
parts of Sp;
with succes
determined
siras, under
troops enga
strong piisit
the 2.5th by
engagement
but the num
tliein with si
during this
;iriny, who h
and to drive
tlireat into e,'
had been mw
While t!ie '
nority of her
'ended III! its
listing of five
'lie island of
posed of four
I'll' at length
were taken.
six vessids, w
and a sloop, ai
man. These :
doimded muci
From the >
fsssued, ,1 sect
"le United St;
••reased in the
American friyii
J'riiish sloop ,
lliis occiirrenc(
'libuled the lihi
states prepuree
During tlie n
of the eoiiiitry
irictsof Notiin
'■iitise of discoi
sloi'killg-\V(.;|vi
became so dain
vere inea.siires
A. n. IHI',',~
of Wiiles In- th
moMs opinion o
prospect of his
'liereforc assinn
"id, contriry li
'■aliinei. On th
V'Tk, declared -
•o gratify;" inn
s'miiglhencl hy
"'I'n I'ornieil, an
THE TRKASURY OV HIdTOIlY.
703
in
lad
II1U8
iters
align
rliie
tion.
■If at
)ly of
of
i\Ull
ISllCll
look
May
iishul
H)fl\i-
II
Ileal-
live
iiiUt.
\ftrr fliis victory Geiicnil Ocrcsford iiivpstcil tlip iniportant city of Ua-
ilaios, hut was ohlijriHi to raise tiie siciie, ill coiisoquenee of th(! jiliielion
'.'f the French armies iiiider Sotilt and Marinoiit.
Tlio war was at the same luno eondin'ted with "reat spirit in (hlTerent
parts of Spain. In Catalonia the rtp( rat'ons of the French wiyr crowned
wilii success; hut in Andalusia they were compelled to retire l)efore the
determined hravery of the allied forces. 'I'his ariiiy had landed at Aljie-
siras, under Generil (iraham, with the intention of attacking the French
troops engaged in the siege of C-id'z. On the .5lh of .March they look a
strong position on the heights of ''arossa, where they weie at'acked on
tlie 25th hy a superior force of the enemy. After a rcmarkahly severe
engagement, tiie French retired in disorder, wiih the loss of .3,000 men;
but the numerical inferiority of the allies precluded the hope of pursuing
them wiih success. The snbsequoiit events of the war in the peninsula,
during this year, were neither numerous nor important. The French
army, who had threatened to " plant tlieir eagles on the walls of Lisbon,
and to drive the English into the sea," were not only unable to carry tlieii
threat into execution, but were frequently defeated by troops which ihey
had been taught to despise.
While tiie military prowess of England was thus displayed, the supe-
riority of her navy was sufficiently manifested by the success which at-
tended all ils operations. A combined French and Italian squadron, con
sisling of live frigates and sixsinallci .iriucd vessels, was encountc^red off
Ihc island of l,issa, in the gulf of Venice, by an Fnglish squadron com-
posed of four frigates only ; the contest was fierce and for a tune doubtful,
but at ItMigtli llriiish valour prevailed, and three of the enemy's frigates
were taken. On the 21st of .Inly, a French Hotilla, consisting of twenty-
six VLSSids, was attacked olT thi; coast of Calabria, by an lOnglisb frigate
and a sloop, and th(' whole of tbein were captured without the loss of a
iiiaii. These and other gallai' encounters, though on a small scale, re-
dounded much to our naval credit.
From tlie year 1807, when the cele-ated " orders in council" were
fsssued, a secret discontent, indicative ol Hostilities, had evinced itself in
tlu! United Slates of .Vmerica. This misundcrstandini; was greatly in-
<Teased in the present year bj' an nnforluiiate enc:,nnier between the
American frigate President, commanded by (^>.llmodore Rodgers, ■,\u^ the
Dritisli sloop of war Little IJelt, Captain niiigham. Tlii' parliciilars of
Ibis occurrence were reported 1)".' the captain of the fjittle Hell, who at-
Iriliulcd the blame eniirely to the Americans. At any rate, the .\merican
states jirepared for war, whiili was soon afterwards declared.
Puring the months of November and Oeremlier the Irilernal tranquillity
of tlie country was disinrbed liy frequent ;-jois in the niannfactnnng dis-
tricts of Noitinghamsbire, Di'rbyshire, and i,eii-es|ershire. Tlie princinal
cause of discontent was the iiitrodnciioii of a new kind of machinery for
stocking-weaving. The rioters assumed the name of Luddites, and they
liccaiiie^so dangerous thai ilie legislature deemed it necessary to use se-
vere measures for their suppression.
A. n. 1^12.— The restrieiions which had l.'en imposed upon the prince
of Wales l)y the regency-bill were now withdrawn, it beum the nnaiii-
moiis opinion of the" inellical anihorilics that there was not the sliirhlest
prospect of his majestv's reiiirn to a stile of ncrfeci sanity. The prince
ihcrefore assumed the full powers lndong'ngto the sovereignly of Unlain ;
iiid, contrary to geiKTal expiM-i.iiion, very little cbant'e was made in the
caliiiiet. On the l.'lili of Februiry. the reirent, in a letter to the duke of
York, decl.ired that he " had no predilections to indubie, nor resentments
lo gratify ;'' inliniating, howevf. . i!(:..iic ;'at his iToveriiment mii^tit bo
slrengihened bv tlie i-o-opi'raiion • ' ose with whom bisi'arly habiiH had
iccii I'unned, and authorizing the uuke to coininuniealu his semimeiits lo
re i
..!. K
704
THIS TUKASUUY OK UlriTOIlY.
Lords Orey niid Orcuville. To lliis overture tlii'se nol)leinon replied, by
iinrr'scrvcdly t'xpr('ssiii<r ilic iiii|)i)ssil)ilily of llieir uiiiliiig with tliu iircseiit
govcriiincnl, owjuir to ilicir diircrfiiccs of opinion being too iiiiiny iiiul too
iiiiport;int to admit of such union. The iiu'asur<'s |)roposed for rfpcidinjr
thii penid laws ag:ainst the papists were agitated in both houses of parlia
meiil this session, hnt were negatived by a great majority.
The distinbances among the manufactming classes, which began last
year in Nottinghamshire, had exMended into Lancashire, Cheshire, an^'
the west-riding of Yorkshire. The property of individuals as well as tiie
macliinery was destroy(;d l>y nightly marauders ; a syst<'in of mditary
training was ado[)ied, and secret oatiis administered; in short, the num-
ber and daring spirit of the rioters, and tlie steadiness with which their
plans were condncled, rendered them so forniidaiile as to require the in-
terposition of the legislature. A large military fon^e was accordingly sta-
tioned in tlie disturbed coimties, and by a rigid enforcement of the law,
and tii(! adoption of remedial measures for the distresses of the labour
ing poor, tranipnllity was at length restored.
While tl:e public mind was agitated by these occurrences, an event oc-
curred whi(di was at once truly lamentable and important. On the Utii
of May, as Mr. I'erceval, chancellor of the exche(pier, was entering the
lobby of the bouse of conmnns, about five o'ldock, a person named Del
lingham presented a pistol to his bn^ast, and shot him through IIk; heart.
The act was so suddi n and astoiniding that no one of the many individ-
uals present jirecisely knew what had happencid, and it was the fall of the
martyr only, that develo[ied the nature of the atrocious deed. The un-
fortunate gentleman fell \rM-k t(>wards his left, against the door and the
wall, I'.Ki'hiiming faintly, " O f!od !" the last words he utterred ; for im-
mediatrly, as if move(i by an impulse to seek for safety in the house, he
made an etrort to rush forward, but merely staggered a f(!W paces, and
dropped down. Hellingham was taken without resistance, a f(nv minutes
afterwards. It ap[ieared that he was a Liverpool shi|)-brokcr who had
sustained some connnercial losses in Russia, for wdii(di he thought the
government was bound to procure redress, and his memorials on lliesul)
ject being disregarded, be liad worked up bis gloomy mind to the mon-
strous <'onviction that he was justified in taking away the life of the prime
minister. Iti tlie change of administration whi(di took |dace in conse-
quenc(! of tliis melan(diidy circumstance. Lord Sidinouth was appointed
secretary of slate ; the earl Ilarrowby, lord president of the council ; and
Mr. Vaiisiitart. chancf tlor of the exchequer.
.\t I'l' ('ommeMcenirnt of the campaign in the Spanish peninsula fortune
seeme.i at first to favour the eneiTiy, wlio, on the Oili of Jaimarj', made
tliems(dves masters of the city of Valencia, whiidi General Ulake, after a
feeble resistance, surrendered, with in,000 men. Tlu; strong town of
Peiuscola, wtiich, on account of its (jominanding situation, wus of great
im|.ortanfe to its poss(>ssors, was soon after surrendered to the Kreiicii by
the Ireaclx'ry of ilic govi^rnor. Serious as these misfortunes were to the
allies, they were in a short time coimterhalanccd by the success which at-
tended the exertions of the llritisli commander. Aftera fortnight's siege.
Lord Wellington carried fnidad Rodrigo by assaidt, on the lOih of .laiui-
ary ; and on the IGiU of .\pril the strong city of Badajns Burrendered to
him, afl'T a Ion,", and most olistinale resistance. After the capture of this
city the allied armies proceed(-d, without opjiosition, to Salamanca, where
tliey were rccei\'ed by the inhabitants with benedictions and ae(dainations.
As the hostile armies were now so situated as to render a battle almost
inevitable, Lord Wellinglon maih; bis nijcessary dispositions, and as a
favourable o|iporlunily occurnvl on the I'-Od of .Iidy for attacking the eu'.i.
my, he itnmeilial(dy took advantage' of it. An action accordingly ensued,
in'which the Frenidi, after a determined and obstinate rcsisiancr, were
obliged t{
"1 the utn
to tlie fug
colours, c
After ta
Burgos; I
ppportunit
This was i
peninsula i
erally appi
cominaiide
eraiissinio
also, who li
'liin to the
The forei
in possessi(
must now d
fondly-cheri
■Britain l)y
througli intr
stagnation o
respective s(
tlie Itiissians
natural ally,
'onger to the
ed; and a w
fn this coute:
The allies of
Poland ; to w
iiussia, Nwec
N^apoleon j
coinmen(;ed t
den, and visit!
the Niemen,
of march w eri
and discii)linc|
and laconic sti
her destinies
the last fifty y|
Piemen, and d
ftreparations ll
liuiidred thousl
pcror Alexandl
of the kussiaiil
dtand oidy in .
marches over .
should lend itsi
^■'"gements toe
wiiich were so,
•liat nothing isl
masses of me(
'•apidity, notwil
Ifie 7th of SeptI
effort against tlf
»illages of Mos
olace. On thiJ
"Ki'i , and whe)
■•f l<. Tty ihousaf
Vol. 1 — 4I
THE TUEASUllY OF HISTORY.
roi
tune
lailc
XT a
of
;ri';it
II by
Uif
li iil-
aim-
id to
if this
vhijre
lions,
linost
as a
ell'.;-
isut'ili
Wellington advanced to
ig it, llie enemy iiad an
r re-oucupying Madrid.
liich took place oa the
.ices, which though gen-
obli;red to give way to the superior braveiv of the assailants, and torstreal
111 the utmost confusion. Tlie darkness oi' tlie night was very favourable
to the fugitives, yet upwards of 7.m ■< pinners were taken, with eagles,
';olours, cannon, and amnumition
After taking possession of the
Burgos ; but being detained a Ion
opportunity of concentrating tiii
Tliis was one of the last military
peninsula during the year. For hi -^ ,,:
erally appreciated were not over-rated, the cortes bestowed on the^Brrtish
commander the title of duke of Cuidad Roihigo, and constituted him gen-
eralissimo of the Spanish armies. The prmce rcgen*. of Great Britain,
also, who had previously conferred on him the title of earl, now raised
him to the dignity of a marquis of the United Kingdom.
The foregoing outline of tlie transactions in Spain will put the reader
in possession of the principal features of the war in that quarter. We
must now direct his attention to events in the north of Europe. The
fondly-cherished scheme of Bonaparte for ruining the finances of Great
Britain l)y cutting off her commercial intercourse with Europe, was,
through intrigue or intimidation, adopted by all the neutral powers. The
stagnation of trade on the continent, though it was submitted to by their
respective sovereigns, was very distressing to their subjects, especially
the Russians, wlio had been accustomed to consider England as their
natural ally. At length the emperor of Russia resolved to submit no
longer to the arbitrary restrictions which the will of Napoleon had dictat-
ed; and a war between those great jjowers was the immediate result.
In this contest the most considerable slates in Europe were involved.
The allies of France were the German states, Italy, Prussia, Austria, and
Poland; to whom were opposed the combined powers of Great Britain,
Russia, Sweden, and Spain.
Napoleon placed himself at the head of an immense aiiny, and now
commenced the ever-memorable struggle. After passing iluough Dres-
den, and visiting in rapid succession JJantzic and Konigsberg, he reached
tile Niemen, the frontier river of Russia, on ttie 23d of June. On the line
of inarch were half a million of soldiers, in the highest state of equipment
and disci|)line; to wliom he issueil a proclamation in his usual confident
and laconic style : " Russia," said he, " is driven onwards by fatality ; let
her desiinies be fulfilled, and an end put to the fatal influence which for
Uie last lil'ty years siic has had on the an"airsof Eiin)pe. Let us cross the
Niemen, and carry the war into her territories." On the other side vast
^reparations had also been made ; and the army, consisting of about three
hundred thousand men, was under the immediate command of tlie em-
peror Alexander, and his sagacious minister, Barclay de Tolly. The plan
of the Russians was to draw the invaders from their resources; to make a
dtand only in favourable situations : and to weary the French liy endless
marches over the dreaify plains, till the inclemency of a Russian winter
should lend its aid to stop their ambitious career. Various partial en-
gagements took place as the French advanced, the circuinslaiices of
which were so diHerently related in tiie bulletins of the opposite parties,
• hat nothing is certain but the general result. Considering the immense
masses of men that were in motion, the French proceeded with great
4'apidity, notwithstanding the checks they occasionally experienced, till
the 7th of September, when the Russians determined to make a vigorous
eft'ort against their farther advance. The two armies met between the
villages of Moskwa and Borodino, when a most sanguinary battle took
olace. On this occasion each of the hostile armies numbered 135,000
nu'.n , and when " night's sable curtain" closed the horrid scene, the bodies
jf (i riy thousand, cither dead or wounded, were stretched on the field at
Voi,. 1—45
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706
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
battle ! Both parlies claimed the victory, though the advantage was evi-
dently on the side of the French, as tliey proceeded without farther oppo-
sition to Moscow, where they expected to rest from their toils in peace
and good winter-quarters. About mid-day on the 14th the turrets of Mos-
cow, glittering in the sun. were descried. The troops entered ; but the
city was deserted, and all was still. The capital of ancient Russia was
not destined to be the abiding-place of its present occupantss. A dense
smoke began to issue from numerous buildings at the same instant. By
order of the governor. Count Rostopchin, bands of incendiaries had been
employed to work destruction. Public edifices and private houses sud-
denly burst into flames ; and every moment explosions of gunpowder
mingled with the sound of the crackling timbers, while frantic men and
women were seen running to and fro, with flambeaux in their hands,
spreading the work of destruction.
Paralysed, as it were, by the awful scene, and by the extreme danger
which he could no longer fail to apprehend. Napoleon lingered five weeks
among the reeking ruins of Moscow. Around him the Russians were
daily increasing in strength, especially in cavalry; and it was not till
Mnrnt had been defeated, and the first snow had fallen, that he determined
on retreat. At length he left the city of the czars, on the ]9th of Oc-
tober, taking with him all the plunder that could be saved from the fire;
having at liie time one hundred thousand effective men, fifty thousand
horses, five hundred and fifty field-pieces, and two thousand artillery
wagons, exclusive of a motley host of followers, amounting to forty
thoiisand. He had no choice left. To subdue the whole Russian army,
and by that means to secure to himself an honourable peace, appeared
beyond the verge of possibility ; to return with all possible expedition
was llie only course to pursue ; and he accordingly directed the march of
his army towards Smolensko, where he arrived with his imperial guard on
the i>th of November. Alternate frost, sleet, and snow made the weather
insipportable ; overcome by cold, hunger, and fatigue, the soldiers and
their horses perished liy thousands. At lengtii, after taking leave of his
marshals at Smorgoriy, Decemiier 5, Napoleon privately withdrew from
the army, and reaciied Paris ot> the lOtli. The KussianI never relaxed
in the pursuit till they readied the Vistula, and not a day passed in which
some of the fugitives did not fall into tlieir hands. By Christmas-day
they estimated iheir captures at 41 generals, 1, '208 otRcers, 107,510 pri-
vates, and 1,131 pieces of cannon : the grand iirniy was, in fact, annihilated.
During the absence of Bonaparte in this disastriiiis expedition, an at-
temjit was made to subvert his power at home, which, had it not been
speedily suppressed, would probably have occasioned another revolution.
The conductors of the conspiracy were the ex generals Mallet, Lahoric,
and fJiiidal, who, having framed a fictitious senatus cunsulliim, went to tiie
barrack of the first division of the national guards, and read a proclama-
tion, stating that the emperor had been killed, and commanding the troops
to follow them. The soldiers, little suspecting any forgery, obeyed, ai d
suffered themselves to be led to diff<!rent posts, where they relieved tin)
guai Is. The conspirators then arrested the ministers of police, and ha.-
mg assassinated (ieneral Hullin, who had marched into the city with
BoiTie troops, they attempted to seize the chief of the etat-major of Pans;
but being arrested, they were committed to pri.son, and tried befort? a mili-
tary commission, when the tlirce generals and eleven others received
sentence of death, which beitig put into execution, tranquillity was re-
stored to Paris.
A. ». 1813.— The attempts made by ministers to arrange the differences
between (Jreat Britain .nd the United .States were iinsucceHMfiil ; the in-
fluence of ['resident Madison, the EngUsli contend, being exerti^d in tli«
fe)ectiun of all pacificatory proposals. Tlie conquest uf Canada was ru
•olvui] I
but llio
ttiuiii lu
eeniifiil I
Aftor
(lurnudil
no wtiH
HII IIIJVIII
flOIIIK'oj
Ul'ltuill 11
f'M'lN tu r
iiiiviiij( m
«riiiy, iiu
Il0»ll|(t III
wtifo eon
Tli« (iiiiil
Oil llio III
Pliii'o. mil
Jiiiie, Hi I
Xiilit Ut ihi
'llllllll'd of
'It") iioti,
U now
tll'lUMIIIKl I
tllll IIOI'lll (
fUlu (.'OUill
uf liiiavuid
"l»i'iiiii(( til
I'reiieli to
I'ONHihlu, II
it town III
WHO foiiKh
rri'wh, CO
riihlii hravi
plutejy viii
mid four I:,
OlIlCS llKthl
II wiis knot
l'iir«iied, th
loii of Mar
ill reiiirii, V
iiniiieii i,( (
'icldiitwjedt
the diKiiJty
Willi,, ill,
WeMiiiKMni
«' ''iirruKHt
in,i«i,ir ,if I
"liiil Niidi, (
diM,.||||,.,f|j„,
<'l|>ltl|t|,M| N
beiiitf irt,.,|
judged " to
<'i>iniiMiii|,.r
the icMtuM,-!
«ltril,iii„i| I
'o I all fur I
Aftur (he
THIS TRKASUHY OF HISTORY.
707
oops
iiril
till)
hii.'-
willi
arisi
luiU-
MVl'll
rv-
ill-
\\\f
u ro
■olvoi] on by llie Aiiu'rieaii!<, and troops were dispatclied into that country ;
but llie vlitlfttiice u( the UntiHli commanders baffled the scheme, and obhged
thoiii Id (loHlMt rniin the enterprize. The Americans, however, were suc-
oeiinrill lit »m, iind captured several British Trigates an '. other vessels.
Ariiir thtt rutreut uf Uonaparte from Russia, the emperor Alexander
ruiNUitii tint romainin^ French forces as far as Posen, a city in Poland,
lu witH liero Joini!d by the king of Prussia, who, considering the present
Hll iiilviiiUiitttiUUii (ippiirluiiity for restoring the equilibrium of Europe, re-
noiiiiuud his iilliance with France, and concluded a treaty with Great
Ui'Kiiiii itiid hur iillieg. In the meantime Bonaparte was using all his ef-
foi'lN lu ritvivo the fl|)irit, and call forth the resources of his empire, and
IliiviMK H|)|niiiitud tlie empress regent during his absence, he joined his
army, now uiinslRting of 350,000 new troops. On the 7th of May the
hoNtiUt iirinlen engaged at Lutzen, in Upper Saxony, where the French
wuri) uouiittatidud by Bonaparte, and the allies by General Winzingerode.
Th« ooitltlttl was long and bloody, and both parties claimed tlie victory.
On llltl UHli, Ullth, Slit, and 32d of the same month, severe actions took
aUwe, iiiiii Hut less than 40,000 were killed or wounded. On the 1st of
Jiinv, lit tiui nuggCHtion of the emperor of Austria, Napoleon made propo
filtiN lo ihii tiinpcror Alexander for a suspension of hostilities; in conse-
qiitnii'i) *if which an urmislice was concluded, which was to terminate on
•hi) 'Hhh of July.
It now lt()(!iiinn necessary for Bonaparte to withdraw about twenty
tliuuNiiiiil of hilt best troops from Spain, to reinforce this grand army iit
lliM north uf Kiiropo. Tliis diminution of the French force in the penin-
iUlil could Itiil fail to gratify the Anglo-Spanish army; yet a concurrence
of uiiiivuiiliil)ln cIri'Umstiinccs prevented tlu; marquis of VVelliiiirton from
oiiitiiiiiK tliu campaign till about the middle of May. Having obliged tlie
treiii'li lo (tViiiMiato Halamanca, he pursued them with as much haste as
poNNiblu, iiiiil having passed the Kbro, he came up with thum at Vitloria,
u town Ml thi) pnivinco of Biscay, where, on the 21st of June, a battle
WitN i'oiight hutsvt'iMi the allied troops under Lord Wellington, and the
Fri'iicli, (■oilliltiiinled by Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jourdan. Adini-
ralilii hruvt^ry iind persovcrancc were displayed by the allies, who coin-
pititnly viiii<|imsIumI the French, and took one hundred and Afty cannon
and fonr ImiiiIhuI and flfti;en wagons of ammunition. On the side of the
Ittlii'ii lliiirt! wi<ru Ni'ViMi hundred killed and four thousand wounded; and
it wiiN known thnt the loss of the French was much greater. Bting hotly
pnr»ili'd, lint French retreated across the Bidassoa into Frani.-e. The ba
ton of Marithiil Jourdan being taken, was sent lo the prince rcj,'ent, who,
in ri'Uiril, created the marquis of Wellington field-marshal of the allied
Mniilii» of llrcul Britain, Spain, and Portugal. The Spanish government
iii-knowlt<dKi'i| ihcir oliliiraiions lo the British hero, by conferring on him
the iligiilty of iirliice of Viltoria.
While llie I'aiiKC of ralioiml freedom was so nobly susUi/ied by Lord
Welliinji.i»ii III tins part of S|)ain, Sir John Murray had landed his' troops
Ht 'riirrugHiio, III order to invest that plaice. After he had made himseK
iiia«li'r of Fori Si, Philippe, on being informed of the approach of Mar-
mIiiiI Nik'Ik I, he, wilhont waiting for information of the enemy's slreiiglh,
diKeinliirknd his troops, leaving behind him his artillery. For this pre-
eipiliitioii NIr John was severely censured by some political writers, and
hi'iMK Irli'ii III Wlncliesler, in February, Ifll5, he 'was found guilty and ad-
IndgKil '• lo bn adiiinnislied in such a manner as his royal highness the
eoininiiider-iii ehlef may think proper." His royal highness approved
llie seiilciicM of the court, but as the con(lni;t of Sir John Murray was
MttiilMiled merely lo nii error of judgment, the case 'ii'. lOt appear lo hiin
Id I all for iiiiv rurlher observation.
Aflurlhi' Uttlllu of Viiioria the French army retreu . . wilh great pre*
n
7Ui
THE THEASUaV OF HISTORY.
eJpl(ntioii Into France, pursued by the li^ht troops of the allies , and the
IflHftluis of Wellington caused the forts of Pampeluna and St. Sebastian
te l*e immediately invested. When Bonaparte received intelligence ot
these successes of the British army, he dispatched Marshal Soult with
SOIIJO (ofccB to check their progress. On the 13th of July the Frencli
Itwrshiil Jollied the army, and on the 24th he made a vigorous attack on
the right wing of the allies, at Roncesvalles, commanded by General
Uyilg. Prom that day till the 2d of August the hostile armies were con
(hllltilly engaged ; the passes of the mountains were bravely disputed
hy the French, but the British were irresistible, and the French again re-
irfitttpd beyond the Pyrenees. The fortresses of St. Sebastian and Pam-
Itelutm surrendered to the British arms afterwards, and on the 7th of
OtUoher Lord Wellington entered the French territory at the head of his
ufitty.
Whilo in the south of Europe these transactions were taking place, a
grmil crisis was at hand in the north. During the armistice, which had
extetldod to the llth of August, several attempts were made by the
ttllK^s to obtain such a peace as would cflfect and confirm the safety and
truiltlililllty of the continental states. These endeavours were, however,
reildcrod abortive by the insolent pretensions of the French ruler, which
illdlK'ed the emperor of Austria to relinquish his cause, and to join in the
tlllliincc against him. Hostilities were resumed on the 17th of August,
wllflii Uoiiaparte immediately prepared to attack the city of Prague ; but
hfllJg informed that his Silesian army was exposed to imminent danger
from the threatening posture of the allies, he was obliged to change his
phill of operations. He accordingly left Bohemia, and maue an at-
iiu'k on the allied army under the Prussian General BUicher, who was
•ompelled to make a retrograde movement. The further progress of the
t'^mu'h In this quarter was arrested by the advance of the grand army
il the (lilies towards Dresden, which made the immediate return of Napo-
Im(»ii net'cssarv. He accordingly advanced by forced marches to the
iiroleciion of that city, and having thrown into it an army of 130,000 men,
\w (iwiiitpd the attack of his enemies. The grand assault was made on
lh«) 'J'lth of August, but as there was no prospect of taking Dresden by
rsculatlo, the allies abandoned the attempt, and took a very extended po-
<»lll(»ti on the heights surrounding the city, where they were attacked by
iht! French on the following day, and obliged to retire with considerable
loss. It was in this engagement that General Moreau, who had left his
rtitrent in Amt^rica to assist in restoring liberty to Kurope, was mortally
womi'lcd, while conversing with the emperor Alexander. A cannon-ball,
which (lassed through his horse, carried off one of his legs and shattered
the other. He had both legs amputated, but survived his disaster only a
fitw flays, dying from exhaustion.
In the following month several well-contested battles took place, in
which victory was uniformly in favour of those who contended against
lymnny and usurpation. But as Leipsic was the point to which the efforts
of llio confederates were principally directed, Bonaparte left Dresden, and
concentrated his forces at Roclditz.
At this |)eriod an important accession was made to the allied cause, by
n treaty with Bavaria, who agreed to furnish an army of fifty-five thou-
MHlid iDiiu. The hostile armies were now both in the vicinity of Leipsic;
ilin French estimated at about 200,000 men; the allies at 250,000. On
iiie night of the 15tli rockets were seen ascending, announcing the ap-
iiroach of Jllucher and the crown prince of Sweden. At day-break on the
Irtth, the FreiK^h were as.sailed along their southern front with the great-
rsl fury, but they (ailing to make any impression, Najmleon assumed the
offensive. Throughout the day, by turns, each parly had the advantage ;
but at night-ffill the French contracted their position, by drawing iicurur
the wall
tions for
gageinei
raged fr
quished
were eitl
Saxons,
Bixty-fnr«
were, th*
prisoners
Tlie aJ
gained, a
to the Rl
Russia,
distiiiguis
territorief
now joine
solved, an
The spi
nicated its
tion in tha
detriment!
of the alli(
and with t
orange col
The exam
pendence (
announce
at the heai
all the sue
went and a
stadtholdei
ing ally of
accept suel
On the 1
declaration
ducted thei
of it was I
powerful ;
one of the
confirm to
ler kings, r
equilibrium
from the c
hor." This
conduct to
A. 1). 181.
■enalc, and
French to i
•lis apjieals
twenty-live
the l(!vy of
left Paris o
troops as .
»a one sidt
tilt; allied f<
Tlie arinu
of Februar)
THE TaEABUttY OF HISTORY.
709
the wiiUs of Leipsic. The following day was spent in making prepara-
tions for a renewal of the contest ; and on the 18tl* another general en-
gagement took place. The loss of the victors, auring a battle which
raged from the dawn of day till night, was severe, but that of the van-
quished was infinitely more so. Above forty thousand of the French
were either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners ; seventeen battalions of
Saxons, with their artillery, joined the ranks of the allies, who took also
Bixty-five pieces of cannon. The immediate fruits of this splendid victory
were, the capture of Leipsic and of the Saxon king, of thirty thousand
prisoners, and of all the baggage and ammunition of the flying foe.
The allies did not fail to follow up the advantages which had been
gained, and their close pursuit of the French army rendered its retreat
to the Rhine in some respects as calamitous as their recent flight from
Russia. The troops under Ulucher and Scliwartzenburg, who had greatly
distinguished themselves during the late encounters, entered the French
territories on New-yaar's day, 1614. All the minor states of Germany
now joined the grand alliance, the confederation of the Rhine was dis-
solved, and the continental system established by Bonaparte was broken up.
The spirit which had attended the march of the allied armies commu-
nicatcd itself to the United Provinces, and occasioned a complete revolu-
tion in that part of Europe. The arbitrary annexation of that country was
detrimental to their commercial interests ; and at length, on the approach
of tiie allies to (he Dutch frontier, the people of Amsterdam rose in abody,
and with the rallying cry of " Orange IJoven," universally displayed the
orange colours, and proclaimed the sovereignty of that illustrious house.
The example of Amsterdam was followed by the other towns, the inde-
pendence of Holland was asserted, and a deputation sent to London, to
announce the revolution and invite the prince of Orange to place himself
at the head of iiis countrymen. The Dutch patriots were assisted with
all the succours that England could furnish, and the prince of Orange
went and assumed the reins of government, not under tlie ancient title of
stadtholder, but as king of the Netherlands. Denmark, the only remain-
ing ally of Bonaparli!, was compelled, by the crown-prince of Sweden, to
accept such terms as the allied sovereigns pleased to prescribe.
On the 1st of December the allied sovereigns issued from Frankfort a
declaration explanatory of their views. " Victory," they said, " had con-
ducted them to the batiks of the Rhine, and the first use which they made
of it was to ofl'er peace. They desired that France might be great and
powerful ; because, in a state of greatness and strength, she constituted
one of the foundatiuus of the social edifice of Europe. They offered to
confirm to the French empire an extent of territory which France, under
ner kingb, never knew. Desiring peace themselves, they wished such an
equilibrium uf power to be established, that Europe might be preserved
from the calamities which for the last twenty years had overwhelmed
her." Tills declaration wns based on moderation and justice, and in their
conduct to France, the allies acted up to their professions.
A. ». 1814. — After his hasty retreat to Paris, the emperor assembled the
senate, and neglected ni> means that were likely to rouse the spirit of the
French to resist their invaders. Little effect was, however, jiroduced by
his appeals to the peojili!, and he was \nider the necessity of appointing
twenty-five commissioners, invested with absolute power, to accelerate
the levy of new forces. Having confided the regency to the empress, he
left Paris on the 25tii of January, and placed hiiiiself at the head of such
troops as he could nuister. His dominions were at this time threatened
on one side by the Uriiish troops under Wellington, and on the other by
the allif(i forces commanded by their respective sovereigns and generals.
'I'lii! army umler the marqins of Wellington attacked Soult's on the 27lh
r)f February, and. after an obstinate battle, drove the enemy from a strong
i
1 1!
'4\
■r
710
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
position near Orthns ; and on the 12th of March, a division under Marshal
Beresrurd advanced to the important city of Bourdeaux, and entered it
amid the acclamations of the inhabitants.
After the entry of the northern allies into France, several sanguinary
contests took place, when Bonaparte, finding that it was impracticable to
prevail by force, attempted to retrieve his affairs by negotiations. Pleni-
potentiaries appointed by the belligerent powers accordingly assembled
at Chatillon, and the allies, whose moderation had on every occasion
been particularly conspicuous, offered to sign preliminaries of peace,
which would have secured to Bonaparte very important advantages. But
these offers were rejected by Napoleon, who required that his family
should be placed on foreign thrones, and insisted on terms incompatible
with the liberties of Europe. The conferences were discontinued, and
the allied sovereigns indignant at the conduct of one who displayed such
an aversion to peace, resolved on vigorously prosecutiuR war. In all the
engagements which ensued, the superiority of the allies was manifested.
Napoleon now adopted the singular resolution of getting to the rear of
his enemies, and by this ill-judged movement left open the road to Paris.
As soon as the Prussian and Austrian commanders could form a junc-
tion, they advanced, at the head of 200,000 combatants, towards the cap-
ital of France, and having gained a complete victory over the army com-
manded by Marmont and Mortier, under Joseph Bonaparte, they entered
the city which capitulated on the 31st of March. The enthusiastn exhibited
on this occasion surpassed the most sanguine expectations of the con-
querors. The whole city seemed to rise en masse, and to hail the allies
as the liberators of Europe and the avengers of tyranny. The white
cockade was generally worn, tiie air resounded with shouts of " Vive le
Roi, Louis XVIII!" "Vivent les Bourbons!" and the conquerors were
welcomed with the acclamations of " Vive I'Empercur Alexandre !"
"Vive le Roi de Prusse!" "Vivent nos liberateurs!"
The French senate now assembled and appointed a provisional govern-
ment, at the head of which was the celebrated Talleyrand, prince of Bene-
vento. At a subsequent meeting they (iei'liirod that Napoleon Bonaparte
and his family had forfeited all claim to the throne, and tliat the army and
nation were consequently absolved from the oaths of allegiance to him.
The senate then directed their attention to the choice of a sovereign ; and
after a long consultation, in which there was considerable difference of
opinion, they determined to recall the Bourbons. Marshal Marmoni, after
obtaining a promise that tlie life of the emperor should be spared, and
that his troops mi<rht pass into Normandy, joined the allies at the head of
twelve thousand men.
Bonaparte, who had rctircid to Fontainbleau, finding that he had been
deposed by the senate, and that the allies were fully determined not to
treat with him as the ruler of France, now offered to abdicate in favouJ
of his infant son; but this was peremptorily rejected, and he solemnly ab-
dicated his usurped crown on the Gth of April, on wiiich day a new con-
stitution was given to France, and Louis XVIII. was recalled to the throne
of his ancestors. As soon as the emperor Alexander was informed of
this event, ho proposed, in the name of the allied sovereigns, that Napo-
leon Bonaparte should choose a place of retreat for himself and fantlly.
By a mistaken sense of gcnero!<ity, liie small island of Elba, situated in
the Mediterranean, between Corsica and the Tuscan coast, was given to
him, in full sovereignty, with an annual revenue of two millions of francs,
to be paid by the French goverinntnit ; Bn<l,what whs a still more extrav-
agant stretch of misplaced liberality, a furthei' allowance of two millions
five Innidred thousand francs was to be alhnved to thi! different branches
af his family ; who, as well as Napoleon, were to be suffered to retain theii
THE TKEASUEY OF HISTORY.
711
usurped titles. The principality of Parma was also settkd un Maria
U)uisa, his wife, in which she was to be succeeded by her son.
Louis, who had for several years resided at Hartwell in Buckinghanj-
shire, having accepted the basis of the constitution, made a public entry
into London, and was accompanied to Dover by the prince regent, from
whence his majesty embarked for Calais, being conveyed to tliat port by
the duke of Clarence. He entered Paris on the 3rd of May, where lie was
favourably received by the inhabitants, but the soldiery were fur from ap-
pearing satisfied with the change which had been so suddenly wrought.
On the same day Bonaparte, after a variety of adventures, in which
he had several narrow escapes from the populace, arrived at his abode in
Elba.
Owing to some unaccountable delay in the transmission of the treaty
concluded at Paris, or to the envy of Marshal Soult, who hoped to defeat
his opponent, a sanguinary battle was fought near Toulouse, on the 10th
of April, between his army and that of the marquis of Wellington. But
this useless and deplorable effusion of blood oily added fresh trophies to
those already gained by the British commander. The last action of the
peninsular war was fought at Bayonne, in which Sir Jolin Hope was
wounded and taken prisoner, and General Andrew Hay was killed.
Among the minor transactions of this period we must not omit that at
the close of the proceeding year Hanover was recovered by the crown
prince of Sweden, who also reduced Holstein and Westphalia. The
king of Denmark joined the grand alliance, and Daiitzic surrendered after
a long siege. The British, however, were repulsed, with considerable
loss, in the attempt to take the strong fortress of Bergen-op-Zoom.
A treaty of peace and amity was, on the 30th of May, concluded at Paris,
between his Britannic majesty and his most Christian majesty, by which
it was stipulated that the kingdom of France should retain its limits entire,
as it existed previously to the revolution; that Malta should be ceded to
Great Britain ; and that, with the exception of Tubago, St. Lucie, and the
Mauritius, all other possessions held by the French in January, 1793,
should be restored. These and a few minor conditions being arranged at
the time, it was agreed that all other subjects should be settled at a con-
gress, to be held at Vienna by the high contracting parties, at some future
period. The return of peace was celebrated by illuminations, feastings,
and every joyful demonstration th:it so happy an event could inspire.
A. D. 1815. — We now resume our brief narrative of the events winch
were occuring on the other side of the Knglish channel. Louis XV III,
devoted his attention to the re-establishment of order in the government,
and endeavoured by every kind and conciliatory act to soothe the animos-
ities that still rankled in the bosoms of the royalists, republicans, and Uo-
napartisls. The new constitution, which was niodelled upon th.it of Kng-
land, was readily accepted by tiie senate and legislative body. The con-
scription was abolished ; the unsold property of the emigrants was re-
stored to them ; the shops, which, during the republic and the rei',rn of
Bonapart«, had always remained open on Sundays, were now ordered to
be closed, and the liberty of the press was restricted.
A congress of the allied powers was now heid at Vienna, for the purpose
of making such political and territorial regulations as should effectually
restore the equilibrium of power, and afford a more certain prospect of
permanent tranquillity. But a state of tranquillity was not so near as their
sanguine wishes contemplated. An event happened ere their delilerations
were brought to a conclusion, which made it necessary lor them to lay aside
their pen, and once more take up the sword. The restless and intrignini
spirit of Napoleon was not to be confined to the isle of KIba, and the allied
armies were no sooner withdrawn from France, than he meditated a de-
scent on Its coast. He accordingly took advantage of the first opportunity
it '» 1 '
€■'
712
THE TlUSASUttY OP HI8T0KY.
that offered of leaving the island, attended by the officers and troops who
had followed him thither, with many Corsicans and Elbese, and landed
at Cannes, in Provence, on the Ist of March.
The news of his landing was instantly conveyed to Paris, and large
bodies of troops were sent to arrest his progress, and make him prisoner.
But Louis was surrounded by traitors ; the army regretted the loss of
their chief who had so often led them to victory ; they forgot his de-
sertion of their comrades in the moment of peril, and doubted not that
his return would efface their late disgrace, and restore them to that proud
pre-eminence from which they had fallen. At his approach, the armies
that had been sent to oppose him openly declared in his favour, and he
pursued his journey to Paris, augmenting his numbers at every step, till
all resistance on the part of the king was deemed useless. On reaching
the capital, he was received by the inconstant multitude with acclamations
as loud as those which so recently had greeted the arrival of Louis. Such
is the instability of what is termed popular favour. The unfortunate king
retired first to Lisle, and then to Ghent.
When the allied sovereigns were informed that Napoleon had broken
his engagements, and saw that his bad faith was fully equal to his ambi-
tion, they published a declaration to the effect that Bonaparte, having vio-
lated the convention, had forfeited every claim to public favour, and
would henceforth be considered only as an outlaw. In answer to this, he
published a counter-declaration, asserting tiiat he was recalled to the
throne by the unanimous voice of the nation, and that he was resolved to
devote tlie remainder of his life in cultivating the arts of peace.
In the meantime preparations for war were made by all the allied
powers. The English, whose arm)', under the command of the duke of
Wellington, was at this time in the Netherlands, resolved not to leave the
man they had once conquered in quiet possession of the throne of France,
and every engine was put in motion to re-assemble the troops. Bonaparte,
likewise, actively prepared for the contest that wiis to decide his fule. He
collected together all the disposable forces of France, and led them towards
the Netherlands, hoping to arrive before fresh troops could come to the
aid of the English and Prussians, and thus defeat them and get possession
of Brussels.
The army under the immediate direction of the French emperor, includ-
ing the corps of Grouchy, amounted to upwards of 150,000 men, with 350
pieces of cannon. In an order of the day, issued the 14th of June, he said,
" the moment has arrived for every Frenchman who has a heart, to con-
quer or perish." The allied troops in Flanders were yet quiet in their
cantonments. The Prusso-Saxon army formed the left, the Anglo-Bel-
gian army the right. The former was 115,000 strong, commanded by the
veteran Blucher; the latter about 80,000, commanded by the duke of Wel-
lington, whose head-quarters were at Brussels; those of Blucher were
at Namur, about sixteen leagues distant.
On the 15th of June the memorable campaign of 1815 was begun, by
Napoleon driving in the advance posts of the Prussians on the river Sam-
brc, while Marshal Ncy crossed the river at Marchiennes, repulsed tlie
Prussians, and drove back a Belgian brigade to Quatre-Bras. In the
evening, at eleven o'clock, the duke of Wellington (who, together with
the duke of Brunswick, and the principal officers then in Brussels, were
participating: in the festivities of a ball, given by the duchess of Uichmond),
received a dispatch from Marshal Blucher, informing him that Ilonapartc
was on hia march to Brussels, at the head of an hundred and fifty thous-
and men. The dance was suspended, and orders issued for assemkilinf
the troops. On the IC'th was fought the battle of Ligny, in which Blucher
was detiiated, and forced to retreat to Wavre, having narrowly escaped
being taken prisoner. On the Ame day the duke of Wellington had di
THE TREASURE OF HISTORY.
713
reeled his whole army to advance on Quatre-Bras, wicli the intention of
succouring Blucher, but was himself attacked by a lar?e body of cavalry
and infantry, before his own cavalry had joined. In the meantime the
English, under Sir Thomas Picton, and Belgians, under the duke of Bruns-
wick, had to sustain the impetuous attacks of the French, commanded by
Marshal Ney, who was eventually repulsed, though with considerable
loss. In this action fell the gallant duke of Brunswick, who was univer-
sally and deservedly lamented. The whole of the 17th was employed in
preparations for the eventful battle that ensued.
The retreat of Blucher's army to Wavre rendered it necessary for Wel-
lington to make a corresponding retrograde movement, in order to keep up
a communication with the Prussians, and to occupy a position in front of
the village of Waterloo. Confronting the position of the allies was a
chain of heights, separated by a ravine, half a mile in breadth. Here Na-
poleon arrayed his forces, and having rode through the lines and given
his last orders, he placed himself on the heights of Rossome, whence he
had a complete view of the two armies.
About a quarter before eleven o'clock the battle began by a fierce attack
on the British division posted at Hougomont; it was taken and retaken
several times, the English guards bravely defending and eventually re-
maining in possession of it. At the same time the French kept an iines-
Rant cannonade against the whole line, and male repeated charges with
heavy masses of cuirassiers, supported by close columns of infantry, whith,
except in one instance, when the farm of La Haye Sainte was forceO,
were uniformly repulsed, Charges and counter-charges of cavalry and
laifantry followed with astonishing pertinacity. The brave Sir Thomas
Picton was shot at the head of his division ; a grand charge of British
cavalry then ensued, which for a moment swept everything before it ; but,
assailed in its turn by masses of cuirassiers and Polish lancers, it was
forced back, and in the desperate encounter Sir William Ponsonby and
other gallant officers were slain. Soon after this, it is said, the duke felt
himself so hard pressed, that 'e was heard to say, "Would to God night
or Blucher woi'lrl come." As the shades of evening approached, it ap-
peared almost ,' l.tful whether 'he troops could much longer sustain the
unequal conflict , Imt at this crit.cal moment the Prussian caimonade was
heard on the left. Bonaparte immediately dispatched a force to hold them
in check, while he brought forward the imperial guards, sustained by
the best regiments of horse and foot, amid shouts of "Vive I'empereur,"
and flourishes of martial music. At tliis moment the duke of Wellington
brought forward his whole line of infantry, supported by the cavalry and
artillery, and promptly ordered his men to "charge!" This was so unex-
pected by the enemy, and so admirably performed by the British troops,
that the French fled as though the whole army were panic-stricken. Na
poleon, perceiving the recoil of his columns on all sides, exclaimed, "it is
all over," and retreated with all possible speed. The French left the field
in the utmost confusion and dismay, abandoning above one hundred and
fifty pieces of cannon. They were pursued by the victors till long after
dark, wlien the British, exhausted by fatigue, halted ; the Prussians there-
fore continued the pursuit, and nothing could be more complete than the
discomfiture of the routed army : not more than forty thousand men, partly
without arms, and carrying with them only twenty-seven pieces out of
their numerous artillery, made their retreat through Charleroi. The loss
of the allies was great ; that of the British and Hanoverians alone amounted
to lliirteen thousand. Two gcnonds and four colonels were among the
killed ; nine generals and five colonels were wounded ; among them wa
Lord Uxbridge, who had fouglit gallantly, and was wcunded by almo
the last shot thai was fired by the enemy. Such is the general, thoug
necessarily meagre, oijtline of the ever-memorable battle of Waterloo
714
THE TRKASIJEY OP HISTOEY.
evincing one of tlie noblest proofs upon record of British valour, and of
(he talents of a great national commander.
Bonaparte returned to Paris, in the gloominess of despair, and admitted
that his army was no more. The partisans of Louis looked forward to
the restoration of the Bourbons; another party deuired a republic; while
the Uonaparlists showed their anxiety to receive Napoleon's abdication,
and to make Maria Louisa empress-regent durmg her eon's minority
Meanwhile the representatives of the nation declared their sittings per-
manent, and some of the members having boldly asserted that tne un-
conditional abdication of Bonaparte could alone save the state, the declar-
ation was received with applause, and the fallen emperor was persuaded
once more to descend from his usurped throne.
A commission was appointed to repair to the allied armies with propo-
sals of peace, but the victors had formed a resolution not to treat but under
tl«3 walls of Paris. The duke of Wellington then addressed a proclama-
tion to the French people, stating that he had entered the country not as
an enemy, except to the usurper, with whom there could be no peace nor
truce, but to enable them to throw off the yoke by which they were op-
f>ressed. Wellington and Bhicher continued their march to Paris with
ittle opposition, and on the M)\h it was invested. The heights about the
city were strongly fortified, and it was defended by fifty thousand troops
of the line, besides national guards and volunteers. On the 3d of July,
Marshal Davoust, the French commander, concluded a convention with
the generals-in-chief of the allied armies, who stipulated that Paris should
be evacuated in three days by the French troops ; all the fortified posts
and barriers given up; and no individual prosecuted for his political opin-
ions or conduct. The provisional government now retired, and on the 6th
Louis made his public entry into Paris, where he was hailed by his fickle
subjects with cries of "Vive le roi!" The military, however, though
beaten, were still stubborn, and it required some lime and address to make
them acknowledge the sovereignty of the Bourbons.
Bonaparte in the meantime had reached the port of Rochefort in safety,
from when(;c he anxiously hoped to escape to America ; but finding it im-
possible to elude the British cruisers, he went on board the Bellerophon,
one of the vessels blockading the coast, and surrendered himself to Cap-
tain Mailland. Prior to this he had sought to stipulate for a free pas-
sage, or to surrender on condition of being allowed to reside in England
in honourable exile ; but neither proposal could be listened to; the allied
powers, aware of his restless and intriguing disposition, had determined
upon the island of St. Helena as his future residence, and that there he
should be kept under the strictest guard. The Bel'erophon proceeded to
Torbay ; Napoleon was transferred to the Northumberland, commanded
by Admiral Sir G. Cockhuin, and, attended by some of his most attached
friends and domestics, he in due course reached his destination, but not
without violently protesting against the injustice of his banishment, after
having thrown himself upon the hospitality of the British nation.
Murat, the brother-in-law of Napoleon, having joined the allies when
he found the career of his friend and patron growing to a close, rejoined
him again on his return from £lba-, but having been driven from the throne
of Naples, he joined a band of desperadoes, and landed in Calabria, where,
Leing speedily overcome and taken, he was itistan'lj' shot. Marslial Ney
f who had promised Louis to bring Napoleon, "like » wild beaet in a cage,
to Paris") and Colonel Labedoyere, sufl'ered for their treachery; but Lav-
alette, who was sentenced to the same fate, escaped from priton, dis-
guised in his wife's clothes, and, by the assistance of Sir Robert Wilson,
Mr. Hutchinson, and Mr. Bruce, got out of the country undiscoverci'.
A congress was held at Vienna, and several treaties between the at'ied
powers and France were finally adjusted. (Nov. 20.) The additions made
THE TREASUHY OF HISTORY.
715
10 the French territory by the treaty ot 1814 were now rescinded; seven-
teen of the frontier fortified towns and cities of France were to be gar-
risoned by the allies for five years ; one hundred and fifty thousand troops,
as an army of occupation under the duke of Wellington, were to be main-
tained for the same space of time ; and a sum of 900,000,000 francs was
to be paid as an indemnity to the allies. It was further agreed, that all
the works of art which had been plundered by the French from other
countries, should be restored. Thus the master-pieces of art deposited
in the gallery of the Louvre (the Venus de Medicis, the Apollo Belvi-
dere, &c., &c.), were reclaimed by their respective owners — an act of
stern justice, but one which excited the utmost indignation among the
Parisians.
In order to secure the peace of Germany, an act of confederation was
concluded between its respective rulers, every member of which was
free to form what alliances he pleased, provided they were such as could
not prove injurious to the general safety, and in case of one prince being
attacked, all the rest were bound to arm in his defence. Thus ended this
long and sanguinary warfare, the events of which were so rapid and ap-
palling, and their consequences so mighty and unlooked-for, that future
ages will be tempted to doubt the evidence of facts, and to believe that the
history of the nineteenth century is interwoven with and embellished by
the splendour of fiction.
A. n. 1816.— It has been justly observed, that "it was only after the
storm had subsided that England became sensible of the wounds received
in her late tremendous struggla. While hostilities lasted, siie felt neither
weakness nor disorder. Though a princrpal in the war, she had been ex-
empt from its worst calamities. Battles were fought, countries were over-
run and desolated, but her own border remained unassailable. Like a
spectator viewing securely the tempest at a distance, she was only seMi-
ble of its fury by the wreck of neighbouring nations, wafted at inlerv«l3
to her shores. The cessation of hostilities in 1815, was like the cessation
of motion in a gigantic machine, which has been urged to its maximum
velocity. One of the first results of peace was an enormous diminution
in the war expenditure of the government. During the last five years of
the war, the public expenditure averaged 108,720,000/. During the first
five years of peace, it averaged 64,660,0002. Peace tltus caused an imme-
diate reduction of nearly fifty millions in the amount of money expended
by government in the support of domestic industry.
At the commencement of the session the ministers were defeated in at-
tempting to continue the property tax for one year longer; and, chagrined
at this result, they abandoned the war duty on malt, thereby relinquishing
a tax that would have produced 2,000,000/. The bank restriction bill was
extended for two years longer, and another ineffectual attempt was made
in favour of the Roman catholic claims.
The house was now informed, by a message from the prince regent,
that a matrimonial alliance was about to take place between his daughter
and Prince Leopold of Saxe Cobourg : upon whic.i parliament voted an
annual provision of 60,000/. for supporting a suitable establishment, and,
in the event of the decease of the princess, 50,000/. per annum was secured
to his royal highness for life. The nuptials were solemnized with be-
coming splendour, on the 2d of May, at Carlton house. In the .Fuly follow-
ing the princess Mary gave her hand to her cousin the duke of Gloucester.
The event next demanding notice, was one which placed the glory of
British arms and British humanity in a conspicuous light. The Algerines
and their neighbours, the Tunisians, had long been in the habit of com-
mitting atrocities on the subjects of every Christian power that happened
to fall into their hands. Repeated remonstrances had been made, without
procuring redress, and it was now determined that this horde of pirates
nilrf
ric
THE TREASURY OF HI3T0EY.
should either accede to certain proposals, or suffer for so long and barbar
ously deryin>r the laws of civilized nations. Accordingly, Lord Kxmouth
was sent with a fleet to the states of Barbary, to conclude a treaty of
peace between them and the kings of Naples and Sardinia, to abolish
Christian slavery, and to obtain from them a promise to respect the flag
of the Ionian islands, which had lately become an independent country.
The beys of Tunis and Tripoli acceded to all these demands ; but the dey
of Algiers demurred, as far as regarded the abolition of slavery. Shortly
after, notwithstanding this treaty, a considerable number of unarmed
Christians, who had landed at Bona, having been massacred by the Mo-
hammedans, Lord Exmouth returned and commenced a furious bombard-
ment of the city of Algiers, which lasted six hours; the contest was
severe ; eight hundred of the assailants fell in the action, and the Britisli
ships suffered considerably, but the gallant admiral had the satisfaction
of demolishing the Algerine batteries, and destroying their shipping,
arsenal, and magazine, while the dey was forced to agree to the abolition
of Christian slavery, and the release of all within his dominions.
Tiie distresses of the labouring and manufacturing classes, and the high
price of provisions, at length produced serious disturbances in various
parts of England. The malcontents in the eastern counties broke out
into open violence, and were not suppressed without the assistance of the
military. In London similar attempts were made. Mr. Hunt, a popular
demagogue, had on tiie 15th of November convened a public meeting in
Spa-fields, to draw up a petition to the regent. On the 2d of December
another meeting was called to receive the answer to their petition. While
this meeting was awaiting the arrival of Mr. Hunt, a band of desperadoes
appeared on the ground with a tri-coloured flag and other banners, beaded
by a young man named Watson, who, after using violent language from a
wagon, proceeded towards the city, accompanied by a vast crowd of the
populace. On arriving at Snow-hill they plundered the shop of Mr. Beck-
with, a gunsmith ; and a person named Piatt, who remonstrated against
the proceeding, was shot at and wounded by young Watson. They then
hurried on towards the Royal-exchange, where they were met by a body
of the police, headed by Mayor Wood, who ordered the gates to be shut,
and seized several who had arms. Ttic mob plundered some more gun-
smiths' sliops in the Minories, but the military coming to the aid of the
civil power, several of the rioters were apprehended, and the remainder
dispersed. One, named Cashman, suffered capital punishment, but the
ringleader contrived to effect his escape to America, although a large re-
ward was offered for his apprehension.
A. D. 1817.^In the regent's speech at the opening of parliament, allusion
was made to the popular discontents, which he ascribed to the efforts of
designing persons to mislead the people. On his return through St.
James' purl< an immense mob had assembled, who saluted him with
groans and hisses, and as he passed the back of Curlton-house the glass
of the royal carriage was perforated either by a stone or the ball from an
air-gun. To meet the public exigencies, his royal highness soon after
surrendered fifty thousand pounds per annum of his income. This ex-
ample was followed by the marquis Camden, who patriotically gave up
the fees of the tellership of the exchequer, valued at thirteen thousand
pounds per annum, reserving only the salary of two tiiousand seven hun-
dred pounds. Alas! the noble marquis had no imitators ; but though his
generous example was not followed, the deed will not be wholly ob-
literated from his country's annals.
A melancholy event now occurred. The princess Charlotte, daughter
of the regent and consort of Prince Leopold, expired on the 5ih of No-
vember, after having given birth to a dead child. The untimely fate of
this amiable princess caused a regret which was universally exprofcsed.
THS TREAStniY OF HISTOllY
717
[ler unostentatious and frank demeanour, her domestic virtues and be-
nevolent disposition, had inspired the people with a high idea of her worth,
and they fondly antieipated that under her auspices the glory and pros-
perity of England would again become resplendent.
There is little else of a domestic nature to record this year, if we except
the three days' trial of William Hone, the parodist, who was arraigned upon
criminal information as a profane libeller of parts of the liturgy. He was
tried by Lord Ellenborough and Mr. Justice Abbott ; and having conducted
his defence with unusual ingenuity and perseverance, he not only came
off victor, but actually pocketed the sum of three thousand pounds, the
amount of a public subscription, raised to remunerate liim for liiving un<
dergone the perils of a government prosecution, or as a reward for the
laudable intention of bringing into contempt both church and state !
A. D. 1818. — The parliamentary session was opened by commission.
The habeas corpus act was rf^stored, and a iiill passed to screen ministers
from tiie legal penalties the; ^.light have incurred through the abuse of
their j*)wer during the time of its suspension. At the same lime meet-
ings were held in nearly every populous town throughout the country, for
the purpose of petitioning for parliamentary reform. When the sessions
closed on the 10th of June, the parliament was dissolved, and writs issued
for new elections. All the ministerial candidates in the city of London
were thrown out, and Sir Samuel Romilly and Sir Francis Burdett were
returned for Westminster; but in the country the elections passed off
quietly, and little change was produced in the parliamentary majority of
ministers.
Queen Charlotte, who had been some time indisposed, expired at Kew,
m the 75th year of her age, and the 68th of her marriage with the king.
Owing to her exemplary conduct the court of England was pre-eminent
for its strict decorum.
The year 1818 was fertile in royal marriages ; the princess Elizabeth
was married to the prince of Hesse Romberg ; the duke of Clarence to
tiie princess of Meinengen ; the duke of Kent to the princess dowager
Leinengen, sister to Prince Leopold ; and the duke of Cambridge to the
princess of Hesse Cassel.
The British army returned from France, which they had lately occupied,
according to the stipulations of the treaty at the restoration of Louis
XVIII. Towards the close of the year the expedition which hid been
sent to explore the arctic regions also returned to England, but without
accomplishing their object— the progress of the vessels having been so
impeded by the ice.
A. D. 1819.— The country was still pregnant with disaffection, and the
doctrine of annual parliaments and universal suffrage was advocated by
demagogues as the only remedy for a corrupt state of the representation.
At length the meetings assumed a very serious aspect; one of which,
from its being attended with fatal consequences, and having given rise
to much subsequent discussion, it is necessary to describe. This was
the "Manchester reform meeting." It was originally convened for the
choice of a parliamentary representative, and had been fixed to take
place on the 4th of August ; but in consequence of a spirited notice put
forth by the magistrates, declaring that the intended meeting was illegal,
it was postponed, and hopes were entertained that it would ultimately have
been abandoned. However, new placards were issued for the 16th, and
"pariiamentary reform" was substituted for the original object. A piece
of ground called St. Peter's field was the spot chosen for this exhibition;
and hither large bodies of men, arrayed in regular order, continued to
march during the whole of the morning, the neighbounng towns and
villages pouring out their multitudes for the purpose of centering in this
fccus of radical discontent. Each parly had its banner, with some
718
THE TREAStRY OF HISTORY.
motto thereon inscribed, clianicteristic of the grand object they had in
veiw, mottoes which have since become familiar even to ears polite— such
as " No Corn Laws," " Annual Parliaments," " Vote by Ballot," " Liberty
or Death," &c. Nay, such was the enthusiasm of the hour that among
Ihtm were seen two clubs of " female reformers," their wiiite flags float-
ing in the breeze. At the time Mr. Hunt took the chair not less
than fifty thousand persons — men, women, and children — had as
sembled, and while he whs addressing his audience, a body of the Man-
chester yeomanry cavalry came ni sigiit, and directly galloped up to the
hustings, seizing the orator, together with his companions and their ban-
ners. A dreadful scene of terror and confusion ensued, numbers being
trampled under the horses' feet, or cut down. Six persons were killed,
and about a hundred wounded. Coroners' inquests were held on the
dead bodies, but the verdicts of the juries led to no judicial proceeding ;
true bills, however, were found against Hunt, Moorhouse, Johnson, and
seven others, for a conspiracy to overturn the government, but at the
same time they were admitted to bail.
Public meetings were now held in all the principal towns in the king-
dom, and addresses were presented to the regent and the parliament,
condemnatory of the civil and military authorities at Manchester, which
were met by counter-addresses, calling for the repression of sedition, &c.
At the opening of parliament the subject underwent a thorough discussion,
aiid amendments to the address were moved in both houses, character-
ising the Manchester [)roeeedings as unconstitutional ; they were, how-
ever, negatived by overwlielming majorities. At the same time strong
measures were resorted to for preventing the occurrence of similar dis-
orders, by passing C( rlain preventive and prohibitory acts of parliament,
afterwards familiarly known as the " six acts." These, though decidedly
coercive, seemed called for by the state of the country, and received the
ready sanction of the legislature.
On the 23d of .lami.iry, 18J0, died at Sidmouth, in his 53d year, Prince
Kdward, duke of Kent; leaving a widow, and one child, the Princess
Victoria, then only eiu'lit months old. The duke had never mixed much
in the turmoil of |)olilics, his life having been chiclly spent in the army,
wIktc he obiaiiKMl a high character for bravery, but was regarded as a too
strict disi'ipiiiiariati.
Scarcely had the news of the duke's decease reached the more distant
parts of (Jrcal Hritaiii, lufnre the dcalh-knell of his venerable father,
George III., was heard. The bodily heallli of his inajf'sty had of late been
fast (iciliiiiiiij, and on llie 2!)th of .laiiiiaiy he exi)h-ed. Some lucid in-
tervals, Ihontfli few, had been noticed din'iiiLT the lime he laboured iiiiihT hi*
distressing malady; hut he had long heiMi blinil, :iiid latterly deafner<s was
added to his otlier afllii-tions. 'i"he king was in the 8','d year of his age,
and the (illth of his reign ; leaving six sons and four daiighl(>rs living at the
time of his decease. His remains were interred in the royal vault
at Windsor.
In speaking of the character of Oeorge (he Third, no one will deny
that he appeared inv.iriably to act up to the diiiales of his conscience ; as
a monarch, he studied the w<'lfare of his subjects; us a father, he n»'Klect-
ed not the honour and happiness of his chililreii. lie left a name unsullied
by any |)arlieular vice, and his memory will be honoiii'ed by posterity
fur till- goodness of his heart, for Ins piety, clemency, and fortitude.
THK TREASURY OF HISTORY.
710
CHAPFKll LXIV.
THE REIGN OF OEOROB IV.
A. n. 1S20.— George the Fourth, eldest son of the lute vmerable inon-
arch, who had exercised sovenngii power as regent during his roynl fath-
er's mentjil incapacity, was immediately proclaimed king, and the new
reign commenced without any expectation of official changes. At the
very moment of his accession, and for some time before, a most atrocious
conspiracy existed, having for its object the assassination of the whole of
his majesty's ministers. The sanguinary intentions of the conspirators
render a detail of their plans necessary.
Several wretched individuals, headed by Arthur Thistlewood — a man
who had formerly been a lieutenant in the army, but who had subsequently
suffered fine and imprisonment for challenging Lord Sidmouth to tight a
duel, and was now reduced to indigence — hired a stable in Calo-street,
Edge ware road, for the express purpose of assembling there and consult-
ing on the best plan of putting the design into execution. The time
chosen for the commission of the bloody deed was on the occasion of a
cabinet-dinner at Lord Harrowby's, in Grosvenor-square; they iutoiidi'd
to proceed in a body to his lordship's house, and, having gained admission
by stratagem, murder all present. Actiu'^ on previous uiformalion from
one of the conspirators, wlio had associated with tiien> for the purpose of
their betrayal, Mr. Birnie, a Bow-street magistrate, with twelvi; of the
patrol, went to Calo-street, and Iher", in a haylolt, they found the con-
spirators assembled. The entrance was by a ladder, which some of the
police officers ascended, and on the door being opened, twenlyfive or
thirty men appeared armed. A desperate struggle ensued in the dark, the
liglits having been extinguished, and Smitlii-rs, one of the police, was run
through the body by Thistlewood; meaiiiiine, a company of the foot
guards, commanded by Captain Fitzclarence, arrived at the place; of ren-
dezvous, which they surroundiid, and succeeded in capturing nine of the
desperadoes. Thistlewood and the rest escaped ; but he was afterwards
taken in an obscure lodging at Finshury, while in bed. They were all
found guilty; and five of them, namely, TInatlewoo.d, Ings, Brunt, Tidd,
and Davidson, were hanged and then decapitated at the Old Badey ; the
other five had their sentences commuted for transportation. Al)iint the
same time the trial of Hunt and others took place at York, for their con-
duct at Manchester on the 16th of August ; Hunt was senienced to he im-
prisoned in Ilchester jail for two years and six months, and llealy,
Johnson, and Bamford to one year's imprisonment in Lincoln jail.
The country had been in a very unsettled state in consequence of the
foregoing proceedings, hut they were treated as matters of httle impor-
tance when compared with a scene that followed : we mean the trial of
Queen Caroline. Her majesty had been six years absent from England,
and for the last twenty-three years she had been separated from her hus-
band. She had been charged with connubial infidelity, and a riijid inves-
tigation into her conduct had taken place; hut thtmgh an undignitied levity
had been proved against her, the charge of criminality was not eslalilislied ;
yet was she visited with a kind of vindictive persecution that rendered
her life a burden. The prince liad declared Ik; would not meet her iti
\)ul)lu! or in private; and among the magnates of rank and fashion his
iiiallicma operated with talisinanic power; she was consequently put out
)f the pale of society, of which she had been described to bo " the grace,
,ife, and ornament." Thus neglected and insidled, she sought for recrea-
tion and repose in foreign travel ; and during her absence rumour was
•3usy at home in attnhuiinuf to Iter amours of the mon degrading kind. It
f/aii currently reported that the princess of Wales was living in adultery
;:t
*f'
•:c!n
THE TUEASUIIY OF HISTORY.
with an Ituliuii named Bergami, whom, from the menial station ot a
courier, she had created her chamberlain, and familiarly admitted to her
table. To elicit evidence and investigate the truth of these reports, a
commission had been appointed under the direction of Sir John Leach,
who proceeded for that purpose to the continent ; and the result of his in-
quiries was, that the Engiisn ministers abroad were not to give the prin-
cess, in their official character, any public recognition, or pay her the re-
spect due to her exalted station.
On the death of George III. the first step taken to degrade her was the
omission of her name in the liturgy ; but sne was now queen of England ;
and notwithstanding an annuity of 50,000/. per annum was offered on con-
dition of her permanently residing abroad, and not assuming, in the event
of the demise of tlie crown, the title of ^ueen, she indignantly rejected tiie
proposal, challenged the fullest inquiry into her conduct, and returned to
England on the (ith of June, with a full determination to face her enemies.
She was accompanied by Alderman Wood and Lady Hamilton, and her
entry into London was greeted with the joyful acclamations of assembled
multitudes.
Tiie charges against the queen being resolutely persisted in by her ac
cusera, and her guilt as pertinaciously denied by her defenders, all attempts
at reconciliation failed, and a secret committee of the house of lords pro-
ceeded to examine the inculpatory documents contained in the " green
bag." On the 5th of July Lord Liverpool presented a bill of pains and
penalties against the queen, providing that her majesty be degraded from
her rank and title, and her marriage with the king dissolved. The queen
protested against these proceedings at every step, and was occasionally
present during the examination of witnesses. Meanwhile, the excitement
was intense. Guilty or not guilty, the public sympathized with her as a
woman who had been subject to systematic persecution for a quarter of a
century, carried on by a man as relentless as he was licentious ; and how-
ever great her delinquencies might be, her persecutor was the last man in
his dominions who could justify himself in pursuinir the object of his hate
with cruel vindictiveness. During all this time addresses and proces-
sions in honour of the queen kept the metropolis in such a ferment that
its mechanics and artizans appeared as if iMigaged in a national saturnalia.
Sir Hol)ert GilTord, liie attorney-general, assisted by tiie solicitor-general,
coiulucteil the |)rosecution ; Mr. Urougham, Mr. Denman, and Dr. Lush-
Migton, the defence. The proceedings liaviiig at length been brought to
a close, tlie lords met on the 2d of Novemb(.'r, to discuss the second read-
mg of tlic bill of degradation. Some declared their conviction of the
queen's guilt ; others as confidently as.serted her innocence; while several
denied both the justice and expediency of the bill, and would not consent
to brand with everlasting^ infamy a member of the house of Urunswick.
Upon a division for a second reading there was a majority of 28. Some
were in favour of degradation, but not divorce. Upon the third reading
of the bill, the ministerial majority was reduced to 9 ; when Lord Liver-
pool iminedjately annuunced the intention of government to abandon the
further prosecution of this extraordinary proceeding. The filthy details,
as they fell from the lips of well-paid Itiilians, couriers, valets, and chain,
bermaiils, wliiii- under examination, were given with prurient comments
in the newspapers; and thus a mass of impurity was circulated through-
out the country, more contaminating, because more minutely discussed
and dwelt upon, than anything that was ever publicly recorded in the
chroni(;lcs of sliamelessnoss. On the 23d the parliament was suddenly
prorogued ; and on the 29th the queen, attended by a cavalcade of gentle-
men on horseback, went in state to St. Paul's to return thanks fur hei
bH[)py dejiveraiice.
A D. 1821— On opening the parliamentary sossion, his majesty meu-
(lonml t
prnvlslii
niury nil
wqiioiill
upon III,
Duiinj
iiiUtroNt ;
and (he i
Wtti i-epi
l»ruit Hill
iniulii II It
were imh
dmiiiiiitiii
Till. HI
quoeii hu
li«r eiMiim
«olicli(»r.,
ci)ii»ori w
filminl („
ci»r«iiioiiy
niorit iiiiig
abliiiy ami
from |||(> ii
llie pliil/'or
liiiiKlreil III
view of (III
imkI tfiiller
Biirly iiK i««
MIUJCN of |ll
«idi'nili|(t III
had tiei'ii (
lor of the
airivi'il III
I'l'l'l-plloii, I
niijiiitiiiq; i,
kiiitf iirrlvn
abbey, hm i
(liii ImniiiH
l|lleeil'N ||.({,
''oroiiiiijiiii I
lite kiiiK n
Willi llllllllH
nerved , 1,11
I r* mill III
afierwiniU i
a ur.iiid iliK,
V'iii'MMii« Hum
drcil .ii|f| (III
I' lll'« llCl
ilii' ciiruii ii|i
llniiimvii'li, \
lOliliiiiielv o
"luhi lioijiiv
'loiii tile dm
«'llM'll jiliii'i'
III oiiM wi I'k
HI olilcct ,|f
who iliii iiol
Vol., I,
THE THEA8URY OP HISTORY.
'M
if
he
Is,
in«
iti
rh-
IL-J
he
>iy
,1c-
lei
tinned the qunen by name, and recommended to the house of commons a
provbloii lor her iniiiutenancie. At first she declined to accept any pecu-
llinry iillinviiiU'n until iier nitme was inserted ia the liturjry ; but she sul>
swiuoiilly iiltcriMl her determination, and an annuity of 50,000/. was settled
upon htM',
Ouiitiu llii' »('sninn the subject of parliamentary reform excited much
lllltirMtit ; tho boroimh ofGrainpound was disfranchised for its corruption;
ttlltl tht' ncccKwily of rctriMichniuiit in all the departments of (jovernment
Wtt» rcpciittMily urgnd by Mr. Hume, whose persevering exposition of the
Ittftfit nw\\<* that were uselessly swallowed up in salaries a.id sinecures
miiilti It urciit iinprcsNiou on the public, and though none of iiis motions
wcrd ('iirrit)il, Ihe atleutiou of ministers was tiu-reby directed to tiie gradual
diniililllMMi of the enormous expense incurred in tite different public offices.
The UMlM'i|ialed coronation was now the ail-absorbing topic. The
qutuMl liiiviiix, by memorial to the king, claimed a rigiit to be crowned,
lliir I'OUMni'l were heard in support of her claim, and the attorney and
iioll('llor-K''iierul ai{;iiiist it. Tlie lords of tiie council decided thatqueena-
eimvorl wtirn not cntillcd to the honour — a decision which the king was
fileu»iit loii/i/inii'c. The l!)lh of July was the day appointed for the august
eerenioiiy, pn'|iarati(ni8 for which had long been making; and nothing
lllonHnatfiiiCu'entciin be imagined than the appearance of Westminster-
abhtiy iind hull. 'I'he covered platform, over which the procession moved
fcoin till' hall to Ihenblx^ was 1,500 feet in length; and on each side of
the plMll'onu an aniphithealre of seats was erected, to acconnnodate one
liundri'ii llioUKund opcctators. Kvery spot in the vicinity from wliieh a
vi«W (tf llie ({iirgeoufl piigeant could be obtained was covered with seats
iiud (jullenen, for which the most extravagant prices were given. As
early in* two o'ehick in tho mornuig the streets were filled with the car-
rnmim of pei'Kons going to witness the ceremony; and before five a con-
■idenilde tniniber of the comp;my had taken their [)|:<.ees at the hall. It
had been eurrently reported that the queen would be present as a specta-
tor of the ni'ene ; and so it proved ; for about five o'clock lier majesty
arrived hi her olale-carriage ; but no preparation had lieeu made for her
riM'e|)ll(m, and, not having an admission-ticket, she had to bear the hu-
niiliatltiir indignity nf a stern refusal, and was ot)liged to retire! The
kinif arrlvnl iii ten, and the procession moved from the hall towards the
fthhi'y, Inx iiiH|esty walking imder a canopy of cloth of gold, supported by
the banniN ol' ''le einipie-ports, among whom was Mr. llrougham, the
i|ue(Mi'N legal adviner and leading coiuisel ! The ancient solemnity of the
coronullon ni VVenlminster-abhcy occupied about five hours; and when
the kiUK re-eiilered the hall, with the crown on his head, he was received
Willi eiilliU'«liiKlie cheers. Soon after five o'clock the royal banquet was
Nerved, mid lie' king, having dined with anil drank tlu; hiallh of "his
peer* and lim good people," left the festive scene. The populace were
iiClerwiinN gralilliil \»illi a balloon ascent, boat-races on the Serpentine,
a ur.iiiil display of fire-works in Hydepark, and free admission to the
varioiiK ihealren. 'I'lu' expenses of the coronation amounted to two hun-
ilreil .Hid lliii'iy eU!lil thousand pounds.
II \\\H lieeii Keen that the (|Ueen made an inefTectual attempt to witness
ill run lUtiii of Iwr royal husband. The proud spirit of the house of
llriiHNWiek. whieli li:id borne up against a load of regid oppression and the
eonliimelv of Kveiipbantie emirtiers, was now doomeil to yield before a
f\\,\\\\ boililv allaek Kleveii days after her majesty had l.een repulsed
li'oin the door* of WeotmiiiHier-hall, she visited Dniry-biin' theatre, from
wliieh place ulie reined early on account of a sudden indisposition, and
III one week more IIik lieniic female was a corpse As long as she was
til olilecl of perKeeiilioii, slie was the idol of popular applause ; those oven
who did lint iiecoiint her blameless, felt for her as the victim of a heart
Vol.. 1,^40
'ill"
HI
TIIK THEASURY OF HISIORY.
U'SS syslcin of oppression. But the excitement in her favour soon oegan
(0 Hdlisidp, Hud it was believed that the comparatively little interest wliicii
th«' ptihiic snemt'd to take in her favour on the day of the coronation, sunk
dffp Into her heart. She died August the 7th, aged 52 ; leaving the world,
8N she herself declared, without regret. H(;r body lay in state at Bran-
dcilhllf^'house, lier villa near Hammersmith; and on the lOth, it was ccv
V(<yt<(\ (hrougli London, on its way to Harwich, the port of embarkaticxi
for lt(4 flniil re8litig-|)lace at Brunswick. Countless multitudes had a*
S«(lll»led to join in the procession; and when it was discovered that a cir-
CdlloKS nnite had been prescribed for the funeral train, in order to avoid
tmf*sing through the streets of the metropolis, the indignation of the people
itWW no bounds, and in an affray with the guards two lives were lost.
Hy ohstrilctiiig and barricading the streets tlie people succeeded in forcing
the fJfoi'fission through the city, and the royal corpse was hurried with
indpcent haste to the place of embarkation. On the 24lh ol August the
femrtlds of the queen reached Brunswick, and were deposited in the
family vault of her ancestors.
We simll now turn for a moment to notice some events of importance,
thotigh not connected with the domestic history of Great Britain. The
first is the death of Napoleon Bonaparte, who died of cancer in the stomach,
aged f»1. The disease was constitutional, but it had probably been accel-
♦^rated by mental agitation and the unhealthy climate of St. Helena.
Those who wish to know the character of this extraordinary man must
ft^H(\ it in his actions, under the various and varying aspects of his fortune.
His aim was to astonish and aggrandize, to uphold or trample upon jus-
lltP, (19 best suited the object he had in view. Before his love of uuiver-
DhI domination, every other passion and principle was made to give way :
rdlijlon, honour, truth — all were sacrificed to personal ambition. In his
Will he expressed a wish that his " ashes might repose on the banks of the
Heine, in the midst of the French people, whom he loved so well." That
Wish has since been gratified.
/n Mpnin, Portugal, and Naples, a sort of revolutionary crisis had com-
menced. Kncouraged by the discontents of the middle ranks, the troops,
under the influence of Ri(!go and other gallant officers, succeeded in
IlliikiiiK Ferdinand swear fidelity to the constitution of 1812. Similar
trtiidnct was pursued by the people of Portugal, whose declared objects
were the establishment of a constitutional itionarchy. .\nd in Naples the
tio|iiilnr mind took the same direction, and ellected the same object.
A, n. \r*'i'>. — This year, though not marked by any great event, was one
of Interest as regarded important questions in parliament. Amonu the
lending, were agricultural distress in Kngland. and scarcity and distress
III Ireland. Some changes during .lanu.iry took place in the cabinet ;
llllnislers strengthened themselves by a imion with the (irenville party;
find liord Sidmonlli retired from his office of home secretary, to make
riHMii for Mr. I'eel.
On the fith of February the king opened parliament, and took occasion
toexjiress regret that his visit to Ireland had failed to produce tranquillity.
lie nisd adnntled that agriculture had to contend with unexpected diffi-
etlllies, but congratulated the house on the prosperity which attended
the manufai lures and (.'ommerce of the country.
The state .»f Ireland did indeed demand attention. On one hand, coer-
cive measures were necessary to re|)ress tlu; disorder that reigned through
till* island, for, owmg to the daring nocturnal hands of \Vhit(> boys, &(•.,
neither life nor [)roperly was safe. On the other, so universal we^ tha
ftitliite of Ihe potato crop that the price was quadrupled, and the peas
aiilry of the smith were in a stale of starvation. To meet the former
fivll, it was found necessary to suspend the habeas corpus act, and to
rriiow ihn iiivurrectiun act. To alleviate the latter, a cuiiimittee ^^ .i<
/ormed
country
answer
viduals
close o(
of the d
300,000^
000/.; n
From
houses V
tural dis
fohn Rui
for reliev
the curre
caused bj
the imprc
Pailiar
king enib;
Leith, anc
he appear
which his
embarked
London.
During 1
of the mai
ment. Tl
\vas in his
liy cutting
ihe share i
"iipopular
private life
Little of
lo foreign i
"ecember;
tism of Per
Kiigland ob
affairs of t
frontiers of
raged at B
to "army
ment to ch
developed,
A. D. 182„
about to set
"lent, and a
faste, and Ai
Some popuI«
'■hancellor o
cepted the c
upper house I
president of
was prorogii
'laving takt
wlio plainly
Bui he had ti
flourishing cJ
a considerab
"otumcncem
THE TREA8URV CF HISTORY.
;93
111
liir
t.s
,lie
ly;
like
;opr-
&(!..
the
pcus
riiu"'
lid to
lormed ia London, and corresponding committees in different parts of tin-
country; British sympathy was no sooner appealed to than it wh.i
answered with zealous alacrity; and such was the benevolence of indi-
viduals that large funds were speedily at their disposal, so that before the
close of the year the subscriptions raised in Great Britain for the relief
of the distressed Irish amounted to 350,000/. ; parliament made a grant of
300,000/. more; and in Ireland the local subscriptions amounted to 150,-
000/. ; making altogether a grand total of 800,0i0/.
From the beginning of the year to the end of the session in Augu>st, the
houses were occupied on questions of the highest importance ; agricul-
tural distress, for which various remedial measures were proposed ; Lord
lohn Russell's plan for a parliamentary reform ; Mr. Vansittarl's scheme
for relieving the immediate pressure of what was called the " dead weigiit ;"
the currency question, which referred to the increased value of money
caused by Mr. Peel's act of 1819, for the resumption of cash payments;
the improvement of the navigation laws, &c.
Parliament was prorogued on the 6lh of August, and on the tentii the
king embarked at Greenwich for Scotland. On the 15th he landed ui
Leith, and the 19th held a levee in the ancient palace of Holyrood, wiiere
he appeared in the Highland costume. Having enjoyed the festivities
which his loyal subjects of Edinburgh provided for the occasion, lie re-
embarked on the 27th, and in three days was again with his lieges in
London.
During his majesty's absence intelligence was brought him of the death
of the marquis of Londonderry, secretary of state for the foreign depart-
ment. This nobleman, who had been the leading member of government,
was in his 54th year, and in a temporary fit of insanity committed suicide,
by cutting the carotid artery. In consequence of his tory principles and
the share he took in effecting the union with Ireland, he was the most
unpopular member of the administration, but he was highly respected in
private life, and enjoyed the personal esteem of his sovereign.
Little of domestic interest occurred this year, but a few words relative
lo foreign affairs are requisite. The congress at Verona terminated in
December; the allied sovereigns were disposed to re-establish the despo-
tism of Ferdinand in Spain, in opposition to thecortes ; but to this policy
FiUaland objected, denying the right of foreign powers to interfere in the
affairs of the Peninsula. The " sanitary cordon," established on the
frontiers of France for the avowed purpose of preventing the fcvnr which
raged at Barcelona from spreading to that country, chiiiiged its name
to " army of observation," while the design of the FoMich govern-
ment to check the progress of revolutionary principles in Spain were
developed, and, indeed, soon afterwards openly expressed.
A. D. 1823. — On the death of Lord Londonderry, Mr. Canning, who was
about to set out to India as governor-general, relinquished that employ-
ment, and accepted the vacant secretaryship, as one more consjonial to his
taste, and for the duties of which he was supposed to be perfectly efficient.
.Some popular changes now took place in the ministry. Mr. Vaiisiltart,
chancellor of liie exchequer, resigned in favour of Mr. Robinson, and ac-
cepted the chancellorship of the duchy of Lancaster, with a seat in the
upper house and the title of LordBexley; and Mr. Huskinson was made
president of the board of trade, in room of Mr. Arbuthnot. Parliament
was prorogued by commission on the 19th of July; much altercation
bavins taken place between Mr. Canning and his political opponents,
who plainly convinced him that he was not "reposing on a bed of roses."
Hut he had the satisfaction at the close of the session of dwelling on the
flourishing condition of all branches of commerce and manufactures, and
■i considerable abatement of the difficulties felt by the agriculturists at iH
Roiumcncenient.
'"t-n
!■♦•'
t: I
/•->4
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
In April the French army of observation crossed the Pyrenees ; and the
duke of Aiigoiilemo, its commander, pubhshcd an address to the Spainards,
declaratory of the objects of this interposition in their affairs ; defining it
to be, the suppression of the revolutionary faction which held the king
captive, that excited troubles in France, and produced an insurrection in
Naples and Piedmont. They then marched onward, and, without rneet-
mg any resistance of consequence, occupied the principal towns and for-
tresses. In October the city of Cadiz surrendered, and French interfer-
ence terminated with the liberation of Ferdinand from the cortes, who in
all their movements had carried the unwilling king with them. The
French then retraced their steps, leaving forty thousand men in possession
of'the fortresses, to maintain the authority of the Spanish king in case of
a reaction.
A. D. 1824. — Favourable as the political aspect of Great Britain appeared
at the commencement of 18:23, there was now an evident improvement in
almost every branch of commercial industry ; while the cultivators of the
soil found their condition materially assisted by natural causes, without
the aid of legislatorial interference. It was therefore a pleasing task for
Mr. Robinson, when he brought forward his budget, to describe in glowing
terms the general prosperity of the country, and declare his intention of
effecting an annual saving of ^£375,000 by reducing the interest of the four
fier cent, stock to three and a half. But a course of prosperity in England,
ike true love's course, " never did run smooth" for any length of time.
There was now an abundance of capital, and money was accordingly to
be had at low rates of interest. Safe investments were difficult to be
found at home; hence foreign loans were encouraged, till there was
scarcely a state in the Old or New World which had not the benefit of
English capital. It was a rare era, too, for the gambling speculations of
a host of needy adventurers ; and, under pretext of having discovered ad-
vantageous modes of employing money, the most absurd schemes were
daily set afloat to entrap the avaricious and unwary. Many of these
devices were so obviously dishonest, that the legislature at length inter-
fered to guard the public against a species of robbery in which the dupes
were almost as much to blame as their plunderers. A resolution passed
the house of lords declaring that no bill for the purpose of incorporating
any joint-stock company would be read a second time till two-thirds of
the proposed capital of the company had been subscribed. This certainly
checked the operations we have alluded to; but the evil had been allowed
to proceed too far, as experience proved.
A convention belweei'. Ureat Britain and Austria was laid on the table
of the house of commons, by which the former agreed to accept dE0,.500,000
as a tinal compensation for claims on the latter power, amounting to
dCSO.OOO.OOO — a composition of one shilling and eight-pence in the pound !
Among matters of domestic interest, although not of a nature, perhaps,
to dcmaiid notice in a condensed national history, we may mention two
occurrences which supplied the public with feride topics of discourse.
We allude to the trial of John Tliurtell, who was executed for the murder
of William Weare, as they were proceeding in a gig towards the cottage
of their mutuiil friend Prohert, near Elstrce, where they had been invited
to take the diversion of shouting : and also to the execution of Mr. Faunt-
leroy, the hanker, who wiis tried and found guilty of forging a power of
attorney for the transfer of slock. The lirst-nientioned offender against
Uie laws of Ciod and man was the son of a respectable alderman at Nor-
wich ; but by aHsocialing with gambler!*, and indulging in brutal sports,
he hiid conirai'ted habits of ruflianism to which such a course of life almost
inviiri.ihly leads. The latter viokaor of a sai'rcd trust had committed
forgeries to the enormous exteitt, as was asserted at the time, of about a
quarter of a million.
A. E
•uppri
to he
counti
absurd
sequel
thiit c(
state o
va'fed b
agicato
people,
connexi
ture pre
The (
jecled i
carried
Vork st
" Twent
agitated ;
l;ist ten 1
I will ad1
We hai
of all kin
duction
panics wi
more thai
been projc
many of t
pects that
several ro
South Am
Several
the great
money mai
unable to i '
house of
dismay in
were conn,
don bankini
,''/ne, in adi
The tnerch]
'"ff.feelinif
a' the man
unprecedeii
founded pai
lishnieiits o
public crodj
I" twodai
one and tw(
For one wv
post-chaise
and preveii
their groiim
A. D. 182«j
admitted ih
ppcimmry di
iiidicioiis.
facility of c
THE TttEASUin OF HISTOllY.
A. D. 1825. — One of the first steps in legislation this year was an act lo
(oppress the catholic association of Ireland. Daniel O'Connell assumed
to 1)6 the representative and protector of the catholic population in that
country, and continued to levy large sums from the people, under the
absurd and hypocritical pretence of obtaining "justice for Ireland." Sub-
9eq\ienlly a committee of the lords sat to inquire into the general state of
th:it country; and in the evidence it clearly appeared that the wretched
state of existence to which the peasantry were reduced was greatly aggra-
vated by their abject bondage to their own priests, and that while the arch
aguator and his satel'.iles were allowed to inflame the passions of the
people, and delude them into a belief that they were oppressed by their
connexion with Great Britain, no remedy within the power of the legisla-
ture presented itself.
The catholic relief bill passed in the house of commons, but was re-
jected in the lords by a majority of 178 against 130. The debate was
carried on with great animation ; and, in the course of it, the duke of
York strenuously declared against further concession to the catholics.
" Twenty-eight years," said he, " have elapsed since the subject was first
agitated ; its agitation was the source of the illness which clouded the
last ten years of my father's life ; and, to the last moment of my existence,
I will adhere to my protestant principles— so help me God!"
We have seen what an astonishing impulse had been given to speculations
of all kinds last year by the abundance of unemployed capital and the re-
duction of interest in funded property. The mania for joint-stock com-
panies was now become almost universal. During the space of little
more than a twelvemonth, two hundred and seventy-six companies had
been projected, of which the pretended capital was .=£174,114,050. Though
many of these were of an absurd character, and nearly all held out pros-
pects that no sane man could expect to see realized, yet the shares of
several rose to enormous premiums, especially the mining adventures in
South America. But a fearful re-action was at hand.
Several country banks stopped payment in December, and among them
the great Yorkshire bank of VVenlworth and Company. A panic in the
money market followed ; and in a few days several London bankers were
unable to meet the calls upon them. On the 12lh December the banking-
house of Sir Peter Pole & Co., stopped payment. This caused great
dismay in Hie city, it being understood that forty-seven country banki
were connected with it. During the three following days five other Lon-
don banking firms were compelled to close ; and in a very short space of
time, in addition, sixty-seven country banks failed or suspended payments.
The mercl'fi'its of the city of London, at the head of whom was Mr. Bar
ing, feeling that something was necessary to restore confidence, assembled
at the mansion-honse, and published a resolution to tlie eflTect that " the
unprecedented enibarrassmonts were to be mainly attril)uted to an un-
founded pan.c; that they had the fullest reliance on the banking estab
iishments of the country, and therefore determined to support them, and
public credit, to the utmost of tlieir power."
In two days after this declaration, the Bank of England began to re-issue
one and two iiound notes for ttie (convenience of the coinitry circulation.
For one week, 150,000 sovereigns per day were coined at the Mint, and
post-chaises were hourly dispatched into the country to support the credit,
and prevent the failure, of the provincial firms which still maintained
their gronini.
A. n. lS2(i.— The effects of the panic were severely felt; but it must be
admitted that Hie Bank of Kngland made strenuous efforts lo mitigate
pecuniary distress, and the course pursued hy government was ste-idy and
ludicions. The main ingredient in producing the mischief h;id been the
facility of creating fictitious money ; ministers, therefore, prohibited the
..rrM
:\t^
r2fi
THE TREASIiRY OF HISTORY.
sirculatioii of one pound notes, while incorporated companies wen
allowed to carry on the business of banking. Beyond this they could
scarcely go : it was next to impossible that tliey could afford an effective
guarantee against future panics, over-trading, or the insolvency of bankers.
On the 2(1 of February parliament was opened by commission. The
royal speech adverted to the existing pecuniary distress, and showed that
it WHS totally unconnected with political causes. It also alluded to
measures in contemplation for the improvement of Ireland. After sitting
till the end of May, the parliament was dissolved, and active preparations
were made for a general election.
Certain leading questions had now got such possession of the public
mind, that, at most of the elections, tests were offered and pledges re-
quired from the several candidates. The most important of these were
catholic emancipation, the corn laws, and the slave trade : and out of the
members returned for England and Wales, one hundred and thirty-three
had never before sat in parliament. It was observed that now, for the
first time, the catholic priests of Ireland openly began not only to take an
active part in elections, but to inculcate the doctrine that opposition to an
anti-catholic candidate was a christian duty. The English radicals were
also extremely noisy and active in their endeavours to return Cobbett,
Hunt, and othersof that clique ; but for the present they were unsuccessful.
The new parliament was opened by the king in person. No business
of any great importance was brought before the house; hut an expose of
khe numerous joint-stock companies that had been estHblished was made
Oy Alderman Waithnian. He observed that six hundred had been formed,
most of them for dislionest purposes ; the directors forcing up or depress-
ing tlie market as they pleased, and pocketing the difference between the
selling and buying prices. As members of the house were known to be
directors of some of these bubble companies, he moved for a committee
of inquiry with reference to the part taken by members of parliament in
the joint-stock mania of 1824-5-6.
A few foreign occurrences claim our notice. The death of Alexander,
emperor of Hussia, a powerful ally of England, and a noble and benevo-
lent prince, who sincerely desired the good of his people. It was his
wish that his brother Nicholas should succeed him; ami, in compliance
with that wish, the grand duke Constantine, who was next heir to tiie
throne, publicly renounced his right to the succession in favour of his
younger brother. — Also, the death of John VI., king of Portugal and
titular emperor of Brazil , whither he had retired, with his court, on the
invasion of Portugal by Honaparte. — Missolonghi, the last asylum of the
Greeks, taken by storm, by the combined Egyptian and Turkish forces,
who, rendered furious by the bravery of the besieged, put all the males to
the sword, and carried the women and children into slavery. — The de-
struction of the Janissaries by Sultan Mahmoud, followed by an entire re-
modelling of the Turkish army, and the introiluciion of European military
discipline. — Remarkable coincidence in the deaths of two ex-presidents
of the United Sta'es of America : Mr. Adams and Mr. Jefferson not only
expiring on tne same day, but that day being the fiftieth anniversary of
the declaration of American independence.
A. D. 1B27. — We closed our last record with a notice of the deaths of
two distinguished men on trans-Atlantic ground. We are compelled
to commence the present year with the decease of an illustrious individual
in Enifland. His royal highness Augustus Frederick, duke of York, pre
Bumptive heir to the throne, and commander-in-chief of the army, at the
head of which he had been thirty-two years, and under whose adminis-
tration it had won imperishable laurels, died on the .'Jth of January, in the
Mthyear of his agi;. in person he was noble and soldierlike, in disposi-
<ioii i
partiii
Th(
took ,
denly
attack
free f\
him to
but hi
handlii
countr
Neai
Liverp(
to forn
dingiy
ble diffi
jesty's
colleagi
'his per]
a confec
royal wi
ster, anc
Mr. Cam
seal; Vii
retary ; fl
count Pa
of Lanca
poinlmen
chancellc
general ;1
master-g(
of Leeds,
sequently
partnient,
A treat
an end to
jects, was
Britain, t
From tl
been sufft
inroads oi
the parlia
of Angus
mation oi
57th year
tlian for h
with succ
In politi
act upon
Liverpool,
in the st
and ami..
On the
'ry. Loi
of the ex,
"rmy, but
Tlie tre;,
to the suit
en
ab
Drc
THE TKEA8UEY OF HISTORY.
727
his
ami
tlie
the
irces,
[■s to
(le-
ro-
ths of
pelled
dual
pre
at the
minis-
ill the
isposi-
iioii frank, amiable and sincere ; in the discharge of his official Julies, im-
partial and exact.
The first topic of domestic interest was the change of ministry, which
took place in consequence of Lord Liverpool, the premier, being sud-
denly disabled by a stroke of apoplexy, which, though he survived the
attack nearly two years, terminated his public life. His lordship was
free from intrigue and partisanship, and his official experience enabled
him to take the lead in conducting the ordinary affairs of the government,
but his oratory was commonplace, and he was incapable of vigorously
handling the great questions which during his premiership agitated the
country.
Nearly two months elapsed before the vacancy occasioned by Lord
Liverpool's illness was filled. The king then empowered Mr. Canning
to form a new ministry, of which he was to be the head; and he accor-
dingly began to make arrangements. But he met with almost insupera-
ble difficulties, for within forty-eight hours after he had received his ma-
jesty's commands, seven leading members of the cabinet — his former
colleagues — refused to serve under him, and sent in their resignations. In
this perplexity he waited on the king, who suspected there was not only
a confederacy against Mr. Canning, but also a disposition to coerce the
royal will. Tlie king was not likely to withdraw his support from the min-
'ster, and ultimately a mixed administration entered on the duties of office.
Mr. Canning, premier ; earlof Harrowby, president ; duke of Portland, privy
seal ; Viscount Dudley, foreign secretary ; Mr. Sturges Bourne, home sec-
retary; Mr. Iluskisson, board of trade; C. VVynn, board of control; Vis-
count Palinerston, secretary of war; Lord Bexley, chancellor of the duchy
of Lancaster ; Lord Ly iidhurst, lord chancellor. The other ministerial ap-
pointments 'vere. Sir John Leach, master of the rolls ; Sir A. Hart, vice-
chancellor; Sir James Scarlett, attorney-general; Sir N. Tindal, solicitor-
general ; duke of Clarence, lord-high-adiniral; marquis of Anglesea,
master-general of ordnance ; duke of Devonshire, lord-chamberlain ; duke
of Leeds, master of the horse ; and VV. Lamb, secretary for Ireland. Sub-
sequently, the marnuis of Lansdovvne accepted the seals of the home de-
partment, and Mr. fierney was made master of the mint.
A treaty which had for its object the pacification of Greece, by putting
an end to the sanguinary contest between the Porte and its Grecian sub-
jects, was signed at London, on the 6lh of July, by the ministers of Great
Britain, France, and Russia.
From the hour that Mr. Canning undertook the office of premier he had
been siitfering under a degree of nervous excitement which made visible
inroads on his constitution; but it was expected that a little repose during
the parliamentary recess would reiiivigorate him. Not so, for on the 8th
of August he expired, the immediate cause of his death being an inflam-
mation of the kidneys. This highly gifted statesman, who was in the
67th year of his iige, was not less remarkable for scholastic acquirements,
than for brilliant oratory and pungent wit ; weapons which he often used
witli success in deinolisliing the more solid arguments of his opponents.
In politics he was a tory, though possessing the good sense to avow and
act upon liberal principles. He was long the efficient representative of
Liverpool, and his constituents were proud of one who, while he shone
in the senate, combined the graces of scholarship with elegant manners
and amiability of temper. . .
On the death of Mr. Canning there were but few changes m the minis-
try. Lord (todcrich became the new premier, and Mr. Herries chancellor
of the exchequer; the duke of Wellington resumed the command of the
army, but without a scut in the cabinet.
The treaty for attempting the pacification of Greece, not being palatable
to the sultan, he declined the mediation of the allied powers, and recom
Ij*
\ I'M
li,
728
THE TREASURY OP HISTORY.
metiL-cd the war furiously against the Greeks. To put a stop to this, the
combined flecMs profeedc^d (o the bay of Navarino, with a determination to
capture or tieslroy the Turkish fleet which lay there, if Ibrahim Pauha
refused lislun lo pacific overtures. No satisfaction being obtained, Ad-
miral Codringlori, followed by the French ships, under Ue Rigny, and the
Russian siiiiailroii, entered liie bay; and after four hours from the com-
men<;eiiifiil of the confliet, which had been carried on with great fury, the
enemy's fleet was wholly destroyed, and the bay strewn with the frag-
ments of his ships.
A. D. 1828. — It was seen from the first, that the Goderich ministry did
not possess the inj^redients for a lasting^ union. Difl"erences between the
leading members rendered his lordship's position untenable, and he re-
signed his seals of oflice. Upon this the king sent for the duke of Wel-
lington, and coiTiinissioned him to form a new cabinet, with himself at the
head ; the result was, that his grace immediately entered into communi-
cation with iMr. Peel, and other members of Lord Liverpool's ministry,
who had seceded on the elevation of Mr. Canning; and, with very few
exceptions, the same parties once more came into power. The duke, on
becoming the first lord of the treasury, resigned the oflice of commander-
in-chief.
On the ftih of May the catholic claims were again brought forward,
when Sir Francis burdett moved for a committee of the whole liouse on
this subject, with a view to a conciliatory adjustment. After a three
nigliis' debate, this was carried by a majority of six. A conference with
the l(jrds was then held, after which there was a two nights' debate in the
lords, when the duke of Wellington opposed the resolution, and it failed.
In Ireland, during the Canning and Goderich ministries, all was com-
paratively still ; but this year the excitement of the people, led on by the
popular dema<rogues, was greatly increased by the formation of a Wel-
lington and Peel administration. The Catholic Association was again
in full activity; Mr. O'Connell was returned for Clare, in defiance of the
landed gentry of the county; the priests seconded the efl'orts of itinerant
politicians, and, in tlie inflated rhetoric of ,Mr. Shiel, " every altar became
a tribune at which the wrongs of Ireland were proclaimed." Meanwhile,
ministers looked sui)inely on, till the smouldering embers burst into a
flame, whieh nothing within tlieir power could extinguish. How could it,
indeed, be otherwise, when the marquis of Anglesea, the king's represen-
tative, wrote a letter to Dr. Curtis, the titular catholic primate of Ireland,
to the eff"ect that the settlement of the catholic question was unavoidable,
and recnmmeiidiiig the catholics to "agitate,'' but refrain from violence,
and trust to the legisl-.iture. What more could the great agitator himself
require than such an ally ? It is true that the marquis was forthwith re-
called from the government of Ireland for writing the said letter — btU he
was noL impcuched.
The repairs and improvements of Windsor castle, which had been for a
long time in hand, were this year completed, and the king took posses-
sion of his apartments, December 0th. A parliamentary grant of 450,000/.
had been devoted to this truly national edifice, and great ability was shown
in retaining the principal features of the original building, while studying
the conveniences of modern civilization.
At the latter end of tiie year, owing to the discovery of a systematic
plan of murder h ivmg been piirsuc-d by some wret(;lies at Kdinburgli, an
indeserihablo feeling of horror and disgust pervaded the (country. It ap-
peared, on the trial of William Hiirko and Helen M'Dougal, who lodged
in a house kept by a m-an named Hare, that tliey had been in the habit ol
decoying persons into the house, where they first made them intoxicated,
Uid then sufl'ocatcd them. 'V\w boihcs were tiien sold for anatomical
purposes, and no questions asked respecting the mode in which they had
been \ i
though
cuted 1
special
after wa
The
render i
war agi
left the
Russian
great ba
tance to
from the
aflfairs ol
between
country
A. D. 1
tlieir int(
emancipa
populatio
tlian one
Scotland,
was well
liad been i
depended
come the
along;, cat
into the h(
to render i
at the ele
upon their
'he protes
Whigs adv
that sectio
protestant
however, a
resolute stl
den, and oJ
the bishop-j
ner denouiJ
church anJ
10th of Apl
A few off
eral, was ^
Sir James I
peerage by I
pleas by 8il
to Mr. Suirl
The veiTil
oiitofparliJ
one, but it
emancipati(j
and they wl
whose co-ol
governmentl
allow him if
be could nol
clear that til
THE THKASUHY OP HISTORY.
7S9
been ( rocured. Tlie number of their victims it was difficult to ascertain,
thou>{li Uurke confessed to upwards of a dozen. This wretch was exe-
cuted amid ilie exultations and execrations of an immense concjurse of
spectators ; and the system of siranguhition wiiieh lie liad practised was
afterwards known hy the term of Burking.
The foreign even'ts of this year bear too little on English history to
render necessary more than a mention of tiiem. In April Russia declared
war against Turkey. Tlie destruction of the Turkisli fleet at Navarino
left the former power masters of the Black Sea; and on land 115,000
Russians were assembled to open the campaign on the Danube. Several
great battles were fought, the Turks offering a much more cffecuial resis-
tance to their invaders than was anticipated ;'at length the Russians retired
from the contest, but did not return to St. Petersburgh till October. The
affairs of Greece had gone on more favourably in consequence of the war
between Turkey and Russia ; and, assisted by France and England, that
country was restored to the rank of an independent nation.
A. D. 18^9.— Soon after the opening of parliament, ministers declared
their intention to bring forward the long-agitated question of catholic
emancipation, in order to put an end to it forever. In Ireland the catholic
population was estimated at five millions and a half, whereas not more
than one million and three quarters were protestants; but in England,
Scotland, and Wales, the number of catholics fell short of a million. It
was well known that the duke of Wellington's repugnance to the measure
had been gradually abating; that he thought the security of the empire
depended upon its being carried ; and that he had laboured hard to over-
come the king's scruples. These being at length removed, Mr. Peel, in
a long, cautions, and elaborate speech, introduced the " Catholic relief bill"
into the house of commons on the 5th of March. Its general objects were
to render catholics eligible to seats in both houses of parliament, to vote
at the election of members, and to enjoy all civil franchises and offices,
upon their taking an oath not to use their privileges to "weaken or disturb
the protestant establishment." As it was a course of policy which the
whigs advocated, it had their support ; the chief opposition coming from
that section of the tory party who felt it to be a measure dangerous to the
protestant institutions of the country. The majority in favour of the bill,
however, at the third reading, was 320 to 142. In the upper house a more
resolute stand .vas made against it; the lords Eldon, Winchelsea, Tenter-
den, and oth' .s, backed by the archbishops of Canterbury and York, and
the bishops of London, Durham, and Salisbury, in the most solcnm man-
ner denouiicing it as a measure pregnant with the most imminent peril to
church and state as by law established. It was, however, carried on the
10th of April, and received the royal assent on the 13th.
A few official changes followed. Sir Charles Wethercll, attorney-gen-
eral, was dismissed for his anti-catholic opposition to the ministers, and
Sir James Scarlett appointed. Chief-justice Best was elevated to the
peerage by the title of Lord VVynfonl ; and was suixeeded in the common-
pleas by Sir Nicholas Tindal, the solicitor-general, whose office was given
to Mr. Sugden.
The year 1830 commenced without any circumstance occurring in or
out of parliament worth relating. The position of ministers was a difficult
one, but it was what they had a right to expect. By conceding catholic
emancipation they had lost the support of their most influential friends,
and they were now compelled to accept as auxiliaries those hybrid whigs,
whose co-operation, to be permanent, must be rewarded by a share in the
government. But the stern unbending character of " the duke" would not
allow him to share even the glorv of a conquest with mercenaries whom
he could not depend on ; and, the'rcfore, as the tories were divided, it wai
clear that their lule was fast drawing to a close.
730
THE TKEASUttY OF HISTORY.
An event, by no means unexpected, now took place. For a consiterabie
time past tlic king had been indisposed, and he was rarely seen beyond
the limits of his royal domain at Vv'inonur; where, when he was well
cnougii to take exercise, he woiil'! < iijoy a forest-drive, or amuse himself
by fishing and sniliiii> on hif j."o>i"\io ^ .-rinia-waler. But gout and
dropsy had made sad liavoi .>n tlie vayu: i. 'alid; and in April bulletins ol
his health began to be puoIi:>hed. His iljiess gradually increased frnni
that time to the 2Cth of Jw.y, l! • 'uy on which he died. After a severe
paroxysm his maje^iv ;ii)peared u. be fainting, and, exclaiming "this if
death," in a few ni ;..i'r he ctased to breathe.
CHAPTER LXV.
THE REION OF WILLIAM IV.
A. D. 1830, June 2G. — William Henrv, duke of Clarence, third son ot
George 111., succeeded to tiie throne as William IV., being at the time of
his accession in ilic ()-5tii year of his age. This monarch was brought up
to the navy, having entered the service as a midshipman in 1779, on board
the Royal George, a 98-gun-ship, commanded by Captain Digby ; and, by
regular gradations, he became rear-admiral of the blue in 1790. From that
time he saw no more active service afloat, although he wished to share in
his country's naval glories ; and nothing was heard of him in his profes-
sional capacity, till 5lr. Canning, in 1827, revived the office of lord-high
admiral, which for more than a century had been in commission. He,
however, resigned it in the following year, tlie duke of Wellington, as
prime minister, disapproving of the expense to which the lord-high-admiral
put the nation, by an over-zealous professional liberality.
On tile 23d of July parliament was prorogued by the king in person, the
royal speech being congratulatory as to the general tranquillity of Europe,
tile repeal of taxes«, and certain reforms introduced into the judicial estab-
lishment of the country.
It was, notwithstanding, a period pregnant with events of surpassing
interest, but as they chiefly belong to the history of France, the bare men-
tion of them is all that is here necessary. An expedition on a large scale
was fitted out by the French, witli the ostensible view oi chastising tlie
Algerines for their piratical insults ; but it ended in then "apturing the
city, and in taking measures to secure Algeria as a Vrench co. my. Then
cam:; the revolutionary struggle on the appoiiitmem of the Poi.gnac min-
i cy, which ended in the c; ulsion of Charles \. from the throne of
1 , I J, aiidtlu . dtion of Louis Philippe, duke of Orleans, as "king of
li,! French," who swore fidelity to tiic constitutional charter.
Tliis great change in the French monarchy was effected with less blood-
shed, and in far less time, than could have been anticipated by its most
saiijiuiue promoters; for, from the date of the despotic ordinances issued
by the ministers of Charles X., to the monu nt that the duke of Orleans
accciited the office of lieutenant-general of the kingdom, preparatory to
his being elected king, only four days elapsed, duriti^ two of which there
were some sharply contested battles between the citizens and the royal
troojjs under Marmont. Of the citizens three hiiii;!red and ninety were
killed on the spot, and of two thousand five huiiured wounded, three hun-
dred died. Of the royal guard, three hundrt d and seventy-five were killed
and wounded, and of gens-d'arines two hundred ami two.
A similar revolution in Delgium followed. When that country was
joined to Holland in 1815, to form the kingdom of the Netherlands, und
thereby raise a powerful litihvark on the frontier of France?, it was avow-
edly a mere union of political convenience, in which neither the national
TIIK TllKAfitatY OK HlSTOIlV.
cii;in,(!i 1. 1 III! iiistiiutioiis, nor the mliginn of tlie iiilnii
No MiniinT ihd the outbre-.ik in Paris become known,
Namiir, (JIuiit, Antwerp, an<f other cities, showed iui
hostility to their Dutcli rulers, and insurrection* whn
a state of civil war, were general throughout Befiriinii.
the Netherlands having been created by Great Britain,
Russia, and France, these powers assumed a ri<'ht
731
Us was consulted.
Brussels, I.iege,
derate ■spirit of
' t amounted to
kiniijdom of
Ai. 'na, ii*r!)<i8ia,
f medii >n berseen
>\ Wi! « signed al
the tr ")ps of the
ormerl) ''parated
I'h'
lot lost
le the
keof
> sup-
i<: mill-
■, ll » IS
id ih less
md Ihetn-
■ivil list.
'Mr seals
day. No-
lle fcead
r nvi^m-
I.ord
xche-
reign
lord
the belligerents; and on the 4th of November a pi •!
London, declariny that hostilities should cease, and t
contending parties should retire within the limits whic
Belgium from Holland.
Jhe effect of these successful popular com iiotions a y
upon the people of England; and "parliauuutary reiw..i
watch-word of all Aho wished to harass the lory ministry.
Wellington was cl.irgeil, though most unjustly, of hav in -
port, or at least bet > privy to the arbitrary measures of i
istfy ; and a clamoi . was raised against him and his coUe;
beyond their power ;o control.
By degrees the sin ill ministerial majority dwindled aN\
than a fortnight from 'he assembling of parliament the tur,
Stives in a minority o jfi, on a motion for the settlement m
This was a signal for he Wellington ministry to resign, an
of office were rcspectlVlly tendered to the king on the follo\\
vember 16.
The celebrated "reform ministry" immediately succeeded
of which was Lord Grey, as first lord of the treasury. The <
bers of the cabinet were ihe marquis of Lansdo*ue, lord-presu
Urougham, lord-chancellt)r: Viscount Althorp, --hancellor of
quer ; Viscount Melbournt . liome secretary ; Viscount Palmersi
secretary; Viscount Godi rich, colonial secretary; Lord Dur
privy seal; Lord Aucklanc president of the board of trade; n James
Graham, first lord of the admiralty ; Lord Holland, chancellor of ttie duchy
of Lancaster; Honourable Charles Grant, president of the India ixi'H;
ami the earl of Carlisle, without any official appointment. Among te
ministers wiio had no seats a the cabinet, were Lord John Russell, pay-
niaster-general; the duke of Richmond, postmaster-general ; the dukf of
Devonshire, lord-chamberlain; Marquis Wellesley, lord-steward; Sir T.
Denman, attiVrney-gei'-ral; u id Sir W. Home, solicitor-general. The
Marquis of Anglesea was invested with the lord-lieutenancy of Ireland,
and Lord Plunkett was its lori -chancellor.
During the autumn of this y< ir a novel and most destructive species of
outrage prevailed in the agricultural districts of the south of England,
arising from the distressed comitlon of the labouring population. Ni;^ht
after night incendiary fires kept the country in a constant state of alarm,
anil farming-stock of every description was consumed. There was no
open rioting, no mobs ; nor did it appear that it was connected with any
jjiiliilcal object. In the counties of Kent, Hants, Wilts, Bucks, and Sussex,
these tlisorders rose to a fearful luiglit ; threatening letters often preceding
;ht; conllagrations, which soon after night-fall would simultaneously burst
out, and spread over the country havoc and dismay. Large rewards were
(iflrrcil fur the discovery of the offenders, the military force was increased,
iiul sjieeial commissions were appointed to try the incendiaries. Alto-
n'lliiT upwards of eight hundred off"enders were tried, the greater part of
Ahmii were acquitted; and amonir those convicted, four were executed,
Hiid ihi! remainder sentenced to diffeient terms of transportation and im-
pri^onincnt.
In referring to foreign affairs, we have to notice: 1. The trial of the
French ministers, Polignac, Peyronnet, Chantelauze, and Ranville, on a
m
732
THK TREASUUY OP HISTOftY.
charge of liiirli trrason for the pan they took in enforciiifj the "ordinanoes"
of Charles X., wliich led to the memorable revolution of July. £. The
Polish insurrection. This arose from the grand duke Constantine o(
Russia having severely punished some of the young military students at
Warsaw for toasting the memory of Kosciusko. The inhabitants, assisted
by the Polish regiments, after a sanguinary contest in the streets, com-
pelled the Russians to retire to the otiier side of the Vistula. However,
dreading the resentment of their tyrannical masters, they afterwards en-
Jeavoured to effect an amicable Bettlement; but the emperor Nicholas
refused to listen to their representations, and threatened them with con-
dign piuiishment. .Meanwhile, the Poles prepared to meet the approaching
contlii't, and (General Joseph Chiopicki was invested with the office of "die.
tator." 3. 'I'lie death of Simon Bolivar, the magnanimous "liberator" ol
Columbia, who exitired, a voluntary exile, at San Pedro, December 17, in
the '18ih year of his age.
A. n. 1H31. — On the ."Id of February parliament re-assembled, and it was
announced that a plan of reform would speedily be introduced by Lord
John Russell. In the meantime Lord .\lthorp brought forward the budget;
by wiiich it appeared that the taxes on tobacco, newspapers, and adver
tisemcnts were to be reduced; and those on coals, candles, printed cot
tons, and i-ome oilier articles, abolished.
The subject of parliamentary reform contiinied to absorb all other polit
leal cousidcratious, and was looked forward to with intense interest. In
amiouuciug his scheme. Lord John Russel pro[)osed the total disfranchise-
ment of sixty boroughs, in which the population did not amount to two
thoiisaiiil, and Ihe partial disfranchisement of forty-seven, wliere the pop-
iilatiiiu was oidy four thousand. The bill, after a spirited discussion of
seven days, was read a first time. 'I'he second reading was carried on
the 9i.'(l of March, by a majority of one; and on General Gascoyne's mo-
tion for the conunitment of the bill, there was a majority against ministerj
of eight. Three days afterwards, on a question of adjournment, by winch
the voting of supplies was postponed, this majority had increased to twenty-
two; wliereupou the ministers tendered tlieir resignations to the king.
These he declined to accept, but adopted the advice of Karl (irey, who
reconunended a dissolution of parliament, which took place on the 2'Jd
of Afirii.
On the 11th of June the new [)arliament met, and was opened by the
king in jxTson. On the 'J'lth Lord John Russell made his second attempt.
The licliate lasted three nights, and on a division there was a majority of
one hundred and thirty-six in favour of the bill. It then nndi^rwent a loiig
and severe scrutiny in connnittee; every clause was discussed, and I7iany
imperfections remedjed. These occupied tlu? house till the 19th of Sep-
leuilier, when, alter another del)ate of three nights, tlu^ lull was earned
by a majority of one hundred and nine, and taken up to tin* lords — where
it f.'iiled.
That we may not interrupt the thread of onr narrative, we pass o?i to
April II, 18;t'.'; when, after a four nights' debate in the lioiise of lords,
tins iKip'iI.ir bill was carried by a majority of nine. After tins, innnmera-
Me rlillicnIiH s were raised, but the majority on its third reading was one
hundred and six to twenty-two.
We sliall now bru'lly refer to a (ewoccnrrences liitherlo omitted. Tho
Hnssiiiis sustained a severe defeat at Wawz, after a liaitle of two days,
their loss being fourteen ihcnisand men ; their oppoucnis the Poles, siitTer-
ed coiii|)aratively little. Dut on the nnih a Polish coips, under Dwermcki,
being liiird |pressed by the liuHsiaiis, retreated into Ausinun (Jaljicia, and
sinTendenng to the AvistriMi authorities, were treated ns prisoners and
sent into Mimgary. In slmrt, afler In.tvely eiiconuteriiig their foes, and
struKgling against su|>(>rior mimbers, Warsaw capiiuhiteit, ami the idea of
from till
popular
8ci(nisly
csiiiiiate
ed, or
the vile
the flMiiei
tile soidie
and eighn
Wi.eii f,„||
place oil
colonel III
pending m
With not li
II tumult o
have- been
how far
iransaclioi
will lead
per|ietuiil
wliirlwind,
HE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
733
ipt.
led
ITC
to
ITil-
0110
'ho
tr.T-
u'ki,
ni)(l
and
mid
of
Polish iiidepeiiileiice was farther rcmovod than ever. — lu June, Piiiice
Leopold was elected king of lielgiuin by the eongress at Brussels, his
territory to eunsisl of tlie kingdom of the Netherlands, as settled in 181,5.
On tiie 7th of September the coronatinn of their majesties took place ;
but, as eompared with the gorgeous display and banqueting when George
IV. was crowned, it must be considered a frugal and unostentatious
cPTcnioiiy. There was, however, a royal procession from St. James'
palace to Westminster-abbey ; and in the evening splendid illuminations,
free admission to the theatres, and a variety of other entertainments.
On the ~'lst of October, the Lmidoii (iazetteeontamed precautions to be
adopted against the spread of the Asiatic ciiolera, that dreadful pestilence
iiaving lately extended from Moscow to Hamburgh. It was ordered that
a board of health should be established in every town, to correspond with
the board in London, and elTectual modes of insuring cleanliness, free
ventilation, &<;. were pointed out. These precautionary measures were
doubtless of great use, and worthy of the paternal attention of a humane
government ; but owinir, as was supposed, to the quarantine laws having
been evaded by some persons who came over from llambuigh and landed
at Sunderland, the nuuh-dieadcHi infection visited many parts of Great
Britain, and produced indescribable alarm among all ranks of people.
One other event, that we would fam omit altogether, remains to be
mentioned among the domestic occurrences of the year. On the 29th of
October the city of IJristol became the scene of dreadful riots, which
were not overcome till that large commercial town appeared to be on the
verge of total destrueiion. Sir Charles Uetherell, an uncompromising
opponent of the reform bill, was recorder of Uristol ; and maledictions on
his head were freely uttered by the base and vulgar, for the vigorous stand
he made against tlu; bill during its progress through the commons. On
the recorder's making his public entrance the cruel storm (^oinmciiced,
and did not cease till the third day, by which Inne, besides immense de-
struction of private; property, the mansion-lionse, custom-house, excise-
office, an<l bishop's [)ala(H' were plundi red and set on (ire; the prisons
were burst opini, and their inmates set at libiTty ; and during one entire
day. Sunday, the mob were unresisted masters of the city. On Monday
.-norning, when tin; fury of thi! rioters had partly spent itself in beastly
oru'ies, imd many had become the victims of excessive drinking in the
ritred cellars and warehouses, tin; civil magistrates appeared to awake
from their stupor, and, with assistance of the military, this •' ebullition of
popul.ir feeling," as it was delicately termed by soine who had uncon-
sciously fanned the (lame, was arrested. The loss of property was
estimated at half a million. Tlu^ number of rioters killed, wound-
ed, or iniureil, was aliout 110; but of these, far more sud'ered from
the vile excesses of iiitempiMaiicc. iiiid fiom lieiiig uiiaMe to eseiipi; from
the (Imiu's which they had themselves kindled, '.han from the sahres of
tlie soldiery or the truncheons (d' ( onsfib.dary protectors. One liumlred
Hiid eighty were taken into custodv. .iiid 'ricd by a special eominission ;
when f.)ur were exi'ciiled and twenty-two triiisporled. Their trills look
place on the -M of .lamiary, I'i-. Not inati\ days afiersvards laeutenant-
C(d(mol Itreretcm, who had coiumaiid of the troops, coininitted suiciile,
pending an inquiry in. o Ins conduct by ediiil-mariial. He was charged
With not liavmu displaved the lirinness and decision ncccss.iry foripiellnig
a tumult of such ma«i'ntude. That more energy and decision ought to
liave been shown at tlic eomnicncemenl, by the iivil power, is evident;
iiow far the colonel was in error is very ipiesiionalile. The uliolo
Iransaetum proves to what excesses the unbn(ilcd fury of the populace
will lead during a period of piditical exciteineut, and ought to nerve us •»
perpetual warning to all those unquiet spirits who lovi! to " rule on llu'
whirlwind," but know not how to "direct the storm."
')*i|
734
THE TKEASUJIY OP HISTORY.
A. D. 1832. — Having in our previous notice stated tiie result of die long
continued contest respecting parliamentary reform, we have now only to
describe the changes effected in the representative system when the bills
came into operation. As soon as the royal assent was given to the En-
glish reform bill (June the 7th), congratulatory addresses and other peace-
ful demonstrations of public joy were very generally indulged in; but if
we may .judge by the triumphant chuckle of the victors and the lofty
scorn of the vanquished, the angry invectives of the late political dispu-
tants were neither forgotten nor forgiven. Yet, though the war of words
nad not wholly passed away, it was now as a mere feather in the balance —
tlie reform bill had become the law of the land.
During the montlis of February, March, and April, the cliolera became
very prevalent, not only in the country towns and villages in the north of
England, where it first appeared, but also in the metropolis. Every pos-
sible attention was paid to the subject by government; parocliial and dis-
trict boards were forthwith organized, temporary hospitals got ready for
the reception of the sick, and every measure that humanity and pru-
dence could suggest was reoorted to, toclieck the progress of the malady.
The virulence of the disease abated during tlie three succeeding months,
but at the end of the summer it appeared again as malignant as ev(.'r. In
the whole year, the deaths from cholera, within the limits of the bills of
mortality, amounted to 3.'200 ; and the total number of deaths exclusive of
London, was 24,180; tht; amount of cases being C8,855. In Paris, 1000
deaths o(!curred during the first week of its appearance there ; nay, so
fatal was it, that out of -15,075 deaths whicth took place in the French
capital in 18,32, the enormous luimber of ?. 9,000 was occasioned by
cholera. This frightful epidemic next appeared m Canada :md the United
States. It thus made the tour of the globe; beginning, as was supposed,
in Hindosian ; then devastating AIoscow and the northern parts of
Europe; visiting Great Britain and France; and lastly, crossing the
Atlantic.
In this year's obituary are the names of several men of eminence. From
among iheni w(! s^elect — Sir .lames Mackintosh, an (iloquent writer and
statesman. — .Icremy Iknlliam, ct'lebrated as a jurist and law reformer;
a man wiio had his own sijccilics for ev(!ry disease of tlie body-politic, but
who never had iIk; happiness to se(! one of them etTect a cure. Sir
Waller Scdlt, the " wizard of the norlli," as some of his eulogists have
called hini ; a romance writer and poet, of acknowledged merit, who for
a long period enjoyed a popularity unknown to any of his coteinporaries.
He iiosscssrd an exlraordinary union of genius and induslry, aiui had ho
been saiislied with his literary gains, instead of joining in tlies|ieculations
of his jiriiilers and publishers, his latter days would, in ail probability,
have been spent, aN they ought, in the enjoyment of ease and affluence.
A.n. lH,'i;i. — On the 2!iih of January liie first reform parliament was
opene<l by commission, and on the 5lli of February the king delivered his
H|)eech m person. Among other topics of interest, he cmphalically dwell
upon the increasing spirit of insubordination and violeiice in Ireland, and
on till' necessily which existed for enlnisting the crown with additional
powers for puniHliiuH the disiurbcrs of the laiblic jieace, and for strengthen-
ing the legislative union of the two kingiloms. This led to the passing
of the insurrection acts in the following nioiilh ; empowering the lord-
lieulenanl to prohibit piiidic meetings of a dangerous tendency ; sus-
pending the wiii of halHNis corpus ; autiiuriziiig domiciliary visits by
mauistrates, &c.
(ireat llritain had in 1S07 abolished the "slave trade," but ilnvrry tl.irlj
was now to become extinct in the West Indies. Hy the ad for llie
"aboliiion of cohmial slavery," all chililren umler six years of age, or
born after August 1, 1834, were declared free ; all regislerid slaves above
mm
for
iiy.
ICC.
\V !IS
his
iwrll
anil
Ollitl
•lieii-
lord-
fllH-
by
!'"•(/
ir tlio
or
lllDVO
THE TREAaiUlY OP HISTORY
735
•IX ycfllK bt'Ciinir, I'nun Uk; same dale, apprenticed labourers, with weekly
pny, cillK'r in money or by board and lodgingf, possessing, at the same
lilliM, III! lilt! riftlils and immunities of freemen. In effecting so great a
pIliUiKt), il was necessary that tlie owners of slaves should receive some
mlfl(|UUH' eoMipeimation. To meet this object, ministers at first proposed
(ulvanciiitf II loan of fifteen millions to the West India proprietors; but
tlin KJt'U of a liiiin was soon converted into a gift, and of a still higher
mmnnil ', llm sum of C'JO,000,000 being finally voted to the slave-owners
an II lihiiral rompcnsalion for the losses they might sustain by this
lliiiiiaiio measure. An end was thus put to a question which had agitated
thn ri'lli?i<»tiH portion of the community from the day that Mr. Wilberforce
flrnl Hiooii forward as the champion of African emancipation.
Willi r«!((iinl to renewing the charter of the Bank of England, there
Wdi'd (Hii'Btioiis on which the legislature were divided ; the majority, how-
uviU', iiiHlNted on the expediency of continuing the e.vclusive privileges of
tlid liaiiki NO that it should remain the principal and governing monetary
itMioiMiilloii of the empire.
A> n. 1 Hill. —The desire to move onward in legislating for and removing
{iverylliliiK tliiil senmed to obstruct the progress of " liberal" principles,
will* llu) iinliirnl consequence of the reform bill ; and at the commcnce-
iinml of llm year the " pressure from without" was felt by ministers to
lie II iiioNl inconvenient appendage to their popularity. This state of
llllli|{H could not long remain ; and on Mr. Ward bringing forward a
Miotifiii III lilt' house of commons for appropriating the surplus revenue of
Hilt Irlxll rliiirch to the purposes of government, it appeared that there
exluti'd It illlTerenct! of opinion in the cabinet as to the mode in which the
imilMiii hIumiIiI be met. The majority was in its favour ; but the appro-
pniiiHiil tift'hiirtsli property to other than ecclesiastical uses was incom-
imliltli' Willi llie notions of Mr. Stanley, Sir James (iraham, the earl of
l<i|Hiii, iiiid llin duke of Hichmoud; and tht^y accordingly resigned their
placfNliillM'iiiiiimlry. This happened May 37th; the 'J8ih being the anniver-
Hurv tif till' klnn'N hirth-day, the Irish prelates presented an address to his
niiiji'Hiy, III which Ihcy strongly deprecated ecclesiastical innovations.
'I'lit' kiiiu proinplly rcplitid, and in an unstudied speech of eimsiderablc
li'iiylli, witniilv expressed his atlaehnient to thechurch. He said Unit he had
iilwiiyK lici'ii ('riciidlv to loleration in its ulinost latitude, hut opposed to
licciiliiMiKin"<K, and that Im was fully sensible how much both the nrotes-
liiiit cliiMi'li and Ins own family were indebted to the revolutiDii of 1G8S ;
ciiiphatictilly and sdinewhal naively adding, "The words which you hear
rniiii me lire npipkeii froiii my mouth, but they jiroceed from my heart."
'I'lie riipliire Willi the ministers above-named was speedily followed by
iiiiollicr, winch ended in the resignation of Karl lirey, the jiremier. In
the eoiniiiUliii'iilioii^ which bad from lime to time been made by ministers
III Mr. O'Coiiiiell oii Irish affairs, it had beeucoiilideiitly stated to him that
when llie Irish cm ri'ioii bill was renewed, the el.iuses prohibitory of
lliei iniKt Wdiild mil lie pressed; nevertheless, the obnoxious clauses ap-
piMired III the lull ; ami Mr. O'CtPimell declared that he considered it dis-
Holved llie obliualjon of secrecy under which the eoininumeation had
licciiiniide. I.iird Mlliorp fimlini; himself unable to carry ilic coercion
bill ihiiMiuli the coinmons, with the clauses ajiainst public meetings, sent in
hiH rtKijinnlion ; and as r,;irl (irey considered himself unable, wiihout the
axNiitianee of Lord Mtliorp as ministerial leader in the house of commons,
III carry on the (("vtTiinieiit, he also resigned.
An arriinnemenl was, however, soon effected to form another minis-
tr>, i.ord Allhorj) eonsciiling to resume the chancellorship of the ex-
dicqiier under the premiership of Viscount Melbonrne. The new
cabiiiel lliiii Hlood thus i \ iscomit Melbourne, tirst lord of the treasury ;
Lord llronuliain, lord chancellor; Viscount .Mtliorp, chancellor of thii
HI,
III
m
THE TUEASUKYOF HISTORY.
♦*iiclH>(iurr; Aliiiqiiis of liimsdowiie, president of the council; Rarl o)
MlllgfiiVi-, privy seal ; Viscount Diiiicannon, home secretary ; Viscount
t'iilUM'iKloii, foreign secretary ; Spring Rice, colonial secretary ; Lord
AuckliiMd, first lord of the admiralty; Charles Grant, president of the
Illdiii l/onrd ; IMarqnia of Conyngham, postmaster-general; Lord Holland,
ellttliccllor of the duchy of Lancaster; Lord John Russell, paymaster of
tlin foK'PS ; and H. J. Littleton, secretary for Ireland.
All event now took place which was regarded as a national calamity,
lint merely on account of the loss sustained, but also from the historical
8tl(| periBMiial associations connected with it. On the evening of the ICth
(if Octdher a fire broke out in oik; of the offices at the lower end of the
house of lords, which continued to rage throughout the night, and was not
t'dlllplelely extinguished for several days. Great anxiety was felt for
the safety of that ancient edifice, Westminster-hall; and even the vener-
ttltle and inagnificent golhic pile o])posite, Westminster-abbey, was at one
period in great danger; but nothing that skill or intrepidity could achieve
Was neglected in arresting the progress of the flames; and though the
two lioiist s of parliament were destroyed, neither the hall nor the abbey
AllAlnlneil iniiteria! damage ; and the libraries and state papers in the lords
tltid eoininoiis were preserved. The fire, as appeared on inquiry, was
t'illified by negligence, in burning the exchequer-tallies in a building
ttdjolniiig tlie house of lords.
()iie iiionlh after the d(;struction of the houses of parliament the MeU
l)0(irii»! Miiiiistry was suinniarily dismissed. On the 14th November, Lord
Mellioinne waited on iiis majesty at Ijrighton to take his commands on the
iippojiitineiit of a chain ilior, in the room of Lord Althorp, removed, by
the death of his father, irl Spencer, to the Iiouse of peers. The king, it
Is piikI, (ibjei-ied to tin |ir(ii)osed re-construction of the cabinet, and made
his lordship the bean : of a letter to the duke of Wellington, who waited
Upon his iMHjesty, an : advised him to place Sir liobert Peel at the head of
the fiovernmeiit. Sir Hoiurt was at the time in Italy, whilher a courier
WHS {|is|Mlclie(l, and llu^ baronet arrived in London, Dec. 9, saw the king,
Mild a('ee|)l(d the situation. Thus again, though for a brief space, the tory
jtiifty, or conservatives, as tliey were now called, were in the ascendant.
A. ii. lw.1"i. — 'I'Ih! MelhouriK! cabinet had been looked upon as the dregs
of the (Jrev ininistry ; and the losses it hiid siistaiiu^d by the withdrawal
of llir- earl oi ihirham, tlie .Stanley section, and the noble premier himself,
had not l)( en siipjilicd by men of siiitidile talents. The public, therefore,
liad no great reason for regret, when the king so suddenly dispensed with
their services. Vet when the same nieii were entrusted with the reins of
goveriilnenl who had l)i'en the strenuous opposers of reform, an iiistanta-
lieoiis outcry hurst fortli, and the advent of toryism was regarded by the
populace with feelings of distrust and drt'ad. Sir Robert I'<'el, however,
CXI'lli'iliy declared that he considered the reform bill as a final and irrc-
Voi'iilile settlement ; and he appealed to several measures that had for-
merly emaiialed from himself, as jiroofs that hi; was not opposed to the
redress of grievances. Ihit wlien, on tlie 30tli of ALircli, Lord .John Rus-
pell liroii(iht forward his rcs(diition — "that the house shmild resolve itself
llilo a coinmillce of the whole house, to consider the temporalities of the
{■liiireh of IrelaiKl," the motion was met by Sir K. Knalchbull with adirecl
negative, ami after a long and stormy debate, minister.s found themselves
III II minority of .in. The bill was then discussed in committee ; and after
tl " iiighls debate there was still a majority against them <tf -7. Find-
llill that neither r'onccssions nor iirofessions of liberality were of any
nviiil, Hie duke of Wellington in the upper house, and Sir iiobert I'eel In
the lower. Miiiiouneed their resignations; the latter at the g.ime time dc-
eliiriiig. Ilial llKuigli thwarted by the cuniinuns, lie parted with them on
'rieiidly teriim.
A- 1» KKi
Vot. 1.
I'vcr,
liiri!-
for-
l) tilt'
lUus-
lilBcK
If tlie
lliri'i^l
Iflvcs
1 ilftlT
iFiiiil
liny
Icel in
Ic dc-
Mll OK
THE TU15A8UKY OF HISTOHY.
These changes in the ministry sadly impede us in the progress of this
siiiiinni-t history ; bnt us ihey cngrosbud nniversiil uitentionat the time, su
must they now he related, as all'ording the readiest clue lo the principal
transactions in tiic arena of politics. Once more, then, wc see Lord Mel-
bourne as the premier; Lord John Russell, home secretary; Palmerston,
foreign secretary; Uijjht. lion. Spruig Rice, chancellor of the exchequer;
marquis of Lansdowne, president uf the council ; the other appoiiUments
filled nearly as they were when the " liberals" were in power, ex'icpt that
the great seal was put in (commission.
Let us a moment pause in our domestic narrative, to mention a diabolical
contrivance in France, which iniglil have involved Europe in another scene
of blood and tumult but for its providential failure. On the 2t3tli of July,
during tlie festivities of tiie annual cuninicmoration of the revolution uf
1H3U, as Louis Philippe, attended by his sons and a splendid suite, was
riding along the line of the national guard, on the boulevard of the 'I'emple,
an explosion like a discharge of musketry took place from the window of
an adjoining house, which killed Marshal Mortier and another general
otiicer, besides killing or wounding nearly forty other persons. But the
king, who was the object of this indiscriminate slaughter, with his three
sons, escaped unhurt. The assassin, who was a Corsicaii named Fiesehi,
was seized by the police in the act of descending from the window by a
rope, and wounded by tlie bursting of some of the barrels of his " infernal
machine." The deadly inslrument consisted of a fiaine upon which were
arranged twenty-five barrels, each loaded with bullets, &o., and the touch-
holes communicating by means of a train of gunpowder. On his trial he
made no attempt to deny his guilt, but noihing could be elicited to prove
ihat any formidable conspiracy existed, or that he was influeiieed by any
political party to undertake tiie horrid act. T!ie atrocious attempt, how-
ever, served for a convenient pretext to introduce a series of severe laws
for the prevention and punishment uf slate crimes und revolutionary
attempts.
We sir '1 close cmr sketch of this year's occurrences by briefly noticing
the deaths of two persons, who, in their career for popular applause, at-
tained u more than orliiiary sliare of notoriety. The one was Henry
Hunt, laii! M.P., for Preston, who had figured as a leader among the
riuiicals, and whose zimI for •'the people" at the too memorable meeting
a: Manchester had been rewarded by a long imprisonment in Ilehestcr
jail. Me was originally a respectable and wealthy Wiltshire farmer;
but having renounced Ihociiarins of country life for the euphonious greet-
ings of "unwashed artisans," he for many years cmitiiiued to hold un-
divided empire over their alTections. In personal appearance Mr. Hunt
was a fine specimen of the lOnglish yeoman ; he was naturally shrewd,
uniting caution wiiii boldness, liiit, above ;dl, greedy of poliiical popularity.
Diiiing the latter p;irt of bis life, his name, which usod to grace the walls
in jnxta-positioii with " uiiivcisal siiflTrage," was allied with "matchless
blacking ;" and it was while he was on a journey of business through
till! soulh-w<'stern couiilics that he met wiih his death, owing to a vudenl
lit of paralysis with which he was seized as he was alighting from his
ph;etoii at Alresford, Hants. His more distinguished coicmporary ami
coadjutor, though sometimes powerful rival, was William ('obtteit, M. P.
for Oldhiim; u man reftiarkalile for persevering industry, and of unques-
tioir.tltle talents, who, from following his father's phmgh, and afterward?
serving with credit as a Urinsh soldier in America, passed the greater
part of his life in the unceasing s'rife of polities, anil was able, bv the
force of Ins extraordinary and versatile powers as a writer, to ke«ip »
stionir bold on public oniiiion for nearly half a century. He died m 4'ino
•>ut three iiumlhs after liis quoiid im friend, Mr- Henry Hunt.
K. II HIKi— The year opened auspiciously, bulb wiih regard lo its com
Voi,, I.— »7
M
4'\
I
r-
V 'I]
738
TIM'; TlU!:Ac«t;RY OF HISTORY.
mercial prospects and its political aspect. The whole manufacturing dis-
tricts were in a state of activity ; money was abinidant wherever lolcrahii-
security was offered ; and thongh an immense absorption of capital was
taking place in extensive public undertakings, such as railways, some ol
which were already highly successful, there was very little of that wild
spirit of adventure which ten years before had nearly brought the country
to the brink of ruin. Mercantile confidence rested upon a better basis
than 't had done for a long time past; the ports bore ample evidence of
the prosperity of Hriti.sh commerce ; and thongh there were still just com-
plaints of agricultural distress, they were partial rather than general.
in the obituary for this year are several distinguished names: Lord
Stowell, aged !)(), an eminent civilian, many years judge of the high court
of adnnralty.and brother of lord-chancellor Eldon. — Nathan Meyer Roths-
child, the greatest millionaire of the age ; a man who in conjunction with
other membrrs of his family on the continent may be said to have gov-
erned the Kuiopcaii m(Miey market. — .lames Wood, the rich, eccentric.
and penurious hanker of (ilouco ^ter. — James Mill, the historian of British
India. — Charles X., ex-king of France, who died an exile in Illyria, in the
8()ih year of his age. — And the Abbi! Sieycs, who under all the phases of
the tVench rcvoliiiiDn maintained an elevated station, and on the fall ol'
the republic; became a count and peer of the empire.
A. n. 18:!7. — U was remarked at the commencement of the previous year
that symptoms of jjrosperity appeared in all the leading branches of com-
mercial industry. IJut over-trading, led on and encouraged by over-bank-
ing, again proihiced evils. During the year 183(; no less than forty-five
jontt-stock banks had been establisshed. It was therefore natural that one
of the subjects nicommcnded to the attention of parliament in the opening
.spt-ccli, shoidd be "a renewal of the inquiry into the operation of joint-
stock banks," I.itile progress, however, was made, when an event oc-
curred which for a time absorbed all matters of miiu)r interest.
The public had been apprised by the publication of bulletin'", that hi--
majesty was seriously ill, and on the '-'Oth of Jinic his death was annoiuiced
as having taken place early that morning. He was perfectly conscious
of his approaching fate, and had expressed a wish to survive the anniver-
sary of the liatth; of Waterloo on the 18th. The good old king was sn
far gratified ; but the symptoms of internal decay rapidly increased, anii
he breathed his last, as his head rested on Queen .Adelaide's shoulder, in
the presence of the archtiishop of ("anterbury, the dean of Hereford, &c.,
faintly articnlaling, " Thy will be di>ne. ' The queen's attentions to her
ainicted consort had been unremitting; for twelve days she did not lake
ofl"her clothes, but was constantly in iIk? sick chamber administering con-
solation. His majesty was in the 71Jd year of his age, and had nearly
completed tlu' seventh year of his reign. The royal corpse lay in state
till the 8th of .Inly, when it was deposited in St.(Jeorge's chapel, Windsor.
The duke of Sussex attended as chief nu)urMer; and the queen dowager
was present in the royal clusit during the funeral service.
Many were the rulogiums pronounced upon the deceased monarch; but
no tesinnony was more just, or mor(! characierisiic of his real qualities,
than the fidlowiiig Irdmle by Sir Robert Peel. He said, "it was the uni-
V(^rsa! feeling o* the c(innlry, that the reigns of government were never
committed to the hanils of one wht) hurt? hnuself as a sovereign with more
adalulity, and yet with more trni! dignity — to one who was more compas-
sionate for the snlTerings of others — or to one whose nature was ninrc
i-omoletely free from all selfishness, He did not Ixdieve that, in the most
eAai>d or in the most humble station, there could be found a man who
Cii luoie pleasure in witnessing and promoting the welfare of others."
cr-
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in
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dsor.
agor
but
lilios,
uni-
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niorf.
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5 most
u who
•9."
THE THBASUaV OF HISTOaY.
CHAPTER LXVI
THE REION or VICTORIA.
A. u. 1837. — Intelligence of his majesty's death havinjj been odicially
coniinunicHted to the Princess Victoria and the duchess of Kent, at Ken-
smgton palace, prepaiations were immediately made for holding a privy
council there at eleven o'clock. A temporary throne was erected for the
occasion ; and, on the queen being seated, the lord-chancellor administered
to her majesty the usual oath, thiit she would govern the kingdom accord-
ing to its laws and customs, &c. The cabinet ministers and other privy
councillors then present took tiie oaths of allegiance and supremacy ; and
the ministers having first resigned their seals of office, her majesty was
graciously pleased to return them, and they severally kissed hands ou their
re-appoiutment.
By the death of William IV. the crowns of the United Kingdom and
Hanover were dissevered tiirough the operation of the salic law excluding
females from the Hanoverian kingdom, wliich consequently descended to
the next heir, the duke of Cumberland; and Adelaide, as queen-dowager,
was entitled to >£ 100,000 per annum, settled upon her for life in 1831, with
Marlborouuh-house and Bushy-house for residences.
On the 20tli of October the new parliament assembled, when her majesty
opened in person the business of the session. In her progress to and from
the house, the queen was received by the populace with the strongest
demonstrations of enthusiasm. The speech, which her majesty delivered
in a clear, audible voice, concluded with the following sei\tence: "The
early age at wiiich I am called to the sovereignty of this kingdom, renders
it an im|)orativc duty that, under Divine Providence. I should place my
reliance upon your cordial co-operation, and upon the love and affection
of all my people." In the house of lords, the address in answer to her
majesty's gracious speech was moved by her uncle the duke of Sussex,
wlio " trusted he might be allowed to express his conviction that when
the chroniclers at a future period should have to record the annals of her
rcifrn, wliich had soauspiciously commenced, and which, with the blessing
of (lod, he trusted would be continued for many years, they would not be
written in letters of blood, but would commemorate a glorious period of
prosperity, the triumphs of peace, the spreading of general knowledge, the
aJvancement of the arts and manufactures, the difTiision of commerce, the
content of all classes of society, and the general welfare of the country."
No groat progress was made during the fiist session of Victoria's par-
liament in settling the various important subjects under discussion. At
its close, however, the civil list bill was passed; it provided a total sum
of iliree hundred and eighty-five thousand pounds, which was thus classed :
1, privy purse, sixty thousand pounds ; 2, salaries of household and retired
allowances, one hundred and thirty-one thousand two hundred and sixty
poiiiuls ; 3. expenses of household, one hundred and seventy-two thousand
five hundred pounds; t, royal bounty, &c., tliirtec^i thousand two hundred
pounds; .'), pcmsions, one thousand two humlred i)ouiids; unappropriated
moneys, ciglii llici iml and forty pounds. On the 23d her majesty went
in person to give it licr royal assent, and then adjourned the parliament
to the Ifith of January.
A. 11. Iri.'i-^. — 1' or some time there had been symptoms of discontent in
Lower (Canada, fomented by the old French party, which at length broke
out into the appearance of a civil war. To check m\ evil so pregnant with
misciiief, it was deemed advisable that no ordinary person should be sent
out to that important colony. Accordingly, it was nolifnd in the London
Gazette, Jan 16, that the oarl of Durham, G.(' 0. was aD''wled governor-
K\
740
THE TEEASUHY OF HISTOHY.
geiicrni of "all her majesty's provinces within and adjaeent to the con
Inient of North America, and her majesty's high commissioner for the
adjustment of certain important affairs affeciinfj the provinces of Lower
and Upper Canada." His lord&hip did not arrive in Canada tilt nearly
the cud of May. Actual contests had taken place between considerable
parties of the insurgents and the troops under Lieutenant-colonel Wether-
ail, wiio had succeeded in driving them from all the villages on the line oi
the river Ivichelieu. At lengih, on the 13th of December, Sir John Col-
horiio himself marched from Montreal to attack (he chief post of the rebels
at ihc Grand Brule. On the following day an engagement took place in
the cimrchyard of St. Eustachn, when the loyalist army proved once
niui'c victorious, eighty of the enemy having been killed, and one hundred
and twenty taken prisoners. Dr. J. O. Chenier, their leader, was slain
and the town was more than half burned down. On the ISih, on Sii
Joim Colborne's approach to the town of St. Bcnoit, a great portion of the
iiiliatitaiits came out bearing a white flag and begging for mercy, but in
iMiiiSL'quence of the great disloyalty of the place, and the fact of the prin-
cipal leaders having been permitted to escape, some of their houses were
fired as an example. Dr. Wolfred Nelson, one of the rebel leaders, hav-
ing been nine days concealed in the woods, was brought in prisoner to
Montreal. In the Upper Province, a body of rebels, which occupied a
position about three miles from Toronto, threatening that city, were suc-
cessfully attacked and dispersed on the 7th of December, by Sir Francis
Bond Head, at the head of the armed citizens, with such reinforcements
as had spontaneously joined them from the itountry. The rebels had,
however, established a camp on Navy island, on the Niagara river; and
many citizens of the United States were implicated in the insurrectionary
movements there and clstiwhere on the fnmlicr.
On the 3d of March a sharp engagement took place between her maj-
esty's troops and the insurgents, in which the latter were totally defeated
at Point Pele island, near the western boundary of the British possessions.
This island had been occupied by about five hundred men, well armed and
equipped; when ('oloncl Maitland, in order to dispossess them, marched
from Amiierstburgh with a few ccnnpanies of the 33d and 83d rogimcnta,
two six-pounders, and some volunteer cavalry. The action that followed
assumed the character of bush-fisfhting — the island, which is al)out seven
miles long, being covered with thicket, and the pirates outnumbering the
troops in the proportion of nearly two to one. llltimatcly, however, they
were <Iriven to llighl, leaving among the dead. Colonel Bradley, the
commander-in-chief. Major Howdley, and ('aplains Van Renseilaer and
M'Keon, besides a great many woimded and other prisoners. The insur-
gents being thus foiled in their dariiiif atlempls, it is not necessary, for the
present, for us to allude further to Canadian afl'airs, than to observe that
some of the most active ringleaders were executed, and others transported
to the island of Bermuda.
In narrating the domestic occurrences of this year, we have to com-
mence with one which, like the great conflagration of the houses of par-
li:iineiit, filled the inhabitants of the metropolis with alarm. Soon after
len o'clock on the evening of the lOih .laiiuary, a fire broke out in the
lioyal Exchange. The firemen were promptly on the spot, but owing to
•11 intense frost, great delay was or-easioned before their services becamr
.•fleet've. Kvery efl'ort was maile, but the work of destruction went on,
irom room to room and from one story to another, till that fine building,
witli Its various olTices and royal statues, was utterly demolished. It was
rem irked by those present, that at twelve o'clock, when the flames had
just r' ... IkmI the north-west angle of the building, the; chimes struck ii|),
»g usuai, the old tune " Then^'s ine luck alioiit th(! house," and continued
Mr about live minutes. The eflfeet was extraordinary ; for althuugh lh«
THE TIIEASURY OF HISTORY.
741
fire was violently raging, and discordant sounds arose in every quarter,
the tune wns distiuutiy heard.
A. D. 1839. — Canada ajrain demands our notice. Lord Durham had
been sent out witii exlraonlinaiy powers to meet the exigency of affairs
in that ciilDuy. It was now adinitled that lie had exceeded the scope of
those powers, by deciding on the guilt of accused men, witlioui trial, and
by baniiihing and imprisoning them : but the nimisters thought it their
duty to acqiiiesce in passing a bill, which, while it recited the illegality of
the ordinance issued by- his lordship, should indemnify those who had ad-
vised or acted under it, on the score of their presumed good intenlionv
The ordinance set forth that •' VVolfred Nelscm, R. S. M. Bouchette, and
others, now in Montreal jail, having acknowledged their treasons and sub-
mitted themselves to the will and pleasure of her majesty, shall be trans-
ported to the island of Uermiida, not to return on pain of death ; and the
same penalty is to be incurred by Papineau, and others who have abscond-
ed, if found at large in the province." Government had intended merely
to substitute a temporary legislative power during the suspension of, and
in substitution for, the ordinary legislature ; and as the ordinary legisla-
ture would not have had power to pass such an ordinance, it was argued
that neither could this power belong to the substituted authority.
The passing of the indemnity act made a great sensation as soon as i:
was known in Canada ; and Lord Durham, acutely feeling that his implied
condemnati(m was contained in it, declared his intention to resign and re-
turn immediately to England, inasmuch as he was now deprived of the
ability to do the good which he had hoped to accomplish.
Meanwinle, the Canadas again became ihe scene of rebellious war and
piratical invasion. The rebels occupied Beauhaniois and Acadie, near
the confluence of the Richelieu and the St. Lawrence, establishing their
head-quariers at Napierville; and their forces mustered, at one time, to
the number of eight thousand men, generally well armed. Several actions
took place ; and Sir John Colborne, who had proclaimed martial law, con-
centrated his troops at Napierville and Chaleauquay, and executed a
severe vengeance upon the rebels whom he found there, burning the
houses of the disaffected through the whole district of Acadie. But it
was a part of the plan of the traitors and their republican confederates to
distract the attention of the British commander and to divide the military
force, by mvading upper Canada; and at the moment Sir John Colborne
was putting the last iiand to the suppression of the rebellion in Beauhar-
nois arid Acadie, eight hundred republican pirates embark(!d in two
schooners at Ogdensbur§h, fully armed, and provided with six or eight
pieces of artillery, to attack the town of Prescott, on the opposite side of
the river. By the aid of two United States steamers, they effected a land-
ing a mile or two below the town, where they established themselves in
a windmill and some stone buiUiiiias, and repelled the first attempt made
to dislodge them, k'lliiig and wounding forty-five of their assailants, among
whom w(!ie five oflicers ; but on Colonel Dundas arriving with a rein-
forcement of regular troops, with three pieces of artillery, they surren-
dered at discnaion. Some other skirmishes subsequently took [ilacc,
chiefly between American desperadoes who invaded the British territory
»nd the (pieeii's troops ; hut the former were severely punished for their
temerity. The coniliiet of Sir John Colborne elicited the praise of all
parties at home : and he was appointed governor-general of Canada, with
all the powers which had been ve-s'.ed in the earl of Dinhain.
T'- adjusliniMit of a boundary ll;ii% bel ween Maine and New-Brunswick,
had been a subject of dis|)iite froi!" tne time the Muiependence ol the
Stales w.is ai'knowledireil in 178,3. T'loimh the iract in disimle was of
no valu.! to eillicr elaiiiiiiiil generally as likely to become profiiuhle uiidei
cultivation, yet »oinu part ol it was found necessary to Great Britain as s
I
I
i
f*3
THK T11KA8UHY OF HISTORY.
means uf cotniiiuiiication between New-Brunswick and the Canadas, ar.d
thus through ah tlie British eoloiiies. Great Britain had, moreover, since
17^3, remained in de facto possession of the desert, as far as a doseri
can be said to be occupied. At length, however, the state of Maine inva-
ded this debateable land, and several conflicts took place, whicii for atinia
seemed likely to involve Great Britain and America in a general war.
The colonists showed great alacrity and determination in defending their
right to the disputed territory ; ana it was eventually agreed that both
parties wore to continue in possession of the parts occupied by them re-
spectivel;- at the commencement of the dispute, until the federal govern-
ment and 'jreat Britain should come to a definitive arrangement.
The p.cseedings of parliament had lately been watched with interest,
the state of parties being too nicely balanced to insure ministerial majori-
ties. On the 9th of April leave was given to bring in a bill, on the motion
of Mr. Labouchere, to suspend the executive constitution of Jamaica. It
appeared that, in consequence of a dispute between the governor and
holJ^(; of assembly, no public business could be proceeded with; and it
was proposed by this bill to vest the government in the governor and a
council only — to be continued for five years. When the order of the day
for going into committee on the Jamaica bill was moved, it was opposed
by Sir Robert Peel, in a speech in which he exposed the arbitrary pro-
visions of the bill, the enormous power it would confer on the governor
and commissioners, and the im(;ossibility of imposing an effectual cheek
on the abuse of power exercised at a distance of three thousand miles.
In support of ihe view he had taken. Sir Robert alluded to the modi of
treating refractory colonies, formerly suggested by Mr. Canning, who had
declared thut " nothing short of absolute and demonstrable necessity
should induce him to moot the awful question of the transcendental power
of parliament over every dependency of the British crown ; for that trati
cendental power was an arcanum of empire whieh ought to be kept back
within the penetralia of the constitution." After an adjourned debate, .May
the 6th, the house divided, when there appeared for going into committee
294, against it 289, the majority for ministers being only five. The next
day Loril John Russell and Lord Melbourne stated, that in conspquptn-e
of this vote, the min'st.y had come to the resolution to resign, it being
evident that with such a want of confidence on the part of so large a f)ro.
portion of members in the house of commons, and the well-known oppo-
sitiiui in the tionso ot lords, it would be impossible for ihnm to adniinistcj'
the afl^airs of her majesty's government in a maimer which could bn use-
ful and beneficial to the coimtry.
The fierce and c-uel contest tl t had raged for the last three years in
the Spanish poninsi'la, between tlie Carli.«ts and ('hrir;tmos, was now vir-
tually termiiiat(!d .ly the active and -oidicr-lilvc conduct of I'Isparlcio, the
queen's general avd chief. Th,-" British loi,Moii had scinn'tinic since with-
drawn, tile (lueen'r party daily gained ground, and Don Carlos han found
it necessary to seek refuge in France.
In narrating the affairs of Britain, it will he oliscrvcd that we are neces-
sarily led, from time to time, to a<iv(>rt to the cvinls which lake place in
British colfjuies and possessions, wherevi-r situate ;"id however liislant.
For a considerable lime past the governineiit of in'lla h:id bee': adopting
very active measures, in Cfmspiiu^iie" of tlie shah of Persia, who was
raised to the thrope mainly by British assist!>:!r'e, lieiiig su|)|i()sed to he
acting under Russian intltience, to the pr'j;idice of this country. Stimu-
lated by Bussia, as ii ap()eared, the Persian undertook an expeditimi to
Herat, an iinporl:int place, to whieji a sinnll priiicinalilv is attaidicd. in
ihe territory of Aflghatiistaii. l-ord Auckland, the g<iv>'rnor-[r"!i>itii o\
India, thereupon determined to send an army of thirty thousand men
•owards Caiidatiar, Caboiil, and Herat; and this force was to be joim**
r-»~1«ti>ut<'.'«Hfii,\
THE IREASURY OF HISTORY.
743
in
Ivir-
tlie
,'ith-
)iin<l
\v in
|t',\nt.
Viing
\v;is
lo I'll
jiitiii-
|n ti>
a. in
ia, v.l
men
ny about forty-five thousand men, furnished by Runjeet Singh, the sovc
reign of the I'unjaub. In the meantime it appeared that llie'l^ersians had
suffered great loss at Herat. It was soon afterwards rumoured lliat the
chiefs of AlTghanislau were prepared to meet a much stronger force than
the Anglo-Indian government, though reinforced by Runjeet Hw^U. could
bring into the field, and thai, they would listen to no terms of acc.oinmoda-
lion. The next accounts, however, announeed that the Urilish iua ca-
tered Candahar, tlial the diificullies experienced with respect to [irovisioiia
had vanished, and that the ir-joos were received witii open arms. Shah
Soojah was crowned with acslaination ; and the army proceeded forthwith
to Caboul.
On the 21st of September tlie fort of Joudpore, in Kajpootana, surren-
dered to the Urilish ; and that of Kurnaul, in ilie Deccan, on the Cth of
October. The camp of the rajah was attacked by General Willshire,
which ended in the total rout oi" the enemy. A very great quaniily of
military stores were found in Kurnaul, and treasure amounting lo nearly
1,000,000/. sterling. In the camp an immense quantity of jewels was cap-
tured, besides 150,000/. in specie. The shah of Persia consented lo ac-
knowledge Shah .Soojah as king of Affghanistan ; but Dost Maliomed, the
deposed prince, was slill at large, and there was no doubt llial ;i widely
ramified conspiracy existed among the native chiefs to rise against the
British on the first favourable opportunity.
The country had been much dih.ur^:*;'.' during the year by large and tu-
multuous assemblages of the people, oi a revolutionary character, under
the name of charUsls; and many e*cf;ss;-s were committed by them in the
large manufacturing towns of Mancliesiir, Bolton, Birmingham, Stock-
port, &c., that required the strong arm of the law to curb. This was al-
luded to in her majesty's speech, at the close of liie session of parliament,
as the first attempts at insubordination, wlrcli happily had been checked
by the fearless administration of the law.
On the lOih of Uecember aspe<:iai comir'.ssion was held at Monmouth,
for the trial of the chartist rebels at Newport, before Lord-chu'f-justice
Tiiidal, and liie judges Park and Williams, Use chief-justice opening the
proceedings with a luminous and eloquent charge to the grand jury. Ac-
cordingly, on tiie liith, true bills were returned aijaiiist John Krosl, Charles
Waters, James Aust, William Jones, John Lovell, Zeplianiah Williams,
Jeiikin Alorgan, Solomon Uritloii, lAlmoiid KdmonJs, Richard Heiifield,
John Rees, David Jones, and John Terner (otherwise Coles), for high
treason, in order to comply witii the fornis uusioinaiy in trials for high
treason, the court was then adjourned to Oee. 31, wih'ii John Frost was
put to the bur. Tiie lirst day was occupied ii. ('uillengiiig the jury;
the lU'.xl day the atloriiey-gciif ral addressed the cJi'rl ami jury on the
part of the crown, and llie prisoner's counsel olijcelc 1 U< lliu calling of the
\vitaessl^s, in coiihcqiieiice of the li^l of them iioi I
the pri!<oner. Frost, .lyieeably to the terms of the .
day the evidence was ciileied into; and on tiii! i'l^\.'.
patient alteiilion of the coiiil and jury, a verdict c.'
against l'"rost, wiih rccomiiuiulalion to inurcv
and Jones each occupied four days, with a l;k
tion. Walters. .Mmtjaii, Rees, Hciili
received seiileiK of dealli, tluJconrt
ported f.ir lil'e. Four were discliaigod, two f(Ml'. 'ted their bail, and nine,
having pleaded gi:ilt y to chi.iges of conspiracy and not, were sentenced
to terms of iiiiprisoiiiiieiit not e.veediug one year. Frost, and tlie other
ringleaders on whom sentence of death had been [lassed, were finally
traiispiirled for life.
Tlie -spirit of chartism, thoiiuh repressed, was not subdued. Sunday,
laniiarv l-'lli. had been fixed on for outbreaks in various parts of the eoun-
ivnig been given to
a' lite; on the third
, day, after the most
guilty was recorded
'llie trii*ls of Williams,
verdict and recoininenda-
1(1, M-A Lovell pleaded guilty, and
i'iinatiii;r thai tliey wouKl be iraiis-
744
TMK TRKABIJRY OF HISTORY.
try ; uiit by the pi-cciiutidiiiiry iiicitsiires of goveriimpnt and the police
t^f;ird('siy;iis wcri! friisii-iited. Iiironniuioii \v:is afterwards rereivtH ilial
the charlisis inteiided lo (ire tlit; town of Slicfludd. They began to nsseu;
ble, but Iroops and consiablcs being on Iho alert, they sin-ceeded in takn)g
the ringleaders, but luil before several [irrscnis were wounded, three ol
wlioni were polieeincn. An immense quantity of fire-arms, ball-ear
tridjtes, ircni l)idlels, hmnl-grenades, fire-l)al]s, (laifgers, pikes, and swords
were fcnuid, together with a quantiiy of crowfeet for disabling horties.
The ringleMders were cinninitted to York eastle, and at the ensuing as-
sizes were tried, found gniliy, and seuleneed to various terms of impris
onuienl, of tnic', two, and three years. At the same lime four of the Brad
ford charlisis weresenieneed to three years' imprisonment, and three from
Barnsley for the term of two years. At the same assizes, Feargus O'Con-
nor was convicted of having pul)lished, in the Northern Star newspaper,
of which he was the editor and proprietor, certain seditious libels; and
the noted demagouue orators, Vincent and Edwards, who were at the
time undergoing a former sentence in prison, were convicted at Monmouth
of a conspiracy to efTect great changes in the government by illegal
means, &c., and were severally sentenced to a further imprisonment of
twelve and fourteen months. In various other places, also, London among
the rest, chartist ccnispirators were tried and punished for their misdeeds
A. D. 1840. — For the space of two years and a half the liritish sceptre
had been swayed by a " virgin queen ;" it was therefore by no means sur-
prising that her majesty slinuld at length consider that the cares of regal
state might be rendered more siqiportable if shared by a consort. That
such, indeed, had been the subject of her royal musings, was soon made
evident; for, on the IGth of January, she met her parliament, and com-
menced her niosigr.icious speech with the following plain and unaffected
sentence : — " .My lords and gentlemen : Since you were last assembled
I have declared my mieiition of allying myself in marriage with the prince
•Mhert of Saxe-Cohourg and Gotlia. I humbly implore that the Divine
blessing may prosper this (iiii(ni, and render it conducive to the interests
of my peojile, as well as to my own domestic happiness."
Tlierc could be no reasonable ground for caviling at her majesty's
choice. The rank, age, character, and connexions of the priinre, were all
in his favour; and the necessary arrangeiiicnts were made without loss
of lime. A natnralizati<m bill for his royal highness was immediately
passed ; and Lord .lohn Russell moved a resolution authorizing her maj-
esty lo grant fifty thousand pounds a year to the prince for his life. This
was generally thought to be more than suffic'ieiit, and Mr. Hume moved
as an amendment, that the grant be lw(nily-oiie thousand pounds ; how-
ever, on a division there was a majority of 207 against the amendent.
Upon this, (^)loiiel Sibthorp moved a second amendment, substituting
thirty thotisaiul pomids, which was supported by Mr. (ioulburn, Sir J. Gra-
ham, and Sir R. Peel, who considered thirty thousand pounds a just and
liberal allowance for the joint lives of the queen and the prince, and for
the |)rince's possible survivorship, should there bo no issue ; if an heir
slioiilil 1)1^ born, then the thirty thousand might properly be advanced to
fifty ihoiisand pounds; and. slionid there he a mimeroiis issue, it would
be reasoiialiUi lo make a still further increase, such as would befit the
father of a large family of royal children.
On the <;ih of the ensuing month. Ilie bridegroom-elect, conducted by
Viscount T(nrin;:lon, and accoinpanieil by the duke Ins father, anil his
elder brotli'^r, ariivcd :U Dover; anil on llie 10ih"llie marriaue of the
ijueun's most exicllent iniiji'sty with the lii'lilinarslitil his royal highness
Fraiiiis MI)itI Ani;usius (Charles Km innel, duke of Saxe, prince of .S:ixe-
Colioiirg '.ind (ioiha, K. <i., was soleinnizcil at the chapei-royal, St.
la.nes'." The processions of the royal bride and bridegroom were con-
lit.
ing
ra-
md
for
bi'ir
10
)U1(1
tlic
li hv
,\ his
int'riS
, SI.
: con-
THK TUKAtiUUY Of UItiTO"Y
ducted in a style of spleiilour suitabli! to llin occasion. The duke of
Sussex gave away his royal iiicce; iiiid al ihal part of tin; service where
tlic arcliiiishiip of Canterbury ri.'ad ihi' w.inls, " 1 proimuiU'R llul lliey be
man and wife io»ether," the park ami Tower ^uns (ireJ. In the afternoon
her majesty and tlie prince |)rocet'<leii III Wiiiisur castle, a banquet was
given at St. James' palace to the memlicrs of the household, which was
honoured by the prcsemre of the diicliess of Kent, and the reighiuR duke
and hereditary prince of Saxe-Cobourg, and the day was universally kept
as ii holiday ihroiighonl tlie country ; ^jrand dinners were (T'- n by the
cabinet ministers, and in tile evening the splendid illunii' me
tropolis gave additional eclat to the hymeneal rejoicing:
For many months past there had been an interruption lOti: , .';.aons
of amity and commerce which for a long period had been maintained be-
tween Kny^land and China. It originated in the deterininatiou on the
part of the Chinese goveriiinent to put an end to the importation of opium
into the " ceh^stial empire," and tlie opposition made to that decree by
British merchants engaged iii that traffic. Early in the preceding year a
large quantity of opium, belonging to British merchynts, was given up,
on the requisition of Mr. Klliot, the queen's representotii'o ai Canton, to
be destroyed by the Chinese authorities. The quantity seized was twenty
thousand chests, supposed to be worth <£-2,000,000 : and Mr. Elliot
pledged the faith of the goverinent he representpd; tha; the merchants
should receive compensation.
The English governmciit was naturally desirous to keep on good terms
with a country from which so many commercial advantages had been
derived; but the Chinese authorities daily grew more arrogant and im-
reasonable, and several outrages against the English were committed
At length, in an affray between some seamen of the Volage and the Chi-
nese, one of the latter was killed ; and on Captain Klliot having refused
to deliver up the homicide to Commissioner Lin, the most severe and ar-
bitrary measures we:e immediately taken to expel all the British inhabi-
tants from Macao. Tl.is hostile conduct was quickly followed by an out-
rage of a still more serious character. The lilack Joke, having on board
one passenger, a Mr. Moss, and six Lascars, was obliged to anchor in
the Lantaod passage, to wait for the tide. Here she was surrounded by
three mandarin boats, by wiiose crews she was boarded, five of the Las-
cars butchered, and Mr. Moss shockingly mutilated. These proceedings
gave rise to further ineHsures of hostility. On the 4lh September, Cap-
tain Elliot came from Hong Kong to Macao in his cutter, in company with
the schooner Pearl, to obtain provisions for the fleet. The maiidariiis,
however, on board the war-juiiks. opposed their embarkation, when Cap-
tain Elliot ituimated that if in half an hour the provisions were not allow-
ed to pass, ho would open a fire upon them. The half hour passed, and
the gun was fired. Three war-junks then endeavoured to put to sea, but
were compelled bv a well-directed fire of the cutter and the Pearl to seek
shelter under the" walls o*" Coloon fort. About six o'clock the V(dage
frigate hove in sight, ana the boat of Captain Douglas, with twenty-four
BrTtish seamen, attempted to board the junk, but without success. The
boat's crew then opened a fire of musketry, by which a mandarin and four
Chinese soldiers were killed, and seven wounded. The result, however,
was, that the provisions were not obtained, and that the Chinese junks
escaped; while, instead of any approach to a better understanding be-
tween the two countries, it was regarded rather as the commencement
of a war, whicli, indeed, the next news from China confiimed.
On '.he appearance of another British ship, the Thomas Coutts, at
VVhampoa. Coni.nissioner Liu renewed his demand for the surrender o'
the murderer of the Chinese, and issued an edict commanding all UrilisK
ships to enter the port of Canton and sign the opium bond, or to deoart
746
THli; TRKASURY OP HISTORY.
from the coast iinmcdiatcly. In case of iioncompliiince with either of
tliese conditions, witiiin tin-te days, the t-onnnissioncr dechired he would
destroy the entire Britisli fleet. On liie publication of this edict, Captain
Elliot demanded an explanation from the Ciiiiicse admiral, Kawii, who
at first pretended to enter into a negotiation, hut immediately afterwards
ordered out twenty-nine war-junks, evidently intending to surround the
British ships. The attempt ended in five of the junks being sunk, and
another blown up, each with from 150 to 200 men on board, and on the
rest makinif o(T, Captain KUiot ordered the firing to cease.
A decree was now issued by the emperor prohibiting tiie importation of
all British goods, and the trade with China was consequently at an end;
but the Americaii ships arrived and departed as usual. In the meantime
preparations on a large scale were making in India to collect and send
a largo force to China, so as to bring this important (juarrel to an issue.
Several men-of-war and corvettes, from Kngland, and various stations,
were got ready, and the command given to Admiral Elliot to give the
expedition all the co-operation possible.
A great sensation was caused in the public mind by an attempt to as-
sassinate the queen. On the 10th of J(ni(;, as her majesty was starting for
an eveniiig drive, up Constitution-hill, in a low open carriage, accompa-
nied by Prince Albert, a young man dehberatetly fired two pistols at her,
but happily without efli;ct. His name proved to be Kdward Oxford, the
son of a widow who formerly kept a cofree-shop in Southwark. He was
about eighteen years of age, and had been lately employed as a pot-boy in
Oxf;'rd-street, but was out of place. He was instantly seized, and sent
to Newgate on a chargt; of higJi treason; but it appeared on bis trial that
there were grouiul.'s for attributing the act to insanity, an<l as there was no
proof that the jiistols were loaded, the jury relumed a verdict of" guilty,
but that at the time he coniinittcd the act he was insane." The conse-
quence was, that he became an inmate of Kethlem for life, as was the
case with Hatluld, who forty years before fired off a pistol at George
HI., in Drury-lane tiieatn!.
The nninler of Lord William Russell by Courvoisier, his Swiss valet,
had JU--1 before e.\cited considcraljle interest. The crime was commilted
at his loriWnp'.s residence in Noifolk-strei'l, Park lane, early in tlie night,
and the miu'dcnr had employed the ri'niaiiider of the night in carefully
destrojiiii; all marks which coiiM cast suspicion upon luinself, and in
throwing the house iiiio a stale of coiifiisioii, in order that it might bear
the appearance of having been broken iiilo l)y burglais. Nor would it
have been an easy matter to have convicted him on cin'umstantial evi«
deuce, liad not a missing parcel of pi ile Ik en iliscovcred on iht; very day
the In.il coiniiicnced, which it appcanil he had left some days before the
nnndi r with M.idaine I'lol.me. llic kei'pcr of a liotid in l.cicislcr-sipi.irc.
It is sDiiic time since we had occasion to notice anything n'iatni' to
Frciiih al1":iirs; but an event transpired in .\iigii>l whicii we eannot well
omit. On the lilli of that mouth, Louis ,\,i|ioleon, (son of the lale king
of lloilaiiil, aiiil lirir iiiali' of the Miiiia|):irle fimily), made an absurd
atli'iiipi III eH'cct a hoHiile desi'cni iipun ilic co.ist of France. He eni-
iiarki il from Luiidon in tlie Mdiiibiir^li (.'.islle slcainer, which he li.id hired
from the Coiiimeri'i.il Sieam Navigaliou Company, as for a voyage of
pleasure, accoinpaiiii'd by about lifly men, mi'liiiliiig (ieneral .Montliolon,
.•(doinls Voiseii. L.iborde, Mniilantiaii, and Panpiin, and several o!lier
oHii'ir.i of infi riiir r.uik. Tiny landed at a small port abmit two liagueii
fioin llni:|ii;.rnc, to whiidi town they iininediaiely inanlied, and arnviMl
lit Ihc birracks aliniii (ive o'clock, just as tlir soldiers id llic VM regiment
of the line were ri-iiiL' from their III iN, At first the soldiers were a liH'
uliiugcriil, an till y iiiiili'r'<t I a rivnlniion had taken place in Paris, and
Ihcy were suininoiu d to join the im()crial eaijle, One of their olliceru
■Wftrw^Aitto**!*"!.";*?** ■ "
III
It
vi-
ly
I lie
c.
to
ill
111^
< 11 111
1 111-
ilTll
<li
)ll>Mi
icr
llVt'll
incnt
iiikI
l\('i'i»
THK THKASUUY OF HISTOllY.
however, having liurrind to the barracks, soon relieved tiic men from
their pcrpli'xiiy, iiiid they acknowledged his authority. Louis Napoleon
drew a pistol, and attempted to shoot the inopportune intruder ; but tiie
shot took erti'i't upon a soldier, who died the same day. Finding Ihein-
selves tlins foiled, the Bonapartists took the Calais road to ine coloiine
de Napoleon, upon the top of whieh they placed their flag The town
aiitlioriiies and national guard then went in pursuit of the prince, who,
being interci'pted on the side of Uw column, made for the beach, with a
view to embark and regain the packet in which he had arrived. He took
possession of the life-boat ; but scarcely had his followers got into it when
the national guard also arrived on the beach and discharged a volley on
the boat, which iniineilialely upset, and the whole company were seen
struggling in the sea. In the meantime the steam-packet was already
taken possession of by the lieutenant of the port. The prince was then
made prisoner, and about three hours after his attempt on Uoulognc, he
and his followers were safely lodged in the castle. From Boulogne he
was removed to the castle of Ham, and placed in the rooms once occu-
pied by Prince I'oligiiac. On being tried and found guilty, Louis Napo-
leon was sentenced to perpetual imprisonment in a fortress ; Count Mon-
th(doii, twenty years' detention ; Parquin and Lombard, the same period;
others were sentenced to shorter periods ; Aldcnize was transported for
life, and some were a(;tiuitted.
This insaiK! attiiinpt to excite a revolution probably owed its origin to
the " liberal" permission granted by Louis Philippe, and the no less lib-
eral acquiescence of the Knglish ministers, to allow the ashes of the em-
peror Napoleon to be removed from St. Helena, that they might find their
last resting-place in France. This had undoubtedly raised the hopes of
many a zealous Bonapartist, who thought that the fervour of the populace
was likely to display itself in a violent emeule, which the troops would be
more ready to favour than to quell. A grant of a million of francs had
been made to defray the expenses of the expedition to St. Helena (which
was to be under the command of Prince de Joinville), the funeral cere-
mony, and the erection of a tomb in the church of the Invalides; so that,
in the language of the French minister of the interior, " his tomb, like his
glorv. should belong to his country." The prince arrived at tJlierlmnrg,
with his " precious' charge," on the UOth of November; and on the I5th
of I)iccnilter NapidciMi's remains were h(Hiouied by a splendid funeral
procession, the kiiiij and royal family bring present at the ci reniony. with
Sixty thousand national giianls in attend. nice, and an assiMiiblagi! of five
huiulicd thousand persons. It was oiiserved at the tune of Bonaparte's
exhiniiation, that his fratures were so little changed that liis face was
recoiiiii/.ed by those who had known him when alive ; and the uniform,
till' iirlcis. and the hat wliuh liail lieeii bininl with him, were very little
changed. It was little coiitcniplaled when Ihf liody was de|)osited in
" N.ipolron's Valley." at ^l Helena, that it would I'ver be removed ; nay,
"t seems that especial cai'e was taken to prevent such an ocriirri'in'e ; for
wv read, that afur h.ivmg tikiii away the iron railing which sunounded
.he toiiili, "they llieii ri'inovn, three ranges of masonry, and came to a
'aiilt eleven U-i dei p, nearly filled willi clay, a beil of Uoinaii ceineiil
hen presented iIscH', and uinleriieatli was aiiollier lied, ten feel deep,
jonii I toneihi'r with liaiids of nun. A covering of masonry was llicii dis-
joveiicl, live ficl deep, fonning the covering of the saicophagim."
We eoiieliKle tins \ ear's oeciirreiices with the aei'oiielieineiit of her
majesty, Qneen Vutoria, who on the Clsl of Noveinlier give birth at
Biiekiti'iiliaMi p.ilai'e to a pneeess. her nist-liorn child; and oa ilic IDtliof
t'elnniiy lite iif.int pnneess-ioyal was elirihlened Victoria Adelaide
Mary Louisa. , „
A. i.. 1-41.— Uuriinr the past ;ca' the atleutian o! the great hunmeaii
, I
iii
1
i
748
THE TRKASURY OF HIHTOllV.
powers hud beon diJiwii to the coiulilioii of Syria and Turkpy, and an
aliiaiiue \v:is ciilL-red Into between HnglHiiil, Riissia, Austria Hiid Prussia,
to put Hn end lo the dispute wliieli existed liiaween the sullan Hud M.1.
heiiiet All, tlie ivariike paeha of Ki^ypt. Tor tills purpose it was deemed
expedient lo dispatch a fleet to the Mi'dlterraneaii ; and on tht; 14th of
August Coininodiirc Napier sujiiinoned the Hgyplian authorities to i^vmimi-
ate Syriu. In reply to llilssiininions, Meheinet Mi deelariid that on the lirtsl
appearaiiee of hostility by the powers of Kurope, the pairha, llirahm, would
be euiiiinaiided lo inarch on (.'oiistaiitliiople. Soon afterwards ho.stililii's
coiniiieiii-ed, an<l the town of Ueyrout was bouibHrded on the lllli of .Sep-
tember, and eomplelely destroyed by the allies in two hours. 'I'lie war
ill Syria was now carried (mi with {jrreat activity. 'I'hc troops of Ibrahim
sustained a signal defeat early in October, with a loss jf seven thousand
ill killed, wounded, and prisoners; in addiiiui to which, Commodore Na-
pier, with a comparatively trilling number of marines and Turkish troo|)8,
succeeded in expelling the lOgyptians from nearly the whole of Lebanon,
captured ahout five ihonsaiid prisoners, with artillery and stores, and
elTeetcd the disorganization of an army of twenty thousand men. In
short, more brilliant results with siicli limited means have rarely been
known, particularly when it is considered under what nnvol cireumstan-
CCS they were accomplished. Hut tht! great exploit remains to be related.
St. Jean d'Acre was taken by the allies (Hi the 3(1 of November. (Col-
onel Smith, who eoiiimaiided the forces in SyriH, directed Omar Hey,
with two thousand Turks, to advance <hi Tj re, and occupy the pusses to
the northward of Acres in the meaiitiine Admiral Stopford sailed frnin
Beyroui roads, having on board three thousHiid Turks, and detachments
of iOngllsli artillery ami 8iip|)(n'S. The forces and fleet arrived olf Acre; ai
Iho same time. At two o'elock P. M. a Ireinendous ennnoiiadu look
place, which was inaintained without intermission for some hours, ihe
steamers lying outside throwing, with astonishing rapidity, their sIhUh
over the ships into the fortificatioii. During the bombardment the arsenal
and magazine blew up, annihilating upwards of twelve liuiidn.-d of the
enemy, forming twi) entire regiments, who weie drawn up on the miii-
parts. A sens.ition was fell on board the ships similar to that of an earth-
<]uakc. Kvery living creature within the art;a of sixty tlioiisinid sijii.ire
yards ceased to exist. At two o'clock on tlie fidlowiiig inorniiig a boat
arrived frmii Acre, to annonnce that the remainder of the garrison were
leaving the place, and as soon as the sun rose, the Uriiish, Austrian, and
Turkish flags were seen waving (m the eitadi 1. The town was •"oninl to
be one mass of ruins — the batteries and iKnises riddled all ovei— killed
and wounded lying about in all directions. The slam were estiii.Hted ,it
twenty-five hundred men, and the prisoners ainiiuiit<(i to upw.irds >,f three
lliousand. The Turkish troops were landed to giirrisini Acre, where a
vast (piantity of military stiu'cs were found, besides an excellent park of
artillciy of -JIKI euns, and a large sum in specie.
As tlie forcginng successes led to the terinination of the war in Syria,
uiid Its evaeiialioii by Ibrahim I'aelia, it is unnecessary to speak of oper-
ations of a minor chiiracter. Meliemet Ali eventually .submiiicd tu all llie
eondilions idlered by the Miitan, and winch were Miiictioned hy the re|)re-
sentatiM-s of Austria, Kriince, (irtat llrit.iin, Prussia, ami Itiissia : —
1. The hereditary jiossession of Kgyjit is coiifiriiieil hi Meliemet All, and
Ins doceiidalils in it tlirtcl line, — '.'. Alelieiliel All will be allowed to nom-
imile liis own olllceis up to the rank of a colonel. The viceroy can mily
eoiifrr ihe title of pacha wiili the consent of ihe siiltiin. — ;i. The aiiinial
coninlMiiion is fixed al ho.Oiiu |iiirses, or K),iiiin,(Min of |iiaslres. or ■KKI.iKin/.
—4. Till' . iceroy will not be allowi d lo binld a slop of war wilboiit the
perniiKNion oi the miIi.iii — •"). 'I'lie l,i\\siiiid rigid, iiioiis of the empire are
lo be observed in Kgypt. w illi sucli i luniges as the jieeuliarity uf llit
Syria,
iiptT-
:ill ilie
i(|irL'-
(hiii ; —
ill, aiul
I) noiii-
in (inly
IIIIIIUIll
iiil.tion/.
Mil lIlL'
iiri' are
iif till
THR TllEASlJRY OF HISTORY.
Rflfyptiiiit ppoplt! inny rnmifsr necessary, but which changes must receive
thu niiiii'tntii of thu Porle.
At Ihi) eomiiKMicfineiil of the year news was broiight from Chiiiii that
the (liirurcnciis which hmi exislnil were in ii fair train of sctili'innut, and
Unit thn war nii|j[ht be considered as at an end. HostiUlies had, however,
rcciMiiiiicncfid, in consequence of K'sheii, the imperial coinmi.'isioner,
hiivinjjt (li'liiyed to bring to a conclusion the neaiotiatioiis enlercd into with
Cliiptaiii Klliol. Preparations were accoriliii;;[ly made for attackiiiir the
((UlpiiNln i)( till! Uogue forts, on the Docc > Tigris. Having obtained po.s-
dtipiiioii, the Kleamers were sent to desiniy ihe war-junks in Anson's l)ay ;
but Ihn uliailowness of the water admitted only the approach of the
Neimmin, tiMVing ten or twelve boats. The junks endeavoured ti> escape,
but u rocket blew up the powd'jr magazine of one of them, and eighteen
HKire which were set ou fire Wy the Knglish boats' crews also successively
blew up. At length a flag of truce was dispatched by the Chinese coin-
niiiudor, and hosnlitlea ceased. On the 3Uih of January Captain Kiliot
■liniiuiiced to her majesty's subjects in China that the lollownig arrange-
meulN bail been made : 1. The cession of the island and harbour of Hong
Kniig to the Uritish crown. 2. An indemnity to the British government
(»f ijl(l,(m(l,Oi)i>, §1,000,000 payable at once, and the remainder in equal
iinuual in»tiilinents, ending in I8in. 3. Direct official intercourse between
the two coinitries noon an equal footing. 4. The trade of Ihe port of
(yHUtoii lo hi! opened within ten clays after the Chinese new year.
'I'huf far nil ap|)eared as it should be; but great doubts of tlie sincerity
of KcNhcn, the (Miincsc commissioner, were felt both in F.nglan I and
nt (*aiilnn. Accordingly the Nemesis steamer was 3bnt up the river to
ri)ConniMlr(>, and on ncaring the Hogue forts (30 in number), it was discov-
ttrcil llialpri'piirntions for defence had been made, batteries and field-works
Ihtd bticii thrown up along the shore, and upon the islands in tlni mid-
illii of the river, n barrier was in course of construction across the
cliiinuci, iind there were large bodies of troops assembled from iho in-
terior. Kesluni finding bis duplicity disc'wcred, coinmnnicatcil that
further m-gotialiims would be declined. The emperor, it appeari.'il, had
iNNUi'i! ediclK repudiating the treaty, and denoimcing the English barbari-
IIUH, " who were like dogs and siicep in their dispositions.'' That in
(ilcenliiK or rating he found no quiet, and he therefore onlcrcd eight thou*
Riinil of his best troops to defend Canton, and to recover the places on the
ciiHitl I for it WHS absolutely necessary (said the emperor), " that the rebel-
IliMiN foreigners must give up their heads, which, with the prisoners, were
to be KHUl lo I'ekin in cages, to undergo the last |)enalty of the law." He
iiIno oirored fifty tliousanil dollars for the apprehension of Idlioi. Morison,
or llermer nlive, or thirty thousand dolla-s for either of their beads. In
iiddiliiMi, nvv Ihousand dollars for an olricer's head, five hundred for an
Kiigliithniau nlive, three humlred for a head, and (Uie hundred for a Sfooy
alive. The emperor also delivered Keshen in irons over to tlie board of
puiUHlinient at I'ekiu. and divested the admiral Kwan Teenpei of his bill-
ion. Ilefofo Ihe hostile edicts had appeared, Captain Kllioi, confidin'r in
Ihe good faith of Keshen, had sent orders lo General Ihirrel to r.^siore
ihe Inland of Chusun (winch the Knglish had taken m my months before),
liMho (Miinese, iiiid to return with the Hengal volnnieers to Calcutta.
Thm order had been promptly obeyed, Chusau having been evacuated
Kehnmry V). ^ „....,
Ciiptaiii Klltot set sail on Feb. 20, up the Cantoii river. On lite 2Jth
ho (Inslroyed a innsked field work, disabling eighty c;;nnoii there mounted.
On llid "i'tlli mill '-'(ilh he took three adjoining (loKue lorls, without loMiig
II man, killing about two bmelrcd and fifty Chinese, and taking one tlou-
«iiiid three hundred prisoners. The snliseqiieiu oper.iiimis of th«> squad
niii prniiuiiled uno unbroken succusiion of brilliant ucbievuments, uuiil, t>u
i
m
THE TREASURY OF HI.STOllY.
tfio 3Hlti or March, Canton, ihe second city in the Chinese ern|>ire, con
Irtililng a milhon of souls, was placed at the mercy of the Uritisli troops,
livery possible means of defence had been used by the Chinese comniand>
etn, but nothing could withstand the intrepidity of the British. In con-
SfqtiOMce of the Chinese firing on a flag of truce, the forts and defences of
<*(i(i(on were speedily taken, the flotilUv burnt or sunk, and the union Jiick
lioisle'l on the walls of the British factory. But Captain Elliot seemed
doomed to be made the sport of Chinese chipliciiy. He no sooner issued
It ciroilar to the English and foreign merchants, announcing that a sus-
pension of hostilities had been agreed on between the Chinese conimis-
sioner Y»ng, and liimself, and that the trade was open at Canton .ind
would be duly respected, than the emperor issued another procianiatioii,
ordering all communication with " the detestable brood of English" to be
Kit off. Several other imperial proclamations in a more furious style fol-
lowed, the last of which thus concludes : " If the whole number of iheni
^ilie English), be not effectually destroyed, how shall I, the cni|)('ror, be
(ibln to answer to the gods of the heaven and the earth, and cherish the
hopes of our people." Captain Elliot, however, whose great object hith-
erto !i|)pear8 to have been to secure the annual >.xportof tea, had succeed-
ed in having 11,000,000 lbs. shipped before the fulminating edicts of the
Rinprror took effect.
In October, dispatches of importance were received from General Sir
lliiiih <»ough, commanding the land forces, and Captain Sir H. F. Sen-
I0U9P, the senior naval olficer of the fleet, detailing a series of brilliant
>pprulions against Canton, whither ttiey had proceeded by the direction
»f Captain Elliot. On the 20ihof May the coiiK^st began by the Chinese
flring on the British ships and letting loose some fire-ships among them,
ivhich, however, did no damage. Next morning the fort of Shaming was
silenced, and n fleet of about forty junks burnt. On llie 2 tlh, a favourable
liutding-place having been discovered, the right column of the 26th regi-
ment, under Major Pratt, was convoyed by the Atalanta to act on tTie
soulli oftlie city, while the Nemesis towed the left eoluinn up to Tsin-
ghao. After some sharp fighting, the Canton governor yielded, and the
troops and ships were withdrawn, on condition of the three comniissiDners
fliid nil the troops under them leaving Canton and its vicinity, and six mil-
lion') of dollars to be paid within a week, tiie first million before evening
that day ! if the whole was not paid before the end of the week, llie ransom
Whs to be raised to seven millions ; if not before the end of fourti-en days,
to eight millions ; and if not before twenty days, to nine millions of dollars.
After three days, the c(mditions having been fulfilled, the troops iefi for
llonq Kong, having had thirteen men killed and nini'ly-seven woinnied.
NIr 11 F. Menhonse died on board of the Bl.nlieim from a fever brought
on by excessive fatigue. Notwithstanding this ilefeat. the (/hinis(' were
n\H\ detrrmined to resist, and Yeh Sh m had reported to the emperor, his
llliele, that wlien he had inilnecd the barbarians to withdraw, he would
repair all the forts again. The empciror, on his pari, declared that, as a
lust resort, he would put himself at the head of his army, and march to
India and Kngland, and tear up the English, root ainl branch *
Hir Henry l'olling(!r, the new plenipotentiary, and Kear admiral Parker,
the new naval connnander-in-chief, arrived at Macao on llieOlhof .Vngnst.
\ notifieation of S'r Henry's presence and ])owers was sent to Canton
immediately on his arrivai, aecomiianied by a letter forwarded to the em-
peror at Pekin, the answer to which was recpiired to be sent to a northern
Klalion. The fleet, consisting of nine ships of war. four armeil steaineri,
and twe'ity-two transports, saih^l for the isl.uid and fortified city of Ainoy,
on llie 21<<l of August.
This islnnil is situated in a fine gulf in thi! province of Pokein, the vfAt
^^<H district of China, opfiosite the islainl of Furmosa, and about thrM
large
from
execi
their ;
Hon
latleii
che()ii
defiei
the .1
diuii'i
OpjJOM
Perl e,
red (
out nil
wane;
in inov
'o eons
of govi
h Id gi
liaineiil
is not
>*Mgar fi
majestv
lebale
JedoiKc
»K /, Ih
THE TREASURE OF HISTORY.
rsi
ihrM
•undrcd and fifty miles northeast of the ^iilf of Cmiton, five hundred miles
south of Chusiin, ami one tiiousanrl tiiree hundred miles from Pekin. It
was fortified by very strong defences, of granite rocks faced with mud,
and mounted with no less than five hundred pieces of cannon. On the
26th, after a brief parley with a mandarin, the city was bonibfirded for
two hours. Sir Hugh liough, with the 18th regiment, then landed, and
si'ized one end of the l(nig battery: while the 2Cth regiment, with the
sailors and marines, carried tlie strong baaeries on the island of Koolang-
see, just in front of Amoy. The Chinese made an animated defence for
four hours, and then fled from all their fortifications, and also from the
city, carrying with them their treasures. The Chirese junks and war-
beats were all captured ; and the cannon, with immense munitions of war,
of course fell into the hands of tlie Knglish. Not a single man of the
Briiish was killed, and only nine were wounded. The next day Sir Hugh
Gougli entered the city at the head of his troops without opposition.
The noKt dispatches .'"rom China stated that Chusan had been recaptured
on the 1st of October. A resolute stand was made by the Chinese ; but
the troo[>s. supported by the fire of the ships, ascended a hill, and escala
ded Tinghae, the capital city, from whence the British colours were soon
sfcn flying iu every direction. On th(! 7ih the troops attacked the city of
Cinhae, on the main-land opposite Chusan, which is inclosed by a wall
tliirty-seven feet thick, and tweiUytwo feel high, with an embrasured
parapet of four feet high. The ships bombarded the citadel and enfiladed
the batteries ; the seamen and marines then landed, and Admiral Sir W.
Parker, with the true spirit of a Urilish sailor, was among the first to
scale the walls. Here was found a great arsenal, a cannon-foundry and
gun-carriage manufactory, and a great variety of warlike stores.
Several other engagements took place, in all of wliich the Hritish con-
tinni'd to have a most decided advantage, allli<nigii it was admitted that
the Chinese and Tartar soldiers ;.!' j\v('(l more resolution and a better ac-
quaintance with the art of war t' an on former ccciasions. However, as a
large reinforcement of troops, with a battering train which had been "cni
from (Calcutta, was shortly e.vpected. Sir llciny Pottingcr put off the
execution of some intended operations on a more exteiuied scale until
their arrival.
Home afl'airs again require attention. The finances of the country had
latterly assumed a discoiu-aging aspect; and on the chancellor of the ex-
che()U('r bringing forward his annual lindgct, he proposed to make up the
deficiency of llii! present year, which he stated to be 2,1-21,000/., besides
the aggregate deticicncy of .'),000,000/., mainly l>y a modification of the
duticsTni sugar and timber, and an alteration of the duties on corn. Tim
op|)osiiion ciMisured the proceedings of ministers, and Sir Robert
Perl connnented severely on the enormous deficiency of 7,500,000/. incur-
red duiing the past five years, with a revenue, too, which had been through-
out nnproving. It apjiearcd that the Mclliourne administration was on the
wane; and its permanency wiis put to the test when Lord Jolin lUissell,
ill nu)ving that the house should go into a coinmillce of ways an<l nu-ans,
to consider the sugar dulies, entered into ;i defence of the presnnl policy
of govcrmuent. Lord Sandon then moved the amondmen' of which In-
had given notice, "that considering the efTorts and siic;-i<iccs which par-
liament and the country have made for the abolition oi' alj.v.-'ry, this house
is not prepared (espe( iaily with the present prospects of tlie supply of
sugar fiMiU llrilish po.xsessions), to adopt the ineaKU.-e proposed by her
majesty's government for the reduclioii of du ies on foreign sug.irs." The
deb;ite wlii.-h ensued adjourned fr(tin day to day, and lastinl for the unpro-
?edeii\ed e;.tent of eight nights. When the house divided, on the IHtli of
y^\t, Iherc ippeared for Lord Siuidon's amendment, three hundred and
i
TS'J
THK THtCASUllY OF HISTOttY.
seveiitep;! ; agaimit it, two hundred and eighty-one ; majority against min
istors, thiriy-six.
On tlie 27ih of May Sir R. Peel took an opportunity of minutely review-
ing the measures tlmi had heen submitted to parliament by ministers, and
afterwards abandoned, and the prejudieial efTeels on the finanecs of the
country whiifli liad accrued fnnn the passing of others. Sir Robert added,
that in every former case where the house had indicated that its confidence
was withdrawn from the ministry, the ministers liud retired. The whole
of their con(lu(M bi^raycd weakness and a truckling for popular favour,
and the prerosfiiiives of the crown were not safe in their hands. He then
moved the folhtwing resohilion "That her majesty's ministers do not suf-
ficiently possess the eonfi(h;nce of the iiouse of conmious to enable them
to (rarry tliroujih measures whi(!h ihey deem of essential importance to
the public welfare, and that their coniinuanee in office, under such cir-
cumstances, is at variance with the spirit of the constitution." This mo-
tion was carried in a fidl house, (the unmiier of members present being
six hundred and twenly-thretO by a majority of one. On the 23d of June
lier majesty proroy;ue(l parliament, "with a view to its immediate disso-
lution," and it was accordingly dissolved by proclamation on llie follow-
ing day.
On the nieeting of tin? new parliament, August 24lh, the strength of the
conservative party was slnkiiitr. The ministers had no measures to pro-
pose beyond ihose (ui wlrch ihey had before sustained a defeat; and when
an aniemlment to the address was put to vote, declaratory of a want ol
confidence in her majesiy's advisers, it elicited a spirited debate of four
night's continuance, terniinating in a majority of ninety-one against tnin-
istcrs. This result prodiiiM'd an iimnediaie change iti the ministry. Tho
new cabinet was: — Sir K. t'ecl, first lord of the treasury; duke of Wel-
lington, (without office) , Lord Lyndhurst, lord-chancellor ; Lord Wliarn-
clifi'e, president of the council; duke of Uuckingham, privy seal ; Right
Honourable II. (ioulbnrn, chancellor of the exchequer; Sir James Graham,
home secretary ; earl <if Aberdeen, foreign seiiretary ; Lord Stanley, colo-
nial secretary ; earl of llaildiiigton, first lord of the admiralty ; Lord Ki-
leiiboniugh, prcsiih.'tit of tin; board of control ; earl of Ripon, president ol
the bo.iril ol tra<le; Sir Henry llardinge, secretary at war; Kir Kdward
Knatchbiill, treasurer <if the navy an<l paymaster of the Torces. Earl de
(trey was apponilcd lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and Sir Edward Sugden.
Irish lord-ch inccllnr.
On the .30ih of October a dcslructive fire broke out in the Tower, about
half-past ten o'clock at ni;>hi, and continued to rage with the utmost fury
for sever;il hcnirs. It was first discovered in the round or bowyer lower,
and <)uickiy s|nead to the grand armory, where the llaincs gained a fearful
ascendency. Notwithstanding the exertions of the firemen and military,
the contlagration continued to spread, and apprehensions were entertained
that the jewel tower, with its crowns, scei)lres, and other eml)h'ms of roy-
ally would fall a prey to the devouring element. Happily, by prompt ex-
ertion, they wcr(! all taken loilie governor's residence, and the guii|)owder
and other warlike stores in the ordnance office were also n'lnoveil. In
adililion to the armory and l)ov<yer tower, llirei! other large buildings were
consumed. The [rrand armory was three hundred and finty-five feet long,
and sixty feet broad. 1 1 the tower lloor were kept about forty-three
pieces of cannon, niadt! by founders of iliffi'rent periods, besides various
other inleresting obieeis, and a mimber of i 'icsis containing arms in readi
iicss for use. A grand staircase led to the upper lloor, called the small
armory, in which were above l.')0,()00 stand of small arms, new flinted,
and ready for iinniediiite service. As that part of the b"ildinu where the
fire originated was heated by lines from stoves, it was tho jpniloii that
THE TREAeOllY OF HiaTORY.
?3S
In
•cudi
small
illtO(i.
re till'
that
the accident was thereby occasioned. The loss sustained, includiBj tlie
expense of rebudding, was estimated at about jE250,000.
The closing paragraph in the occurrences of last year recorded the I irth
of the princess royal. We have now to state, that on the 9th of No^ em-
ber the queen gave birth to a prince at Buckingham-palace, neatly a
twelvemonth having elapsed since her majesty's Ibrmer accouchement
The happy event having taken place on lord-mayor's day, it was raost
loyally celebrated by the citizens so opportunely assembled. On the 25th
of the following January the infant prince of Wales received the name of
Albert Edward, the king of Prussia being one of the sponsors.
A. D. 1842. — The year commenced with most disastrous intelligence
from India. In consequence of reductions having been made in the tri-
bute paid to the eastern Ghilzie tribes, for keeping open the passes be-
tween Caboul and Jellalabad, in Affglianistan, tlie people rose and took
possession of those passes. Gen. Sir R. Sale's brigade was therefore
directed to re-open the communication. The brigade fought its way to
Gundamuck, greatly harassed by the enemy from the high ground, and
after cigliteen days' incessant fighting, reached that place, much exhausted;
they then moved upon Jellalabad. Meantime an insurrection broke out
at Caboul. Sir A. Uurnes, and his brother Lieutenant C. Burnes, Lieu-
tenant Broadfoot, and Lieutenant Sturt were massacred. The whole city
then rose in arms, and universal plunder ensued — while another large
party attacked the British cantonments, about two miles from the town.
These outrages, unfortunately, were hut the prelude to others far more
frightful. Akhbar Khan, the son of Dost Mahommed, on pretence of
making arrangements with Sir W. M'Naghten, the British envoy at the
court of Shah Soojah, invited him to a conference ; he went, accompanied
by four officers and a small escort, when the treacherous Affghan, after
abusing the British ambassador, drew a pistol and shot him dead on the
spot. Captain Trevor, of the 3d Bengal cavalry, on rushing to his assist-
ance, was cut down, tlirce other officers were made prisoners, and the
mutilated body of the ambassador was then barbarously paraded through
the town. It was also stated that some severe fighting had taken place,
but under the grcatesi disadvantage to the British and native troops, and
that the army in Caboul had been almost literally annihilated. A capitu-
latioit was then entered into, by which the remainder of the Anglo-Indian
army retired from the town, leaving all the sick, wounded, and sixteen
ladies, wives of officers, bel:ind They had not, however, proceeded far
before Ihcy were as.sailed from the mountains by an immense force, when
the native troops, having fought three days, and wading through deep
snow, gave way, and nearly the whole were massacred.
So terrible a disaster had never visited the British arms since India first
acknowledged the suprcntacy of Kngland. A fatal mistake had been com-
mitted by the former government, and it was feared that all the eiiergy
of the new ministry would be insufficient to maintain that degree of iiifla-
ence over the vast and thi(^kly peopled provinces of India, which was
necessary to ensure the safety of our possessions, The governor-general,
Lord Auckland, was recalled, and his place supplied by Lord Ellenborough,
whose reputation for a correct knowledee of Inilian aflTairs was undisputed.
His lordship arrived at Cahmlta on Feb. 28, at which time Sir Robert
Sal(! was safe at Jellalabad ; but he was most critically situated. The
garrison, however, maintained their post with great gallantry, and were
able to defy the utmost efforts of the Affglians, having in one instance sal-
lied forth and attacked llicir camp, of f.,000 men, and gained a signal vic-
tory. At length (n-neral Pollock effected a juncl an with the troops of
Sir II. Sale, and released them from a siege of one hundred and fifty-four
days' duration; having previously forced, with very little loss, the dreailed
pass of the Ivhybcr, twenty-eight miles in length. Gen. Notl, also, who
Vol,. I.— 48
)
'Q
754
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
advanci'd from Candahar to meet General England, who had sustained
considerable loss at the pass of Kojuek, eneountered a large force of Aff-
ghans, and completely defeated them. Hut. on the other hand. Colonel
Palmer snrrendered the celebrated foi tress of Ghuznee, on condition that
the garrison should be safely conducted to Cabonl.
The day of retribution was at hand. General Nott, at the head of seven
thousand men, having left Cindahar on the 10th of August, proceeded
towards Ghuznee and Cabonl, while General England, with the remainder
of the troops lately stationed at Candahar, marched back in safety to
Qiieita. On the 30th of August, Shah Shoodeen, the gorvernorof Ghuznee,
with nearly the wholp of his army, amounting to not less than twelve
thousand men, arrived in the neighbourhood of the British camp, and Gen
eral Nott prepared to meet him with one half of his force. The enemy
came boldly forward, each division cheering as they came into position,
and occupying their ground in excellent style ; but after a short and spirited
contest, they were completely defeated, and dispersed in every direction,
their guns, tents, ammunition, &c., falling into the hands of the English.
On the 5th of September General Nott invested the city of Ghuznee, which
was strongly garrisoned, while the hills to the north-eastward swarmed
with soldiery ; but they soon abandoned the place, and the British flags
were hoisted in triumph on the Bala Missar. Tlie citadel of Ghuznee,
and other formidable works and defences, were razed to the ground.
Early in September General Pollock marched from Gimdanmck on his
way to Cabonl. On reaching the hills which command the road through
the pass of Jugdulluck, the enemy was found strongly posted and in con-
siderable numbers. In this action most of the influential Aflghan chiefs
were engaged, and their troops manfully maintained their position ; but
at length the heights were stormed, and, after much arduous exertion, they
were dislodged and dispersed. Gen. Pollock proceeded onwards, and
does not appear to have encoimtered any further opposition until his
arrival. September 13, in the T(!hzear valley, where an army of 16,000
Tien, commanded by Akhbar Khan in person, was assembled to meet him
A desperate fight ensued ; the enemy was completely defeated and driven
."rom the field. On the day follownig this engagement the general ad-
•'anced to Boodkhak, and on the 16lh he made his triumphal entry info
the citadel, and planted the British colours on its walls. " Thus," said
Lord Ellenborough, in his general orders, "have all past disasters been
retrieved and avengei! on every scene on which they were sustained, and
repeatod victories in the field, and the capture of the citadels of Ghuznee
and Caboul have advanced the glory and established the accustomed
superiority of the Drr'ish arms."
At length the long and anxiously desired liberation of the whole of the
British prisoners in the hands of the AflTirhaiis was effected. Their num-
ber was 31 ofllcers, 9 ladies, and 12 children, with 61 European soldiers,
2 clerks, and 4 women, making in all 109 persons, who had suffered cap-
tivity from Jan. 10 to Sept. 27. It a[)peared that, by direction of Akhbar
Khnn, the prisoners had been taken to Bamecan, 90 miles to the west-
ward, and that they were destined to be distributed among the Toorkistan
chiefs. General Pollock and some other offlcers propositi to the AtVtjh.in
chief, that if he would send them back to Caboul, tlicy woidd give him
€£2 (ino at once, and <€l,200 a year for life. The chief complied, and on
the second day th('y were met by .Sir Richmond Sliakspear, with (ilO
Kuzziibashes, and shortly afterwards bv General Sale, with 2,000 cavalry
and infantry, when they returned to Caboul. Besides the Europeans,
there were 327 sepovs found at frhviziiee, and 1,200 .sick and womided
who were begging about Cabonl. On the arrival of General Nott's divi-
sion, the resolution adopted by i\ [• British govt^rntnent lo destroy all the
S!f;;lian strongholds was carried ,nto execution, thongii not without rt-
exa
was
iieai
oen
S
pret
her
cha
A la
■NIPM
THE TEEASUttY OK HISTORY.
755
Bislance, particularly at the town and fort of Istaliff, where a slron" body
ol Affghans, led on by Ameer Oola, and sixteen of their most determined
chiefs, had posted theniselves. This town consisted of masses of houses
built on the slope of a mountain, in the rear of which were lofty eminences
shutting in a defile to Toorkistan. The number of its inhabitants exceed-
ed 15,000, who, from their defences and difficulties of approach, consider-
ed their position unassailable. The greater part of the plunder seized
last January from the British was placed there ; the chiefs kept their
wives and families in it ; and many of those who had escaped from Ca-
boul had sought refuge there. Its capture, however, was a work of no
very great difficulty, the British troops driving the enrniy before them
with considerable slaughter. The Anglo Indian troops soon after-
wards commenced their homeward march in three divisions ; the first
under General Pollock, the second under General iM'Caskill, and the
third under General Nott. The first division effected their niardi tiirough
the passes without loss ; but the second was less successful, the moun-
taineers attacking it near Ali-Musjid, and plundering it of part of the
baggage. General Nott, with his division, arrived in safety; bearing
with them the celebrated gates of Somnauth, which it is said a Moliame-
daii conqueror had taken away from an Indian temple, and which for
eight centuries formed the chief ornament of his tomb 4t Giiuznee.
The Niger expedition, which was undertaken last year by benevolent
individuals, supported by a government grant of X'GO.o'oO, was totally de-
feated by the pestilential effects of the climate. The intention was, to
plant in the centre of Africa an English colony, in the hope, by the proofs
afforded of the advantiiges of agriculture and trade, to reclaim tlie natives
from the custom of selling their captives into slavery.
On the 30th of May, as her majesty, accoinpaiilKd by Prince Albert,
was returning downConstitutioii-hill to Buckingham-palace, from lier after-
noon's ride, a young m.in, named .John Francis, fired a pistol at the car-
riage, but without effecting any injury. He was immediately taken into
custody, when it appeared that lie was by trade a carpenter, but being
out of employ, had attempted to establish a snutf-shop, in which he was
unsuccessful. It was su|)posed that he was incited to this criminal act
partly by desperation, and partly by the oclat and permaneiil provision-
though in an apartment at Bedlam— awarded to Edward Oxford, wlio it
will be remembered, performed a similar exploit at nearly the same spot
in June, 1840. The news readied the iiouse el" commoiiis wliiie ilie de-
bate on the property tax was in progress, whi< 'i was siukhi'iy stopped,
and the house broke up. The next day, howeves, the bill was again pro-
posed, and carried by a majority of lOG.
A joint address congratulating her majesty on liei happy escipe, was
presented from both houses of parliament on the Isi of June, aiu' a. form
of thanksgiving was aanclioned by the privy council. It appealed thai
lome danger had been apprehended in coiiseiir.encc of the same [eison
aaving been observed in tiie jiark witli a pistol on the p.-ecfdinj,' day ; ^nd
Lord Portmaii stated in tin, house of lords ib.at he: majesty in "oiise-
quenec would not permit, (ui liie ."^Oth of May., the attendance of tiiase
ladies whose duty it is to wait upon heron such accasions. Francis war
examined before the privy council, and then committed to Newgate ; ho
was tried, found guilty of liigii treason, and sentenced to be hung, be-
headed, and quartered ; but it was deemed proper to remit the extreme
penalties and commuie Ins sentence to transportation for life.
Scarcely more than a month had elapsed, when a third attempt, or
pretended attempt, on the life of the qiecn was made in St. James' park,
her majesty being at the time on her wa\' from Buckingham-palace to the
ehapel royal, accompanied liy Prince Albert and the king of the Belgians.
A lad, about eighteen years <><° age, named John William Bean, was ob-
756
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
terved to present a pistol at her majesty's carriage, by a youth nainea
Dasset, who seized him, and rehited the circumstance to two policemen.
They treated it as a joke, and Beaii was allowed to depart; but he was
subsequently apprehended at his father's house, and committed to prison.
On his examination he persisted in asserting that that there was nothing
but powder and paper in the pistol, and that he did not intend to hurt the
queen ; in fact, he appeared to be one of those weak beings who seem
actuated by a ntorhid desire of notoriety.
It was evident that the false sympathy shown to Oxford had encouraged
others in their base attempts ; and Sir Robert Peel, acting on that con-
viction, introduced a bill into parliament for the better security of her
majesty's person, his object being to consign the offenders to that con-
tempt which befitted their disgraceful practices. The bill was so framed
as to inflict for the offences of presenting fire-arms at her majesty, or at-
tempting to strike her person with missiles, and for other acts intended
to alarm her majesty, or disturb the public peace, the penalty of seven
years' transporatation, with previous imprisonment and flogging, or other
bodily chastisement.
We must once more recur to the warlike operations in China. After
an arrival of reinforcements, the British expedition, June 13th, entered
the large river called Yaiig-tze-Kiang, on the bants of which were im-
mense fortifications. The fleet at dayliglit having taken their stations,
the batteries opened a fire which lasted two hours. The seamen and
marines then landed, and drove the Chinese out of their batteries before
the troops could be disembarked. 253 guns were taken, of heavy calibre,
and 11 feet long. On tlie 19th two other batteries were taken, in which
were 48 guns. The troops then took possession of the city of Shanghai,
destroyed the public buildings, and distributed the contents of the
granaries among the people. Two other field-works were also taken, and
the total number of guns captured amounted to 364. The squadron
set sail from VVoosung on the 6th of July ; on the 20th the vessels anchor-
ed abreast the city of Ching-Keang-foo, which commands the entrance
of llie grand canal, and the next morning the troops were disembarked,
and marched to the attack of the Chinese forces. One briga "e was direct-
ed to move against the enemy's camp, situated about three miles distant,
another was ordered to co-operate with this division in cutting off the ex-
pected retreat of the Chinese from the camp, while the third received in-
structions to escalade the northern wall of the town. The Chinese, after
firing a few distant volleys, fled from the camp with precipitation, and
dispersed over the country. The city itself, however, was manfully de-
fended by tlie Tartar soldiers, who prolonged the contest for three hours,
resisting with desperate viilour the combined efforts of the three brigades,
aided by a reinforcement of marines and seamen. At length opposi-
tion ceaseji, and ere nightfall the British were eomi^lcte masters of the
place. Ching-'Ceang-foo, like Amoy, was most strongly fortified, and
the works in excellent repair. It is supposed that the garrison consist-
ed of not less tiian 3,000 men, and of these about 1,000, and 40 man-
darins, were killed and wounded. The Tartar general retired to his
house when he saw that all was lost, made his servants set it on fire,
and sat in his chair till he was burned to death. On the side of the
Briiish, 15 officers and 154 men, of both services, were killed and
wounded.
A strong garrison being left behind for the retention of Ching-Keang-
foo, the fleet proceeded towards Nankin, about forty miles distant, and
arrived on the 6th of August, when preparations were immediately made
for an attack on the city. A strong force under the command of Major-
general Lord Saltoiin, was landed, and look up their position to the west
of the town : and operations were about to be commenced, when a letter
whic
betwi
Wl
(eiide
der it
tlioug
obtaii
navig
Hyde
Notb
navig
until I
they {
not si
the re
defeiK
<nunit
liMM
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
9W
was «eiit ofl to the plenipotentiary, requesting a truce, as certain fiija
commissioners, specially delegated by the emperor, and possessfd oi liili
powers to negotiate, were on their way to treat with the English. aIXox
several visits and long discussions between the contracting powers, the
treaty was publicly signed on board the Cornwallis, by Sir H. Pottinger
and the three commissioners. Of this convention the followiiiP, are the
most important articles: l. Lasting peace and friendship between the
two empires. 2. China to pay twenty-one millions of dollars in the
course of that and three succeeding years. 3, The norts of Canton,
Amoy, Foo-choo-foo, Ningpo, and Shanghai, to be thrown open to British
merchants, consular officers to be appointed to reside at them, and regulv
»nd just tariffs of import and export (as well as inland transit) duties to
be established and published. 4. The island of Hoiig-Kon<r to be ceded
in perpetuity to her Uritannic majesty, her heirs, and successors. 5. All
subjects of her Uritannic majesty (whether natives of Europe or
India), who may be confined in any part of the Chinese empire, to be un-
conditionally released. 6. An act of full and entire amnesty to i)e pub-
lished by the emperor, under his imperial sign-manual and seal, to all Chi-
nese subjects, on account of their having held service or intercourse with,
or resided under, the British government or its officers. 7. Correspon
deuce to be conducted on terms of perfect equality among the officers
of both governments. 8. On the emperor's assent being received to this
treaty, and the payinentof the first instalment, six millions of dollars, her
Britannic majesty's forces to retire from Nankin and the grand canal,
and the military posts at Chinghai to be also withdrawn; but the islands
of Chusan and Kohingsoo are to be held until the money payments and
the arrangements for opening the ports are completed.
A. D. 18-13. — On the 2d of February the parliamentary session com
menced ; the royal speech, which was read by the lord-chancellor, referred
Ui terms of just congratulation to; 1. The successful termination of hos
tilities with China, and the prospect it afforded of assisting the commer-
cial enterprise of her people. 2. The complete success of the recent mil-
itary operations in Affghanistan, where the superiority of her mnjesly's
arms had been established by decisive victories on the scenes of formei
disasters, and the complete liberation of her majesty's subjects, for whom
she felt the deepest interest, had been effected. 3. The adjustment ot
those difierences with the United Stales of America, which from llieir
long continuance had endangered the preservation of peace. 4. The ob-
taining, in concert with her allies, for the Christian population of Syria,
an establishment of a system of administration which they were eniitled
to expect from the engagements of the sultan, and from the good faith of
this country. And, .3. A treaty of commerce and navigation with Russia,
which her majesty regarded as the foundation for increased intercourse
between her subjects and those of the emperor.
When the e.xpeditioii to Affghanistan was first undertaken, it was in-
tended to open the Indus for the transit of British merchandise, and ren-
der it one of the great highways to Asia. The object was not lost sight of,
though Affghanistan had been abandoned; and endeavours were made to
obtain from the Ameers of Sciiide such a treaty as would secure the safe
navigation of that river. In December, Major Outrain was dispatclu^d to
Hyderabad to conclude the best terms in his power with the native chiefs.
Not being in a condition immediately to refuse to give up for the use of
navigation ci^rtain strips of land lying along the river, they tcmponsetl,
until at length their troops were collected, when on the 14th of February
they sent word to Major Outiam to retire from their city. The major,
not supposiny they would proceed to extremities, delayed. The next day
the residence of the British piditical agent was attacked ; it was g ill.intly
defended liy one huiulred men for several hours ; but at length, tiicir am-
vnunition having been expended, the British soldiers ret-red with a small
«
i
758
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
los^ to the steamers, and proceeded to join Sir C. J. Napier, then at tne
head of about twenty-seven hundred men, at a distance of about twenty
miles from the capital of the Ameers. The latter hastened, at the head o(
twenty-two thousand men, to attack the British force. On the 17th a bat-
tle took place, in which, after a severe struggle of three hours, the Ameers
were totally routed, although they outnumbered the British force by seven
to one. The Ameers on the following day surrendered themselves pris-
oners of war, and Hyderabad was occupied by the conquerers. Treas-
ure and jewels were found to an amount considerably exceeding one mil-
lion sterling. In consequence of this success, the territories of Scinde,
with the exception of that portion belonging to Meer Ali, the morad of
Khyrpore, was then declared by the governor-general to be a British
province, and Sir Charles J. Napier was appointed governor.
The new governor, however, was not to remain in undisturbed posses-
sion for any length of time. An army of Bcloochees, twenty thousand
strong, under the command of Meer Shore Mahomed, had taken up a
strong position on the livcr FuUalie, near the spot where the Ameers of
Scinde were so signally defeated, and Sir C. J. Napier, on ascertaining
the f;ict, resolved to attack them forthwith. On the S-lth of March he
moved from Hyderabad at the head of five thousand men. The battle
lasted for three" hours, when victory declared for the British ; eleven guns
and nineteen standards were taken, and about one thousand of the enemy
were killed, and four thousand wounded ; the loss of the British amount-
ing to only 30 killed and 231 wounded. By this victory tlie fate of Scinde
and Beloochislan was sealed, and the whole territory finally annexed to
the Anglo-Indian empire.
In an age of experimental science like the present, it appearw tilmosi
invidious in ii work of this kind to allude to any. In truth lu limits
have compelled us to omit the mention of many works of iialmnal impor-
tance, but we trust to be excused for such omissions, while we insert
the following : In order to save the vast amount of manual laSiur neces-
sary to form a sea-wall on the course of the south-e;i«-«'rn railway, near
Dover, tlio great experiment of exploding eighteen tlu' ■•<:tnA five hundred
pDunds of gunpowder, under Round-down cliff, was cvi the 26th of Janu-
ary attempted by the engineers, with perfect success. On the signal
beiny given, the miners communicated, by comiectiiig wires, the electric
spark to the gunpowder deposited in chambers formed in the cliff; the
earlii trembled for half a mile each way ; a stifled report, not loud but
deep, was heard, and the cliff, extending on either hand to five hundred
feet, graau.;!!y subsided seaward; in a few seconds, not less then one
million tons of chalk weru ;l'«*Iodge(l by the shock, settling into the sea
below, frothing and boiling as it dispiacuu the liquid element, till it occu-
pied the expanse of many iicres, and extended outwurr^ on its ocean bed
to a distance of two or three thousand feet. This operatiup. was man-
aged with such admirable skill and precision, that it would appear jubt «i
miiidi of the cliff was removed as was necessary to make way for the sea-
wall, while an immense saving in time and labour was also effected.
Now that we have trespassed on the jjroviiiceof art, we cannot forbeai
to notice that wonderful and gigantic undertaking, the Thames tunnel
For twenty years that stupendous labour had been going on, when on the
25lh of May it was opened for foot passeii^fcrs, at one penny each. At
a recent meeting of the proprietors, a vote of thanks was offered to the
engineer in the following terms: "That the cordial thanks and congrat-
ulation of the assembly are hereby tendiircd toSirlsamhert Brunei, F. K.S.,
for (he distinguished talent, cii<;rgy, and perseverance evinced by him
m the design, construction, and completion of the Thames ttiiiiiel, a
work unprecedented in the aimals of science and ingenuity, and exhibitiriij
I triumph of genius over physical dillicultii.'.-i, dei/larcd by some of the
most enligl
was coinii
Tlianies, ai
granted by
the total ei
On the 2
the 25tli till
tened Alice
gave birth I
Calais, it hi
On the 2t
of Cainbridj
reditary gra
pounds per
days after tl
in Carma
novel specie
rendered mil
agricultural i
of " Itebecci
payment of
for the abate
of the poorlii
no little shov
pass without
it usually ha|
pleted. Rebec
homes. It w
but we shouk
on a much lai
that occurred
town of Carii
the following]
rioters were J
with one in f|
and from sevc
teen abreast.
had pistols.
ill VVelsh, ,,f I
Liberty." 0|
' 'urt in front!
timely deinoll
tlie windows.!
troop of the J
the court sucf
dred •mrl fifty I
and other misl
the soldiers vvT
more than sii
captors.
Willi respej
session was J
reading, May!
objects of the I
tithes coinmulf
suffrage to alL
tenure — a phij
Ireland from
THE TREASURY OF HISTOR'V.
75T
most enlightened men of the age to be insurmomitable." This great wori
was commenced in 18.i5, but stopped in 1828 by an irruption of tin
Thames, and no further progress was made until 1835. Loans were thei.
granted by government, and the works were uninterruptedly continued,
the total expense being t£446,000.
On the 21st of April, his royal liighness the duke of Sussex died. On
the ii5tii tiie queen was safely delivered of a princess, who was ehi -
tened Alice Maude Mary. And on the same afternoon that the queen
gave birth to a princess, the king of Hanover arrived in London, from
Calais, it being his maji^siy's first visit to England sir,L-e his accession.
On the aath of June the princess Augusta, eldest daughter of the duke
of Cambridge, was married to his royal highness Frederic William, he-
reditary grand duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. A grant of three thousand
pounds per annum was settled on her by tlie government, and in a (' w
days after the marriage they embarked for tlie continent.
In Carmarthenshire and some of the neighbouring Welsh counties, p.
novel species of insurrection liadkept the country in a state of alarm, and
rendered military assistance necessary. (Jertain small farmers, and the
agricultural population generally, united under the the singular appellatior
of " Rebecca and her daughters," for the avowed object cf resisting the
payment of turnpike tolls, wliicli were notoriously exorbitant there, anc
for the abatement of certain other grievances — the present administration
of the poor laws being ainontfthe number— of which they loudly and with
no little show of justice complained. Scarcely anight was sufTered to
pass without the removal of a gate or the demolition of a toll-iiouse j and
It usually happened that as soon as the work of destruction was com-
pleted, Rebecca^ band quietly and stealthily dispersed to their respective
homes. It will be sufficient to give merely one instance of these riots ;
but we should remark that the not we here subjoin an account of, was
on a much larger scale, and attended with more serious results, than any
that occurred either before or smee : — They were expected to attack the
town of Carmarthen on Sunday the 18th of .lune, but did not come. On
the following morning, however, at 1'2 o'clock, several thousand of the
rioters were seen approaching, about nine hundred being on horseback,
with one in front disguised with a woman's curls, to represent Rebecca,
and from seven to eight thousand on foot, walking about fourteen or fif-
teen abreast. Every man was armed with a bluilgcon, and some of them
had pistols. At their head were carried two banners, bearing inscriptions
in Welsh, ;)f " Freedom, Liberty, and Better Feed;" and " Free Toll and
Liberty." On reaching the work-house, they broke open the gates of the
1 lurl in front, and having gained an entrance into the house, they inniie-
(imely demolished the furniture, and threw the beds and bedding out of
the windows. While they were thus pursuing the work of destruction a
troop of the 4th light dragoons arrived from Neath, and having entered
the court succeeded in taking all those within prisoners, about two hun-
dr'-"^ -'"d fifty in number, durniLi- which time they were pelted with stones
and other missiles. The riot act being read, and a cry being raised that
the soldiers were going to charge, tlie mob fled in every direction, leaving
more than sixty horses, besides the above prisoners, in the hands of the
captors.
With respect to the proceedings in parliament, a great portion of the
session was occupied in opposing the " Irish arms bill." On the second
reading. May the 20th, the attorney-general lor Ireland declared that the
objectsof the present repeal agitators were, first, the total abolition of tlie
tithes coinmutation rent-charge ; next, the extension of the parliamentary
BullVage to all sane male adults not convicted of a crime ; next, fixity oi
tenure—a phrase me.uiiiig the transfer of the whole landed property of
Ireland from the landlord to the teuan'. ; and some other extreme profw-
I
Mil
I
760
THR TREASURY OF HISTORY.
sitions of the samn class. The measures provided by this bill had been
in existence witii little Intermission for almost a century, and the extreme
avidity shewn by the Iriah peasantry for the possession of arms proved
its necessity to be most urgent. For about' a month, almost every alter-
nate evening was occupied with discussions in committee on the said
bill. Afterwards a motion was brought forward by Mr. O'Urien for " the
rearess of grievances in Ireland," the debate on which was again and
again adjourned, till at length the motion was negatived. On that occa-
sion, Sir Robert Peel discussed the alledged grievances seriatim ; and in
reply to an observation of Lord Howick's, he said thai the Roman catho-
lics now enjoyed equal civil rights with the othersubjectsof the crown, and
that the oaths were so altered that the oflTensive portions relating to Iran-
substantiation were abolished. " I am asked," said the right honourable
baronet, " what course I intend to pursue ! ' Declare your course,' is the
demand. 1 am prepared to pursue that course which I consider I have
pursued, namely, to administer the government of Ireland upon the prin-
ciples of justice and impartiality. 1 am prepared to recognize the princi-
ple established by law, that there shall be equality of civil privileges. I
am prepared in respect of the franchise to give a substantial and not a
fictitio\is right of suffrage. In respect to the social condition of Ireland
we are prepared also to consider the relations of landlord and tenant de-
liberately, and all the important questions involved therein. With respect
to the established church, we arc not prepared to make one alteration in
the law by which that church and its revenues shall be im|)aired. He
was not ashamed to act with care and moderation ; and if the necessity
should arise, he knew that past forbearance was the strongest claim to
being entrusted with fuller powers when they thought proper to ask for
them." On the iUh of August, the third reading of the Irish arms bill was
carried by a u'.ajority of sixty-six. Parliament was prorogued on the 24th
August liy the (jiicen in person ; on which occasion her majesty expressed
herself highly gratiHed with the advantageous position in wliicli the
country was placed by the successful termination of the war in China and
India, and with the assurances of perfect amity which she continued to
receive from foreign powers.
A. n. 1H14. — The events of this year are so recent as to require but
slight notice. The Irish state trials, rt'sulling in the imprisonment and
subs('(|uent pardon of Daniel O'tJoimell .md his associate traversers, are
familiar to all. — The visit of the emperor of Unssia to Queen Vi('toria, as
well as her trip to Krance, Helgiuiii, fie, and the retii.-n of Ik r majesty's
visit by Louis Philippe (after an absence of (juarter of a century from the
shores of Dritain) may be chronicled as events somclhiiig more than
commonplace. — The birth of another prince, in August, who was chris-
tened Alfred Kriiest Allien, is also of gome importance. — In the same year
died, in London, Sir F. Hurdett, aged 7i., of whom considerable menliim
has been made in this history — About the same time, at Hath, (lied Sir
H. S. Fit/.gcrald, vice-admiral of the red. --At Mothweil castle, Scotland,
Lord Douglass, aged 71. — And in or near LDiidon, the lords Nay & .Seal,
(tra!"toii, Keanc, fiC.
A. n. IHI.'i. — Tiie year commenced auspiciouxly. The (jui-en's o|)eiiing
address to the Ikiiiscs of iiariiament, declared her entire satisfaction with
the aspect of ad'alrs, both domestic and foreign. I''armiiig interests, man-
jfactures, and traile, were iii a houikI and lloiiri^liing coiiditiiin ; and the
country at large was now reaping tlu^ wholesome fruits of u universal
jieace. Death, however, in the (Irst ihr«!e mtiiilhs of the year, cut down
lords Morningtoii, Aston, and VVynibr<l, the marquess of Westminster,
and Kev Sidney Snnili — the last named gentleman bemg (listmguJNlied
as one of the ileaiest and best of llritish writers, us well as u |)owerful
yet unpretending advocate uf humanity.
ner,
can M
was 1
Laris
The
leadii
latiiiui
gatidii
con tin I
tradiiii,
mis:lii
wiihii
On
prince:
Ear
India,
the
HriiisI
on tli<
with
army,
tlmnkii
eslnldi
A. n.
of the
failure
•ind (lit
^-V
THE TREA8UKY OF IIISTORV.
761
A. D. 1816. — This will always be regarded as an important year in the
annals of English history. First, it was a witness of those great changes
in the commercial policy of England, involved in the repeal of the Corn
Laws, and the triumph of the friends of Free Trade, under the leadership
of Sir Robert Peel. Early in the preceding December, the Cabinet, at the
head of which was the above-named distinguished statesman, were com-
pelled to resign on the Corn Law question ; and the power of forming a
new Miiiistry was entrusted by the Queen to Lord John Russell. His
Lordship being unable to bring together one of concordant materials. Sir
Robert was after a few days recalled. The session of Parliament was
opened on the 22d of January, the Queen in her speech strongly recom-
mending, among other topics, a reduction of the Tariff; and on the 27th,
in the presence of a crowded house, Sir Robert entered upon a full state-
ment of his financial scheme relating to this subject. The first vote upon
the question was taken on the 28ih of February, when the views of the
Premier were sustained by a majority of 97. The bill was subseciuently,
amidst much opposition from the landed interests, pressed to a second and
third reading, passed the Commons, and late in June received the sanction
of the House of Lords.
Simultaneously, however, with the success of the Peel ministry in re-
gard 10 the Corn Laws, came their defeat on the Irish Coercion Bill.
This took place on the 25th of June, there appearing against the govern-
ment, on a division, a majority of 73. Sir Robert and his colleagues im-
mediately resigned office, and a new iVlinistry was formed under Lord John
Russell.
The second great event we may notice, was the settlement of the long-
alaiidiiig dispute with the United States in regard to the boundary of the
Oregon territory. A ([uestion that had, at various stages of its discussion,
occiisioned much agitation— that had long been attempted in vain to be
adjusted by negotiation, or by a reference to some friendly power for arbi-
tration — was linally decided in a peaceful and mutually satisfactory man-
ner, hy a treaty ratified by Lord Paliuerston and Mr. McLane, the Ameri-
can Minister, on the 17th of July, at the Foreign Office. The intelligence
was announced the same day, in the House of Lords, by the Marcjuis of
Lansilowe. and in the Commons, by the Minister of the Foreign Ollice.
The treaty had iireviously been sanctioned by the American Senate. Its
leading features were, a division of the territory hy the I'Jth parallel of
latitude, giving, however, Vancouver's Island to (rreat Britain ; free navi-
gation of the Columliia river liy the Hudson's Bay Company, during the
continuance of its Charter: indemnity to said Conipany lor all forts and
trading stations sdUth of iH'^ ; and also, indemnity to British suhjei-is who
miaht wish to almnilon their jiroperiy south of that line, and remove
within British jurisdiciion.
On the 25th of .Alay, of this year, her Majesty was delivered of a
princess.
Early in the year, intelligence was received of a sanguinary battle in
India, with the Sikhs, iiiiiahitinir the I'unjauli, which continued through
the l:.'tli, i;<iii, and llili of the orevious December, and in whioh .'MUM)
British and native troops were Killed and wounded, with an estimated loss,
on the part of the enemy, of iid.dtHt. This creat victory was received
with marked ejithusia-m ; the thanks of Parliament were voted the Indian
army, and a form of prnver, composed by the Archbishop of Canterbury,
thanking (Jod lor his favourable interposition, was offered up in all the
established clmrches of the kingdom.
A. II. is|7.— The prominent events of this year relate to the operation
of tlie new mca'-ures of government upon the suhjeci of the tarilf; the
failure of the potato crop in Ireland, and the con»ei|uent iippallinu famine
.Hid distress which prevailed there; the coimuercial revulsion which took
762
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
place in England about the middle of the year, causing the failure of the
Bank of Liverpool, and of a large number of the oldest and most extensive
mercantile houses ; ending, at the close of the year, with an abundant
harvest, and a restoration of public confidence and prosperity.
Long before the close of the previous year, the voice of distress was
heard from Ireland, which eventually grew into a univerfal cry of anguish
and des,-air. .'it the opening of Parliament, on the 19ih of Januiiry, her
Majesty recommended thai the ports be immediately opened for the free
adtiiissicn of foreign corn of every kind, and the suspension of the naviga-
tion laws. Notwithstanding, however, the most liberal and energetic
measures, both on the part of government and of private individuals, the
famine continued to spread, and the records of the year present the most
heart-rending details of sutfering, disease, and death, among the Irish pea-
santry. Contributions for the relief of the sufferers were received from
various <|uarters ; and none distinguished themselves more for their benev-
olence, than did the United Slates of Atk.erica, at that sad crisis.
Her Majesty, this year, |)aid a vii'-. 'o Hpr Scutch subjects, and was
everywhere received with the most '.'■. < •. onsiraiions. The year is
also remarkable, as being that which '• >' .■ ■ ihe death of 'the celebrat-
ed Irish repealer, Daniel O'Connell. lent took place at Genua,
May loih, whither he was travelling for his healih. He directed, at his
death, ibat his heart should be deposited at Rome, and his body reiuriied
to Ireland for burial, which was faiiblully executed.
Parliameni was dissolved in person liy the Queen, on the 22d of July,
to re-assemble un the Ihih of November, ■ i a largely increased majori-
ty on the side of ihe governinent, as a res of the intervening eleciiuns,
A. 11. 1S48. — The history of 1848, was eiii|ihatically one of internal distur-
bance throughout the kiiigdum. The spirit of revolution whieb burst
forth in France in February, causing the abdication of Louis Philli|re, and
the proclamation of a Republic, and which was communicated lo iiuarly
every kincdom of Europe, also displayed itself in ihc most serious out-
brcaKs in Ireland, and in manil'euiniions of |)opular discontent tbrdUf^liout
Eiigiuiul and Scuihind. On ibe lOth day of April, took place in Luiulon,
the great Chartist demonsiration. An iiiimeiise |)rucessioit, Jjeariiisr a peti-
tion signed, as Mr. Feargus 0'<^onnur declared in his phu-e in ilie ll(juse
of CoiiiMKins, by .'),76(),(l(ifl persons, rnnrclu'd ihrou^>li the slreets ul' the
iiietr(jpolis, with tlaijs and banners, sreaily to the alarm of ihe ciii/ciis,
who apprehended a scene of popular violence as the result. The iilliiir
jiassed off ijuielly, however, and ihe defeiisive iirraMiieiiienls of ihe govirii-
meiii were noi cnlled into requisition. The petiiion prayed I'l r aiuuuil
parliamenis, universal sulfrnge, vole by balloi, ei|uiil eleciornl disiricis, no
]iroperiy ipialilicntioii, and payment of members of I'nrlianieiit : lor ilie
pri'vnliiicr, in short, of CliHrtisi principles. Tliouch ibis demoiisirHiioii
was allowed lo pn^s wilhoui inlerruption, other ealherinps of a more vio-
lent anil iiisurrcr-iiiinary eliaracier aiiracied the aiieiiiion of govt riiiiieni,
and resulted in the trial and irans|iorialioii of a number of the lender))
engaged in them.
Meantime sediiion reigned in Ireland, the people under their leaders
resorting to arms and tlirealetiing civil war, if ilieir wishes in regiird lo it
repeal of the Union were not an-eded lo. To meet the eiiiergelicy, l,'ov-
ernment ordered a Inrfe iiddiiimal body of iroupK into Ireland, while the
IcM-al ciinstiiliuliilory force was pr()|)oriiiinalely increased. The insurreciion
was linally i|U('lled by the arrest of the proiiiineiil lenders, Mitchell,
O'Mrien, MciNInnus, Mea;;lier, O'Ponohiie. mid (cliers, who were tried anil
rondemncd in denih : a sentence whii'h was subKe(|Uenily commuted to
irnnspoi'iiition for life.
Her Majesty, on the IHth of March, was deliviTMl of another princens ;
and 111 'he autumn repeated her visit to Ncolland. Anions (he noiuhle
/'
«ii(ii
re?i|.
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
763
lUllTH
ll III II
, miv-
ilf lllf
rri'lioil
iilu'll,
ll ami
iJlrd ll'
liiccii* ;
iiolltlili.'
deaths of tliis year, we may mention that of D'Israeli, the author of
" ('urii)»ities of Literaiure," at the advanced age of 82; also, of Lord
Ashlmrton, the negotiator of the treaty with America bearing that name,
on the 1 Ith of May.
A. I'. 1819. — Parliament was opened by the Queen in person, early in
Fi'lirunry, and iliu general interests' of the country at the commencement
of tliL' year wore an encouraging uspeci. In the manufacturing districts,
liiid ill most departments of trade and commerce, increasing activity pre-
Viiik'd. As the summer, however, progressed, that dreadful scourge, the
(/'hnlern, which had prevailed in England to some ixier.t the preceding
year, broke forth with terrible violence in the larser cities of the kingdom,
enUning great public alarm, and m a measure alfecting unfavourably the
industry and business of all classes. Tiie mortality attending the disease
WIIK most appalling, in some localities reaching as high as 1,000 deaths a
week.
An attempt on the life of the Queen was made on the 19ih of April.
Her IMnjesty was returning in company with Prince Albert, from a ride in
Hyde Park, in an open carriage, when a perMJii wearing the dress of a
liiJiurer, presented a pistol at her person. Belure lie rould carry his con-
liMiiplated act of violence into effect, the miscreant was seized by some of
ihc park-kcejuTs and soldiery near, and taken away under arrest. He
proved to be an Irisbman, by the name of John Hamilton, aged about 35,
mid, apparently, in a rational state of mind.
Ilcr Miiiesty this year paid her long contemplated visit to Ireland, arriv-
ing nl Cork on the 2d of August. Her presence was everywhere greeted
with enthusiiism by her Irish subjects. The rival party visited Kingstown,
lliiblin, and Belfast, and were received by the auiiori.ies, nobility, and
jioiiiiliire, with every demonstration of loyal resard,
Inlelligenre of the outbreak in Canada, which occurred on iheS'ithof
April, and involved the burning of the Parliament imildinus and other acts
ol popiilnr violence, was received and laid before Parliament, on the l.'ith
ci( May, At a later period of the year, public attention was drawn to the
I'lloriMof a small portion of her MajeRly s subjects in Canada, in liivour of
Uimexing ihat colony to the roiled Slates. An address was issued, ndvo-
Citlimj II separation from the mother country, on terms of amity and mutual
nureemeiil. But the friends of the project proved too inconsiderable in
liiiiiibrrs and influence to impress these views very extensively upon the
jiiibllc mind.
I-'rom India, came news of a disastrous battle in |lie I'linjanb, in which
Ihc British forces suffered a loss of ^.TiOO iiumi. iuuI maily H'O general
ollli'cifi, The aririy was commanded by Lord (imi^'h, wlici was at once
limprndrd, and Sir Cir.irles Napier seal out to supply his pliice.
Willi coiiiparative ipiiet at lidine, the govenioient were ciillrd upon to
ri'uiird with watchfulness the progress ol allairs on the Coiiiimni. The
iluiiituriHii war, and the bumbardment of Hume by the French, were
liinilero of too eM'iii')!.' and imp'rianl a naiure in their beiirings lo be
ovrrliMiktd : and the diplomacy of the foreign ollice was celled into active
lixcrci'i' dllrinir this period.
A. l>. I*^'<'. Parliament was convened on the Mist of .Tanuary, and the
upecrh Irnm ilir Ihriine delivered by proxy. An atiempl was niiide iii the
early pan nf the session, to restore, in a measure, the system of protective
(Julie", liiit it was destined to defeat. Prominent among the events which
»tlfimli/iil ilie vear, was the affair with C recce, which grew out nf the
refil«iil of ihat'coveriiment to make repiiration for losses siisininid by cer-
Iniii llniisli siibjecf residinc in that kingdom. The pmperty of these
iiidividiiaU had i.i.-n seized, and their residences invaded by the populace;
b nil ilemaiiils lor redress, the government of (irrece turned a deal ear,
Uiiiil force was necessarily resorted to, her ports bluckailed, and a bom-
764
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
I)8fdment threatened. The demandsof Great Britain were finally acceded
tOi But in the meantime, France having ofTercd her mediation in the
(Jontfoversy, and Russia regarding with a jealous eye the doctrine of pro-
toeiion to British subjects residing in foreign countries, as understood and
UphchI l)y Britain, a misunderstanding arose with those governments,
wliicl; for a lime wore a somewhat threatening aspect. The dispute was,
by the firmness and diplomacy of the Foreign Office, eventually brought
to n settlement.
The domestic incidents of the year were both varied and interesting.
Fofetimst among them may be mentioned the birth ot a Prince on the
asth ol April, to whom was given the name of " Arthur William Patrick
Alhe.t."
On the 27th of June, a dastardly and unprecedented assault was made
on the yueen. while riding in an open carriage. A discharged officer,
tininrd Itober. Pate, was tlie assailant. With a cane he inflicted a blow,
which cut thnugh her Majesty's bonnet and slightly wounded her lore-
head, lie was immediately arrested by the bystanders, and. it being
proved that he was subject to turns of insanity, was merely sentenced to
transportation for seven years.
The :.'d ol July witnessed an event which produced a profound sensa-
tion, not only in Britain, but hroughout the world. We allude to the
death of the distinguished statesman. Sir Robert Peel. The ex-premier
inid, on the ^Oih of June, been to pay his respects to the Queen at Buck-
itiehnm I'niace ; on his return, he was accidentally thrown from hi? horse,
Biid so siriously injured that all medical aid proved unavailing for his re-
covery. He exjjired on the night of July 2d, after passing through much
suH'erinsf. The proceedings in Parliament in view of ihe event, and the
Kencni! jmblic demonstrations of grief, attested to tl'e great popularity and
eiiiineni reputation oi the deceased. A public funeral, jirofTered by the
governiiit'iil, was declined in accordance with the previou!^ly expressed
Wi?!|ies of Sir Robert, and he was committed without display or pump, to
(he fiiiiiily vault at Tamworih. iSir Robert Peel was born on 'lu 5ih of
February, 178S, and was therefore G2 years of age at the time of his
dentil.
No siHiesinan of late years has wielded the influence which was pos-
gefsscd |py ilie subject of these remarks. For forty years he was a member
of llir House of L'oinniuns; and whether acting in this capacity, or as a
Bubonliiiiuc member of the Cabinet, or as Premier, he always dis]ilayed
the resources of a gil'ied mind, and has left a I.Tsting impress upon the age.
(iriKMiiilly ilie advocate of the views of the Tory parly, his foresight and
pruilciicc ciialiled him to disfern how far ii was Mile to go, and led him to
the adnpiioii of (lioie wise ('(Jiicessions which marked the history of his
rareer. Thus, from heiiiu its opponent for eleven years, he became the
advoi'aie of ihe Bullion law ; Iruiii opposing, he eveiiiiuilly gave his warm
RUppori to ihe Catholic Eiiiaiici|)ation bill ; and from being for a third of a
century ii firm proteciioiii»i, his was the very arm which linally dealt the
(leath-idow to ihe Corn Laws, and (jpened the ports of Britain to free trade.
In the (leiiih of .^ir Itobert, England was deprived of her greatest siates-
liinn ami wisest counsellor. A monument to his memory was ordered by
fhr goveriiiiieiit to be erected in Wesiminsier Abbey.
On ilie 2i)ili of this monili. Baron Kothscliitd, who had been returned to
llip ii'iu^e of (,'ommuns from London, made formal claim to his seat in
thai body, and demanded to be sworn on the Old 'I'eMament. This was
the liffit iiisiance in wliicli a Jew had ever been elected to Parliameiii, and
the iiiivelly of the event, combined with the cxiraordinary demand just
nihiilcil to, created no little public excitement. The subject was debated,
ni grtiii ienutli.aiid its linal deterininalion jxisiponed lo the next session.
Uiiu of those popular exhibitions of aversion lu tyrants and their tools,
to
in
vns
ind
Lj.
111.
Lis,
THE TREASUKY OF HISTORY.
which occasionally will occur among honest-hearted Englishmen, accus-
totiied the nselves to liberty and just rule, took place in London in Septem-
ber, on the occasion of the visit of the Austrian General, Haynau, to the
metropolis. General Haynau had, as Commander of the Austrian forces
in the Hun;,'arian war, acquired an infamous reputation for the cruilty of
his treatment towards his Hungarian captives, and the general severity of
his measures during the Campaign. Being in London, he chose to visit
the extensive brewery establishment of Messrs, Barclay & Co., when, his
presence becoming known to the workmen, he was assniled, driven from
the premises, and, but for the police, would hardly have escaped the fury
of his pursuers. The event elicited much newspaper comment, public
opinion for the most part sustaining the honest act of indignation on the
part of the populace; while the General very shortly left the kinjrdom, to
seek an atmosphere more congenial to the agents of tyrannic cruelty tmd
oppression.
Her Majesty, this year, paid a visit to Belgium, and also renewed her
visit to Scotland.
In reviewing the Parliamentary measures of the year, we find nothing
of striking interest accomplished, although a variety of bills for social and
political reform, among them one for abolishing the Viceroyalty in Ireland,
were introduced and discussed. Parliament was prorogued on the loth
of August.*
In November, an event of unusual interest occurred, which agitated the
public mind in England to a high degree — it being no less than the esiab-
lishment by the Pope of Roman Catholic jurisdiction in England. This
matter met with indignant opposition, and Protestantism was seriously
startled by its bearing and tendency. As it came to be more fully under-
stood, however, it was seen that the act involved no interference wiih the
temporal powers of the government, and the excitement has since measur-
ably subsided, although Catholic influence continues to be regarded with
unusual watchfulness.
Among the deaths of eminent personages, ir.,iy be chronicled thai of the
distinguished poet-laureate, William VVordsworih, which occurred on the
23d of April, of this year. His age was 81.
A. D. 1851. — The opening of the session of Parliament took place on the
4th of February. Among the first acts, was ilie introduction, liy Lord
John Russell, of a bill relating to the Catholic l^ccleslnstical question. It
imposed a penalty of .t'lOO for the assumpliiii by Catholic prelates of
titles to existing sees in any city or place in ihc kingdom, and renders the
acts of such prelates under such titles without efTect.
On the 21st of the month, the Cabinet having sustained a defeat on the
question of extending the elective franchise to the occupiers of tenements
of the value of X\i), in the counties as well as in boroughs, resigned
oflice. S', veral days wcr.» spent in a fruitless endeavor to form a new min-
istry ; when Lord John Russel was recalled, and resumed office with a
cabinet slightly re-constructed.
We cannot betier close our summary of events for the year, ab far as we
have it in our power to extend it, than by noticing the great event of the
age— the Industrial Exliil'ition in progress in London,— thn prepnratijns
for which have occupied the public mind for a year past.
766
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
THE CRYSTAL PALACE.
The origin of this retnariiable building is generally understood. The
idea was broached, early in the yea' 1850, of getting up an extensive
Industrial Exhibition, in which all the nations of the world should be in-
vited to participate, by contributing thereto specimens of their respective
productions, both natural and ariificidl. But a difficulty, and a serious
one too, arose in regard to the kind of an edifice adapted to such a pur-
pose. A structure that should be at once light, yet substantial, cheap, yet
imposing, was what was evidently needed ; but any building composed of
the ordinary naterials, and after the prevailing architectural modes, would
not answer these demands, especially when the required dimensions of the
place of exhibition were taken into account. After much deKLeraiion,
and the examination and rejection of a variety of plans submitted to the
Building Coinmittev? by eminent architects, the difficulty v at lengt i
solved by Mr. Joseph Paxton, Horticulturist to the Duke Jevonshire,
who conceived the idea of a building to be constructed ol iron anti glass,
upon the model of a small conservatory which he had had occasion to
erect upon the ^"f^'inds entrusted to his charge. The plan of such a
building was soon arranged by him, and was no sooner submitted to the
judgment of the Committee, than it was adopted as being precisely the
thing demanded by the emergency. The work whs immediately put
under contract, and in five months from the time of fixing upon a site for
its ereciion, the edifice was complete in all its parts. The materials were
all cast and fitted at Birmingham, and had simply to be put together when
brought on to the ground. The quantity of glass used is said to amount
to 1, iiOO, 0(10 square feet ; iron, 4,500 tons ; besides 24 miles of one descrip-
tion of gutter, and I.MS miles of sash-bar. The accompanying engravinj^, a
faithful represeniaiion of the building, executed by one of the best artists
in the country, will afford the reader a just idea of the appearance of the
Crystal Palace. It is situated in Hyde Park, and thus derives additional
inijiressiveness from the beauty of its locality, and the convenient extent
of the surrounding unoccupied grounds.
A few general statements as to the extent and arrangement of this won-
derful structure may be read with interest. Its length exceeds a third of
a mile, or in exact figures, 1851 feet; witii a breadih of 456 feet on the
ground. There are three series of elevations lo the building ; the first 24
feet liiuh, the second 44, anil the third 04 ; while ilirough the middle, as
will he seen by referring to the engraving, there runs a transept 72 feet
wide, with a secnicircular roof, which attains in the centre to the height
of 108 feel, and encloses a row of trees growing in iheir natural slate.
Besides the ground floor, which covers a superficies of 18 acres, there are
tiers of galleries containing an aria of 217,100 square feet, and hanging-
space, for the display of articles, to the amount of 500,000 square feet.
Such are the dimensions of the Crystal Palace, affording estimaied room
for nine miles of tables; and when to this he added the various contrivan-
ces for ventilation, for carrying oflT rain-water, and the internal arriuige-
ments for passing about the building, and for subserving the general i)ur-
poses of its erection, the observer fails not to be impressed with tlie vast
magnitude of the undertaking, and with the forecast and skill evinced by
its projectors.
mm"
THE TREASURY OF HISTORY.
767
won-
hird of
on the
lirsl 24
(Idle, as
2 feet
lieigiil
stale.
( re iiTe
anging-
re feet,
room
ntriviin-
arrnl)S*J"
ml Jiur-
he vast
need by
;d
This splendid structure having been completed, the great Exhibition
was opened by the Queen_ in person, on the 1st of May. The cere-
monies, which took place in' the presence of a large assembly of persons,
were exceedingly interesting and novel. Everything having been got in
readiness by the exhibitors, and the crowd of spectators admitted within
the premises, at noon her Majesty arrived in state, and amidst the per-
formance of the national anthem of "God save the Queen," assumed her
place on the throne erected for the occasion. There were also assembled
the officers of state, foreign ambassadors, and other officials. An address
was read to her Majesty, by Prince Albert, Chairman of the Commission-
ers ; to which her Majesty responded in a gracious manner, felicitating all
concerned, upon the successful result of their efforts, and expressing a
warm approval of the objects aimed at in the undertaking. The Arch-
bishop of Canterbury then offered up a prayer, which was succeeded by
an anthem. A proceission was then formed, at the head of which walked
the rojal party ; after performing the circuit of the building, and return-
ing again to the point of departure, her Majesiy declared the Exhibition
formally opened, an announcement which was received by the firing of
cannon, and the cheers of the multitude assembled without.
As a source of revenue, to defray the expenses of the construction of the
Palace ( €150,000), and other accruing charges, the prices for admission
were fixed by the Commissioners of the Exhibition at three guineas for a
season ticket for a gentleman, and two guineas lor a lady ; and none but
the holders of season tickets to be admitted at the opening. On the two
days succeeding, a charge of twenty shillings ; on the fourth day, five
shillings ; to be reduced on the 22d day, to one shilling, and so continue,
except on Fridays and Saturdays, when a somewhat larger fee should be
demanded. From the day of the opening of the Exhibition, it has been
numerously visited by all classes of the population, from her Majesty
down to tiie humblest subject, and by thousands from foreign countries
who have been attracted hither by the novel and imposing spectacle,
W'iihoui devoting a volume to the subject, it would be an idle undertaking
to give anything like a satisiactory description of the wondert'ul display
to be witnessed within the walls of the Crystal Palace. The productions
of nearly every country on the face of the globe, some of them of the
most costly and magnificent description, are here collected and tastefully
arranged to the eye of the beholder. From the farihest East to ilie ex-
treme West— from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Amerinii— have come up the
samples of man's industry and skill, to be placed side hy side in honora-
ble comparison and generous competition, liven the i^lesof ilie sea have
sqnt their humble oflferings to swell the grand collection. China is here
with her beautiful porcelain— India with her curious fabrics— Persia with
her shawls and carpets— Ceylon with her elephant tusks California with
her gold -and in juxtaposition with the products of Barbaric splendor
stand ihe varied, and beautiful, and useful contributions from every staie
of Europe and America— inonun-ents of the power, the skill, the ingenu-
ity, and taste, which civilization and knowledge imparts to its possessors.
With all the rest are j collection of the most valuable diamonds, precious
stones, and jewels, known to exist in the world,— amom: the first named,
the great Koh-i-noor, or "Mountain of liiiihl," a diLmond whose value
is variously esiimaicd at from t;i,500,000, to .£.'3,l)iiO,()(iO. Imagine the
effect which this wondrous exhibition— all this dazzling splendor— must
produce on the mind of the observer. And— what is a still more prcjfitable
reflection— consider tlie results which may be legitimately expected to
How from the whole— the interchange of acuie thought and observation,
the quickening impulse to mutual advance in the road of national improve-
ment and prosperity !